Crossed Lines

My expensive leather heels clicked against the polished marble floor, just like a deadly countdown.

....Click....Click....Click....

Everyone in this building knew that sound- It meant Raven Vance was was here, meaning you either got out of her way or prepared to get run over without mercy.

Actually, you know...?

I liked it better when they ran.

I adjusted the collar of my emerald-green blazer, my eyes locked on the frosted glass door of the CEO's corner office.

The global director seat was practically mine....I had spent three years turning this company's European sector into a goldmine, wiping the floor with every incompetent man who tried to patronize me.

I was a femme fatale in a tailored suit, and nobody absolutely nobody stood a chance against me.

....Until I opened the door....

The scent of expensive Cuban tobacco, cedarwood and pure unfiltered arrogance hit me first.

Sitting in the leather chair that was supposed to be mine, wasn't the aging white-haired CEO.

It was a man- He had his long, Tom Ford-suited legs propped up on the mahogany desk ankles crossed carelessly.

A silver lighter flickered between his long, scarred fingers...

He was broad-shouldered, sharp-jawed with dark hair pushed back and eyes so dark they looked like midnight in hell.

It was Lucian D'Alessandro.

The company's newly appointed Vice President, a notorious corporate predator and an even more notorious womanizer.

He didn't even look up when I stepped in...How dare he?!

Then he just let out a slow puff of smoke, and blew out the smoke.

"You're late, Vance."

His voice baritone and rough, dripping with a dominance that made my blood instantly boil...

"And you know, I don't like keeping my entertainment waiting like this."

I turned around looking the door behind me with a sharp click, crossing my arms over my chest

-I didn't flinch. I didn't blink.

I let a cold, mocking smirk spread across my lips looking at him.

"And I don't like coming into an office that smells like a cheap Italian brothel, Mr. D'Alessandro."

I spat his name out like an insult, stepping closer to the desk....

Then I speaked up again.

"Get your filthy shoes off my desk, before I find a place to shove them where the sun doesn't shine."

Lucian paused- The lighter stopped flicking. Slowly, deliberately he lowered his legs leaning forward.

His dark eyes scanned me from my messy high bun down to my heels, lingering on the sharp curve of my hips....It wasn't a glance.

It was an undressing.

Lucian murmured, his voice dropping an octave thick with pures sex appeal and malice:

"They told me you had a filthy mouth, Raven."

I clenched my hands into fists, I was close to punching him in the face.

"I was promised a lethal corporate rival, but all I see is a little girl throwing a tantrum because someone sat in her favorite chair."

I let out a dry, mocking laugh, taking a slow step toward the desk.

I reached out, grabbed his glass of expensive whiskey and slowly tilted it right over his crisp white shirt:

Oops, my mistake. My hand slipped.

"Just like your career will, the second you think you can handle me."

Lucian slowly stood up.

He didn't rush, he didn't look down at his ruined shirt... Lucian just stepped around the desk, his towering massive frame instantly trapping me between his body and the hard wood of the table.

He leaned in, his mouth brushing the shell of my ear his breath hot and dangerous.

"You're a fierce one, Raven."

And I am going to enjoy watching you realize that you've finally met your match...You think you've won this round, but I've outplayed far more experienced rivals than you.

"Keep fighting, darling."

It only makes the victory sweeter when I finally take everything you've built before this.

I looked up, straight into his midnight eyes and gave him a smile that promised absolute destruction- The only thing you'll be taking, Lucian is a long walk to the exit.

"I'm not here to be outplayed, I'm here to replace you really quickly...."