Scarlett's POV.
The next day I arrived at work by 7:30am, making a conscious effort to avoid Mr. Knight's wrath. Our interactions were clipped, charged with palpable tension but neither of us acknowledged it. We kept our conversation on work and nothing else.
I returned to my office after receiving instructions from him. About 30 minutes later a chirpy Joshua waltzed in.
"Good morning, Letty." He greeted in a sing song voice and I smiled, his joy a contagious force.
"Good morning, Joshy. I didn't realize we were on a nickname basis now." I countered, giggling at his appalled expression.
"Please never call me Joshy ever again."
"Only if you never call me Letty. Deal?" I asked, my eyes following the full paper bag in his hands. He settled into the seat opposite mine, a coy smile in place.
"Is Letty hungry?"
"Very much so, Joshy." He held my eyes in a soft caress and my mouth went numb.
Joshua was slowly becoming a daily presence in my life. And I wasn't sure if what I felt for him for gratitude, or something more. But all I could say was that his grounded presence was very much appreciated.
He set out separate plates of pancakes and syrup and I salivated at the sweet aroma.
"Thank youuuu." I gushed and he laughed as he watched me dig in. I had stopped feeling self conscious about eating in front of him so I didn't mind when he had to dab some syrup off my lips for me.
"How's Layla's party coming together?" I inquired, curious about his progress on Layla's surprise party tomorrow night.
"Everything is set. You just need to play your part."
I nodded, excited for my best friend's 23rd birthday bash.
"How about invitations?"
"I've been inviting everyone in the office. The more the merrier. I even invited Mr. Knight."
My eyes bulged.
"What? You did not!" I scoffed, exasperated at the thought of Mr. Knight at what was supposed to be a chance to let loose.
"I really did. But that was before our…ordeal. I doubt he'd come. He only shows up for work related events. Relax."
I sucked in a breath of relief. "Thank goodness."
"You eat like a toddler. Come." Joshua laughed as I wiggled towards him, dabbing syrup off the corner of my lips.
Suddenly, my door was pushed open. It was none other than our wonderful CEO, Mr. Knight.
He scanned the space between Joshua and I, my chin in his hands as he helped me clean the syrup off. His eyes darkened.
"Good morning, boss." Joshua greeted in a chirpy tone, letting go of my chin and setting the napkin down.
Mr. Knight replied with a strangled "morning" before turning to me.
"The files aren't ready yet?" He inquired and I shook my head slowly, feeling like a fish out of water under his heated gaze.
His frown deepened. Something I didn't think possible.
"If you both focused on your jobs maybe they'd have been ready by now." He stated harshly and Joshua sent me an apologetic look before rising up.
"Sorry about that, sir. It's my fault. It won't happen again. I should get back to work." He addressed Mr. Knight respectfully before making his way out of the office.
Leaving us alone.
I cleared my throat, setting my unfinished pancake aside and reaching for my laptop.
"I apologize for the delay. I'll be as quick as-"
"You're doing this on purpose aren't you?" He whispered harshly, turning to me with a tortured look
My eyebrows rose high.
"I don't understand, sir." I voiced my confusion,eyes following him as he began to pace around the office.
I jerked as he suddenly pounded his fist against the wall.
"Are you okay, sir?" My voice was shaky now. I couldn't fully grasp what was happening. It almost seemed like he was unraveling right before my eyes but why?
He sucked in a strained breath, rising to his full height.
"Come." One word and I was on my feet without a second thought, as if I wasn't in control of my own body.
"Come." He whispered again and with slow steps I walked to him, wary but curious.
"What-"
My words disappeared into thin air as his strong hands found its way around my waist, backing me up against the wall.
I wanted to push him away, yell at him maybe but something in his eyes mirrored my own chaos. And I hated how that made me stay put.
His breathing was hollow, strained, desperate.
"Sir-" I managed to choke out but he cut me off.
"Ace. Say my name." He growled, breathing heavily on my neck. My insides pooled. This man was psychotic yet, my body came alive with just a word.
What is wrong with me?
Maybe it was the ache in his voice, the broken edge beneath the control he usually wore like armor. But I found molding like clay in his hands.
"Ace." I repeated after him, letting out a whimper as his lips connected to my neck.
He suckled the skin into his lips, sensual, tailored, perfect.
I bit on my lower lip, trying to stifle my moan but his thumb set it loose.
"I want to hear you." He growled, shaking like he could barely control his desires. I let out a light moan, his grip around my waist tightening.
Just then, I froze as loud voices rose outside the door. What is going on? I wondered but Mr. Knight or should I say Ace, didn't stop feasting on my neck.
"Sir- I mean Ace. I think something's ha-happening." I managed to say and he hmmmed into my neck.
I had to place my hands on his chest and push him back for him to stop his savage attacks.
His blue eyes had darkened, pooling like a wave of aquarine. Glinting off pure and raw desire.
The voices outside were beginning to get louder and he groaned, pushing himself off the wall and storming out of the office.
I rushed to the bathroom,checking to see how much damage he had done to my neck. I groaned, seeing the slight forming of a bruise.
I freed my hair from it's bun, letting it fall so it could conceal the hickey he had given me.
My reflection stared back and me, flushed and wide-eyed. I blinked at myself, trying to figure out if what had just taken place was a figment of my imagination or actually real..
"Gosh." I rubbed my hands over my face, pushing open the bathroom door. I stared at the spot where I had been held in place, shaking my head before rushing out to see what all the chaos was about.
The reception area of the top floor was in chaos. A woman with long, wavy blonde hair was being held back by security, screaming at everybody while pleading with Mr. Knight to speak to her.
"Go home, Tiffany." He replied calmly and she threw herself against one of the security guards trying to break through the barricade they'd formed around her.
"Please miss. Don't make this any harder." One of the guards tried to reason with her but she was too caught up in her own drama to listen.
I stepped forward, trying to see if I could intercede. After all, I was his secretary.
"He-" My words were caught in my throat as I realized who she was.
Tiffany Cortez, the heiress of Cortez Couture and a thorn in my flesh for the past years. The Cortez family lived in our estate, just a few houses down from us. And Tiffany had made an effort to make me feel left out in her crowd of rich friends.
She'd spent her early teenage years spreading lies about me and throwing shade at me both off and online.
Still, even though she was my arch nemesis, I had to remain professional.
"Tiffany, please calm down. This is a company. We can all discuss in a civilized manner." I called out and she turned me. I saw the momenf she recognized me, letting out a shocked gasped as she looked between me and Ace.
Her expression curdled into something vicious.
"I always knew you were desperate to be me. You man stealing whore. Good for noth-"
"Shut up, Tiffany. Get her out of here. Use force if necessary." Mr. Knight cut through her verbal abuse, reaching for my hands and dragging me away from the scene.
Joshua stood at the far end, watching our intertwined hand with a furrowed brows. His eyes met mine for a split second, lips pressed into a firm line before I was pulled away from view.