Just as Silas's mouth settled on her shoulder, a sharp, unwelcome knock echoed through the office. The sound seemed to snap Silas out of the strange trance that had enveloped him. His grip on Devi's arms loosened instantly, and he stepped back as if burned.
He retreated towards his desk, his movements abrupt. "Enter," he commanded, his voice regaining its usual cold authority.
The door opened to reveal a woman dressed in a shockingly revealing outfit – a deep V-neck top that barely concealed her cleavage and a micro-skirt that left little to the imagination. Her heavy, cakey makeup further accentuated the vulgarity of her attire. She minced into the room, a saccharine smile plastered on her face as she addressed Silas. "Mr. Rex, I'm so sorry for my absence. I heard you needed assistance, so I rushed right over."
Silas's gaze raked over her from head to toe, a look of undisguised disapproval in his eyes. "Let me make one thing clear," he stated, his voice icier than usual. "If you intend to dress in such an inappropriate and revealing manner, you will not be permitted to even walk behind me, let alone act as my secretary."
Meanwhile, Devi had been slowly inching towards the side of the room, hoping to slip out unnoticed during the unexpected interruption. However, Silas's sharp eyes caught her movement. "Ms. Devi," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument, "where do you think you're going? You haven't been dismissed."
Devi froze, her escape thwarted. She stood silently near the newly arrived secretary, who was now shooting her daggers with her heavily made-up eyes.
Silas then turned his attention back to his secretary, gesturing towards Devi with a dismissive wave. "From tomorrow, I expect you to dress with some decorum. Something along the lines of Ms. Devi's attire would be acceptable."
Silas watched his secretary flounce out of the office, her stilettos clicking loudly on the polished floor. Devi waited a moment, then tentatively asked, "Mr. Rex, if there's nothing else, could I please go back to my work now?"
Silas leaned back in his leather chair, his gaze fixed intently on Devi. He didn't respond, didn't offer any verbal acknowledgement. He simply stared, his intense blue eyes unwavering, making Devi feel like a specimen under observation.
A knot of unease tightened in her stomach. She shifted her weight slightly and repeated her question, a little louder this time. "Mr. Rex? May I leave now?"
He continued to stare, his silence a heavy, palpable thing. Devi was starting to feel increasingly uncomfortable under his scrutiny.
Just then, a knock echoed on the open doorway. Mr. Lee, the company's Vice President, stood there, a polite smile on his face. He was about to speak when Silas made a swift, almost imperceptible movement with his hand, a clear signal to leave.
Mr. Lee's smile faltered slightly. He glanced from Silas to Devi, a hint of curiosity in his eyes, before letting out a quiet sigh and retreating from the doorway, leaving Devi alone once more with the enigmatic CEO.
Silas's gaze intensified, and Devi noticed with a jolt that the edges of his irises were once again tinged with that unsettling red. He began to rise from his chair, a predatory glint in his eyes as he moved towards her.
But before he could reach her, Mr. Lee reappeared in the doorway, his demeanor urgent. He swiftly reached out, grasped Devi's hand, and gently but firmly pulled her out of the office. "Devi, so sorry to interrupt," he said, his tone implying a need for haste, "but there's a slight issue with the Sterling data I need you to look at immediately."
He led a slightly bewildered Devi away from Silas's office, leaving the CEO standing by his desk, his expression a mixture of frustration and something darker.