003: Don't Pretend You Don't Know

-Eve-

Dominic Kingston, COO of Kings Corp and heir to the Kingston Conglomerate, is known for his cold, unfazed expression and spotless public image. Little is known about his personal life, which only adds to the mystery around him.

Beneath the article sat a photo of him at an event, perfect tux, drawn lips, and eyes like he'd rather be anywhere else. Even in pixels, he looked untouchable.

I dropped the phone with a small groan.

“So let me get this straight,” Sally began as she made dinner. “You got on your boss’s bad side on your first day, and now you think he’s the voice behind the audio instructions you listen to every night?”

I sighed. “Not every night, Sal. But yes. Can’t you see, Dom is short for Dominic—”

“And Dominant,” Sal said flatly, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. “Isn’t that why you listen to those audios, E?” She paused, stirring the pan of veggies like her life depended on it.

“Why would he, the heir to the Kingston Conglomerate be out here making erotic audios for women? Does that even make sense? His family basically owns the country. They’ve got, like, a crest, old estates with fancy names, servants, all that old-money drama.”

I nodded. Logically, she was right. There was no reason for Dominic Kingston to do that. I couldn’t even picture it. But I could still hear the way he said “I like the way listen to instructions,” and it made my stomach flip.

“You’re right, besides, a lot of people sound the same.”

“That’s right,” she said, smirking. “And let’s never bring this up again. Ever. I mean it, E. Something are better left in your earphones.

“Sal!” I groaned, but she was already cracking up.

The following day at work, I tried my best to keep my head down, and to keep my mouth of anyone’s business. Yesterday was what Alex called, merely a coincidence.

“Hey newbie,” Monica from the next cubicle called, “Alex wants to see you.”

“Me? Why?”

She shrugged, barely hiding the smirk on her face. “No idea.”

The way she said it made me uneasy, like there was something she knew and I didn’t. I was right.

When I reached Alex’s office, he was in the middle of a call. His voice sounded so smooth and easy like it convince anyone to buy air.

“Yes sir?”

He smiled faintly, “You can drop the sir, makes me feel fifty.”

I smiled back with a small nod.

“So, the COO wants to review the new ad mockups for KLuxe in conference room 3B. Just hand the drive to him, and if he asks anything simple, answer, okay?

My stomach flipped.

“Why me?”

“Because I have to join an important meeting and you’re the only one not pretending to be busy. Relax,” he grinned, “And look alive. Good luck.”

I muttered a thank you then took the flash drive. As I passed by, I caught Monica’s knowing grin over her screen. She had done this on purpose—made me a sacrificial lamb.

I headed to the conference room, and when I entered, the air felt cold and heavy. It wasn’t because of the air conditioning, but him.

I waited while two others stood next to him, offering a profuse apology, like they all knew that their jobs were on the line. My heart thudded when they finally left.

Put yourself together, Eve. It’s just a delivery. I told myself as I walked toward him. His seat suddenly felt faraway. Thankfully, his eyes were glued to his screen.

Once I reached him, I froze, unsure of what to say or do.

At that moment, he briefly raised his eyes to me, then it returned.

“Eve Keller,” he finally said. My throat went dry, he remembers.

“Where’s Alex?” He questioned flatly.

“He’s in a meeting.” I murmured, swallowing hard. “He asked me to bring the drive. It contains the mockup.” I added, stating the obvious.

He scoffed. “Present it.”

I blinked. “Sir?”

This time, he shot me a glare, then pointed at the projector. “If you can speak, you can present.”

I nodded, reminding myself that I was a marketer. Stumbling once—no, twice, I reached the device.

God. Was this payback for yesterday?

I plugged the flash in, fumbling with the projector remote, whilst praying my palms wouldn’t leave sweat marks on it. I found the folder, and finally, the slides came on.

A small sigh.

It was gold bottle glowing under soft light, models draped in silk, with word LURE etched across the bottom. I quickly did a run through, prepping myself to improvise.

“The campaign is… supposed to highlight elegance and attraction—”

“Supposed to?” His voice sliced through my nerves.

I flinched. “I mean, it’s meant to evoke—”

It suddenly felt like air had left the room, but he wouldn’t stop talking. “Tell me what you see when you look at that screen, Miss Keller.”

What I could see? My mind went blank, but I forced myself to speak. At least it was better than standing there, looking dumb. “Desire,” I whispered. “Confidence. Want.”

“Desire?” He leaned back. “You sound certain. Have you even smelled the prototype?”

How was I supposed to smell an unreleased product? Hell, how was I supposed to know anything, I just got here!

“No, sir. Not yet.”

His fingers thumped the table in a steady rhythm, his expression barely hiding his disappointment. “Then you’re describing something you don’t understand.”

My cheeks burned with embarrassment. “I was following the creative brief.” I admitted.

“And do you always hide behind other people’s ideas?” His tone sharpened. “Or is that just how you survive?”

His words suddenly felt personal. “I don’t hide—”

“Then look at me when you speak,” he said, rising.

I did, and regretted it. His eyes were cold and intimidating, like they could bore through every secret hidden inside you.

“I—” The word barely escaped before he stepped in front of me.

Why? Please don’t make this harder for me. I silently begged.

This campaign,” he said quietly, “is about allure.”

The way his voice dropped when he said it made my body react in ways it shouldn’t have. My stomach clenched as a surge of heat course through my body.

This is unacceptable. I told myself.

He voice grew lower as he took a step closer. “Tell me, Miss Keller... have you ever felt that? Allure?”

I shuddered. There was that sinful timbre again.

My mouth parted as I tried to breathe, to think. “I—yes,” I stammered.

His mouth curled up, but it wasn’t a smile. “Then why do you keep flinching at the mention of it?”

It was only then I realized how tall he was, towering above me as if to claim.

“I’m not flinching,” I murmured, though my voice betrayed me.

He smirked, “That’s a lie, Miss Keller.”

The words sent shivers down my spine, I hated that he was right. He took another step, and before I could move back, the wall caught me. My eyes widened and my pulse spiked.

God, what was happening to me?

He placed his hand beside my head, leaning just close enough until there was barely any distance left. I should have done something, my mind screamed at me to, but my body protested, staring at places I shouldn’t have.

He scoffed, like he knew something I didn't, and it was unnerving. “Next time you speak to me, Eve Keller,” he murmured, “don’t pretend you don’t know who I am.”

My heart stopped, and for a second, neither of us moved. His breath was warm against my cheeks, seeping into my skin against the coldness that had just wrapped me.

Then just like that, he stepped back, like he had said too much.

“You’re dismissed,” he said, turning away.

Quietly, I left before my knees gave out.

Outside, I finally remembered how to breathe. My heart pounded like it was seconds away from exploding, and yet, all I could think was:

What did he mean by that?