I tried my best to concentrate, but I couldn’t, not when Ares was suddenly caught in headlights. He was the busiest person I knew, yet here he was gaping at me.
It’s been two days since that day, and I tried my hardest to forget the fact that I stooped so low to get his attention when it was nothing but an act.
I acted like a ghost in the penthouse, where he was; I wasn’t. The office was the only place I couldn’t free myself from him, and he spent most of the time tracking my every move like I was worth more attention than the papers that needed work on his table.
Well, fuck him.
I was so stupid to think that the almighty Ares King would want someone like me.
I audibly scoffed. I have been doing that a lot, and at this point, I don’t care anymore. Label me a madwoman if you will, at least I was sane enough to exclude Mister Ice here.
"Ms. Lane."
I flinched at the masculine, deep voice, hating myself for reacting so much to it.
I snapped my gaze at Ares before I fixed up my fake smile. "Is there anything I can help you with, Mr. King?"
"Come."
"I’m busy," I replied. "And you should be too; those papers will not sign themselves."
"It’s work-related."
Work-related? Where was that coming from?
"Is it important?"
It was a stupid question, but I was stalling.
His silence was all the answer I needed. Sometimes I despise the fact that I could understand him better than anyone when he chooses silence.
At least I gained a skill working with him, not many can boast about it.
Sighing, I pushed to my feet and heard my phone ding. It was a message from Tori. I faced the screen down, knowing I would reply to her later.
I walked to Ares, choosing to stand at the other side, arms folded, with an impatient expression.
"Your attitude is getting bigger," he commented.
Geez, I wonder.
"What do you mean? In here, we’re not husband and wife, but boss and secretary, or do you prefer, contractor and contractee?"
His lips twitched. "How did you feel these past two days?"
"Never better."
"I’m sure you were... but it doesn’t amount to the feeling when you told me no."
I frowned before realization became my gaze.
This devil did that because I told him no? You mean I spent the last two days chewing on myself because I thought I went in blind?
Unbelievable.
"Tell me the truth, Ms. Lane."
I released a heavy breath, seething between frustration and the thought that he might be into me.
Whatever the hell!
"Apologies, Mr. King, but I have no attraction for you, nor do I think of you in any way romantic."
He raised an eyebrow.
I rest my palms on the smooth marble surface and lean forward, my tits tightening against my blouse. "After all, we were just acting and our chemistry is top-notch, wouldn’t you agree, Mr. King?"
A finger rubbed his lips as he watched me with far too much entertainment.
"Lunch break?" I switched the topic so fast. "Mind if I have that alone?" I walked back to my table, grabbed my phone, and stepped out without waiting for his reply.
A satisfying smirk played on my lip when I stepped out of the executive suit. I checked my phone, slowing down my walk when I saw her message.
TORI: You-Know-Who is missing. A friend from MC called me, saying he hadn’t heard from him; they were supposed to have some business or something, and he’d been silent ever since. Apartment’s empty. Maybe he’s just curled up somewhere after the whore left him.
My smile slowly faded. Dan’s missing? Tori sent me this message hours ago, so I scrolled to her recent ones, and my heart momentarily stopped when I saw a picture.
TORI: I’m working from noon to midnight today to cover the shift. Would you believe who came to see me? The Goddess! Am I dreaming?
It was a picture of her and Athena at the club. Oh no!
TORI: She said both of you hang out a lot, that’s not fair!
My fingers were shaky as I quickly typed.
ME: I’m coming!
I nibbled on my nails, debating if I should grab my coat, but that would only arouse Ares’s suspicion, so I called Reed.
At first dial he picked. "Mrs. King?"
"Get the car ready."
~☆~
I hurried out of the building like I was being chased.
"Is everything alright, Mrs. King?"
"Yes! We have to be there on time." I snappily hastened to the passenger side.
Reed got in and his gaze dipped before he quickly looked away and started the car. Wondering what got him uncomfortable, I checked my blouse, noting one of the buttons was undone, and the division of my tits was on full display.
"Oops! Sorry about that."
"No worries, Ma’am. Did you tell Mr. King you’re leaving?"
"What? No! I can go where I want."
He smiled briefly. "Of course."
I leaned back on my seat and folded my arms. "Can you go any faster?"
I didn’t like fast, but I was willing to go that far. I don’t know what Athena was planning to do, but I’ll rip out her hair from her skull if she touches—!
"Why the hurry?" he asked, picking up the speed a bit.
"A matter of life and death."
"Really?"
"No! But it might as well be. I’m dealing with an unpredictable foe."
Reed smiled.
"Did I say something funny?"
"Sorry, I can’t help it, your face is all red right now, and you look like a tomato."
I gasped, about to say something, but his expression quickly changed when he looked in the rearview mirror.
"Reed?" I was worried when I got no reply. "Reed!"
"A car’s tailing us."
I turned my head to look, but his next words stopped me.
"Put on your seatbelt, Mrs. King."
"Why?"
"Now!"
The urgency in his tone made me do so in a hurry.
"M-Maybe it’s just a random car, there’s plenty behind us, right?" I said, hopeful.
His silence and watchful gaze only rattled me.
Suddenly, he made a sharp turn, and the tires screeched against the asphalt. I braced myself as my body swayed and horns blasted.
Panic filled my lungs when I saw the car still tailing us.