Nine

Gabby’s POV

His gaze dropped lower. To my neck.

He gave me that teasing smile and shook his head.

Oh, he knew. Of course, he knew. His gaze lingered on the scarf around my neck.

Seriously? That smirk? Yeah, he definitely gave me a love bite on purpose. Damn him.

I quickly looked away, exhaling slowly. I didn’t noticed I’ve been holding my breath.

As soon as I sat on my chair, my cubicle phone rang.

“This is Gabby-” I answered.

“Hey.”

My whole body froze, especially my hand gripping the phone’s handle. Why is he calling my line? The President doesn’t just call random employees!

Why, Gabriel Lane, is it forbidden for a boss to call his employee? No, it isn’t.

“Y-yes, sir?” My voice trembled, and my heart started pounding faster the moment I heard his voice.

“Can you come to my office?” he asked, his tone soft and sweet. I closed my eyes. Gosh, his voice is giving me an eargasm. But I had to brush it off before I start melting at the sound of his voice.

“What for, Sir? I’m kind of busy with—”

“Just a minute?” he cut me off. His voice had that soft, pleading edge. The kind that no sane woman could say no to.

And guess what? I’m that woman. The stupid one. Because here I am, saying…

“Okay,” I muttered.

He laughed softly on the other line—God, even his laugh sounded sexy. “I’ll wait for you,” he said in a husky tone that sent heat crawling up my neck.

The moment I hung up, I buried my face into my desk—or more like banged my head on it.

“Damn it, Gabbriel Lane! You’re an idiot!”

Fuuck.

I rode the elevator up to the 25th floor, eyes shut as it ascended. This is killing me! My heart was pounding so fast I could barely breathe. Earth, swallow me please!

His voice completely threw me off, and now I just want to disappear. Ugh. Am I really this stupid? But seriously, if you were me, could you resist Rei? I swear, I was just... tempted.

And now here I am, apparently being punished by the heavens—like Adam and Eve, cast out of paradise for one mistake.

What if they kick me out of the company?

There’s no fraternization policy… right?

Calm down, Gabby. You’re not doing anything wrong. You’re just following the President’s orders.

But still—God, Gabby, you’re such an idiot! You didn’t even ask why he wanted to see you!

DING

There it is again—that damned ding. The elevator sound gives me anxiety now. At this rate, I’m gonna have a nervous breakdown because of it.

“Mavy, he asked for me. Is he in?” I asked his secretary, my voice shaking.

“Oh, wait—he’s in the conference room right now. A sudden meeting came up, but it shouldn’t take long. You can go ahead and wait in his office. He told me to let you in when you arrived—said you two need to talk about the Tagaytay photoshoot.”

I nodded and whispered an “Okay.”

So that’s all it was! And here I was thinking it was something dirty. God, my mind is such a mess. I got nervous for nothing.

It’s Friday, anyway. The photoshoot in Tagaytay is tomorrow. We needed to go over the theme, the setup, and whatever ideas the President had in mind. That’s part of my job—I’m the assigned photographer for this shoot.

Our head editor and main photographer, Mark, wasn’t around because he was sent to do another project, so I had to take over. Then I’ll discuss everything later with Kesha, the designer.

I’d been inside Rei’s office for a while—just sitting, and waiting. He was taking forever. Sleep was starting to creep in, and still no sign of him. Why did he even ask me to come if he had a meeting?

Mavy said it was a sudden one—meaning it wasn’t planned.

I sighed.

My butt was going numb from sitting and doing nothing. I couldn’t take it anymore. I stood up and walked to the glass wall that showed a full view of the city.

I was in awe. It was stunning—everything looked so small from up here, like little ants. I could even spot my condo building. I couldn’t see the house where Gino and I lived, though. I have my own condo—my father gave it to me—and Gino and I stayed at our family home. We weren’t rich. My father on the other hand is filthy rich. But he’s too busy with his mistress. He never been a Dad to me, so he spoils me with luxurious things that I never bothered to touch.

I was still lost in thought, admiring the city view, when I felt someone wrap their arms around me from behind.

I gasped. Then a familiar scent hit me. I knew that smell. I can’t wrong.

How did I not notice him enter the room?

Because now—Rei was behind me. I froze. I mean, who wouldn’t? Reigan Salvador. Is. Hugging. Me. From. Behind.

His masculine perfume filled my senses, making him even sexier—making me feel hot. It amazed me how fast he could make me burn with desire.

“Sorry for keeping you waiting,” he whispered right next to my ear. I shivered.

“Sir…”

“Rei. Call me Rei,” he whispered again.

Oh, God. I could feel his warm breath against my skin—soft, slow, and teasing. Man! Stop doing this! If he keeps it up, I swear, I’ll be the one to kiss him first! Oh god!

“I can’t do that, s-sir.” My voice trembled. I could barely breathe. Please, just step away before I lose it!

“Ah.” he chuckled, then his arms tightened around me. “Call me Rei, Gabby.” he murmured, his tone soft and pleading.

My eyes fluttered shut as I caught a whiff of his addictive scent, his breath brushing the side of my face. No, no, stop smelling so good!

“Sir… we’re in the office,” I whispered, trying to sound rational.

Oh my god, just a little more and I’m done for! Keep this up and I’ll—ugh!

“We’re alone. Call me Rei. Please, baby… I want to hear it from your lips.”

He buried his face against my neck, and I froze. If it weren’t for my scarf, I would’ve felt his skin right on mine.

“R-Rei…” I finally breathed out his name, he asked me to but still, it’s a bit awkward. His name rolled off my tongue with a tone so soft, so helpless, it almost sounded like I was begging for something.

He chuckled softly and sighed with satisfaction before he let me go.

I couldn’t believe the disappointment I felt when his warmth left my back.

He turned me around to face him. I quickly looked away. Because seriously, those eyes and that stare? Ugh. The way he looked at me—intense, deep, like I was the only person in the world. Who wouldn’t melt?

He smirked. “Why are you covering it?” he asked, leaning in so close our breaths almost touched.

I blinked, confused. “Huh?”

“This…” he murmured, his hand brushing against my neck.

I stopped breathing. His touch was so gentle it burned. God, those hands…

“Why do you have a scarf on?” he asked softly.

“Ahmmm… I… I’m cold.”

I knew how pointless that sounded. But did I even care at this point? I was already dying inside from all this chaos—so why bother explain? He probably knew I was lying.

“You…” he said, staring straight into my eyes. His face turned serious. “I put that on you to mark you—to let every man out there know that you’re taken. That you’re mine. I thought I made it clear to you yesterday.”

As he spoke, his hands slowly slid up to my neck, unwrapping the scarf that covered it.

“I can’t show it off around the office. Its inappropriate,” I muttered weakly. My voice was barely a whisper. He was draining the strength out of me. Damn it.

He hummed lowly. “I don’t care. Don’t cover it again.”

Then he lowered his head, and his lips brushed against my neck once more. I gasped, my eyes fluttering shut as he kissed the spot gently, teasingly. His lips trailed up—my chin, my cheeks, my nose—everywhere except my lips.

He was doing it on purpose. I knew he was.

And I was terrified… because I didn’t know how much longer I could keep myself from giving in.

“Stop… doing… this…” I whispered between shaky breaths. It was getting harder and harder to breathe with his face so close, his body pressed against mine.

But he didn’t stop.

He kissed the corner of my lips instead.

And my lips trembled. God, what the hell is happening to me?

“Oh damned hell…” I muttered under my breath.

And that was it. The demon inside me broke free.

Because before I even realized it, my arms were already wrapped around his neck, pulling him closer—closer until there was no space left between us.

Then I kissed him.

Hungrily. Desperately.

He smiled against my lips and kissed me back with the same fire. My heart screamed, my body burned, and neither of us could stop anymore.

He pressed me flat against the glass wall, his grip firm as he pinned my wrists beside my head. His lips trailed along my neck, each kiss burning hotter than the last until a soft moan escaped me.

Our breaths tangled—heavy, uneven, desperate. The world outside the glass blurred into nothing.

Then, with his lips still hovering near my ear, he whispered, voice low and rough,

“You should know… we’re in a different kind of relationship now.”

Uh, what?

Hell, I don’t care.

Right now, I just wanted this moment—this heat, this rush, his kisses—nothing else.