Chapter Nineteen

Runes slammed his palm against his desk, the crack echoing through the office. His jaw was clenched so tight it ached. How the hell did that happen?

After cheating on him, humiliating him in front of everyone, she gets married?! Runes ran his fingers through his hair, pacing his office. He chuckled, his hands trembling as he tried to pull himself together.

Newsletters, blog posts, they had all addressed him with pity and concern, but it made him look pathetic, weak, and unable to keep a woman.

“She dares to move on? Get married after what she did to tarnish my image?!”

Thea was his. His to discard but not hers to move on from so easily, especially after the public disgrace she had brought upon their name.

It made him look weak, a man whose ex-fiancée bounced back too quickly after he'd publicly cast her aside.

Runes grabbed the telecom on his desk, his finger punching his assistant's line, furiously.

“Yes sir?” Marcus responded almost immediately.

"Find out everything about Thea's marriage and who her husband is." he snapped, his grip tightening around the telecom, into his intercom. “I want to know who he is, where he works, and where he came from. I want details, names, financial records. And I want them yesterday."

"Yes, sir." Marcus knew better than to question Rune when he was in this mood.

Rune ended the call, his mind still reeling. It couldn't be a legitimate match. No one with good intentions would touch Thea with a ten-foot pole after the scandal. This had to be some low-level businessman trying to take advantage of her connections.

The very thought infuriated Runes.

He would expose them and remind Thea exactly what her worth was without a Sterling attached to her name. He would remind her of what she had lost.

A soft knock sounded on his office door. Before he could respond, the door opened, and a familiar face popped into the office.

“Are you back from your little couples date?”

It was Yumi, one of Yolanda's closest friends.

Runes leaned back on his seat as a scoff escaped his lips. “It wasn't a date. You know better than that.”

Yumi turned the locks on the door and strode towards his desk, her hips swaying from side to side as she walked. Runes’ eyes followed every movement; her dark hair sleek, her dress clinging to every curve. Her eyes fixed on him with a seductive smile.

She was exactly the kind of distraction Rune needed.

“Do I? It seems you enjoy her company. That woman.” Yumi said, settling on the edge of his table, her legs crossed in front of him. Her perfume fills the air. She ran a perfectly manicured hand up his arm.

“I didn't. You know what I have you do and what is at stake.”

Yumi pouts, her fingers reaching for his tie, grazing a lazy line down his exposed neck. “I know. I just can't stand seeing that…girl next to you.”

Runes leans closer to Yumi, his hands on her exposed thighs, running up and down playfully. “I know. But she can never match up with you.” His finger hooks under her chin, lifting her face to meet his eyes. “You know that.”

Yumi pulls him in by the tie, her eyes staring into his.”She doesn't know you're here right?”

“She wouldn't dare come in here without prior notice.” Runes teased, his lips finally crashing into hers. He yanked her closer to his body, his mouth descending on hers hungrily. Her lips were soft and tasted of expensive champagne. She responded, her arms wrapping around his neck, pulling him even tighter.

Without breaking the kiss, he lifted her, her legs instinctively wrapping around his waist. He moved her over to the center of his desk, sending stacks of papers and folders flying to the floor with a careless sweep of his arm.

He laid her down amidst the scattered documents. Yumi laughs. “Someone seems stressed…and hungry..”

Runes' lips trailed down to her collarbone, his hands pulling her thighs closer to him and holding her in place.

“Stress is an understatement.” He whispered in her ear.

“I'm here to help with that.” She muttered against his lips as he kissed her once more.

Runes pulled the zipper of her scandalous dress down and pulled it over her head. Here she was, lying down on his table with nothing but underwear. His fingers clumsily pulled off her bra, his lips crashing down on her nipples.

Yumi arched in response, her eyes went shut in blissful pleasure and a smile. A moan escaped her lips.

Runes smirked. “You know Yolanda would kill you if she finds out you're fucking her brother right?”

Yumi chuckled. “Who's going to tell her?” She smirked.

“You're a bad girl, you know that right?”

Yumi smiled. “Just the way you like it.” She whispered, tearing at his shirt, her nails leaving faint red marks on his skin.

With one swift movement, Runes stripped down and plunged into her, earning a gasp from Yumi.

Her cries mingled with his grunts, not a soul outside could hear either of them.

He gripped her hips, driving into her without mercy. Anything to forget his frustrations. He lost himself in the rhythm, pushing deeper and faster, Yumi clawing at his skin, her moans getting louder and louder.

Runes' phone went off suddenly.

Rune didn't stop. He extended an arm, his fingers fumbling blindly until they found the device. He glanced at the screen, it was Posy.

“Take it,” Yumi said breathlessly. “I'll be quiet.” She smirked.

Without breaking the furious rhythm of his thrusts, without pulling his lips from Yumi's neck, he pressed the answer button, holding the phone casually to his ear. Yumi's hands tangled in his hair, her moans slightly muffled as he continued to devour her mouth.

"What do you want, Posy?" he rasped into the phone, his voice rough, barely audible over Yumi's silent gasps and his own ragged breathing.

"Thank goodness you responded. Are you busy? You sound..”

“I'm at the gym.” He replied, a smirk on his lips as he stared down at Yumi.

“Oh. Look, I just wanted to say that I'm sorry. About the bridal shop. I was out of line. You're right, you shouldn't bother yourself with these things. I know we started off at a good pace. I was just... so stressed with everything. Can we... can we talk? I planned a dinner date for us.”

Rune grunted, thrusting deeper into Yumi. He heard Yumi's sharp inhale, her nails digging into his back.

He pulled the phone away from his mouth and thrust in one more time, his seeds spilling into Yumi. Her thighs tightened around him, a smile of content on her face.

He placed a kiss on her cheek. He had to attend to real problems now. Getting married to Posy would make the merger possible and there was no getting out of it, not now.

"Fine." Rune sighed into the phone, his voice still rough. " We can work things out. Just... get the documents to my office. We'll discuss them tomorrow."

"Thank you! Thank you! I promise, I'll have everything ready. You won't regret it! I love you!" Posy gushed.

“Yeah.” Rune ended the call. He tossed the phone back onto the desk, finally pulling away from Yumi, who let out a frustrated gasp.

His body was slick with sweat. Yumi, equally disheveled, lay sprawled on the desk, looking annoyed, her lipstick smudged.

"Sounds like the future Mrs. Sterling is a handful," Yumi commented dryly. She pulls herself off the table, gathering her clothes. She puts each layer back on, eyes fixed on Runes.

Rune ran a hand over his face. " I could at least tolerate her if this merger is to work." He began to gather his scattered clothes. "You're leaving?"

Yumi shrugged, picking up her handbag. "Always a pleasure, Rune. You know where to find me." She winked and swept out of the office, leaving behind the lingering scent of her perfume.

Runes sighed as he tucked his shirt back on. There's no way he's going to stop seeing Yumi; she has him wrapped around her finger. He straightened his tie, leaning back in his seat.

His computer chimed, signaling a new email. He glanced at the notification. It was from the Blackwood Empire.

His eyes narrowed as he read the subject line: "Proposed Alliance: Sterling-Blackwood Business Opportunity."

Runes froze. The Blackwood? He's been trying to partner with them for years!

They were one of the biggest players in the region. A partnership with them could solidify Sterling's hold in the service industry!

This was just what the alliance needed. He grabbed his telecom once more. “Marcus, prepare a meeting between the Blackwoods and the Sterlings.