My panic spiked as, in a split second, Ares’ eyes moved, but I acted on impulse, smashing my lips against his in a hot kiss.
Making sure his eyes were closed, I used that opportunity to take out the flash drive and shoved it in my back pocket.
Ares retreated, keeping his gaze pinned on me as if trying to read me.
"God knows what Loki touched this time," I said.
Ares locked our lips again. This time, he took control, taking his time to shove his tongue into my mouth and invade every corner.
My muscles felt like melting into a puddle and let him ravage me, but a tightening feeling found my chest, so I had to pull him away.
It’s absurd to presume that after that contact, I’m on the brink of pulverizing in his arms and telling him what’s plaguing me.
The thought of going through something as dangerous as this... a flash drive in my back pocket that could potentially bring down his entire company, and meeting a stranger I wasn’t sure would keep to their word.
I’m scared out of my mind as I think through all the loopholes in this mess.
And each time I shut my eyes or pause for a moment, I hear Jenna’s gut-wrenching screams, the horror of what she endured, and how she begged for it to stop.
I knew for a fact they weren’t just gonna put a bullet through Tori’s head; she’d suffer the same fate.
I felt Ares’ hand beneath my chin, and that snapped me out of my head of horrors.
"We’ll take the day off. You look tired." His thumb stroked my cheek tenderly.
"T-That would be great..." I murmured. "But I actually have something to pick up later. I just remembered I told Granny we need potatoes. I had her send a box."
"Nico will pick them up."
"N-No I want to do it myself. Besides, I need my sugar. I’ll stop by the coffee shop too and do a little shopping. I’m gonna need your card."
I stuck out my palm, silently praying he would comply. When he dipped his hand into his coat and took out his wallet, I found relief.
He handed me his black card.
"Thank you, honey." I pecked him on the lips before I got off the table.
"Baby."
I freeze at the door.
"Is there something you need to tell me...?"
My breath shuddered, but I summoned the strength to face him. The intensity of his cold gaze completely contrasted with the soft tone he used earlier; it was almost like he purposely did that to lure me.
Now, I can’t look away nor find the courage to leave without opening my mouth.
"G-Gina Hale, remember her?" I began. "I fired her not too long ago. She was selling info about the company. Sensitive ones."
"Is that so?"
I should stop talking now.
"Yes, it seems like a lot of people want one thing or the other to bring you down."
I’m making a mistake!
"T-They could be trying now to do that, don’t you agree, Mr. King?"
Oh God, what am I doing?
"You once told me you’re a dangerous man, and I told you it doesn’t matter. B-But lately I have been thinking that, given your position..."
Ares fixed me with a sharpened gaze.
"...Dangerous men might be after you. Of course, this is just a wild guess. I’m probably watching a lot of mafia movies, the ones with kidnapping and blackmail."
Ares doesn’t respond, and the more I look into his icy blues, the more I wanna keep talking, and this time not in riddles.
"I should get going now..." I said quietly to avoid him detecting how shaky I was. "Time is not on my side."
I lingered for a moment before I walked out of the office.
~☆~
Nico drove me.
Since the moment we left the penthouse, I have been chewing on my nails frantically.
"Still making a stop for that coffee?" Nico asked, eyeing me briefly through the rearview mirror.
"Yes!" I replied, faster than usual. "But I need a new bag, a present for my Granny. I’ve been thinking of getting one."
"Is that important, milady?"
"Of course it is... or do you have a problem?"
He chuckled. "Whatever you say goes."
"An agreement, that’s odd coming from you."
"Just following specific orders from Mr. King. Where to, milady?"
"T-The next block. Make a stop at you right."
"The new mall, huh? I heard it’s still under work, but it’s quite popular now."
"So I’m told."
It didn’t take too long; we reached our destination. Nico followed closely behind me as I walked into the mall.
I had no idea why that person wanted a meet-up at a place like this, under the public eye. I’m certain they knew I was being watched most of the time, and I had a bodyguard.
Something’s wrong with this.
My eyes kept moving around, feeling like someone would materialize out of nowhere. It was nerve-racking until I got to the designer’s boutique.
There were a few people here, and all were attended to in different sections of the shop as they made their picks of overpriced bags.
I think the people who come in here are rich folks, because I knew for a fact the instant I stepped through the mall, there would have been eyes.
A high-end shopping mall... where eyes don’t stay on you because everyone is an elephant. I’m starting to think it was the perfect spot for a meet-up.
"Catherine King. Didn’t think I would see you here."
I twirled at the voice.
"Naomi?"
She grinned, cat-walking towards me elegantly. She wasn’t in anything flashy but casual, but she still managed to stand out.
W-Wait... is it her? Is she the one behind this?
Of course, it would make fucking sense because she was the least person that doesn’t have a ounce suspicious air around her. Not even Nico was alerted.
Fuck!