Chapter 4

SABRINA

"As you can see, if we push our hair products to other countries like Germany, we are sure to increase significant sales in the next four months," I said, avoiding eye contact with the man at the end of the long table who was glaring at me, not even taking his eyes off me when Lily started her presentation.

"So, if we start with doing marketing strategies in other countries, we are going to see a 60% increase in our cosmetic and hair products," Lily finished the presentation.

"Hmm" Despite the palpable sensation of his gaze lingering on me, I refused to look his way, my reluctance driven more by a lack of courage than anything else.

A lot of questions ran through my head when he walked into the room, and I was sure that I would throw up at that moment. From the moment our eyes met, I didn't see the recognition run through them, almost like he knew who I was, which was confirmed when he called my name.

But he couldn't remember that I was the one he took to the hotel last night. We were coming from the club, of all things; he must have been drunk. Plus, he's also known to take women home every night, so most likely he won't remember the faces of the women he fucks.

I pray he didn't.

I can't even begin to comprehend the fact that I fucking slept with my boss the night before I was supposed to have a meeting with him.

There's no fucking way.

We stood in silence, Williams eyes dashing between me and Lily, before settling on me, then he closed the file in front of him and leaned back on his chair.

"This is perfect ladies; thank you. I'll send this over to the marketing team, and then we will wait to hear back from them in a couple of weeks," he nodded at us.

"That will be all. Keep up the work."

Lily beamed at the praise, and the trilling of hair increased.

Lily has been drooling over him from the moment that William set foot through the door, so much so that I worried her eyes would change to heart-shaped.

She had been fanning over him even before she knew what he looked like, but now that he had his eyes on us, mostly me, she buffed her chest as she presented, making her boobs a bit more obvious, and she moved seductively slowly.

And I begged the heavens that he would pay attention to her, but it seems that the heavens were glad to mock me today.

Among the list of things that they did wrong.

Joyous that my torture was over, I unplugged my laptop from the monitor and put it in my bag, along with the charger, before following Lily.

"Miss Sabrina"

I froze, my heart pumping faster at the sound of my name.

"Please stay behind; I need to see you."

This cannot be happening.

Lily raised her eyebrow at me, glaring between me and William, questions running through her head, and mostly jealousy through her veins.

"Miss Sabrina?"

I stare at Lily, pleading to rescue me from this situation, but she just pouts and walks out of the room, strapping me alone with him.

Fuck.

I took a deep breath, wishing that the ground would open up and swallow me whole or that a meteorite would fall down and strike this building—anything to get me out of this predicament.

With heavy steps, I turned around to face; my heart stuck in my throat when our eyes met.

He's every bit as intimidating as he was last night, and I would argue even more at this moment—his back to the sunlight, drowning him in the shadows.

But one thing that stood out in the darkness was his seemingly glowing eyes, which pierced mine.

We stood like that, my blood pumping and ringing in my ears as we stared at each other. He rested on the left arm of the chair, his eyes studying every inch of my body.

I felt exposed to him, even though I'm wearing clothes.

"Do you need help with something, Mr. Ciro?" I broke the silence, not able to bear the silence anymore.

"Mr. Ciro? That wasn't what you were moaning last night."

Heat rushed to my face, and I hissed at him, "Keep your voice down; someone can hear you."

"Why? Are you ashamed of the amazing night we spent together?" He smiled at me and said, "Because I'm 100 percent sure that I'm not."

Even with a smile on his face, his face still cold, the look alone could strike fear in the heart of anyone who would cross him, but I'm far too embarrassed to care.

"I wouldn't doubt it; after all, you love circling women," I snapped.

He chuckled. "I see that you have heard the rumors."

"Less of a rumor and more like truth," I said, crossing my arms.

"There are some truths to it, yes," he admitted.

"While we were on the subject of truth," I walked closer. "When you told me you knew who I was, but I didn't know who you were, you knew I was your employee and that you just granted me promotion, right?"

He stayed silent for a while, studying my expression before nodding, "To an extent, yes."

"What does that even mean, to an extent?"

He didn't answer.

An irritated exhale escaped me at his silence. "And Mike, how are you connected to him? And don't tell me you're friends, because I know all of his friends, and he has never mentioned you."

He still remained silent, his fingers tapping on the wooden handle of the chair.

"Well?" I pressed.

"It's- complicated," he answered, but the answer only irritated me more.

What's with all the fucking secrets around Mike and him? I know I shouldn't care; after all, Mike and I are done, but I can't help but be curious about the truth he has been hiding from me.

Mike already hid the affair from me; there has to be something William is hiding from me.

"I have to say, Sabrina, you look beautiful this morning for someone who could barely walk last night."

My cheeks flushed deeper with embarrassment, and I couldn't help but emit a sharp exhale at his words.

I could barely walk now, but I wasn't going to stroke his ego.

"Get ahead of yourself, love; I've experienced better." I lied.

"Sure," he smiled.

He's teasing me, he's making me embarrassed on purpose, he's playing me, and he's enjoying my reaction.

I'm putting an end to it.

"Listen here and listen good." I stepped even closer. "What happened to us was a mistake. I was drunk and stupid; this will be the last time this happens."

I pointed at him "You will forget it ever happened, and you will forget about me. From now on, the only relationship between us will be strictly work-related. Understand?"

The tapping stopped, and he smiled again, but it was- colder. "It's very cute of you to think that you can dictate where this will go."

"Excuse me?"

The sound of wood scratching against the floor rang across the room as he stood up. I stood frozen as he walked towards me almost manically, approaching me like prey, his eyes keeping the promise of the punishment if I moved, and I stood like a deer caught in a headlight.

He towered over me, his hand lifting up to run a finger across my cheeks, the sensation sending several shivers up my spine.

"You think I'll let you go after last night? To let you move on so that another man touches you," he chuckled, and another shiver ran up my back.

He grabbed my cheeks to keep them in place and leaned downward until he reached my ear.

"You're mine now, Sabrina, and you'll do well to remember it."