Chapter 3

I was currently checking which stocks would be good to buy when someone suddenly knocked on my office door. Even without opening it, I already knew who it was.

None other than Kleinder.

“Go on, sir,” I said briefly while continuing to scroll through the stock report of a company I had just found.

The company’s stock price was fluctuating, rising and falling, but if you looked closely at its momentum, it was undeniably good for short-term investment. Even though it fluctuated, whenever the price went up, it rose higher than the standard price.

It’s perfect since some of my clients were only interested in short-term investments anyway.

I took my green sticky note from the drawer and grabbed a ballpen to write down the name of the company whose stocks I planned to buy.

After finishing, I was about to stick it onto my computer when I jolted slightly in surprise.

Kleinder was already sitting across from me, staring as he played with his black ballpen. It was a Parker pen, yet the way he twirled it made it look like some cheap five-peso pen bought at a corner store.

So classy.

“How long have you been there?” I asked because I hadn’t even noticed him enter my office.

Was I really that focused on what I was reading that I didn’t hear the door open and close?

“Yes. You just didn’t notice because you were busy,” he replied shortly as he leaned back into the swivel chair. “But you did tell me to come in earlier. Maybe you forgot.”

He was right. I had forgotten.

“So what do you need, and why are you here?” I asked him directly.

No beating around the bush. I wanted him to say his agenda already so I could finally grab a snack. Reading about different companies’ stocks always made me hungry.

That was one of the perks of working at Hornbrown Investments. The rule here was that we could eat at any time, as long as we made sure it didn’t affect our work when we went down to the cafeteria.

That was also one of the reasons I preferred Hornbrown Investments over other insurance companies. They value their employees, regardless of position.

Instead of answering, he placed a black folder on my desk. Inside was the business proposal I had submitted earlier, the one about my suggested modifications for the New Jersey branch expansion. If I were fortunate enough to be chosen as the New Jersey Branch Manager, I needed to start improving it now.

“Accepted or rejected?” I asked bluntly, not wanting to open the folder.

What if he rejected it and personally brought it here just to annoy me? I was already hungry. He didn’t need to make my mood worse.

I was also irritated because he was acting as if he hadn’t kissed me earlier. What was that? Did he already forget? Maybe kissing random people was just that normal for him.

“I already signed it,” he replied authoritatively when he noticed my nervousness. “The proposal was good. No revisions needed. I see no reason to reject it.”

I felt myself breathe out in relief. I thought he was going to play games with me. I had spent almost two weeks working on that proposal. 

He better sign it.

“Thank you,” I said shortly as I organized my documents. I’d continue later; my brain wouldn’t function properly when I was hungry. “Do you need anything else?” I added, eager to eat.

“Yes,” he answered before walking closer to me, forcing me to look up at him.

His face was deadly serious as he approached. When he completely closed the distance between us, he suddenly pinned me against the wall, bracing his arms on both sides of me so I couldn’t escape.

At that moment, I forgot how to breathe.

“W-What is it?” I asked, unable to understand why I suddenly stuttered when his face was this close.

I felt intoxicated by the way he was looking at me. I couldn’t read the other emotion in his eyes, but one thing, I was absolutely sure of.

Desire.

“You,” he said.

I blinked and tilted my head slightly, not immediately understanding, probably because I was too focused on his face to think straight.

“I want you, Sandara,” he said, and once again, I froze when he captured my lips in a kiss.

I closed my eyes instinctively, overwhelmed by the sensation as Kleinder continued kissing me. I clung to his back while his hands held my waist, steadying me because my knees were starting to weaken.

He lifted me and seated me on the desk, his hands roaming over different parts of my body, never once breaking our kiss.

He made me sit on the table without breaking our lip contact.

I felt euphoric, his kisses draining whatever remaining energy I had.

I didn’t know why, but I felt myself starting to like what he was doing to me. Is this what it feels like to be kissed? It was intoxicating.

I felt like I wanted more.

I was scared of where this could lead, yet I couldn’t move to stop him.

All I could do was cling to his back and accept the pleasure he was giving me.

“You smell good,” he said in a husky voice as his kisses traveled down to my neck. He sucked gently, as if careful not to hurt me, but I winced when he lightly bit my neck.

The pain snapped me back to reality.

That bite was enough to wake me up, and I shoved him away hard.

“What do you think you’re doing, Kleinder?” Thankfully, despite the trembling in my muscles, I didn’t stutter.

I didn’t know what possessed me earlier, letting his kisses reach my neck. I wanted to smash my head against the wall, but later. First, I needed to escape this situation.

“I told you I want you,” he said firmly as he wiped a trace of saliva from his mouth.

He looked pissed. Like someone had interrupted him in the middle of eating his favorite meal. Because I pushed him so hard, there was now enough distance between us. 

When he tried to step closer again, I quickly moved to the other side of the desk and grabbed the umbrella lying on top of it.

“What are you doing?” His expression softened as his gaze dropped to the umbrella in my hand.

He tilted his head slightly, clearly confused as to why I suddenly grabbed an umbrella after backing away from him.

“If you come any closer, I’ll really hit you with this,” I threatened, raising the umbrella at him. My brows furrowed when he didn’t even flinch or try to avoid it.

“Don’t worry. I’m not the type to force someone if they don’t want it.”

He raised both hands as if surrendering, but I didn’t let my guard down, especially not with him.

“You want me naked and moaning under you, don’t you?” I said, causing his eyes to widen briefly before he smirked and shoved his hands into his pockets. “Sorry, but the feeling isn’t mutual, Mr. Velasco. I just want to work and get rich, okay? I don’t have time for that crap.”

After that speech, my gaze unintentionally dropped to his lower body, and I couldn’t hide my shock when I saw how pronounced the bulge between his thighs was. I gasped.

“Why are you staring at it like that, Vernace?” he asked casually. His face darkened as his gaze traveled from my lips down to my collarbone. “Don’t you realize you’re the reason it’s like that? Your words alone are enough to turn me on, but the way you’re looking makes it even worse.”

I could only shake my head at him. “You’re a hopeless case.”

“So are you,” he replied, making me raise an eyebrow.

“And why?” I kept the umbrella aimed at him. I had no intention of letting it go.

“Because this is the first time someone has rejected me after tasting my lips.”

“Then it’s my honor.” My grin widened at that. It was oddly satisfying to know I was the first woman to damage his oversized ego. “From now on, don’t talk to me unless it’s about work. We should maintain an employer–employee relationship, don’t you think?” I added, staring him down.

“What if I don’t want to?” he asked.

“You don’t have a choice,” I stated firmly. “You can’t manipulate me, sir. That’s the last thing I’ll ever allow you to do to me. Now, if you’ll excuse me—”

I ended the conversation and walked quickly out of my office, even though he was the one who should have left.