“Of course I do,” he laughs richly and plops down in his seat next to mine. “But you could tell me all about it after work. How about dinner tonight?”
“That would be highly inappropriate, sir.”
“Aren’t you sweet?” he teases, and I’m tempted to perform a satanic ritual to sacrifice his wretched soul.
The rest of the people present in the room take place around the long oval desk, and the meeting soon begins. For at least half an hour, we discuss the details of the press conference scheduled for Monday in two weeks and tomorrow’s photo shoot. I listen attentively as I get briefed about the planned events. It’s mind-blowing how fast they organized all of this. It was only yesterday morning that I announced my not-so-meticulously curated idea, yet they’ve already scheduled the necessary appointments.
I just want to go home and sleep for the rest of the day. Honestly, I couldn’t care less about any of this, even if it was my idea. Everything is just so exhausting.
“Tonight, we’ll celebrate at the Grand Air Hotel. The entire team is invited, as well as the rest of our flourishing authors andsome A-list celebrities,” Mr. Williams declares, extremely proud of his achievements and his visibly already perfected guest list.
He shoots me a telling glance. I must attend, and I won’t be given a chance to run away before at least greeting half the guest list.
***
I get ready for the soiree by wearing my most expensive suit and arriving in a limousine, as requested by the boss.
Personally, it makes more sense to be more modest and take my own car, but he insists I flaunt the privileges bestowed upon me by his generosity. It’s all just pretense. He wants me to look like royalty while treating me like a replaceable asset. How convenient to make it seem like he dotes on me when he makes millions off my back.
Greed is truly a sin.
The hotel is as grandiose as ever, with crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceilings and a splendid red velvet carpet covering the entrance. Who knows how much of our budget has been blown for this unnecessarily luxurious party. If the hotel didn’t belong to the boss, this event would be even more expensive.
I start the evening by greeting my fellow coworkers, until I’m caught by Mr. Williams and forced to converse with renowned figures I haven’t the slightest clue about.
While he’s too busy discussing boring affairs with his guests, I manage to slip into a hallway farther away from the main room to catch my breath.
“I can’t do this,” I sigh, exasperated from socializing.
“Can’t do what?” a familiar voice rips me out of my reverie.
I spin around and meet Aiden’s handsome face. Of all the people I could have stumbled into, it justhadto be him. “What the hell are you doing here?”
He laughs, his voice low and devilish. “I’m staying at this hotel.”
“Leave me alone, will you?”
“Nah.”
I roll my eyes and fiddle with the cuffs of my suit, sensing the scar burn under the fabric. “Why are you here?”
“I told you. I’m staying at this hotel.”
I cock a brow. “So, you just happen to be in the same hotel as me the night after we…you know? I don’t believe you.”
“Maybe I missed you so much I stalked you and found out that you were here tonight?”
I gawk at him in disbelief, but then he starts laughing. “God, you’re adorable. Don’t worry. This is all just a coincidence.”
As if the hundreds of people in the main hall weren’t enough to drive me nuts, now I have to hear him spout a year’s worth of nonsense.
I bite my bottom lip. “Can’t you just pretend not to know me? I’m here for work. I don’t have the luxury to get into trouble for-”
“Fucking me?” he finishes in my stead. “You wound me, Aoi. I can’t just pretend that torrid night never happened.”
“Shh!” I hastily cover his mouth. “Don’t say shit like that so loudly. What if someone overhears?”
Frowning and glaring at his attitude, I pull him into a dark and hidden corner, farther away from the commotion. I sense him smirkunder my palm and yank my hand away as I feel the contact of his tongue against my skin.
