I'd never forget this moment of how he stared at me with his eyes filled with amusement. Of course it was at the expense of me burning in embarrassment from what he caught me saying but it still didn't surpass its rarity.
My reddened face didn't last long though, when I realized that we were in an enclosed space alone together. He had some nerve coming into my office after what just transpired today.
"Why are you here?" I asked through my clenched teeth. It was bad enough that he stumped my whole idea into the ground but invading my space of sanctuary is where I drew the damn line.
"Ignoring the question?" He moved to sit in one of the chairs that was for the guest in my office.
Something that I didn't considered him as
As he passed me by the scent of his cologne lingered in the air. It wasn't too much to bear, no it was just right. It was masculine so much so that I wanted to embed my lips all across his skin just to taste and smell it.
Okay that took a wrong turn
"If that's the only thing you gathered from that sentence then you're far more vain than I thought." I huffed trying to gather my wits.
I didn't expect it but a snort escaped his pressed lips.
"Self-care does not automatically qualify you as vain Miss. Hayes but I won't waste your time in saying that I am not rather fond of myself." He says flicking a piece of lint off his suit before turning to face me.
Curse him
"I'm going to ask you again, why are you here?" I say but this time with a warning in my voice.
He sighed before answering. "Sit down Miss. Hayes there's not need for any more hostility."
I shook my head. "No thank you." I say crossing my hands over my chest. My right leg stretched out tapping my pointed heel on the floor as I grew impatient.
His eyes trailed over my body as he leaned back in my chair like he owned the damn place with his hand over his chin as if he was thinking.
I didn't like the feeling of the shivers that went up my spine at his glaze and from the looks of it he could tell the pathetic effect he had on me too. The tension in the room was thick but no one made a move to do something about it.
"I see that you got the invite to the charity event that I am hosting. I hope that after today that you will still be in attendance?" He asked feigning hopefulness.
I snickered out loud eventually putting two and two together on why he was really here in the first place.
I could count on my hands and toes how many civil conversations we had like this. He honestly couldn't believe that he was fooling me, not in the slightest.
"Let me guess, Isaac forced you to come and seek me out am I right or am I right?" I ask pleased with my conclusions.
He didn't respond only standing up and closing the distance between us, quicker than my brain could process. His height towered over me but that wasn't really saying much since I was five foot four and he appeared to be six.
He spared me a glance before he leaned forward blessing and engulfing me with his rich scent.
"One day you're going to get in that little head of yours that I never do something that I do not want to do Salem." He whispered my name against my ear almost releasing a gasp from my lips.
"I look forward to seeing you this evening." He says before leaving my office and shutting the door.
"Stop it." I said berating myself out loud because of my impure thoughts and the fact that my heart was beating like a drum.
Winston Levingston was old enough to be my father and I had a boyfriend for goodness sakes.
I refused to think about fucking him raw on my desk when he probably couldn't even keep up or in other words get it up long enough.
Now Salem do you really believe that?
• • • •
"Babe you look amazing in this dress." I blushed as Caleb twirled me around in the middle of the ballroom dance floor. He had said it multiple times tonight, so much that I had began to lose count. But my reactions to his compliments never changed.
My dress was black with silky fabric and thin straps that made a cross on my bare back. The front was a cow-neckline showing a good amount of cleavage that was pushed up by a bodice.
I guess it was an overall beautiful dress and it clings to my figure quite well.
Caleb had chosen a typical black tuxedo but then again it didn't matter because he made anything look well on him. I was actually surprised that he accompanied me tonight when he hated socializing and so did I when it came to some of these people.
As much as it pained me to say Mr. Levingston had done an immaculate job. As he always did when it came to these sorts of things. He's been everywhere all night and not once did he even look my way.
While I was glad at that and quick to forget the clear tension between us earlier. Another part of me deep down wanted him to.
"Woah." I giggled as Caleb dipped me.
"Someone's mind is running a hundred miles per hour, what's going on in that brain of yours?" He asks in concern, lifting me back up into his arms.
I dismissed his question with a shrug not willing to disclose any of my thoughts. If I did we would certainly be having another type of discussion.
"Things turned out well tonight." He nodded in agreement as we swayed together. The room was crowded with people who were dressed to the nines. Not at all surprising considering how all of them were swimming in money.
The ballroom had high ceilings painted in beautiful renaissance art and red velvet curtains with golden trim that covered the windows. The dance floor was golden as well and shined brightly as the lights reflected off of it.
The chiming of bells sounded leading everyone back to their respective seats. As Issac, the chief took to the stage rambling on and on about how much of a wonderful addition Mr. Levingston was to the hospital.
That son of a bitch stood in the corner eating the praises all up like the conceited man that he was.
A round of applause soared across the room when Issac gave the floor to Mr. Levingston. I had seen him many of times tonight but never took in his appearance.
He was in his signature color, black in a three piece suit with a waistcoat that fit him well.
Two buttons were undone at the top showing his pale chest with a black cashmere scarf that fell on both sides stopping at his waist.
Then there was his infamous hair that was tied back at the nape of his neck. He looked handsome indeed and I'm sure he knew it too.
I ignored most of his speech just as I did the chiefs but that was until I heard the opening of a children's playroom being built. My eyes shot toward his just to see them already looking back at me.
That mother fucker
"Our adult patients have always come first and so shall the young ones because they are the future. Which is why I believe that this new inclusion will be wonderful for our children."
That pasty bastard couldn't even smile as he held up his drink in the air as a toast. There wasn't one genuine bone in his body. Isaac stood next to him smiling at me as well as if I knew about this.
"Excuse me, I need to use the bathroom." I whispered to Caleb suddenly feeling sick to my stomach.
I rushed out swiftly but not in a way that would cause a scene. My heels clacked down the hallway but not to my said destination.
As I pushed the balcony doors out in front of me I released a breath leaning against the banister.
I could not believe the nerve of that man to take my idea and all the credit for it after embarrassing me in front of the whole board of directors. I had one mind to slap that sneer off his lips.
I didn't understand why I was so surprised, betrayal seemed right up his goddamn alley. I closed my eyes relishing in the peace and quiet but it didn't last long.
"Leaving so soon?" A voice asked from behind me.
I turned around furiously pointing my manicured finger in his face. "You treacherous snake." I hissed stabbing my finger into his broad chest.
He laughed actually showing his teeth and it almost caught me off guard by how beautiful the scene was, key word almost.
"Is this not what you wanted in the first place?" He asked taking a sip of champagne.
It didn't take long for my brain to finally catch up. From the proud smile the chief sent me on stage to him even announcing it.
"You're such a liar you know that?"
"He didn't tell you to come by my office and play nice with me because he already agreed with me from the start didn't he?" I questioned.
"Issac has always had a soft spot for children, of course he wanted it from the start." He spoke unmoved by our chiefs interests.
"That doesn't explain why you dismissed me in front of the whole BOARD OF DIRECTORS!" I shouted going to slap his chest but he caught my hand.
Smirking down at me he placed his drink beside us walking closer to me and as he did I stepped back until my hip hit the edge of the balcony. By then he released my hand as they fell beside me in alarm.
"Because I love getting you all riled up Salem, you make it so easy some times." He said.
"I mean look at you." His eyes took in my body with such a lewd expression that it made my thighs clench together. He leaned forward nuzzling his face into my neck causing me to shiver.
An unwanted squeal released from my mouth when I felt him sniff me.
"Fuck and you smell so heavenly." He whispered rising his head back up.
Shit even him cursing made me turned on
"I normally don't even bother with the likes of your generation but your beauty and intelligence surpass them all." I shook my head not believing a word that he was saying.
"Don't." I mumbled with a shaky breath.
"This cannot happen I have a boyfriend." I said slipping through his touch trying to gather myself.
I grabbed my hair into my hand placing the other on my rapidly beating heart.
I could hear him scoff from behind me and I just knew that he was sneering. "Yes Mr. Caleb Mockavage the son of Melissa Mockvage."
"Junior police officer following in the footsteps of his beloved father, oh I've heard all about him." He said with a rather nonchalant tone.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" I asked turning around.
"Don't be dense Salem surely you know you can do better than that brainless halfwit."
"With who, you?" I stated unimpressed. He didn't answer closing the gap between us again. Wrapping his arm around my waist to pull me to his chest.
"I doubt he is the reason that you're stopping me from ravishing you right here on this balcony, so what is the real reason Salem?" He asked me grabbing my chin with his hand titling my head back.
The sky was dark and the moon shined brightly down on him as if he was an angel but I knew that Mr. Levingston was nothing of the sort.