Chapter 2

I tried to forget about my boss. When Sara invited me to dance, I immediately joined her. The music was too loud, and I wanted to lose myself in it. I danced like it was my last dance—giving it my all, not caring about the whistles I could hear around me.

“Whooaaa… Go girl! You’re so sexy!” Sara shouted despite the loud music.

For a moment while dancing, I forgot my problems. But I didn’t expect what happened next. I was so lost in my own world when suddenly someone grabbed my waist, and my back hit a solid, hard body. The heat radiating from the person spread across me.

I noticed Sara and my colleagues were stunned by what was happening. They stopped dancing and stared at me and the person behind me in surprise.

“No wonder your work is such a mess…you’re busy doing this,” the man whispered behind me.

My heart started pounding immediately.

I tried to pull his hand away from my waist, but he refused to let go. Instead, he pressed me closer to him.

“What are you doing?” I asked nervously. I didn’t want a commotion. I didn’t want my colleagues to know how my boss was belittling me.

I felt his breath against my ear. “No wonder your work sucks, yet your boss praises you so much. You like to seduce, huh?” he whispered.

I gritted my teeth. I was used to being belittled and accused of terrible things by him—but what I didn’t want was for my colleagues to see it. I didn’t want my image as a competent employee to be tarnished in their eyes.

For my last attempt, I tried to remove his hand from my waist again. But I was startled when he suddenly yanked it away, pushing me so that I nearly stumbled over the man in front of me.

I turned to Alaric angrily once I was steady on my feet. I saw him smirking evilly. He looked me over from head to toe, shaking his head in disapproval. Then he left, leaving me embarrassed.

“Seraphina, what was that?” Sara asked. “Your boss looks so disappointed in you,” she said with a look of disappointment too.

I froze at her words. My boss had always been disappointed in me, but seeing Sara’s slightly disappointed expression made it hard for me to accept.

I felt my voice tremble as I spoke. “I-It’s nothing. He just… said something.”

I glanced at my colleagues and saw their confusion at what had happened. They were shocked at how Alaric had treated me.

“Excuse me…” I said quickly.

I walked to the counter, tears spilling from my eyes. I couldn’t stop it. I was supposed to be here to have fun, to forget about my damn work. But why was this happening?

I had a lot to drink. I didn’t know where my friends were. The last time I saw them, they were still on the dance floor, but since I was a bit tipsy, I couldn’t see them anymore. So I decided to go home while I could still walk and not crawl.

I felt the sadness and embarrassment from what had happened as I walked outside. But once I was out, I stopped abruptly.

Damn! I wanted to avoid him. I’d had enough baggage for today—but it was too late. My boss was already staring at me. He was leaning against his car, arms crossed, his gaze fixed on me.

I immediately looked down. The sadness only became more defined—heavier. I thought the alcohol would make me forget. It didn’t. My eyes watered as I started walking again. It didn’t help that I had to pass by him just to get a taxi.

I heard him groan as I got close.

“Get in…” he ordered when I was in front of him.

I stopped and looked at him wearily. I didn’t know if it was because my eyes were watering, but I saw a gentleness in his gaze.

I couldn’t speak. I knew my voice would break if I tried. So I just shook my head. I blinked several times to stop my tears from falling.

He looked away briefly before opening the passenger seat.

“I’ll get you home,” he said.

He licked his lips when I refused to respond.

“You’re tired, Seraphina. You’ve had enough. I’ll get you home safely…” he said gently yet slightly hoarse voice. The way he speak it's as if he was comforting me.

“I.. I'm tired.” My voice cracked, which didn't surprise me anymore. “I'll do the proposal again.”

A tear fell from my eye. I wiped it away and sobbed.

“I'll do my best next time… and…” I wanted to say something more but he didn't let me finish.

“I don't give a damn about the proposal. I'm taking you home safely, Seraphina,” he said with finality.

…