Burning Heat

KASSY

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The secretary made us wait in a small sitting room after she called the director.

I sat there, my leg bouncing like it had a mind of its own. Jenny sat next to me, way too calm, as if we weren’t about to walk into the most awkward conversation of my entire life.

Finally, the secretary returned. “The director will see you now,” she said with a polite smile. Then she turned, leading us down a narrow corridor, 

My palms grew sweaty. My heart was already racing, but when she stopped in front of a sleek wooden door and pointed at it, it felt like my chest might actually burst.

Jenny and I looked at each other. Her eyes said relax, but mine said no way.

She knocked before I could protest. A low voice from inside said, “Come in.”

Jenny stepped in first, her head held high, confident as always. I followed, though my legs felt weak, like I might crumble right there in the doorway.

The first thing I noticed was the man standing,no, sitting behind a desk. He smiled warmly, welcoming us. His presence was steady, professional. I guessed this was the director, Mr. Titans.

I should’ve kept my eyes there, safe and steady. But no, of course not.

Because then my gaze slid sideways—and landed on him.

The man on the sofa.

He wasn’t paying attention at first, his focus buried in the phone in his hand. But the second he looked up, the world around me froze.

I forgot how to breathe.

That had to be…no, is the most gorgeous man I have ever seen in my life. 

My brain actually blanked. 

His face… it looked like it had been carved by the gods themselves, sculpted with precision and care. His jawline could slice wood in half. And his eyes……oh God, his eyes.

They weren’t just eyes. They were something else entirely. Piercing. Deep. Like if I stared too long, I would be stripped bare and exposed in every way, the intensity was enough to pin in place.

I was helpless. 

My eyes had a mind of its own…

It slid lower, traitorous, betraying me. Down the slope of his neck, across his broad shoulders, to the way his chest stretched the fabric of his shirt. That shirt didn’t hide much. I could almost feel the hard muscle underneath, as if my fingers were already tracing it.

Stop looking, Kassy. Stop.

But I couldn’t.

He tilted his head slightly, like he had caught me in the act. Then, oh God, he smirked.

He was smirking.

At me.

Heat rushed to my face so fast I thought I might combust on the spot. I blinked hard and tore my gaze away, forcing my eyes anywhere else, at the carpet, at the wall, at Jenny, who was giving me a confused look.

Even Mr. Titans, the director, was watching me with faint amusement, like he knew exactly what was going through my head.

Perfect. Absolutely perfect. Just bury me alive now, please.

“Please, have a seat,” the director said, his voice calm and professional.

Jenny cleared her throat, saving me from my own spiraling thoughts. “I’m Jenny, and this is my friend Kassy.”

“Welcome,” Mr. Titans said warmly.

We both sank into the chairs opposite his desk. My knees felt shaky, my palms still sweaty.

“How can we help you today?”

“We?” My eyes darted quickly toward the sofa again. Was he part of this too? My heart was still hammering, and it only pounded harder at the thought.

Jenny leaned forward, her tone blunt, unbothered by my silent horror. “My friend here needs lessons. On sex, foreplay, literally everything from scratch. She’s a virgin.”

My soul left my body.

Heat spread all over my body. I wanted to sink straight into the floor, dig a hole, and never come out again. A virgin? She had to say that part?

I shot Jenny a quick glare, begging her silently to shut up.

Against my will, my eyes flickered to the man on the sofa. He was still looking at his phone, or pretending to. A small wave of relief washed over me. Maybe he hadn’t been listening.

But then I saw it. The smirk. That wicked smirk tugging at his lips, as if he had heard every single word.

And then, he looked up. His eyes caught mine instantly, like magnets snapping together.

I forgot the world again.

The intensity of that stare, the teasing curve of his mouth. It felt like my heart had jumped into my throat. My chest was tight, every nerve in my body alive.

I jerked upright too suddenly, my knee slamming into the edge of the table when my brain finally got the info that he had caught us staring again.

“Kassy?” Jenny’s voice broke through, sharp with concern.

“Are you okay?” the director asked.

Mortified, I nodded quickly. “I’m fine,” I blurted out, even though my knee throbbed painfully. My face burned hotter.

Go ahead, embarrass yourself more, Kassy. Just keep piling it on.

Why couldn’t I get it together? Why was my body reacting this way to a stranger? Why did one look from him feel like he was stripping me bare.

I wasn’t even hearing what Mr. Titans was saying anymore. His voice was a distant hum, words blending into nothing. Because all I could feel was the weight of those eyes on me. Burning through me.

Don’t look back. Don’t look back.

I begged my brain to listen. To focus. 

Why was this stranger doing this to me? Why did I feel like I was standing on the edge of something that will destroy me.

“Go through this, select the program you want, sign it, make the payment, and your schedules will be sent to you,” Mr. Titans said finally, sliding a file toward me.

I forced myself to smile as I accepted it. My hand trembled just slightly, but I prayed no one noticed.

“Thank you for coming,” he added with a nod.

I nodded back quickly and stood. Too quickly. The chair nearly toppled, and my own balance wavered. For one horrifying second, I thought I was going to face-plant right there on the carpet.

By some miracle, I didn’t. But the humiliation was already at its peak.

I bolted, Out of the door, out of the room, out of my own sanity.

If I could I will run out of the city and never return.