The CEO's Scandal

Natalia's POV

It's an ordinary Saturday afternoon, the coffee shop I work in is so busy, I am rushed off my feet trying to clear tables for the next customers who are waiting to be seated when I heard Elizabeth call my name.

"Natalia, order number two hundred and thirty-seven is ready, it is for Mr Randall, be sure to be quick and deliver his order to him. He is at his office; we cannot afford to upset him.”

"Can you ask Elsie to deliver it please? I am snowed under out front, and Elsie is just about to go on her break." I pleaded.

"No, it has to be you, Mr Randall has requested you and you only. So please just go and deliver Mr Randall's coffees to him" demanded Elizabeth.

I sighed and picked the order up and left the shop. 'Why does he always request me to deliver his coffees. It's not like I give them to him personally and why can't his assistant come and pick them up it's always me that has to deliver the coffees.' I thought to myself as the feeling of frustration started to set in.

Mr Randall's Empire building is a two-minute walk from the coffee shop. I walked through the doors and into the elevator and pressed floor sixty-four. Once I was on Mr Randall's floor, I walked over to his assistant sitting at her desk.

"Hi Katie, here is Mr Randall's order" I said as I placed the coffees on top of the counter of the desk. "Mr Randall has requested you take them into him today. I will ring through to him and let him know that you are here. Take a seat, he shouldn't be too long.”

'Seriously does he not realise that I have a job to attend to as well. It is not like I can be like him and take breaks whenever I want and for however long I want.' Katie must of see the look of annoyance on my face because she asked me if there was a problem.

"Not a problem no, however, I do need to get back to work. You have seen how busy Saturdays are for the coffee shop, and me not heading straight back is definitely going to piss Elizabeth off.”

"You leave Elizabeth to me" I heard a male's voice say coming from the right of me. I looked round and see Mr Randall standing in the doorway of his office door. I must admit he is hot, extremely hot especially in his jet-black suit and white crispy shirt.

"Miss Loveday please step into my office." Mr Randall's demeanor changed. He went from all relaxed and soft eyed looking to straight up serious looking and business-like approach. I picked the coffees up from the counter and took them to Mr Randall's office. I placed them on his desk and then turned to walk back out the again.

"Miss Loveday please take a seat." I heard from behind me. Rolling my eyes, I turned back around and went and sat at Mr Randall's desk. I can feel my heart starting to pick up its pace. I mean I am sitting opposite the wealthiest man in the whole of the UK. I find him so intimidating. I feel so tiny when I am next to him.

There's me a normal girl, who comes from a middle working-class family, working in a small coffee shop with nothing to show for herself other than unpaid university bills and rent that I am in arrears of and then there's him! Mr Randall, the guy who has it all. The guy who is next to take over his family business. The guy who is a multi-billionaire and does what he wants when he wants without a care in the world.

"Miss Loveday, how long have you been employed at Coffee and Cakes for?" Giving Mr Randall an inquisitive look I replied "four years, why? And please call me Natalia, Miss Loveday is not necessary.”

Mr Randall ignored my question of 'why' and continued to pry me with more questions such as, who my family are and what they do and if I have a partner and if I had children. I finally had enough of being ignored and I had no idea why he was asking all these questions.

"I am not quite sure why you think any of this is your business, why are you so interested in my private life? We have never met before, yet you always request me to bring you your coffees and to leave them with your assistant. What is the point of that, you can have anyone from the shop delivering you your coffees, but you continue to choose me and now you are questioning me about my personal information. What is your game?" I said sternly.

"Natalia, do you really think I am the sort of person to play games? What gives you the idea that I do?" He asked questionably with a cold look in his eyes. "This conversation is over, I am leaving now, Elizabeth will be wondering where I have got to. Please do not request me again to deliver you your order." I scolded as I stood up and shook my head as if to say what the hell is going on here.

"Natalia, wait, please sit. I have a proposition for you." "If you are going to offer me a job then I am not interested! I am perfectly happy where I am now thank you." I replied as I walked back to my seat. Mr Randall scoffed at me and the said “A job here no, but I do want to propose something to you.”

The room went silent, Mr Randall sat there massaging his temples, appearing to be stressed out. "Am I meant to guess what this proposal is or are you going to start talking?" I asked sarcastically. "Just give me a minute will you, I need time to think." He responded abruptly. "I have been away from my work for thirty minutes now Mr Randall. I do not have time to wait around for you to tell me what you want from me. Elizabeth is going to be so mad at me when I get back. I have left her unaided during the lunch time rush. So if you can explain to me why I am here so I can get back to my work then it would be very much appreciated" I could not help but say this with a raised voice.

"You have to marry me" Mr Randall blurted out still with his head in his hands. I burst out laughing, as if he had said an hilarious joke. "You're funny, now get to the point. Why am I here?" Mr Randall looked up at me with a stern look on his face and and a mist of anger in his eyes and said, "I told you I do not play games.”

I stopped laughing when it dawned on me that he is actually being serious. I did not know what to say. For the first time in my life, I am gob smacked, speechless, I have no words. My mouth kept opening and then closing. Because I wasn't saying anything but just staring at him Mr Randall continued to the conversation instead.

"My Father is the owner of Randall's Empire; he has made the decision to retire in six months. So that means I will become full owner of the Randall's family businesses. However, my father has one condition, I must be married to take over the family business. Otherwise, he has threatened to sell up." "Okay, but why me? You do not even know me. We are strangers" I asked curiously.

"I know you more than you think Natalia, I know you had to leave University to get a full-time job to help support the payment for your mother's private cancer treatment. I know you still have the university fund that has to be paid off and you are behind in several months rent. I also know your shifts at work before you do. I even know what you buy from the supermarket, even down to lingerie that you bought for yourself yesterday.”

My face started to heat up, I can feel the change of colour in my face. My face is now the colour of beetroot. My mouth became dry, so I picked up a glass of water that was sitting on Mr Randall's desk and gulped it down all while Mr Randall sat there watching me with a smirk on his face that I really wanted to wipe off.

"So, you mean to tell me that you have been stalking me for at least three years. You do know that is a criminal offence and I can get you done for this?" I said angrily. "I would like to say watching and not stalking" Mr Randall said trying to make out that watching someone for however long is nothing like stalking. "Like that is any better, watching stalking all comes under the same category." I cannot comprehend the audacity he has to sit there and say that without thinking what he has done and still continues to do is wrong. This man has to be off his head.

"Natalia, I am not able to just choose anyone to marry. You must understand that, considering who I am. I have to know the woman inside and out before I choose her to marry me."

"There are plenty of other woman in this world why have you taken it upon yourself to choose me? You have done your research; you can see I am nothing special and I have debts here and there and a sick family to look after. Do you feel sorry for me or something? Is that it or is it that you see me as an easy option. Tell me because I really would like to know what goes through that brain of yours to think it's okay to stalk someone for your own personal gain." I am feeling so irate, however, I am not sure if that is because of the whole stalking or just because he knows what underwear I like to wear.

Mr Randall sat there and let out a deep sigh, "We are not getting anywhere with this conversation right now, I have things to do, let me take you out for dinner and we can discuss this properly then. Until then, do not mention what we have discussed to anyone, and I mean anyone. In the meantime, I will have my assistant send you over the details for tonight, understood?”

"How have you even got my contact details? Actually, you don't need to answer that." I got up out of my seat and left and headed back to work.

"Elizabeth I am so sorry, Mr Randall" I began to say in a apologising tone but Elizabeth cut me off and said, "Not to worry, Kyle has explained." "Kyle?" I replied questionably. "I mean Mr Randall; his first name is Kyle.”

Since when did Elizabeth become on first name terms with Mr Randall? Actually, whenever Mr Randall's name gets mentioned, she acts a little shady. I could not help but wonder, what her deal is with Mr Randall.

It wasn't long till my shift ended. I said my goodbyes as I went out the back to get my stuff. I still hadn't received anything from Mr Randall's assistant, so I assumed he no longer needed my requirements. I started to walk down the high street when my phone pinged, it was a message from an unknown number saying "At the end of the road turn right, there will be a black Mercedes parked up on the left. Get in the car and everything will be explained to you. Katie, Randall's Empire."