His Intern

Chapter One

Renatto's POV

"We run an excellent internship program here,” he said quietly. I raised my eyebrows in surprise. Is he offering me a job? The richest Italian billionaire is fucking offering me a job?

“Oh. I’ll bear that in mind,” I murmured, completely confused. “Though I’m not sure I’d fit in here. I cannot stand your presence… I cannot stand your beauty…” Oh no! I was musing out loud again. Did I say the last part out loud?

“Why do you say that?” the filthy rich brute specimen of a man cocked his head to one side, intrigued, a hint of a smile playing on his lips.

“It’s obvious, isn’t it?” I’m uncoordinated and scruffy, and I’m not blonde. I said internally as I heaved a sigh of relief. I did not say the last part out loud.

“Not to me,” he murmured. His gaze was intense, all humor is gone, and strange muscles deep in my belly clenched suddenly. I tore my eyes away from his scrutiny and stared blindly down at my knotted fingers. " You are the human definition of perfection—my perfection.” His tone was stern and authoritative. It resonated against my ribcage. "Are you ready to leave?"

Holy cow!

“Yes sir,” I replied, packing my files into my carry-on. His eyes narrowed, speculatively.

“Thank you for having our company Mr. Teroz.”

“The pleasure’s been all mine,” he said, polite as ever. As I rose, he stood and held out his hand.

“Until we meet again, Miss Chiesa,” he said so sharply that it sounded like a challenge or a threat, I was not sure which. I frowned. When will we ever meet again? I already had an interning firm and there was no way I would leave a haven for a coven.

I shook his hand once more, astounded that the odd current between us was still there. It must be my nerves. Did he remember that time?

“Mr. Teroz.” I nodded at him. Moving with slight sturdy dignity to the door, he opened it wide.

“Just ensuring you make it through the door, Miss Chiesa.” He gave me a small smile. Obviously, he was referring to my earlier less-than-grand-entry into his office. I reddened.

“That’s very considerate, Mr. Teroz” I snapped, and his smile widened. I’m glad you find me entertaining, I bellowed inwardly, walking into the hallway. I was surprised when he followed me out.

“Did you have all your boss asked?” Mr. Teroz asked.

“Yes.” His secretary leaped up and retrieved my jacket, which Mr. Terror took from her before she can hand it to me. She grimaced at me. He held it up and, feeling ridiculously aware of my surroundings, I shrugged it on. Mr. Teroz placed his hands for a moment on my shoulders. I gulped at the contact. If he noticed my reaction, he gave nothing away. His long index finger pressed the button summoning the elevator, and we stood waiting- gracelessly on my part, gracefully and self-assured on his.

The doors opened, and I hurried in desperate to escape. I really needed to get out of here. When I turned to look at him, he was leaning against the doorway beside the elevator with one hand on the wall. He really was very, very good-looking. It was distracting—his perfectly sculptured lips. He moved, stretching his legs a bit and my eyes involuntarily settled on his bulge. Again, I gulped. His burning gray eyes looked directly into my acqualine ones.

“Paloma,” he said as a farewell.

“Mr. Renatoo,” He bit the side of his lips before tinkering the tip of his tongue over the just-bitten surface.

"Call me Renatto," he said curtly.

"Renatto" My heart was pounding as the door closed. The elevator arrived on the first floor, and I scrambled out as soon as the doors slid open, staggering once, but fortunately not plunging onto the immaculate sandstone floor. I raced for the wide glass doors, and I was free in the bracing, purifying, soothing air of Sicily. I closed my eyes and took a deep, comforting breath, trying to recover what was left of my composure.

No man has ever affected me the way Renatto River Teroz had, and I could not comprehend why. Was it his looks? His civility? Wealth? Power? Or that one time so many years ago? Did he remember…did he recognize me? I don’t understand my irrational reaction. I breathed a gigantic sigh of relief. What in heaven’s name was that all about?

As I left the T.E.R.O.Z property, I began to feel foolish and embarrassed as I replayed the meeting in my mind. Surely, I was overreacting to something that was a moment flick. Okay, so he was very beautiful, complacent, domineering, and self-assured– but on the flip side, he was presumptuous, and for all his impeccable manners, he was authoritative and raw. Well, on the surface.

I pulled out over at my interning company's parking lot and saw my best friend June, waiting for me at the company's threshold with a collywobbles expression on her face.

"Who ate your glazed doughnuts?" I asked, checking her temperature. My best friend, June Bianco would only wear a sour expression on two vague occasions. One; someone had eaten her glazed doughnut or the pastry shop two blocks from the company's building ran out of supply. And two; mother nature decided to visit her.

"He said to immediately report to his office when you get back" okay not what I was expecting.

"Why? What's with the face then?"

"I'm not sure but I think it's bad"

"Bad how?" I narrowed my eyes.

"Renatto River Teroz, calling to demand that you'd be handed over to him in completion of your internship for a compensation of some sort" my eyes widened and I gasped.

"No way! Compensation for what? I didn't do anything"

"I know… the boss knows but it was Mr. Teroz himself that placed the call. you are to…" I ignored her and pushed past her, finding my way to my boss's office with a blurred mind.

"I take it as June had briefed you already" my Fifty two-year-old boss said the second I stepped foot into his office, a grim outlook on his already wrinkling face.

"What's the meaning of this? I'm not leaving here to intern at Teroz…"

"Here are your files. He wants you there tomorrow…"

"What?"