"Take this key, help me get..." Before she could finish her sentence, I bolted as swiftly as my legs could carry me.
my eyes moved on their own accord to the budge in his trousers.As I met his gaze a smirk played on his lips.
"Good morning, sir," I said, bowing deeply, my cheeks flushed with embarrassment as I wished for the ground to open up and swallow me whole. My heart raced as he merely brushed past me, his expression unreadable.
"Bring me a coffee," he commanded tersely before striding off, leaving me momentarily stunned.
"What just happened?" Gabby exclaimed as she rushed over to my side, her eyes wide with curiosity and concern.
I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself as I moved over to the coffee machine that Gabby brought out from the cabinet. "Does bad dreams come true here?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
Gabby grimaced, a look of recollection crossing her face. "Oh, I can definitely relate. I had this terrible dream about Miss Amelia yanking my hair out, She did that the following week, yanking on my ponytail and demanding to know why my dress was an inch shorter than it should be!" She shuddered at the memory, brushing her fingers through her hair as if to reassure herself it was still intact.
"Christ!" I shivered.
I hurriedly brewed a fresh pot of coffee, the rich aroma filling the air as I poured it into a steaming mug. With the warm cup in hand, I made my way to Xavier's office, which was just a short walk down the corridor. Taking a moment to compose myself, I took two deep breaths before gently knocking on the door. I opened the door and stepped inside.
Xavier was seated behind his imposing desk, one hand propping up his jaw while the other absentmindedly twirled a black pen between his fingers. His gaze seemed distant, fixed on something far beyond the papers scattered before him. I approached the desk and set the coffee down, its warmth radiating slightly against the cool surface. Just as I turned to leave the room, I heard his deep voice cut through the silence, "Let's talk."
Surprised, I pivoted back around and settled into the chair facing him. He finally pulled his attention away from the paperwork, his piercing gaze locking onto mine. "How thoughtless," he remarked, his husky voice laced with a hint of annoyance that sent a shiver down my spine.
Flustered, I quickly stood up again, bowing slightly as I muttered an apology, "Sorry." My heart raced as I sensed his impatience.
Xavier rose from his chair with deliberate slowness, the legs of the furniture scraping against the polished floor with a screech, the sound reverberating in the otherwise quiet room. He approached the edge of the desk, positioned much closer to where I stood, and crossed his legs, leaning slightly forward. "How did that work for you?" he inquired, his tone suggesting curiosity wrapped in an edge of skepticism.
"Sorry?" I asked confused.
"Oh, I'm just saying that your lack of consideration could very well be the reason you found yourself in your previous situation," he remarked.
"That's not true," I protested, my heart racing as I struggled to formulate a response. How could I explain the role my brainless father played in all of this without divulging the entire story? It was complicated, and revealing too much felt risky. "I really am a thoughtful person."
"Is that so?" he replied, His fingers lightly grazed my jawline, sending a shiver down my spine. "Sit."
I quickly complied, eager to remove his hands from my face.
"Then it must be because your pimp didn't want you anymore?" he asked, a smirk playing at the corners of his lips.
"Do I look like a prostitute?" I shot back, raising an eyebrow defiantly.
"You look thirteen." His gaze roamed over me, an unsettling mixture of appraisal and judgment as it swept from my tousled hair to my scuffed shoes.
"Says someone who's being called 'baby'," I muttered under my breath, trying to mask the nervous flutter in my stomach.
"What were you doing there then? Don't tell me you're just another girl positioned for me," he teased, his lips gradually curving into a knowing smirk.
My heart raced, and for a brief moment, I felt an intoxicating mix of fear and destruction. Yet, I steeled myself, i got up from my sit standing closer to him, determined to maintain my composure.
"Then it's clear that arrangement did not go well, seeing as I was acquired for a mere 1,000 crowns," I sighed, "The management left me with a heart full of disappointment, claiming I'm nothing but bad luck."
"What's the problem with buying you for 1000 crowns?" he asked, raising an eyebrow as if he were attempting to gauge the sincerity of my words.
"That means your wallet is worth more than I am!" I retorted, raising my hands dramatically while gripping the sleek black Prada wallet I had just liberated from his pocket. The leather gleamed under the dim light.
He arched an eyebrow, a mixture of amusement and admiration crossing his face. "I see you have a certain talent for mischief," he replied, reaching out to reclaim the wallet from my grasp.
Without hesitation, I let him take it back, our eyes locking in an unspoken challenge.
"I'm skilled at a lot of things," I huffed, crossing my arms defiantly.
"Enlighten me," he replied.
"I can ha…" My words were abruptly cut off when the door swung open with a dramatic flourish, revealing Amelia. I couldn't help but think, 'Doesn't she have her own house?' as I internally groaned at her sudden presence.
"Baby!" she exclaimed,with a bright smile on her face.
I choked back a laugh,turning my attention to the 'baby' who callede thirteen, but he's eyes were still fixated on me.
Amelia confidently strode towards Xavier, wrapping her arms around his shoulders in an intimate embrace. She looked like a warm and nurturing presence, her huge boobs enveloping his chest, no wonder he said I looked thirteen. Xavier gripped her waist from behind. They presented a picture-perfect couple, radiating a kind of effortless chemistry that made my heart twist with disgust as I remembered Cole and Arianna.
"What are you talking about?" Amelia asked him curiously, tucking a loose strand of hair behind his ear with a gentle touch that seemed to belong in a movie scene.
"Nothing that concerns you," he replied with a smirk, leaning in to place a soft peck on her cheek. The way they interacted was both endearing and exasperating—an all-too-comfortable display of affection that made it clear just how much they belonged together.
"I'll take my leave now," I said, my voice steady but laced with a desire to escape the uncomfortable display of affection.
"See me in my room by 9 PM," Xavier replied, his gaze locked on Amelia, who was sitting with an unmistakable happiness on her face. As I turned to leave, I could feel the weight of his attention lingering on me.
"Okay, baby," she giggled softly, her tone light and flirtatious, clearly enjoying the moment.
"Not you," he snapped, his tone suddenly sharp. The words hit me like a jolt, making me freeze in my tracks.
I hesitated before turning back to him, curiosity and uncertainty swirling inside me. "Were you talking to me?" I asked, searching his face for any hint of mischief or jest.
"Yes," he replied simply, his expression unreadable.
"Okay, sir," I muttered, a mix of confusion and compliance in my voice. With that, I turned to leave, but not before catching the death glare Amelia directed at me. It was filled with a potent blend of jealousy and disdain, and I could feel the tension between us crackling in the air as I slipped out of the room.