MARRY ME

SALEM’S POV

The longer we maintained eye contact, the faster my heart beat. It was like his eyes were a vacuum, sucking me in and holding me hostage, and suddenly my mind flashed back to last night.

My mouth fell open, and I stopped breathing… I am not even joking.

He arched a brow at me, and I thought I could see amusement dancing in his eyes. “Miss Grant, how long are you going to keep holding onto me like this?”

I immediately pushed away from him and wrapped my arms around myself.

My face felt like it was on fire.

I was such an idiot.

And now, being fired was the least of my problems. I would be lucky if he didn't have me thrown into jail for harassing him in my drunken state—even though he was the one who kissed me.

But technically, I was the one who texted…

And now I was rambling again.

Someone please help me.

I don’t need much, just for the ground to open up and swallow me… yes, that would be highly appreciated right about now.

He snapped his fingers in front of my face, and I quickly blinked, returning to reality.

“Did you hear what I said, Miss Grant?” he asked.

I quickly bowed my head. “Mr. Knight, I am sorry. My actions have been so unprofessional of late, and uncalled for… I swear that it will never happen again. Just please don’t fire me. I cannot—”

“What are you even talking about? Why would I fire you?”

Was he serious?

There was a plethora of reasons why I should be fired, the main one being that… oh, I maybe had drunken sex with my boss last night?

I looked up at him and gulped. “Well, because…”

He smirked and took a step closer to me, dangerously slow, like a lion cornering his prey. My eyes widened, and I stepped back. He stepped forward, and I moved back again until I was trapped between him and the wall.

“S-Sir.”

Was there no one in the corridor?

They could literally see what was happening and stop it, so why was this happening? And why was my body tingling with a foreign emotion that I couldn’t quite understand?

He slowly ran his tongue over his lips before leaning down to ear level. “On second thought, maybe I should have you punished for leaving me like that this morning.”

“…”

What was going on right now?

“Respond to me when I ask you a question, Miss Grant,” he said.

My entire body was trembling. “S-Sir, there was an emergency at the hospital, and I rushed over.”

He reached out his hand and twirled a stray strand of my hair. “What could be more important than your boss, huh?”

I sniffled, and a tear leaked from my eye.

His face morphed into one of worry.

“Miss Grant, talk to me. What is the matter?”

“It’s my father,” I sniffled.

“What is wrong with your father?” he asked.

“He had a stroke, and he needs surgery soon. If not, he might not make it,” I said, wiping my eyes. “The cost of the surgery is three million dollars, and Mum has decided that we sell the house and move back to our hometown. So even if you don’t fire me, I don’t think I can keep working for long anyway.”

“I’ll pay it,” he said.

My mouth nearly dropped to the floor.

I shook my head. “No, no, I cannot possibly accept that, Mr. Knight. But thank you for your kindness.”

“Miss Grant!” His voice was sharp, cutting me off. “I want to help an employee of mine, and as your boss, you should obey me.”

I bit my lip, still unsure.

“Miss Grant, do you really want to leave behind everything that you have worked for when you can just take my help?”

I actually thought about it.

The boss was offering his help. If I accepted, I would be able to pay him back little by little. It didn't matter how long it took. I didn't take handouts, but I would find a way to repay him.

This money could do so much good for us.

It could save Father’s life…

No one knew how long it would take for Mum to sell the house, but this was money that we could have right now.

And lastly, we could stay here.

We would not have to go back to Folks View Island.

I could keep working. Mum would not have to sell the house she and Dad worked so hard to build.

We would not have to step foot on Folks View Island again.

“Okay,” I said. “I’ll accept your help.”

He smiled. “Good choice.”

I cleared my throat. “I should go see my dad—”

“On one condition.”

I stopped dead in my tracks.

Of course.

Mr. Atlas Knight was the CEO of a massive company, and if there was one thing I knew about greedy capitalists, it was that they never did anything for free.

I should have known he would be no different.

“What do you want?” I asked.

“Marry me.”

I choked on my own spit. “What did you say?”

“I said you should marry me, Miss Grant.”

“What about your girlfriend?” I asked.

He frowned at me. “What girlfriend?”

Why was he acting clueless?

Everyone knew that he was smitten with Miss Marilyn Smith. Her father was one of the biggest business moguls in the entire city, and she also worked at Knight Company Ltd.

She was always in his office, and she was the only exception to his coldness.

Why was he suddenly suggesting making me a home wrecker?

And I knew how hypocritical I sounded, especially after I had already slept with him last night.

Still, what did he want to achieve?

“Why are you thinking so much?”

“Mr. Knight, this—”

“Shh,” he said, placing his hand over my lips to shut me up. “Just think about it carefully, and I will see you soon, Miss Grant.”

And with that, he simply walked away.