Chapter 16 Chapter 16
My heart was beating fast with every floor that the elevator took me.
The executive floor was on the top of the building, and by the time I read there, my palms were damp, and my pulse was pounding in my ears. The air on this floor felt colder and quieter than ever before.
I stopped dead in my tracks when I found my manager already standing near the glass door. Her heels were clicking impatiently against the marble floor.
She gave me a sharp look before ordering, "Come."
She didn’t give me a moment to breathe or gather my thoughts. She started walking immediately, and I had no choice but to follow.
My legs felt heavy as we stopped outside the large wooden door at the end of the corridor.
Before I could change my mind, she had already knocked on the door and stepped inside.
“Sir,” she greeted him in an extra sweet voice while I still hesitated at the door.
She turned her head slightly and shot me a sharp side glance.
My throat went dry.
I stepped in.
Lucien was standing near his desk with his back towards us. His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, and his posture was relaxed.
My manager walked ahead and placed two files on his desk.
“These are the documents you asked for, sir.”
“Keep them here,” Lucien said calmly, without looking at me.
He picked up a file and pretended to skim through it.
"You may leave now," he ordered the manager, and my breath caught in my throat.
She turned around and was about to leave when he added, “And lock the door.”
My body went stiff.
Before I could even blink, she was already out of the cabin, closing the door behind her, leaving an eerie silence.
He closed the file and tossed it aside, but didn't utter a word to me. When the silence became unbearable for me, I asked,
"Why did you call me here?"
A smirk broke on his lips.
Damn him!
He still had the nerve to smirk at me after Adrian had broken his jaw.
"You are my secretary. Aren't you?" He asked with a soft chuckle
“It’s already past working hours,” I replied, forcing my voice to stay steady.
"Don't worry, Ms… or Mrs?” He drawled, deliberately stressing the last word. "Our company pays for overtime, and if you want..."
He leaned his body against the desk and folded his arms across his chest.
"I can arrange the payment in cash too." He smirked.
Darn him.
My fists tightened on my sides. His eyes flicked down to them.
“Feeling like beating the shit out of me?” he asked, straightening slowly. “I felt the same,” he continued as he walked toward me, but I stayed rooted to my place. “When I saw you with him… smiling. Happy.”
His jaw ticked.
"But I controlled myself. You know why? Because violence isn’t always needed to break a man. He might have hurt me physically, but look at my wound... it is gone. But he must still be bleeding from the wound I gave him. Right?"
He chuckled, stopping just a hand away from me.
"Tell me one thing, Cynthia. Has he been able to touch you after that evening? Hmm?"
I didn't reply. His hand slowly moved up to reach for my face.
"Stay away," I snapped.
“I want to stay away,” he murmured, “but you ran before completing our business.”
I inhaled sharply and straightened up my spine.
“What happens between my husband and me is none of your concern, sir.” My tone was formal and firm: "Keep the conversation professional."
"Oh, I am being professional," he chuckled as his eyes moved slowly on my face. "The only difference is that I am more interested in your hidden profession. Just name the amount you want to..."
"I don't have a client twice," I snapped before he could complete himself, "especially not the man who fails to impress me."
Silence.
Deep silence.
My words hit the exact place I wanted. His ego.
His eyes turned dark as his expression changed in a split second.
"If you are done, I would like to take a leave, sir."
I could turn only slightly before he slammed his palms on both sides of mine.
"Seems like making your husband unemployed wasn't enough. Hmm?"
My eyes widened, and the colour of my face drained. I felt adrenaline rush through my veins as my fingers dug sharply into my skin.
"How dare you do that to him!" I snapped, and he just smirked at my outburst. "Why are you punishing him? He has done nothing wrong."
"He snatched what's mine, and you are saying he hasn't done anything wrong."
He clicked his tongue against his cheek, playfully.
"Not fair"
My eyes moved between his, and all I could see in them was cruelty.
"And darling..." He added with a honey-coated voice that stung my ears, "I could dare a lot more than that. Don't challenge me."
My body trembled, but I tried to stay still.
"Now, if you want to see him alive, it will be better for you to stay away from him and do as I say."
My lower lip wobbled. I was on the verge of crying.
"I will not!" I breathed out.
He was a bit surprised by my response, but I didn't give him time to react. I quickly turned around, opened the door, and ran out.
My fingers fumbled badly as I pressed the elevator button. I was holding my breath until I reached my desk. I quickly opened my laptop, and without thinking much, I did one thing that felt right at the moment.
Resign.