Chapter 10 Chapter 10
Selena
My eyes widened. It was the end.
The sound was too loud for them not to notice.
‘What should I do?’
I could hear footsteps approaching.
I picked up my phone and turned to head back to my office.
“What are you doing?”
I stilled at Theodore’s deep voice. My legs suddenly became too heavy to move.
What should I say that could save me? I closed my eyes. Something has to come out. It won’t do me any good if he gets the hint that I was eavesdropping on them.
I turned slowly, then flashed him a smile. My breaths on a spiral as he gazes at me lazily. My mouth opened and closed like a fish, and then,
“Oh, I was heading to you to hand over the summary of the meeting, but I forgot the tablet so….” I lied, and I should applaud myself because it sounds so real.
But that was just me, because he didn't look convinced. No, there was no expression in his look. Suddenly a wave of doubt washed over me.
“I..I..” I pointed back to my door, not knowing what to do.
His face moved down to my phone placed on my chest, and my heart fell. He couldn't have noticed something and wanted me to bring my phone to him now right?
But instead of saying anything, he went back into his room, shutting the door.
‘He believes it?’
A sigh of relief washed over me. Now, the reflection of my words dwells on me. Should I take the book to him, does he even need it, considering he was at the meeting before me?
But he didn't say anything about not wanting it.
I should be grateful he wasn't pulling a trigger, threatening to take my head off over finding me in the hallway.
I entered my new office, took the book I had documented important details of the meeting in, and made my way out. Of course, I dropped my phone inside my bag.
I wasn't going to expose myself that way.
Later, after work hours, I had send the lady everything about today.
I reached his door and knocked, but heard nothing. He was aware I was coming back so it should be fine right? But what if Ethan was there?
A minute.
Two.
I opened the door, entering inside, only to be struck in awe.
The interior was of a dark design on the wall, the perfect modern office. Couch in the middle. And on the table is his nameplate. Maybe my awe wasn't of its beauty but of how dangerous its simplicity was.
Like, I had murdered you, and yet no evidence will be found.
My shoulder shivers at the thought.
And my eyes should have stopped on the table, but instead, they moved upward to the owner of the office. Theodore Mateo.
“Everything seemed to amuse you.”
A hiccup slipped out of me. I closed my eyes in embarrassment. What the hell was wrong with me, reacting with a hiccup just because he has a slightly perfect voice?
‘Not slightly.’ My inner voice added.
But the hiccup doesn't stop. And my face flushed red.
“I’m sorry,” I murmured, bowing my head. I dared not look up now.
“Here.”
A cup of water is placed in front of me. Instead, my eyes trailed his large hands. The veins lined, heating my ears up.
There were things I found attractive in a man. My first focus has always been the face, and that was all that was needed. And that’s why I had fallen for Noah.
Sudden bitterness traced my lips. I took the cup from him, still not looking at him. His veiny hands no longer appealing.
I sipped from the water.
Over the weeks, Noah never stopped trying to call or stop sending messages.
Apologizing. He said he was sorry. He wanted us to be back. Again he has made promises.
I closed my eyes, then sighed against the glass of water. It was hurting, because he seemed sincere.
Noah has always been there for me, he has tolerated me for so long, so what if, just what if this was the time I do the same.
But he cheated.
“You seemed to have so much thought.”
Indeed I do.
I looked up this time, and he was already seated in his chair. Have I failed to notice it when I came in? Because his shirt buttons were open, revealing the skin of his chest.
Theodore Mateo was handsome, dangerously handsome. One that should be dimmed as a threat.
“Um, here is the book.” I walked to him, placing the book in front of him. Again, his eyes followed me. And we locked gaze.
Green eyes. Enticing, searching like he needed something from me.
“I’ll leave now.” I moved, backing him to place the cup on the table.
“Stay.”
I froze.
What does every word from him call a command? I turned towards him, and his eyes were on me, like it never left.
A minute passed.
Two,
Three.
With me trying to break the heavy contact. Each second weakening my legs.
“You have beautiful eyes, Selena.”
My heart beat louder. Louder than it had ever been in years. His words echoed in my ears, drumming loudly, softly.
“They dazzled like an opal. It edges a cascade of light.”
My breath caught. All of a sudden I could hear faint sounds, and my heart beat sporadically. It was a compliment.
But why?
Why would he say that about my eyes? Why did he find my eyes that way?
Or….
It couldn't be that he was suddenly enticed by them and wanted them out right?
He was Theodore Mateo, what if he was like Alexei? Alexei was an artist whom I had come across online.
His pages were filled with human eyes, painted and put on display. It was insane yet he had a large following of crazy people.
His painting of the human eyes has so much depth, that I was convinced he had gone great lengths to achieve that. His paintings were terrifying.
So what if Theodore was that way? Or maybe he will sell my eyes off after taking them out.
No justice would be brought to me. Josh had probably found me later without eyes and then…
“Whatever your thoughts are, it isn't of that.”
I swallowed. How could he tell that?
“I wasn't thinking of anything,” I spoke, but shaped in a murmur.
His gaze turned to the book on the table, and he glanced through it.
If it wasn't that, then why would he say that about my eyes? In a way that no one has ever done. In such a kind voice that is void of evil.
Theodore Mateo wasn't kind. What was spoken about him wasn't kind, and I saw how the workers had handled things.
I was even paid to watch him. So why does it feel he was being kind to me. Or I was been delusional.