CHAPTER ONE: POSSIBILITIES
HERAZEA
I got called into my Boss’s office out of the blue. As soon as I stepped foot into his office, I felt a shiver go down my spine when his cold gaze was already on me. “Do you know why I called you in here?” He asked with his arms crossed. His fingers tapping his forearm as he waited for an answer, the tension in the air palpable.
I quickly sat down, my heart racing as I anxiously fiddled with my hands. I couldn’t help but notice how attractive his eyes were, but his stern expression made it difficult to feel at ease in his presence.
“No, sir. I’m sorry. I don’t,” I replied nervously. He suddenly broke eye contact to glance down at his desk, seemingly lost in thought for a moment. Then he took a deep breath before returning his gaze to me, although now there was something else in his eyes …
His intimidating presence caused me to break out in cold sweat, but his gaze only intensified as he studied me. He knew exactly the effect he had on me, yet he chose not to comment on it. He leaned back on his chair, his fingers now drumming on the arms as if he was deep in thought. “I wanted to discuss your performance this year, but something else has occurred to me.”
He paused, and my anxiety grew as I waited for the other shoe to drop. However, to my confusion the corners his mouth ticked upward into the tiniest hint of a smirk. It was subtle but definitely noticeable. He then leaned forward on his desk, resting his chin on his folded hands as he continued to stare at me. His smirk sent an odd jolt to my stomach, it was such a stark contrast from his previous stern expression. I tried to compose myself, but the way he leaned forward and continued to focus on me like a predator sizing up its prey was making it increasingly harder to maintain my composure. What was going on? My palms began to feel clammy as I anxiously waited for him to continue.
As he continued to scrutinize me, he eventually stood up and began to slowly walk around his desk. I couldn’t help but follow his movements with my eyes, my heart rate quickening with each step he took towards me. Was this a test? Or perhaps a punishment for something I did wrong? I was too terrified to find out, but my body seemed to be reacting on its own as he got closer and closer....
When he finally stood infront of me, I tried to hide the fact that my heart was beating out of my chest. I tried to speak, but before I could utter a word he suddenly put his hand under my chin and tilted my head upwards. His thumb almost brushed my bottom lip and now my heart felt like it was going to explode. Why was he making me feel this way?
He was now so close that I could feel the heat radiating from his body, and the scent of his cologne was intoxicating. I couldn’t tear my gaze away from his eyes, they had darkened slightly and looked more intense than before. I could feel his breath on my face and my mind was going in spirals. The suspense was almost unbearable – I wasn’t sure whether I wanted to escape or give in to this feeling. I could see a hint of amusement in his eyes....
Suddenly, he removed his hand and stepped back, breaking the trance I was under. I was both relieved and disappointed at losing his touch and I felt like I could finally breathe normally again. He cleared his throat and spoke in a deep, commanding voice which sent a shiver down my spine - “Meet me in the conference room at 6 tonight. We still need to discuss your performance, among other things.” Without another word he sat back down at his desk and pretended to be engrossed in some documents. I nodded weakly, feeling a mixture of confusion and exhilaration as I stood up and left the room. As I walked back to my desk, I couldn’t help but replay that interaction in my head over and over. The look on his face, his proximity, the way he smelled. What was going to transpire tonight? And was he doing this on purpose?
. . .
All afternoon I tried to focus on my work, but the countdown in my mind until our meeting at 6:00 kept distracting me. My thoughts were filled with him – his commanding presence, magnetic gaze, and captivating scent. I couldn’t help but wonder if he felt the same way as I did. Was this just a test of loyalty or something more? I couldn’t shake off the feeling that tonight would mark a pivotal moment in our relationship.
As I stepped into the room I saw him standing by the window, sipping on his coffee whilst looking outside. His back was towards me, but he must’ve heard me enter as he turned around and gestured for me to come further inside. I did as he said and stood there fidgeting, waiting for him to speak.
“So glad you decided to join me,” he said with a wry smile, setting his steaming cup down onto the table before motioning for me to sit. His expression was almost playful, but there was a glint of intensity in his eyes that made it clear he had something on his mind. I sat down and tried to keep my cool as he took a seat in front of me. “Let’s discuss your performance. You’ve been doing very well and I have no complaints. However…”
I perked up, expecting praise, but then he trailed off and a sense of dread filled my stomach. ‘This is probably my cue to be reprimanded for something,’ I thought as I waited for him to continue. He took his time, taking a sip of his coffee and looking at me in contemplation. At this point, my palms began to sweat.
He slowly put his cup down again and leaned back in his chair, studying me intently. “However,” he began, a smirk dancing on his lips, “I’ve noticed you’ve been lacking in one key aspect of your performance here at the company.” My heart sank as I braced myself for criticism. Did I miss a deadline? Make a mistake? He held his palm up while shaking his head and continued, “You haven’t been taking advantage of the resources available to you.” I tilted my head in confusion as he continued.
“You see, our company offers various growth opportunities. Training programs, mentorship, and other resources that are meant to elevate your skills and knowledge. Yet, my observations suggest you haven’t fully utilized them,” he explained, his gaze unwavering. My confusion deepened. I never knew such things were available here. I began to feel overwhelmed, my palms sweating profusely. Was this why he called me in? To chastise me for my ignorance?
When he saw my puzzled expression his smile widened. “But don’t worry, I’m here to help you,” he said, his voice laced with an almost predatory playfulness. He suddenly leaned forward and I could see a dangerous gleam in his eyes as he reached across the table and grabbed one of my trembling hands in his own. He gently cradled it and caressed my fingers while his thumb brushed the back of it, sending a shiver down my spine. I stared at him in bewilderment. His touch felt electric, almost electrifying and I couldn’t tear my eyes away from his gaze. I couldn’t bring myself to speak either. He raised my hand and slowly brought it to his lips, where he placed a gentle kiss on my knuckles, never breaking eye contact with me. His lips lingered there for an unusually long time and my breath hitched as a thousand emotions ran through my body. I could feel the heat rising to my cheeks. After a moment he pulled back and sat back down in his chair, a smug expression on his face as he chuckled softly. He took his time setting my hand down onto the table, almost as if relishing this new game of cat and mouse. He picked up his coffee again, sipping it whilst watching me with great interest, trying to gauge my reaction. My mind was in disarray, racing through a thousand questions and possibilities...
