Unmasking the Heart

As I entered the office, memories of last night flooded my mind. I decided to lay low, sitting in the corridor without drawing attention to myself. Rachel walked by, swaying her hips with an air of confidence. She knocked twice and pushed the door open, disappearing inside. Something was off about her today—I could feel it in the way she walked, the way she didn't acknowledge me.

For days, we hadn't exchanged a word, and today, it was obvious there was malice in the air. I fiddled with my phone, trying to distract myself from the tension. Within minutes, Rachel stormed out, her face twisted in anger.

She marched up to me, snatched my phone out of my hands without a word, and glared. "Bitch! I thought I told you to leave early on Wednesday. Your schedule was clear." Her voice dripped with venom.

I didn't hesitate. "Yes, I was about to leave when the boss asked me to stay. And last time I checked, you don't pay me enough to tell me when to leave," I shot back, taking my phone from her hands with a defiant look.

Rachel's nostrils flared as she stepped closer, her tone venomous. "The fiancée position was supposed to be mine. I applied first, and I didn't submit some other bitch's name. I don't know how your file got mixed up, but you got chosen instead. I suggest you quit while you can." The hate in her voice was unmistakable.

"Okay, I'll leave," I said, standing up. I wasn't about to back down.

"Good. Just tell him you want to resign and submit your resignation papers." Her tone softened a bit, but the bitterness was still there.

I crossed my arms, smirking. "I'll leave, sure. But I'm going to need one million dollars a week from you."

"What?" Rachel's face turned red, her voice rising. "You're out of your mind."

I laughed, folding my arms tighter. "What? You can't pay me, right?" I raised an eyebrow, my tone mocking. "You can't even afford to keep your own position."

Rachel was visibly grinding her teeth now, her face a shade of crimson. "Fine. You won't resign. I'll make sure you're out of here myself. Just watch." With that, she stormed off, her 5-inch heels clicking against the floor as she left.

I sat back down, trying to shake off the tension. Pulling up Emily's chat, I tried to lighten the mood. She had sent me a picture of some new lingerie, cursing Ryan for tearing them without satisfying her. I laughed and sent her a laughing emoji in response.

Suddenly, a familiar voice interrupted me, making my heart race. "If you want new underwear, you know where to get it. But when you're at work, you focus."

I looked up, startled, to find Adrain standing in front of me. His voice was colder than usual, his eyes dark, but his words hit like an ice-cold splash. I quickly stood up, lowering my head in greeting.

"I sent for you, and here you are, wasting time with your phone," he said, eyes narrowing. "What's going on, Joi?"

"S-Sir, I didn't see your message," I stammered, my mind racing. Why was he acting this cold after last night? I needed some kind of explanation.

"I asked Rachel to summon you. I saw her talking to you, so don't try to deny it." His gaze was sharp, irritated.

I wasn't going to back down. This was the second time Rachel had pulled this on me. I wasn't the type to let someone walk all over me. "She talked to me, but she didn't mention you asking for me. She just started arguing with me." I kept my voice calm, despite the rising frustration.

"If you don't want the job, you can leave," Adrain replied, his voice devoid of warmth. "Rachel said she informed you about meeting my father. And now this."

It was clear he was angry, but I wasn't going to let him blame me for something I didn't do. "I'm sorry, sir. It won't happen again," I said, swallowing my pride. I had to save my job.

Adrain's expression softened slightly, but there was still a hint of something dark in his eyes. "We're going to an auction tonight. We need to buy a piece of jewelry. It's important to Mrs. Smith, and she'll send someone to bid for it. You'll be doing the bidding, no matter the price."

He turned toward his office, and I followed him, taking mental notes as he spoke. Once we reached his desk, he sat down, gesturing for me to take a seat.

"You can sit down, Joi."

The way he said my name—it made my stomach flutter, despite the tension. "Huh?" was all I could manage, my mind spinning.

"I said, sit down," he repeated, calmer now. There was patience in his voice, unlike before. He looked at me, waiting for me to move.

I snapped out of my daze and quickly grabbed a chair to sit across from him. I thought I saw a smile flicker on his lips, but by the time I blinked, it was gone. Maybe I imagined it.

"What time are we leaving? And what should I wear to match your attire?" I asked, trying to keep my composure.

"All the details will be given to you by Rachel," he interrupted.

"Rachel?" I didn't like the idea of her handling anything for me. "Sorry to sound this way, but can't you send me the details yourself, through email?"

The room fell silent.

"I mean, I'm not comfortable with her handling my things anymore," I added quickly, my heart pounding. "If you don't mind, I'd prefer it if you communicated directly with me."

Still, silence.

It felt like an eternity before Adrain finally looked at me. His gaze was intense, studying me, and my mind involuntarily flashed back to the kiss. I felt a bead of sweat trickle down my spine, my body suddenly aware of his presence. I couldn't focus on anything other than the way he looked—his lips, his strong chest visible through the unbuttoned shirt.

He didn't answer right away. Instead, he picked up the phone and dialed something. "Come up," he said into the receiver.

I could feel my heart racing, my throat dry. My mind was blank, my tongue tied.