THE UNEXPLORED PART OF SOPHIA

MY phone chimed.

New Message from CAN: Nice meeting you. Hope I didn’t come on too strong.

I stared at the screen. Simple. Respectful. A good start.

I typed: Not at all. You were charming.

My finger hovers around the send button and then I delete the response. I looked at myself in the hallway mirror. The makeup still sat intact. 

And yet… there was the glow.

“Come on, let’s go have lunch together.” A guy called Richard said to me out of nowhere.

I was a bit startled. “You startled me, sneaking up on me like that.” 

“My apologies.” He apologizesd gracefully. 

Richard was like the poster boy in the office. He was what you call a pretty boy.

“Luch is fine.” I answered.

“No it isn’t. Miss Morales, I need you in my office right now.” Lucas came out of nowhere too.

“Everyone must enjoy startling me today.” I muttered.

“Good day, Sir. .” Richard greeted too enthusiastically. I immediately got the ick.

“Sir it’s lunch time. I need to go eat something.” I said defiantly.

“I can ask for lunch to be brought to you while you work.” 

“Work? Work on what?” I asked.

“The reports you were supposed to give me earlier today. You didn’t bring it.” He smirked.

“I finished that up and gave to your secretary who promised to give it to you after your meeting, which I guess just ended right now since you loook like you’re coming from the conference room.” I said.

The smirk fell of his face.

And mine took shape.

He didn’t said much. But his eyes had. He didn’t expect that.

“It’s okay if you have something to work on, Sophia. We can have lunch together some other time.” Richard said.

“No, I don’t have to work we should go now before time runs out.”

“Are you sure?” He replied but his eyes were actually asking Lucas. I mean, he wouldn’t want to offend the boss.

“Yeah, it’s okay. Sophia seems to be a hardworking lady. I didn’t know she had finished the reports. Have a nice lunch.” He said but he didn’t move.

I moved, urging Richard to follow. 

“Here’s suddenly so cold.” Rigg F* sef muttered as we walked past Lucas.

 I almost laughed Liz it was Lucas’s presence causing the cold. He had a presence that sucked the air out of a room.

***

The next morning, I walked into the office like I owned it. I was ready for yet another presentation. One thing, I hadn’t dropped my brain yet, even though I had found beauty.

Lucas was already inside the conference room, his arms folded. He noticed me as I walked in and his eyes followed me until I sat. 

His were practically seducing me.

They always did.

“It’s time for you to do your own presentation now, Sophia.” I was called. 

I got up.

I moved slower than necessary to the front of the room, heels tapping. I could feel his gaze trail down my legs, linger on my hips, my waist, my chest. I didn’t smile. I didn’t flinch. I just let him look.

After the meeting, I was the last to leave. I made sure of it. When I got to the door, Lucas called me back.

"Stay," Lucas said without looking at me.

I shut the door quietly.

He stepped closer. Not too close. Just close enough.

"Nice presentation. You handled everything so well ."

"I am a pro," I replied.

He smirked. "I see that."

Silence stretched between us 

"Sophia." He whispered 

"Yes, sir?"

He chuckled. "Don’t call me that right now, you won’t like to know the reaction it’s causing."

I turned to face him. He was closer now. Close enough I could see the stubble on his jaw, the quiet tension around his mouth.

“And what type of reaction is that?”  I asked.

“Not the type a gentleman should tell a lady.” He answered cryptically.

But I got his point.

"What do you want, Lucas?"

His voice dropped low. "You."

I tilted my head. "You had me”

“Don’t say that. I had you once. It wasn’t enough.”

“once…” I muttered “You didn’t even recognize me. Can you just stop it, Lucas?."

That made him blink.

"You looked different. I must admit but I recognized you right away the next morning. Look—“

I stepped past him, headed for the blinds, twisted them shut. The glass wall dimmed.

"Are you shutting me in here with you?" he asked.

"I do not want people to see us so close, I can see you do not have any regard for personal space. But…You’re the boss. You can walk out."

He didn’t.

I turned, leaned against the window.

Lucas watched me "I find you intoxicating."

He moved closer. He placed both hands on the desk beside me, boxing me in.

I felt the heat roll off his body.

"What are you doing?" I whispered.

"Trying not to touch you. Failing."

I breathed out slowly. My pulse thundered in my throat.

"Don’t make a mess, Lucas. We both work here."

"I don’t care."

"You should. Or maybe you shouldn’t because you won’t suffer the brunt but I’ll like to remind you that I’m low on the food chain, I love my job.."

He lowered his face just enough that I could feel the heat of his breath on my lips.

"Whenever I’m around you, I fail to act like a civilized man."

I arched a brow. "And that’s my fault?"

"You walk like sex. You smell like temptation, Sophia."

"I don’t know what you mean…?" I smirked.

"I know you are teasing me purposely. You know just how much I’m attracted to you." He moved on even closer

My breath hitched. 

I wanted to lean in.

I didn’t.

“I know you’ve always gotten anything you wanted since you were a child, but I’m not something you get just because you want me"

His jaw clenched. "No. You’re not. And that’s the problem. You must become mine."

We stared at each other for a second that felt like eternity.

Then his phone buzzed.

He didn’t move.

Another buzz.

"Get it," I said.

He didn’t. Instead, he reached up and traced one finger along the curve of my jaw. My knees buckled a little. Not enough to fall. Just enough for him to notice.

He smiled. A slow, wicked thing. "I will get you, I promise."

I sidestepped him.

"Are we done?"

"For now."

I turned the blinds open again. Light poured in.

Lucas stayed where he was, 

"I’ll stop anyone from coming in immediately. I know you’ll need more time to get that hard-on in check.."

I turned and left the conference room 

***

Later that evening, I was at home. Lounging.

My phone buzzed.

New Message: Can

“I know you might ignore this message like you ignored the others. I’m writing to plead with you to have dinner with me. I can pick you up.”

I stared at it. Bit my lip.

My mind still remained hung up on Lucas. The way he smelled today as he hovered around me. How he made my body ache with unsatisfied tension.

Then I had a bright thought.

I got up. Walked to the mirror.

Snapped a photo.

Just enough leg. Just enough chest. Just enough shadow to make it artistic and hot as hell.

My finger hovered. Then I hit send.

To: Can

"Dinner? Yes... But make me part of the menu. I want to be eaten too.."

Sent.

I stared at the screen.

The little dots appeared.

He was typing a response…