His chest rose and fell rapidly, his knuckles tightening as he glared down at the guy. "You don't dance with any girl you see around" he growled, landing another punch.
I dashed forward, grabbing his arm. "What the hell is wrong with you?!"
The guy wiped his mouth, backing away with his hands up. "Didn't know she was yours, dude" he muttered, disappearing into the crowd.
I released Lewis's arm, anger bubbling to the surface. "What was that for?" I demanded, glaring at him.
He bit his lower lip, brushing a hand through his disheveled hair.
"I asked a question, you dickhead!"
he slided his left hand into the pockets of his pants. "Is this why you're late to my company every day?"
I crossed my arms. "That's not an answer and you had no right, Lewis!"
His eyes flashed dangerously. "No right? You were dancing all over some random guy Priynka, I'm your boss!"
I scoffed, taking a step closer. "You're my boss in that office, not out here. You don't own me, Mr. Bradford"
His jaw clenched. "Don't walk away" he warned, grabbing my wrist as I turned.
I yanked my hand free, stepping into his space, our faces inches apart. "Or what, Lewis? What are you going to do?"
For a moment, the world around us faded, the heat in his gaze making it impossible to breathe. The music pounded, lights flashing against his sharp features but all I could focus on was him. The tension between us crackled, daring one of us to make the next move. I watched his eyes flicker from my eyes to my lips.
"Say it" my voice barely above a whisper. "Why do you care?"
His lips parted, he leaned closer to mine and for a heartbeat I thought he'd kiss me. My breath hitched and I could feel a sweat break from my forehead.
"You have no idea what you're playing with" he murmured.
But two could play that game.
I tilted my head, letting my lips hover near his ear. "Neither do you"
I turned on my heel and disappeared into the crowd, leaving him standing there..furious, frustrated and still very much under my skin.
The loud noise jolted me awake, my eyelids heavy and hesitant to open. My head ached, a cruel reminder of last night's drinking. The sound came again, sharper this time, cutting through the silence of the morning.
Groaning, I rolled out of bed, dragging my feet toward the stairs. The noise grew louder as I descended. With each step downward, the noise grew louder, echoing through the house. It was coming from the kitchen.
I pushed open the door to find Baby battling with the blender, her frustration evident as the machine sputtered and groaned. She turned it off the moment she noticed me standing there, half awake and obviously irritated.
"What's wrong with it? You disturbed my sleep"
I grumbled, sinking onto a stool across from her at the kitchen island.
"Good morning, Priynka" she shot back, unimpressed.
I grabbed the jug of water and poured into a glass while I nodded a reply.
"I told you it was faulty and I can't go without my smoothie" she whined.
I'd completely forgotten to replace the broken blender. She flipped the machine back on, the noise vibrating through my skull like a jackhammer. Wincing, I waved a hand at her.
"Turn it off, Lorna. Just grab a smoothie on your way please"
She sighed but didn't argue, instead she walked over to my side sliding a warm cup of coffee in front of me. I took a slow sip, savoring the bitter warmth against my dry throat.
"I'll pick up a new one later" I promised. "We can go together if you want when you're back."
Lorna's eyes narrowed at me.
"Won't you be at work? And FYI you're already thirty minutes late" she said, her tone laced with disapproval.
My thoughts ran back to him. Lewis Bradford, the club, the guy he punched and our little intimate moment. After that encounter, I hadn't stayed long at the club. I left shaken and more confused than I wanted to admit. And right now, I couldn't imagine stepping foot back into B'Corporation.
Lorna's nudge pulled me out of my thoughts.
"I'm not going back to work" I said quietly, pressing my fingers against my throbbing temple. "Come home early, and we'll go to the mall. And please get me some painkillers from the kit"
She lingered for a moment, the weight of her silence heavy. I knew what was coming before she even began.
"You went to the club last night.." she said softly, "and now you're suddenly quitting your job?"
The disappointment etched across her face struck a raw nerve. I hated that look, the mix of confusion and hurt. She had every right to feel that way.
I remembered the day she found out my til dawn job wasn't in 'a fancy VIP restaurant'. I can still hear her cries, still feel the ache in my chest when I saw the tears rolling down her face. I hated the club. I hated what I did there and most of all I hated the person I became every time I stepped through its doors masked with indignity.
At first, it was grief, a reckless rebellion after losing our parents. But now? Now, it felt like I was disappointing them. And worse, I was disappointing her.
"Baby, I'm not going back to the club" I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
"I'll find a new job. I promise" I couldn't meet her eyes, staring into the now cold coffee instead.
Lorna didn't reply. Instead, she disappeared into the hallway and returned with the painkillers and another glass of water. I swallowed them without a word.
After a moment, she wrapped her arms around me, a tear threatened to drop at the warmth.
"I'm running late for school" she said, pulling away.
I heard the front door click shut behind her, and despite the ache in my head, I smiled faintly.
Two days without seeing Lewis Bradford or the towering glass walls of B'Corporation. I'd ignored a couple of emails and a call from Mrs. Brittney. Nothing from him. Not that I cared.
Lorna had come to accept my decision to quit, but I knew the questions still lingered beneath the surface.
My eyelids fluttered open, meeting the clock on the wall. Lorna would already be at school.
I slid out of bed and strolled into the bathroom, my reflection greeting me with a reminder of the night before.
My dark hair fell in soft waves over my shoulders and my body barely covered by a red lace lingerie set.
I brushed my teeth, splashed cold water over my face and made my way downstairs to prepare breakfast.
As I climbed down the stairs, I could hear movements and whispered voices that indicated Lorna was still at home.
"Lorna?" I called, my bare feet light against the staircase. "Why are you still at home?"
I stepped into the living room and froze.
He was there.
Lewis Bradford stood like he belonged in every room he entered. His tall frame was draped in a perfectly tailored beige suit, exuding power like always. His presence made my humble living room feel smaller, less mine.
The faint scent of his cologne clung to the air, intoxicating and so familiar that if I had paid attention I'd have perceived his presence from my bedroom.
His eyes, dark and intense, met mine. And just like that, the world tilted. His gaze drifted downward, dragging across my body. For a breathless second, something flashed in his expression,desire, maybe. Or possession. My skin prickled under the weight of it.
Then, I looked down.
My heart stuttered in my chest. The lingerie.
I scrambled to cover myself, my hands darting to shield my body.
Only then did I notice Lorna standing beside him, her arms crossed and a knowing smirk tugging at her lips. Heat rushed to my face as I took on my heel and bolted back upstairs, slamming my bedroom door shut behind me.
Why was he here? And so early in the morning dressed like that...looking as devastatingly handsome as the last time I saw him.
My mind spun with questions, Was he here to apologize? To ask me to come back to work? Or did he want the suit jacket he left behind?
"Sis! He's waiting for you!" Lorna's voice from downstairs.
He was still here.
I groaned, threw on a loose playsuit. Grabbing his jacket from the closet, I ran my fingers along the smooth fabric with memories of our last encounter flooding back.
By the time I returned to the living room, he was seated comfortably on the couch.
He and Lorna were talking, their laughter filling the space I had abandoned moments earlier. They stopped on my arrival.
Lewis stood up, towering over me and for a fleeting second I hated how my stomach fluttered at the sound of his voice.
"Miss Wald" he said smoothly.
"Baby, why aren't you at school?" I asked, forcing myself to ignore him.
She rubbed her abdomen. Cramps. That explained her lingering at home.
With a casual shrug, she picked up the empty coffee cups and disappeared into the kitchen.
I turned back to Lewis, extending his jacket toward him. "I had it dry cleaned. Thanks"
His lips curved "Why aren't you at work, Priynka?"
"I'm quitting" I said flatly, hoping that would end the conversation.
But a small part of me,
a stupid, foolish part
hoped he would apologize. That he would ask me to stay.
"That's not possible" he said, slipping both hands into his pockets.
"You can't quit before completing at least six months with the company"
My heart stuttered. "What do you mean?"
His smirk deepened. "Did you bother reading your employment contract, or were you too busy clubbing?"
He's not here to apologize, he's here to boss me back to work.
"Get your things, you're moving in with me.l"
My confusion grew into anger, I dropped his jacket on the couch.
"And is that written in my contract too?" I folded my arms akimbo.
He scoofed and pulled out a piece of paper from the inner pocket of this suit.
My eyes scanned the document, Clause Four, Residency-if-Required and there in bold letters and inked with my own signature, was the damning truth.
"You will reside at your employer's home if deemed necessary for work convenience"
"You're my personal assistant, Ms. Wald" he said, his voice low and unwavering.
"I can't leave my sister alone" I protested, but my voice lacked conviction.
"It's fine, Priynka" Lorna called from the kitchen. "I'll be okay."
Lewis smiled, satisfied and turned toward the door. "I'll send a driver. Be ready"
And just like that, he was gone, leaving me standing there with the contract clutched in my shaking hands.