Chapter 9

On the way to his office he brought his breakfast along with one coffee and one Indian tea. He reached the office in fifteen minutes. He entered the lift and reached his office. He heard a men’s voice while crossing Ariana’s cabin. He took long strides towards his office.

He entered his office room and peeked from the glass wall its Carl Black.

‘What is he doing in her Cabin?’

 He walked towards his desk and called both of them to his office through the intercom. Carl thought Zane took a day off but he is shocked to see him in his office.

“Mr. Black what are you doing on this floor? ”

“Sir that.. I just came to see Riana” Zane doesn’t like the way he mentioned her name, his blood boiled like hell.

‘Are they very close to call her with a nickname’

“Call her Ms. JONAS or Ms. Ariana , you are not allowed to call her with nick names and unless you have something important don’t come to this floor do you get it?”

 He didn’t yell but his deep voice is more than enough to make him tremble, Carl is sweating excessively whereas Ariana’s lips turned to a small smile. Zane noticed her smile from the corner of his eyes,

‘So he is the one keep pestering her, she is not interested in him’ he smiled inwardly.

“If nothing else you may go Mr. Black.” Carl nodded and swiftly left the office.

“Sir .. Thank you”

“And what’s that for?” he Arched his one brow and looked at her with a seductive look.

“I cannot find any news or my pictures on the internet, I know only you are capable of doing it so thank you” he stood up from his chair and walked towards her with a dashing smile on his face,

 “Didn’t I say that now you are my responsibility, it’s my duty to protect you. you and your safety will be my first priority in future”

She smiled at him nervously his proximity is affecting her too much. He felt her nervousness and pulled himself back, making her uncomfortable by his presence is the last thing he wanted. He gave her the milk tea, she was a bit astonished by his behavior.

“Sit and tell my schedule for the day” he said while pulling a chair for her. After she done with her work in his office she went back to her cabin. She started to work on the tasks he assigned to her. She was so engrossed in her work when she got a call from receptionist.

“Hello ma’am, you have a parcel and a letter could you please come down to collect it.”

“Is that for Mr. Hudson?”

 She spoke without distracting her eye contact with computer screen. She abruptly stopped typing when she heard receptionist say

“No ma’am, the man who delivered the things asked us to handover to you.” Her eyebrows became drawn together.

“OK I am coming” she didn’t thought much, she went down using the stair case to pick up the things.

When she approached the receptionist, she gave her a parcel and letter along with a bouquet of WHITE and red rose. While she was in a deep thought suddenly a hand held her shoulder, she was alarmed by the touch. She rapidly turned her head to see the owner of the hand. She left a deep breath after seeing the person.

“Selene, you scared me to death”

“I am an angel, why are you scared of me” she pouted.

“Yes yes you are a gorgeous angel but you startled me with your touch” Selene noticed the bouquet and asked with a wicked smile,

“Hey who gave you these, is there something I want to know? Hmm”

“Stop your imaginations, even I don’t know who might be”

“Oh my God is there a secret admirer for you?”

“Don’t you have work, why are you wandering around”

“I am Going for lunch baby, would you like to join” Ariana thought for few seconds and said,

“You go ahead I will inform Mr. Hudson and meet you in the cafeteria”

 Selene nodded and made her way to office cafeteria while Ariana walked towards the stairs. She met Carl in the lift area

“Are you going to your cabin?” she replied with just a nod and she turned to climb the stairs suddenly Carl held her wrist to stop her,

“What is it Mr. Black?”

He left her hand by asking “Why are taking the stairs?”

“I am not comfortable to use the lift alone so…”

“I can company you, only If you are comfortable”

“Then thank you” she smiled politely. She was a bit moved by his behavior. When they heard the lift sound soon they hopped in and pressed button to the 40th floor.

He noticed the flower bouquet in her hand. “Who… who… gave… this?” he was anxious what if she says it’s from her boyfriend “I don’t know but they were delivered in my name”

He let out a sigh of relief. When they were about to exit the lift they met Zane in the lift area. His smile wiped away after her saw Carl with Ariana and a flower bouquet she was holding.

“Ariana come with me” he grabbed her hand and tried to pull her inside the lift “Sir leave me please” she protested

“If I say come with me then you have to obey, you are having lunch with me”

He was fuming in anger, out of anger he held her hand tighter, his nails dug into her, she winced in pain without caring about her protest he pulled her inside the lift and pressed the button to lower ground.

“Sir, what happened to you? Why are you being so rude?”

 At that moment he don’t want to talk to because he know the depth of his anger, if he spoke now he will hurt her badly. So he decided to keep quiet.

When he ask her to get inside the car she denied.

“Sir , my friend is waiting for me in the cafeteria, please leave my hand”

 He opened the door and pushed her inside the car by force, he too followed and sat beside her.

“Sir what’s wrong with you?”

She was annoyed to the core because of his silence. Car halted in front of a Chinese restaurant. He held her small hand in his big palm. She pulled back her hand with a great difficulty.

He led the way into a private room. He didn’t utter a single word which makes her even more annoyed. ‘What’s wrong with this man?’

“Sir” he called him for umpteenth but he didn’t give any reply. She was in extreme anger,

“OK you chose to be silent then I am choosing to walk out”

 She stood up and walked towards the door before she could open he held her wrist and pinned her to the door.

He didn’t utter a word but she could see anger, jealousy, possessiveness, care, love all the emotions were mixed up in his teal blue eyes.

 He pressed her forehead with his and let out a deep breath. She has never seen him this close. His closeness making her lose her control. His breath burning her skin she felt her body is melting in his breath. He looked into those grey eyes intensely, cupped her cheek with one hand while other held her hand