Nikki watched his jaw clench, a vein pulsing visibly at his temple. She smirked. Not as unaffected as he pretends to be.
Slowly, deliberately, she trailed the pen from his lips to his jawline, down his throat, and back to his lips, her voice low and heated.
"Gosh, you have gorgeous lips... I want to kiss those," she whispered, leaning ever so slightly closer.
His eyes darkened, his restraint palpable as he replied with stern, almost brutal self-control, "Sit down, Miss Wilds."
The authority in his voice startled her, and before she could stop herself, she obeyed, sinking into the chair like a reprimanded child.
"That's the end of the meeting for today," he continued, his tone calm yet commanding. "You should learn to be professional in these meetings because you might be attending a lot of them."
Her eyes widened, hope flickering. "Really? So I got the job?"
His gaze was unreadable, a fortress of control. "No," he said flatly. "I'm just educating you for next time. Goodbye, Miss Wilds."
Her cheeks burned with humiliation and frustration. She stood quickly, her heels clicking angrily against the floor as she marched toward the door.
The sleek navy blue, cream, and brown design of the modern office felt oppressive now, mocking her every step.
She reached for the doorknob, her fingers trembling with irritation when his voice cut through the air like a blade.
"Stop."
She froze mid-motion, as though he'd pressed an invisible pause button. Her breath hitched as she heard him rise from his chair, the air around him shifting with his movement.
The sound of his deliberate footsteps filled the room, slow and measured, each one echoing with intent.
He circled her like a predator appraising its prey, his presence wrapping around her like a cage.
Then, without warning, his hand landed firmly on her thigh.
Her breath caught, her heart pounding as he reached for the garter she'd worn discreetly beneath her skirt.
His rough fingers traced its edges, and with a single, fluid motion, he ripped it from her leg.
The sound of the lace tearing was loud in the silence, and her gasp echoed in the room.
He held her gaze, his green eyes dark and unrelenting. "You see, Nikki," he murmured, his voice like velvet over steel. "You are about to become a good little girl."
Her knees nearly buckled at the weight of his tone, the intensity in his stare.
Before she could process his words, he opened the door, guiding her out with calculated finality.
The door clicked shut behind her, leaving her standing in the hallway, her chest heaving and her garter now securely in his pocket.