Emily's POV
Suzzane has been trying to reach Mr Smith since the moment we got to know about his sudden decision. I'm still in a shock— too stunned to get my brain to work. Why will Mr Smith do that with me at the final moment? Is Olivia behind this?I remember after disappearing for the dare, I didn't show up. Kane didn't let me. Did she think I ditched her and left the venue?Lord! She can't do this just because of a dare. "Emily, are you alright?"I hear Suzzane, laying my head on my desk, my eyes closed. Nodding slowly, I let out a deep sigh and get on my feet. "Are you going somewhere?" She asks."I'm around. Keep trying to reach Mr Smith" I walk out of my small cabin, striding through the corridor. With the cold breeze hitting my skin, I look around at my tiny sector, surrounded by greens, and birds chirping through the nest. It's hard for the sunlight to pass through the deep greens, still, small rays flickering from each angle. This place— this environment always lets me stay calm, no matter how tough the situations are. I have faced another challenge today and that's not new to me. I'm used to it and I know I'll overcome this moment too. I climb up the stairs of my two-storied brick built office. The ground floor occupies the garden along with my cabin and record room and upstairs there's a huge space for our girls to work. It's divided into two sections— one part occupying the trainee girls and another side having the workers. As I reach the upper floor, the noise of little birds in the section chirps inside my head. These birds are none other than my girls, all aged from twelve to eighteen. I peek through the window, finding them laughing and gossiping together. I remember I had a tough time helping them to recover. A year back, they didn't even know how to smile. Now they can laugh, play and talk. Mental health is so freaking important and unfortunately, some dumbass businessman can never think of anything except money. Only if they knew how precious these smiles are, more than money. "They are excited about the new programme," Joanne says, coming out of another section. "I know," I let out a sigh. "I hope I'll be able to keep their smiles on""What happened, Emily?" The thirty years old woman asks. Joanne has been in the workers for more than three years and now she's stable in her life, training the new ones with her best. "Are you alright?""Didn't Nina tell you anything?""Oh! I know that. But I'm not worrying. Because you'll handle it," she taps on my shoulder. "You have been tackling so many lives for three years with a smile. Why are you getting upset today?""I don't know," I walk into the section, discovering others working with the fabric. "Suddenly, it feels like it won't be easy like before"It's unknown to me too. Why am I getting so nervous all of a sudden? I can feel that the experience of last night is taking a toll on my brain. "I don't want their hard work to go in vain. We have so much hope for this project and then the girls—""Everything will be fine. Don't worry," she says. "Emily, can you please come downstairs," Suzzane comes inside panicking. *"Mr David sold his shares to one of his business partners. And he was dealing with you on that specific share. In fact, the big advance amount he gave us is from the same share. His other company which he doesn't even own now," Suzzane explains. I wasn't ready for this mess. How can it be possible? How can Mr Smith sell his shares overnight? Even if he did, I believe that the projects and investments completely depend on the investor, not on the investing company. I listen to Suzzane without uttering a single word. "Why are you silent?" She yelps. "We need to do something as soon as possible"Turning onto my heels, I grab my bag and look straight at her. "I'm going to meet Mr Smith. He has to explain this to me. He holds the responsibility"Frustrated, yet trying to be calm, I march faster towards the door and get interrupted by the clerk."Emily," Fredrick stands in front of me, nervous. "What's wrong? I'm going to Mr Smith's office""I think you don't need to know. The new investor is here to meet you"My eyes open wide in shock. It was unexpected to me that the new investor who eventually cancelled the projects is here to meet me.Why will he even bother to come here?"Who's he?" I gasp."Someone you may want to see again and again, Miss Benson," the familiar husky voice struck my head like a thunderstorm as I look past Fredrick.Kane is standing by the door with a wry smile on his face. I can't help diving into the entire flashback of last night, so hot and intense, still filled with regret and hatred. Damn!My guilty gaze can't stop scanning him from head to toe. Now, I can see him properly after five damn years. He has changed a lot— but still holds the most attractive features. The only difference is his wholesome smile has turned into a vicious one. Whenever he smirks at me and darts his dark gaze, my heart automatically starts thumping.Fuck!This is not the moment to simp over your ex, Emily.I scold myself and gulp down, trying my best to be normal.It takes me a while to come back to reality and realise he's the one to buy Mr Smith's share. Why? Just why? I thought I would never face him. He walks up to me as Fredrick moves from the way. I feel my heart almost coming near to my mouth in nervousness. No one in this agency knows my past with him and I don't even want anyone to know. "Nice to meet you again, Miss Benson," he brings his hand up for a handshake. I want to avoid this at any cost. Feeling his touch is almost next to death to me. I already created a blunder last night just because I couldn't have control over my damn desire.My tensed hand lifts around him as he lightly shakes my hand, looking at me intensely. I nod. "So, if it's possible, can we have a chat over the projects you were having with Mr Smith. I'm handling the projects now," he slides away from his hand from mine and tucks them into his pockets.I nod again. My voice seems to get frozen inside my throat. "Frederick, we should leave," I hear Suzzane saying and walking past me with Fredrick.Tension builds inside me, sensing I'm all alone in this cabin with him. But I have to be professional. At any cost. It's about my agency, my girls, my workers. There's nothing about my past anymore. Nothing matters. "Ka—" I pause. "Mr— Mr Gabriel"I strive to speak looking up only to lose my voice again as Kane abruptly decreases the gap between us. I go out of breath, gaping at his rock hard reaction. "Mr Gabriel, it's— it's my office," I manage to act well even though my inside is burning."And do you think I care, little dove?" His whispers come out both scary and intense, delivering shivers down my spine. A wry smirk crosses his face as he steps closer to me and I step back, keeping my eyes on him. The eye contact is weird and dangerous. I don't know where it's going. It forces me to lower my gaze and step backwards until I stumble behind the desk. My heart stops beating as he leans down to me, grabbing the desk by caging me with his arms. "It's not a— place. Please," I stammer. "Was someone else's wedding venue a proper place to beg me for fucking you?" He groans. "Kane, please," I finally hear my voice aloud. "It— it was just— forget it""It must be easy for you to forget. Not for me. Now since you have given me a pinch of your taste, I want more," with his cosy breath fanning my skin, my eyes enlarge. My entire body feels numb with just one statement. I don't know what he's planning to do. "Well," he pushes himself back, finally making a space between us. I let out a deep sigh. "Let's talk about the work first""Yeah," I speak out right away. "I don't think Mr Smith has given you the project. He gave you the shares, right? There's no point in cancelling my deals with him"Kane folds his lips and scoots back onto the desk behind him and tilts his head at me. This guy!I thought I got over him. I believed I did— only until he crossed my path again. My loins already start aching by the way he's staring at me. "You're still so smart, huh!" He gasps, keeping the smirk on. "Definitely, the first thing in you that took my heart away"I don't react even though his words are affecting me so much. "I knew you were gonna ask that," he shrugs. "So, let me tell you, Miss Benson. I bought the rights Mr Smith had on your project and he happily gave it to me"I'm too stunned to react or speak after what he said. Did he deliberately do that? His wry smile says it all. "Did you— did you deliberately—" I can't even complete as he interrupts me."You took so long to understand this?" He chuckles. I can't believe it. Anger thumps against my veins as I glare at him in disbelief. "No," I whisper. "I believed you could never do such a thing"He pauses to gaze at me for a while, then lets out a small laugh. "You believed? I think you should stop expecting things from me, Em. I don't even remember how I used to be. Why don't you just forget too?" He hops down from the desk and strides toward me again. "I can do anything now. Any fucking thing," reaching closer to my face he seethes.From when did you become so venomous, Kane? I whisper inside even though I know the reason. The nervousness I was feeling until now is gone. I lift my gaze, full of confidence and grit my teeth at him. "Whatever we had is personal, Kane. You don't know anything about my work. It's not about me. You wanna ruin me? What's the fault of those poor girls?" I almost cry out."When did I say I want to ruin you?" His eyebrows draw together, giving a rise to my confusion. "I'm here to fix the deal"I gulp down, sensing the intensity of this situation. Even though I hardly know this man standing in front of me, completely opposite to the one I knew, I can sense how things are gonna mould. He's not going to make it easier for me."H— how?" I murmur. He taps on his phone, keeping his eyes on me. In just a couple of seconds, a guy comes in and hands him a file, disappearing the next moment. "Do you realise that you have taken a huge loan from Mr Smith?" He asks, turning the pages."It wasn't a blind decision. I know what I'm doing. I have been working for three years," I say confidently. His lips stretch at one side in a mockery smile. "And you may lose the agency if I ask you to repay that and you can't," he raises his eyebrows. Terror cramps inside me with his words as I gawk at him in disbelief. "Mr Smith wanted to give willingly. It was nothing like a loan," I exclaim."But he gave it from the share funds," he says. "I hope you understand what that means, Miss Benson""You can't be serious," I screech at the top of my lungs. "I am pretty serious," he leans a bit closer to me. "I told you it's not about me. There's no fault in those people. Why are you doing this?" I groan."Did you let me finish?" He raises his eyebrow. I seal my lips abruptly and gaze at him. "Why didn't I send you the direct notice of paying the debt and end this?" He asks. "Definitely, I'm here with a better offer for you""What?" I ask, pressing the anticipation inside. "I'm ready to continue this project if you agree to provide something in exchange," he whispers, reaching closer to my face. My heart pounds faster as I strive to figure out what he's gonna ask for. "What? What do you want in exchange?" I stammer.The vicious smile crosses his face again and he leans closer, his nose lightly touching mine. My legs freeze and I can't even move to make a distance. "You," he whispers, sending chills down my spine. It shudders me from the core as I gawk at him, widening my eyes. "M— me?" I exclaim. His smile vanishes and his eyes darken at me. I feel his hand sliding up to my throat as he grabs my neck and pulls me against his hard torso, his other arm snaking around my waist. The sharp vengeance of his gaze pierces my skin like a small blaze simmering like a volcano."Yes," a groan escapes his mouth. "You, your body, your soul, your heart, your breath, every fucking thing you have, every single bit of you. I want all" My devastated eyes explode at him in shock and fear when I realise I'm already bound to his shackles and it's too late to escape.Kane She has changed so much— so freaking much that I had to function my brain when I landed here and scanned her from head to toe. This woman aged like fine wine and turned into a drug for me after the last night. I thought I would never be able to get attracted to her anymore. But the hell! She has become even sexier than before. The only difference is I can't find the woman I love anymore. Whenever I look at her, only two things cram inside my chest. Hatred and lust. As she keeps gaping at me in disbelief with her ebony black eyes flaring up in shock, I trace my thumb seductively across her jaw. The nervousness and terror in her eyes and the building tension in her body make her look even more appealing. "It's— that's not possible," she sucks in her breath, struggling to get freed from my grip as I clasp her delicate arms more tightly. "Why so?" "You won't under
EmilyWhen the sun rays enter my room through the window, my eyes are opened wide. I couldn't sleep the entire night, sensing that Kane had been in the living room. I'm so glad that he didn't bang into my room. I literally don't believe him on that. Climbing down from the bed, I slid my feet into the slippers and walk towards the door nervously. It's still the dawn and I believe he's fast asleep. Twisting the knob, I come out of the room, discovering him fast asleep on the couch. The couch is too small to take him all in. His leg is almost on the ground. For a second, I feel bad for not letting him in. It's too cold at night and the living room doesn't even have a furnace. However, I was scared that he would end up taking my leg over again.My legs automatically move towards him with my eyes darting toward his face. Despite trying not to drift my attention to him, I can't help staring at him with my hollow eyes
Kane's POVHer body stiffens with my abrupt question, her gaze darting down. I can see the lines of stress forming on her face as she clutches the clothes tightly in her hands. Stepping inside, I kick back the door, slamming it shut and stride closer to her, leaning toward the closet."Did he leave you?" I shrug, my eyes capturing every small change in her reaction. Her jaw is clenching harder as if she's trying to hold something back. "We got separated," her voice comes out as a groan."And what about the child?""He took him," her voice cracks as she tilts her head aside, slowly wiping her tears off. I keep gazing at her intensely. Why on this damn earth did I fall in love with this woman so much? If I hate her from the core, it's only because she was the one I loved the most. "You didn't try to get your son back?"She remains silent for a whole minute before looking back at me, her eyes simmering. "My past life shouldn't matter to you anymore. I believe there was nothing in the
EmilyWith humiliation, anger boils through my veins. I drop my gaze, swallowing the simmering gossip behind me. I have never thought Kane can stoop so low to do this just to hurt me. He gave me the pen drive with all my paperwork. There's no way such pictures can be in this. When I lift my gaze, I find his eyes on me— steady and intense."Oh! I think there has been some malfunctioning with the projector," Mr Smith speaks out of nowhere. "The wedding pictures got messed up. I'm sorry, gentlemen"He bows and smiles in front of the clients as the lights turn on. Mr Smith is definitely trying to cover up the mess created by us. I can still find the weird gazes sparkling at me. That's so fucking humiliating. "Nova!" Mr Smith calls out. "Until we get the entire presentation fixed, why don't you show us the rough details about the costing""Yeah. Yeah, sure," Nova forces a smile and rushes out of the conference room."Gentlemen, should we check out the rough details of the costs first? My
KaneWho the hell did this to the tire? I kick against it in frustration. There's no way it can get punctured while staying in the same position. That means someone messed up with the last two tires."Isn't there a single-vehicle available?" Nova curls up her face. "No""You have a spare car, right? Where's that?""I asked my driver to drop Miss Benson", I tell her. Nova's reactions stiffen as she pulls on a dirty look."Oh. I should have known that. Anyway, we can cancel the plan then. I'll have dinner with Olivia in the office""No. Wait", I scoff, scratching my head as Nova passes me a wide smile. "We can hire a cab though it's gonna take some time""I can't believe that you really want to go on a dinner date with me""Of course", I smirk. "It's been a long time, right?""Yeah. It's been so long. In fact, it's the first time I can see your interest in having some time with me", she decreases the gap between us. Keeping the smile on, I take a step back. "Let me book a cab"I calle
Kane I'm not supposed to do that. I'm supposed to make her suffer and hurt her as much as I can. But I can't help consuming her painful agony inside me as she whimpers against my arms.I stare at her gorgeous face in the fading moonlight and she looks so innocent and pure as she has always been to me. I used to die for this innocence once and it feels like I have gone back to the same moment. I don't feel like the person I had been for four years. "Kane!" Her moan is more like an urge to feel me as she holds my forearm. Okay, that's it. It's time to just let her ache. I was here to play around anyway. But my grips stay steady and my eyes remain fixed on her, her trembling lips. She squeezes her legs, keeping my hand in between as I feel her hot and wet core inviting me. Why does it feel like a punishment to me? Fuck! It should not. "I won't do that silly act again", her voice comes out more adorable and childish as I recall the clip again. It makes me smile wider and wider. Wh
Author's POVThe atmosphere in Smith International has been heavy since midnight when Nova Brandon got missing. All the major meetings and conferences are put on hold when David has been trying his best to locate Nova. At a moment, Olivia insists on taking the case to the high department of the police commission when Nova finally shows up in the office. Relief gets back to the surroundings, not because all the employees like Nova, but Oliva had forced everyone to worry about her and stopped all the major work.As soon as Nova steps into the office, everyone gets back to work."My goodness, Nova. Where have you been the entire night?" Olivia snaps at Nova, seated in her cabin with her head hanging down."I'm talking to you, Nova. Do you have some sense left? We had been worrying about you the entire night and I don't know where you were messing up with"Nova heaves her head up towards Oliva with her burning gaze."It was all because of you", a groan escapes her mouth, leaving Olivia s
Emily's POVI step into the building with a pounding heart. I don't know how Kane is gonna react if he finds me here. But I couldn't stay back at the cottage when tension was crumbling inside me, knowing Kane might be the last person Nova was with. Nova has been missing and Kane isn't answering my calls since the morning.I badly need to talk to him about Nova's disappearance. When Mr Smith asked me about her, I didn't tell him anything about Kane. God knows why I'm even trying to hide it. I believe Kane isn't straight behind all this but there will be some connection. I walk towards the elevator faster. Kane's cabin is on the next floor."Miss Benson!" Hearing a familiar voice, I turn around, finding one of our clients, Mr Standford standing over there. "Hello, Mr Stanford", I force a smile. After the last incident, I'm still not out of embarrassment. Nonetheless, I'll have to work with these people. There's no point in hiding around."You're late", he folds his lips. "We were ab