Chapter 58: Chapter Fifty-Eight: Late

I showered again. I could still feel him inside me even though I was already lying on the bed. It was so difficult for me to sleep when his touch, his kisses, and his licks were making me crazy!

Why did I give in so easily? I am supposed to be hard to get, right?!

“Stupidity, Minerva!” I berated myself and hit my own head.

Karlo escorted me to my room. He insisted I should rest with him in his room, but I didn’t want to because of the humiliation I felt for myself. I was burning inside, but did I have to act desperate? Now what will he think of me, that I am easy to fuck?

I am not a virgin anymore because of him!

But I did like it - that he is my first.

For what cost, though?

Two am. My eyes are still wide open. Damn, I have work tomorrow! Why am I like this?

On the other hand, I couldn’t forget the look in his eyes while he was devouring me earlier. I would have understood the amusement and desperation, but the anger and angst that accompanied them were confusing to me.

Was he just angry because he was restraining himself… or was there something else that I should know about that he still has not shown to me?

And his parents… I still have no idea why they are no longer searchable. All of the details of the murder were there, except one thing - who murdered them? He was just in middle school. They are all assassins, so it must be assassins who killed them? And why is Karlo the only one remaining?

All of the thoughts while staring at the ceiling were the reasons why I fell into a deep sleep afterward. It felt like only five minutes when my alarm on my phone rang throughout the whole room. Of course, because I was still sleepy and exhausted, I turned it off, rolled to the other side of the bed, and slept again.

I woke up for the nth time when my phone rang several times. I would have ignored it, but it wouldn’t stop. Due to frustration with its repeated ringing, I had to answer.

“Whaaaatttt?!” I exclaimed and sat on the bed with my eyes closed.

“Where are you?! You skipped the board meeting, and you still are not here in the company!” Timothy’s voice thundered on the other end of the phone.

“I was so tired last night. I had to sleep tight,” I reasoned, yawning afterward.

“Minerva-“

“Chill, Timothy. I own the company. It’s not like the world is ending if I want to skip half of the day.”

“Technically, yes, do whatever you want, but you should also maintain a good impression in the company. Even your dad has always been punctual at work; that’s why he was very respected here!”

I rolled my eyes and finally got out of bed. “Got it. I hope Dad’s ghost shows up in your room tonight,” I said boredly.

“You little shi-“

Before he could even finish his sentence, I cut the line and went straight to the washroom so I could shower.

I didn’t see Melanie while I was going outside the mansion, so I could talk to her about her education. Karlo was nowhere to be found, including his car in the garage, but he did leave a message on my phone.

Karlo: Good morning : ))

“Cute,” I commented while sipping the Starbucks I just bought from a drive-thru.

Me: Good morning!

I pouted and deleted all of it. It might sound too excited.

Me: Morning…

Too much cold.

Me: Good morning. Did you eat?

Better. I sent it. I just dropped my phone on the driver’s seat after sending the message, but his name showed up on the screen, calling me. All of the butterflies in my stomach came back again just like last night. His facial expressions, his grunts of pleasure, and warm hands around my body flashed through my mind.

I took the courage to answer him while driving the car.

“Good morning!” he greeted from the other end of the line.

“Hello,” I simply greeted, already smiling from ear to ear.

“Are you at work already? Did you eat breakfast before leaving the mansion?”

“I just bought a croissant and matcha latte from Starbucks. I’m eating while driving to work.”

“So you woke up late?”

“Not only my fault, by the way.”

His chuckle from the other line would make me wet any time. Damn, why is he so hot? Really? Is there any logical reasoning for this one?

“Well, so, did you like it?” he asked and sighed afterwards. “I’m really sorry if I ever hurt you. I didn’t know-“

“-that I wasn’t a virgin?” I continued. “Just because I had a relationship with Ian during college years didn’t mean that we had sexual intercourse, Karlo.”

“Yes, yes, sorry. I know.”

“You are the first one. But yeah, you are my husband. It’s only right and just,” I assured him. “And I did like it. I’m the one who initiated it first, so stop overthinking about it.”

“I’m not,” he said. “I’ll go to your company this afternoon. I will buy lunch for both of us so we can eat together.”

I wanted to laugh out loud and jumped because of the ticklish feeling inside, but I composed myself by clearing my throat and keeping my voice monotone while talking to him.

“Sure. I’ll expect you in my office, then,” I said.

“Okay. Be careful while driving. I love you,” he said and then hung up his phone.

Why would he not let me respond? Tsk!

Next time, he won’t end the call without me responding back!

When I arrived in the lobby of the company, there were still curious employees who were watching me walk. It was as if I were a stranger, but I was also not interested in introducing myself to them. I walked straight to the elevators. I still hadn’t removed my aviators even though there was no sunlight anymore.

“Wait!”

The elevators didn’t completely close when someone blocked them from closing. I looked at who it was. Taylor and I locked eyes for a moment. She glared at me, while I just didn’t react.

“Tss,” I heard her hiss. “Didn’t expect my day to be bad first thing in the morning…”

Finally, the elevators closed in time as I replied to her. I spun my head to look at her with a smile.

“How’s your nose, Taylor?” I asked.

The bruise was not visible because she covered it with a lot of foundation. She seemed okay, even though I couldn’t count the hits and punches she took from Samantha last night, making me realize that she is already used to this type of combat. When she turned her head at me, she also shifted her weight so she could face me completely. She then pointed her index finger at my shoulder.

“You do know that we are outside the headquarters, right?” she said firmly, her words sharply emphatic. “You will be punished if our identities get exposed in public. Worse, you will be kicked out by the Red Cartel Queen. You won’t want that. But what do I expect from a newbie like you? I don’t even understand why she would pick you.”

I looked at the floors we were still on. Six more floors left before I reached where my office is located. I smirked when I glanced at her again.

“Two days since we met, and yet you have already raised a verdict of me as ineligible to belong in Red Cartel,” I said and raised my head confidently. “You think that you are smart enough, Taylor, but you are not. You don’t really know the people that surround you. Even the Red Cartel Queen would just say the same thing about you…”

“Don’t you ever mention her name in your filthy mouth. You don’t deserve it.”

Our glares were exchanged for a moment before the elevators opened. I watched her leave. I noticed it was her floor. My eyes caught the placard where her office was located. Finance Department. Accounts manager. I arched my eyebrow and crossed my arms, concluding that she also had a good position in my own company. My dad must know her well, then, and trust her, knowing that she manages the accounting thingies here in the business.

I finally reached my floor and strode in the middle of the hallway. Dara, my secretary, stood up and greeted me warmly, also giving me notice that Timothy was inside my office.

“Why the hell are you late?” Timothy interrogated me the moment I opened the doors of my office.  “It’s almost twelve o’clock, Minerva!”

“Good almost afternoon, Timothy,” I teased and smiled from ear to ear.  “How are you?”

“I have no time for your games,” he said.

“Sorry that I’m late, then,” I replied, shrugging my shoulders and walking towards my table. “But I know why you are here. You want to talk about the projects I approved and signed, right?”

“Well, yes,” he answered and went in front of my office table with both hands on his waist like a father. “But please try to be responsible with your time at work. It’s just the second day yet, Minerva. Try not to make trouble.”

Well, if we were to talk about trouble, it would be defined by what happened between Karlo and me last night, the main reason why I am exhausted and got late to work.

But of course, I wouldn’t say that out loud, especially in front of this jerk. Tss.