Dangerous Obsession

Chapter 1

“I’m sorry, Celeste, you’re fired. We don’t have the resources to keep you on, and you haven’t really been doing your job. We can’t afford to keep paying someone who clearly can’t handle the work.”

This was the worst day… correction… the absolute shittiest day ever.

“My name isn’t Celeste,” I mumbled.

“What was that?” John asked, leaning back in his chair.

I cleared my throat and glared at him. “My name isn’t Celeste, you idiot. It’s Sabrina. And I’ve been holding the finance department together, doing everyone’s job for the last three years! I’ve burned myself out on your empty promises of a promotion—keeping the department running, maintaining the standards you claimed were so important. And instead of rewarding me, you’re firing me? On top of that, you haven’t even gotten my name right once in all the years I’ve worked here. You’re an idiot, and I can’t wait to watch you destroy this department. Honestly, firing me is exactly what I needed. Now, what’s my severance package?”

John stared at me like I’d grown two heads. In the five years I’d worked at J&J Solutions, I had never spoken to him like this.

After a moment, he finally stammered, “There’s… no severance package.”

“Excuse me?” I folded my arms and raised an eyebrow. “No severance package? Fantastic. Looks like I’ll be suing you and this company for wrongful termination—and trust me, I’ll win.”

John’s face paled, and he stuttered, “No, you… you can’t do that! I’ll lose my j-job.”

“Not my problem,” I shot back. “Just like it wasn’t your problem when you dumped your work on me while I struggled to keep this department afloat. And just so you know, I kept every single message you sent me. Thanks to you, John, I’m about to win a huge payout.”

“Cindy, we can work this out,” he tried, forcing a smile, one I assumed he thought was seductive.

I narrowed my eyes. “SABRINA,” I said slowly, enunciating each syllable. “It’s Sabrina, you dumb, dumb man.”

“Sabrina, come on,” he whined. “I thought you’d beg me to keep your job! I didn’t think you’d just… accept being fired.”

I stood, grabbing my bag. “I’m taking this to HR. Let’s see who comes out on top, John.”

John called after me, his tone shifting from pleading to desperation, but I didn’t stop. I marched through the office, every pair of eyes on me as I made my way to the Human Resources floor.

Two hours later, I walked out of the HR office with a big, fat check and restitution for everything John had put me through. The company had also agreed there would be no retaliation, and in return, I wouldn’t pursue further legal action. I quickly called my best friend—and lawyer—Eva, and with her approval, I was good to go.

Stepping outside the building I had dedicated the last five years of my life to, I took a deep breath. I was jobless. No references, thanks to John, and this had been my first job out of college. But on the bright side, I had enough money to figure out my next move comfortably—at least, I hoped I did. I always hoped I had enough. The situation I was stuck in wasn’t ideal, but it was better than most. I just had to remind myself of that. I would make it through this as I had everything else.

Lost in thought, I walked away from that godforsaken building, eager to put as much distance between me and that hellhole as possible. I just needed to breathe. But as I rounded the corner, I collided with something—no, someone—solid and stumbled backward, landing hard on my ass.

“Ouch!” I groaned as my back hit the concrete.

It took me a moment to process what had happened.

“Are you alright?” a deep, gruff voice asked.

I looked up to see a man kneeling in front of me, his hand outstretched. And it dawned on me—I had walked straight into him.

He was the solid wall I had crashed into. Broad shoulders, muscles bulging through his fitted dress shirt, this man was hot. I shamelessly ogled him. My eyes slowly scanning his face. He had a chiselled jaw with a thick black bread and his eyes were piercing green.

I closed my eyes and took a breathe, then opened them again, trying to clear my mind.

I looked up to see a man kneeling in front of me, his hand outstretched. And it dawned on me—I had walked straight into him.

He was the solid wall I had crashed into.

Broad shoulders, muscles straining against the fabric of his fitted dress shirt—this man was hot. I shamelessly ogled him, my eyes trailing up to his face.

A chiseled jaw, a thick black beard, and piercing green eyes that seemed to look straight through me.

I squeezed my eyes shut, inhaled a slow, steady breath, then exhaled. When I opened them again, I hoped my mind would be clearer.

It wasn’t.

The mystery man smiled at me, and I felt heat rise to my cheeks.

I shook my head, forcing myself to focus, and finally took his outstretched hand. It was massive—warm, strong. My mind betrayed me, wandering to thoughts of that hand wrapped around my neck…

Oh my god, shut up, Sabrina. You cannot have unclean thoughts about a stranger.

I internally scolded myself. I had never reacted like this before. I needed to get a grip.

“Are you alright?” the handsome stranger asked again, his deep voice snapping me out of my thoughts.

I nodded, trying to form words—but failing miserably.

His smile widened, amused, and he finally let go of my hand, stepping back.

I watched as his gaze roamed over me, just as mine had over him. I couldn’t help but wonder what he thought.

“Boss,” another man said, stepping up beside the mystery man. “We’re going to be late.”

The man nodded but didn’t take his eyes off me.

“Are you sure you’re alright?” he asked again, his voice softer this time.

I opened my mouth and managed to stammer, “Y-Yes.”

Okay… maybe managed wasn’t the right word. But in my defense, any woman would turn into a puddle in front of a man like him.

He studied my face, as if assessing whether I was a lunatic. After a moment, he stepped back, and only then did I realize how close we had been.

“Well… see you around,” he said before turning and walking back the way he had come.

I stared after him longer than I cared to admit, watching until he disappeared into a building.

The building I had just left.

What the hell was going on today?

I shook my head, trying to rid myself of thoughts of the mysterious stranger. But just as I took a step forward, my ankle twisted, and I tumbled forward.

“For the love of—fumgph!” I yelped, catching myself with my palms against the pavement.

I glanced back, my frustration bubbling over, only to see the heel of my favorite shoes snapped clean off.

Seriously?

Fuck this day.

I just wanted it to be over.