19

19

For three seconds, no one moved.

Killian stood frozen in the doorway, his eyes locked on Luke's bare, red back and Imani's hands — gentle, intimate — on his skin. Imani was kneeling behind Luke on the couch, her fingers still slick with burn ointment, her face flushed from panic.

Luke was the first to recover but he didn't let go of Imani's wrist.

Imani didquickly pulled Luke's shirt back down over his shoulders to cover his burn, wiping her hands on a tissue.

"Killian?" she said, her voice sharp. "What are you doing in my office? Again?"

Killian didn't answer. He wasn't looking at her. He was glaring at Luke like he wanted to rip him off that couch.

The file in his hand — the real, no-conditions partnership proposal — crumpled a little more in his fist.

Luke smirked through the pain, leaning back like he owned the couch.

"Mr. Morgan, you can’t just barge in here…" Luke said, his voice hoarse but cocky. "Didn't Emily tell you Imani is busy today?"

Killian's jaw clenched so hard a vein popped. "Please leave, Mr Anderson,” he said to Luke, low and dangerous. "Excuse us. I need to talk to Imani. Alone."

Luke laughed. "No. I don't think so. I'm a business partner with Imani now. Whatever you have to say to her, you can say in front of me.” He said proudly slightly turning his face to Imani, “Right, Imani? We have no secrets now."

Imani's blood boiled, if there’s anyone who hates Luke’s gut more, it’s her.

"Luke," she said quietly. "Excuse us."

Luke's smile faltered. "Imani, I—"

"Excuse us!" she snapped. "Now! Go wait in the conference room!"

Luke stood up slowly, holding his back, throwing Killian a look that screamed this isn't over. He limped out, leaving the door slightly open so he could listen.

The office went silent.

Killian walked in and slammed the door shut — locked it.

“I rushed over more than anyone when I heard the shareholders are at your neck….It appears as a shock that you, Imani Shawn, chose Luke as your helper?” He began, looking at Imani dead straight into her eyes.

“I made my choice. Do I need to explain it?”

"Think things through, Imani," he said, his voice dropping from anger to something urgent. "Before you allow Luke into your space. Into your company. Into your house. Think! You know who he is! For the last time I checked, he was the one who kept hurting you!”

Imani's defenses shot up instantly. "Shut up!" she shouted at him. "Shut your mouth and mind your business, Killian Morgan! You don't get to barge into my office and tell me who I can work with! You know nothing!” She snapped at him.

Killan slipped his hands into his hair, “Imani, Do you even know what—”

Imani shut him up with something else, “Where did you get that watch? Who gave it to you?” She pointed out to the watch.

“Are we seriously going to talk about my watch now? When your company is at stake?” Killan fired back at her.

“Yes. That watch is more than my company to me.” Imani said while Killan scoffed.

He slips his hand into his pocket and leaned down, his voice a low whisper.

"Just like I'm not allowed in your business, Imani... my watch is none of your business. Who I got it from or give it to is not something I can tell you. I hope you understand that,” With that Killan turned but before he left he dropped the crumpled file on her desk.

"The real proposal. The one that would make your shareholders stay a longer time. Read it. Or throw it away. I don't care anymore."

He unlocked the door, yanked it open, and found Luke right there, pretending to be on his phone when he had been eavesdropping.

Killian looked him dead in the eye.

"And you, Mr Luke? Next time you want a burn to look real, make sure the water is actually hot. That coffee was lukewarm." Luke's face went white.

Killian walked away, leaving the door wide open. Imani stood there, thinking about what Killan had came to tell her. She looked over at his file, she picked it up and toss it into the trash can.

“Tsk, you can’t help me. Who is he to offer me help?” She told herself.

Luke came back in, wearing his fake smile, “Should we go out to celebrate our new win? I mean, it’s such a huge—”

Imani shot him a glare, “Have you forgotten? I only accepted you for the sake of the shareholders. You and I are nothing aside that.” Imani snapped at him, looking away.

“But Imani—”

“Your time is up. You may leave,” Imani cut him off.

He cleared his throat and left. Imani breathed out deeply… “All of these will be over in few days,”