Chapter 2 - Bad Intentions

Natalia walked around the large banquet room, sipping her drink. She didn't care for alcohol but would drink a glass of wine at social engagements. She ignored the stares of others who didn't have the nerve to approach her as they mingled while waiting for the dinner to start.

"How are things at NC?" She turned toward the familiar voice. It was Clifford Judd. He was one of the men she worked for when she was interning. He constantly flirted with her but wasn't as aggressive as others.

"Hi, Cliff. They're going great." Natalia smiled slightly at the heavyset balding man with a large belly. His grey suit seemed to be bursting at the seams.

"That's good to hear. I want to discuss something with you regarding a company we've been trying to get under contract. I think they may be more up your alley." She didn't think it was unusual for him to share this information. There have been several occasions he had sent companies her way that wanted to be saved rather than bought.

"Okay, tell me about it." She took a step closer to him, and he shook his head.

"Let's go talk somewhere privately. I don't want anyone else eavesdropping." He started walking toward a hallway near the back of the room where the offices were located. Natalia hesitated before following him. She didn't like going anywhere alone with men, but she felt Cliff was harmless.

He led her to a small office with a desk, two chairs, and a couch. After she walked in, he closed the door. Natalia didn't walk more than a few feet into the room before turning around.

"So tell me about this company." She said, feeling slightly uncomfortable being in a confined space. Why did he need to shut the door? There was no one else around.

"What's the rush? You know I've had my eye on you since the day you started working for me. We'd never had such a sexy, smart intern before. You were different than the rest because you didn't try to get into anyone's bed to climb the ladder no matter how hard we tried." He walked closer to her, and she backed up until she bumped into the back of the couch.

"Tell me about the company." She looked toward the door, but he was blocking it.

"You owe me for helping you and not forcing myself on you back then. Now it's time for me to collect." Natalia tried to rush past him, but he grabbed her arm and pushed her over the back of the couch. She landed on her back and immediately jumped up, backing further into the room.

"Get away from me. I don't owe you anything." She spoke firmly, trying to back toward the side of the room so she could make her way to the door.

"Come on, Natalia, all I want is what I should have taken four years ago. I promise you'll enjoy it." Cliff lunged for her, but she was faster and slipped away. He reached out as she tried to pass him and grabbed her arm.

"Let me go, or I'll scream. Do you want everyone to know you tried to force yourself on me? How about your wife and kids?" She pulled on her arm, but he wouldn't let go.

"You're not going to open that pretty mouth of yours and tell anyone anything. I'll ensure everyone knows what a tease you are. I can make it look like you brought me here to entice me to give you a lead on a business." He pulled on her trying to take her over to the couch.

"Get the fuck off of me, or I'll call the police." Cliff laughed as he continued trying to get her to the couch. At the same time, he was unfastening his belt so he could get his pants undone.

"Stop fighting. You know you want this. Be a good girl, and let me have what you owe me." Natalia suddenly stopped trying to pull away and walked with him willingly. He looked over at her in surprise with excitement in his eyes.

"You're right. I do owe you. Now close your eyes while I take off my dress." Cliff thought he'd hit the jackpot. He didn't think she would actually agree. He felt his erection grow in anticipation as he closed his eyes and felt her put a hand on his shoulder. Just as he was getting ready to take a peak, her knee came up into his groin so hard he fell to the ground.

"Hey, why'd you do that?" He said with a red face while he was on the floor. The door to the office was suddenly opened, and when they looked over, they saw it was Hayden. He took in the room with a smirk. Natalia looked back toward Cliff and leaned down to his face.

"Why did I do it you asked? I just gave you what I owed you. You were going to rape me. Well, let's see how you walk after that." She shoved him backward as she walked past him, not looking at Hayden as she went.

"You still owe me bitch. I'll ruin you." Cliff yelled as she headed for the door.

"If you touch me again, I will cut that thing off," Natalia said as she walked out of the room toward the restroom. She was trying to keep her composure, but she was shaking so bad her teeth were chattering.

"Are you alright?" Hayden asked as he caught up to her. He had seen her disappear with Cliff, and after they hadn't returned, he went to look for them. When he walked into the room, it didn't take a genius to figure out what had happened.

"I'm fine." All she wanted to do was go home and take a shower. She wanted no reminders of this night on her.

"Let me take you home." Hayden could see she was shaking as she tried to keep it together.

"I have a car service that's waiting for me. Do you know if there's a back way out of here? I don't feel like walking through the crowd." Natalia wanted to cry but refused to do it in front of this man. She liked to seem tough with her business associates, but she had never been more scared than in that room with Cliff.

"Yes, come with me. I'll take you to your car." She was about to object but decided she didn't want to walk outside alone after what happened.

"Thank you." Hayden led her out the back door, and she shivered. He took his suit jacket off and put it around her shoulders. Natalia thought she should give it back, but she found it comforting and pulled it tighter around her.

When they got to the front of the building, she texted the driver telling him she was ready to go. They stood in awkward silence while they waited. Natalia was trying to hold herself together until she got home. She refused to look vulnerable in front of one of her competitors.

Hayden was trying to think of an excuse to see her again. However, he knew now was not the time to hit on Natalia. He wanted to say something to make her feel better, but he could tell by her demeanor she didn't want to talk about it. The car pulled up within a couple of minutes, and Hayden held the door open for her. Before she could get in, he took a chance and pulled her into his arms. She struggled for a second but then stopped when he started speaking.

"I'm sorry I didn't get there sooner to see you take him down. You don't have to act tough all the time. It's okay to ask for help. It doesn't make you seem weak." Natalia couldn't hold her tears anymore. She began crying on his shoulder as he held her.

Hayden felt his heart breaking, feeling her sobs. They had just met, but he could tell she was trying to appear strong and untouchable. That's one of the reasons she got the nickname ice queen. He also knew that she needed to let some of her emotions out and not hold them in, or she would break down later.

Natalia didn't know why the kind gesture of a stranger made her sob uncontrollably, but it did. It had been a while since anyone had hugged her while she cried. Actually, she knew it was the day she left Pheonix when she hugged Cara four years ago. She and her friend had grown apart, just as Cara had predicted.

When she had sex, there was nothing loving or comforting about it. They were both just getting their needs taken care of. Having someone hold her in comfort with no expectations of anything more had made the tears spill over uncontrollably.

After she dried her eyes and pulled away, she looked into Hayden's face. Natalia would be forever grateful to him for these few minutes and for letting her cry on his shoulder. She wanted to remember his handsome face because she might never see him again.

"Thank you, Hayden," Natalia said softly before getting into the car. She rode home, looking out the window in silence. She felt better after getting her crying out of the way. She glanced down and realized she was still wearing his suit jacket.

Hayden watched the car disappear with a smile on his face. He would be making a visit to her soon to get his jacket back. He was ready to go home but had something to take care of first.

He went back into the building and headed straight to the bar where Cliff was drinking. Hayden pulled him by his collar and punched him as hard as he could in the face. He felt Cliff's nose break from the impact of his fist.

"If you touch her again, I'll kill you." Hayden punched him in his swollen gut, making Cliff fall to his knees.

Everyone in the room watched in astonishment, wondering what was happening. Hayden wasn't one to fight with anyone. For him to hit Cliff like he did, they knew he most likely deserved it. Hayden walked out of the banquet hall without another word. He only had one thing on his mind, Natalia.