Chapter 26 He's at my workplace

Chapter 26 He's at my workplace

Nyx's p.o.v

“It was nice having a sleepover with you once again.” Lena mumbled as we walked into the building.

Yesterday I followed her back home without telling anyone. I also turned off my phone but I'm sure one of them contacted her to ask if I was with her.

Better flooded with her adventures and stories of men she conquered this week than to drown in guilt and indecision.

“It's always a pleasure,” I said dryly.

“Ummm…” she began, dropping her backpack on her desk and following me back to mine. “Are you okay? You seem….ummm distant.”

Here we go again. This is probably the twentieth time she has asked me this. I could bet my life she wouldn't stop until provided a reasonable answer.

I took in a deep breath, setting my own backpack down, and I began bringing out my color pallets.

“You are right. Something is wrong with me.” That piqued her interest further as she sat on my bench, folded her hand and arched a brow my way.

“Go on.”

“It's Matthew.”

She sat up. “What the hell did that fool do again,did he curse you out?”

My heart surged, she's always ready to defend me. “No but he took my painting.”

“What painting?”

“He took a personal painting I made and added it to the cart for an art exhibition. Without my permission.”

She frowned, shaking her head steadily. “How personal is that painting?”

“Very personal.”

“Hmmm ...now this is not good, you know he has the right to every painting in this building.”

I nodded sadly.

This was a case I set before her to avoid the main issue I was feeling but remembering that painting made me angry and sad at once.

Thankfully no one other than me knows the truth behind it.

“I'm sorry Nyx, there's nothing I can do to help. The painting have already been taken to the venue and the event is two days from now.” She stood up and engulfed me in a hug. “if it goes missing Matthew will set this office on fire to fish out the culprit.”

I nodded understanding.

Thankfully, Lena didn’t push further.
She pulled back from the hug, gave my shoulder a reassuring squeeze, and was just about to return to her desk when a shadow fell across our space.
“Nyx,” a colleague Tara from admin called quietly, eyes darting between us. “Matthew wants to see you. Now.”

Lena rolled her eyes so hard I thought they’d get stuck. “Of course he does,” she muttered. “Go. Before he bursts a vein.”
I gave her a tight smile, wiped my palms on my jeans, and walked off.

The closer I got to Matthew’s office, the heavier my steps became. I was already rehearsing a calm, professional tone in my head. Yes, sir. No, sir. I’ll fix it, sir, when I push the door open.
And nearly lost my footing.

Someone was sitting comfortably on the chair opposite Matthew’s desk, long legs stretched out, posture relaxed, like he owned the place.
Travis.

My chest slammed painfully, breath hitching before I could stop it.
What the hell is he doing here?

Matthew glanced up at me, irritation briefly flashing across his face before it smoothed into something… calculated.
“Ah, Nyx,” he said. “Come on in.”
My feet obeyed even though my mind was spiraling.

Matthew gestured vaguely in my direction, then turned to him. “Mr. Travis, this is our best painter Nyx Wyatt.”
Best painter.
That alone almost made me laugh.

“Nyx,” Matthew continued, “this is our newest investor. Mr. Travis W. Scott.”
Newest investor.

My uncle.

Here.

At my workplace.

As an investor.

The irony burned.

Travis stood up slowly, his gaze lifting to mine like he’d been waiting for this moment. His expression was unreadable, sharp eyes lingering just a second too long on my face.

“Hi, Miss Wyatt,” he said smoothly, like we were strangers meeting for the first time.
Miss. Wyatt.

I swallowed. “Hello, Mr. Scott.”
Matthew nodded, clearly pleased with himself. “Mr. Scott here has shown a lot of interest in our… top contributors.”
Travis smiled faintly. “So I hear.”

Then, without taking his eyes off me, he added, “Mr. Matthew, can I get a few minutes alone with the biggest supplier of income here as you said?”

The way he said it was cool, deliberately made something tighten in Matthew’s jaw.

“Oh no problem, she will lead you to the lounge.” Matthew said.

“I will have it here,” Travis blurted out.

Fear creeped into me.

He's asking Matthew out of his own office. Just how much did he invest here?

Matthew’s gaze snapped to me, sharp and warning, like I’d orchestrated this.

“What?” I blurted before I could stop myself.

Matthew stood abruptly, his chair scraping against the floor. He leaned closer to me, voice low and dangerous. “Behave.”

Then, unbelievably, he turned on his heel and walked out, slamming the door behind him.

I stood frozen.

Matthew left his office.

For Travis.

The silence stretched, thick and suffocating.

Travis finally sat back down, folding his hands together, studying me like a piece of art he’d already decided to buy.

“Well,” he said calmly, “this is awkward.”

My heart pounded violently in my ears. “You had no right coming here.”

A corner of his mouth lifted. “I had every right. I’m an investor now.”

“You did this on purpose.”

“Of course I did.”

I clenched my fists. “Why?”

He leaned forward slightly, voice dropping.

He put his hand on what’s mine.
A sharp laugh tore out of me before I could stop it. “I’m not yours,” I snapped. “You have a pregnant fiancée.”

For a split second, something ugly flashed across his face,raw anger. Then it vanished, replaced with that cold certainty that always made my skin prickle.

“That doesn’t matter,” he said.
My heart sank, he didn't even deny it. Like I was hoping.

My hand slammed into his chest before I could think. The solid thud echoed in the office. “It matters,” I said fiercely. “You made me part of something that hurts another woman.”

The confidence faltered. Just a little. Hurt flickered in his eyes.

“I don’t love her,” he said quietly.
The words punched the air out of my lungs.

“And you love me?” I asked, my voice brittle.

He didn’t answer.

The silence was enough.
A bitter smile curved my lips. “You’re wicked,” I said. “A liar. And you should stay away from me. It’s already bad enough what we did. I don’t need your protection.”

He moved before I could step back, closing the distance, presence overwhelming. His hand hooked around my ass, grabbing a fistful, he pulls me closer, possessive and unapologetic.

I gasped, more in shock than anything else.

“This,” he said slowly, tapping my ass his voice brushing my ear like a threat, “is mine. And so are you. Every reckless part.”

My pulse went wild, my body betraying me even as my mind screamed no. My breathing picks up at our close proximity.

“And I’m here,” he continued, “to make sure your boss never forgets that.”

“I’m your nie…” I started, the word burning my tongue.

He cut me off instantly, jaw tightening. “I remember,” he said roughly. “And I also remember telling you how hard that reminder makes me. And if you finish that sentence, I will fuck you on this desk and leave your fluid on this desk for your boss to find.”

Jesus help me.

Heat curled low in my stomach, unwanted and infuriating. I pressed my thighs together, trying to ground myself, still struggling against his hold.

“But you said you wouldn’t hurt him,” I whispered.
His gaze darkened. “I never said that.”
Something in me snapped.

My hand flew up and cracked against his cheek.

“I hate you.”

For a moment, everything stilled.

Then he released me slowly, his hand shifting to my throat, not tight enough to hurt, just enough to remind me how easily he could control the space between us. My breath hitched, my body traitorously softening even as anger burned behind my eyes.

“You say you don’t want me,” he murmured. “You tell me to stay away. But you keep coming back, grinding your needy pussy on my knees and you got the guts to tell me you hate me. Hypocrite.”

I flinch at his insult.

His thumb brushed my jaw, deliberate, knowing. “You feel it too.”

I hated that he was right.
I hated that my body responded even when my heart was screaming to run.
And most of all, I hated that when he finally stepped back, leaving me shaking and breathless, I wanted him back in my space.

But I said the opposite.

“You are never going to touch me again. That woman with your child deserves bet
ter.”

His jaw ticked. He was silent for a while but I could feel the anger radiating off of him.

“Then you won't be blamed for what's to come.”

He pulled out his phone, dialed a number. “Get back in,”