Chapter 3

Time flies so fast and all I have to do is to work. It may be a tiring routine, but at the same time, it felt like it was my purpose: To work and grind my ass off until I save enough money to do the things I want and to find the things I need.

“Lucky clients…” I murmured as I was looking at what stocks to buy. “I wish that I'm as rich as them.”

Suddenly, there was a knock on my office as I heard the door open. I didn’t need to glance at him to know who he was.

None other than Kleinder.

"Go on, sir," I said briefly as I continued to scroll through the stock report of this one company I had seen.

The increase and decrease of this company’s stock price are fluctuating, but when I look at its stock price movement, I can’t deny that it is good to invest here for the short term. It may be fluctuating but when its stock price rises, it is even higher than the standard price. My clients will be able to have some gain.

This is exactly what I was looking for. Some of my clients only want short-term investments for now.

I took my green sticky note from my drawer as I also took a ballpen to write the name of this company that I will buy stocks from. I should study this for more days. I still need to monitor it.

When I finished writing, I was about to paste it on my monitor when I jumped slightly in shock when I saw Kleinder sitting in front of me, looking at me while playing with his black ballpen. I couldn’t believe that he was playing with his Parker ballpen so carelessly even though I know that the brand was damn expensive.

It was even more pricey than my whole life.

"Are you here for a while now?" I asked because I didn't even notice that he came into my office.

Am I so focused on what I’m reading that I didn’t even hear my door open and closed?

"Yes. You may not notice me because you're still busy," he replied briefly to me before leaning his back on the swivel chair. "But you let me in earlier. I’m saying this because you might forget it and think that I entered here without your permission.”

He was right. I forgot that.

"What do you need… and why are you here?" I asked him straightforwardly.

I don’t want any complications. I wanted him to tell me his agenda right away so I can eat my snacks already. I suddenly got hungry reading about the stock movements of various companies.

This is one of the perks of working here at Hornbrown Investments. The rule here is that we can eat at any time, but we also need to make sure that the rule will not affect our quality of work. We can’t be irresponsible just because they weren’t too strict.

This is also one of the reasons why I prefer Hornbrown Investments over other insurance companies. They love their employees, no matter what their position is.

He didn’t answer when I asked him, but he placed a black folder on my desk containing my business proposal earlier. That’s the folder containing some of my modifications for the branch expansion in Cavite. If I am the lucky one to be chosen as the branch manager of the Cavite branch, I should make the place better right now.

"Accepted or rejected?" I asked him directly because I didn't want to open that black folder. It may ruin my mood. I don’t like that, especially when I’m at work.

Maybe he rejected it and delivered the folder to me personally to tease me about it. It’s not a good idea for him to annoy me at this moment since I’m starving. Aside from that, I’m more upset because he talks so casually like he forgot about the kiss earlier.

It was like what Shainara was talking about. Maybe that kiss… wasn’t a big deal? I guess that's how normal it is for him to kiss someone or even more than that.

"I've already signed that," he replied authoritatively when he saw that I seemed nervous because of the question I asked. "The proposal was good and there was no need for revisions. I can't see any reason why I would reject it."

I sighed in relief when he told me that. I thought he was going to reject it. I spent almost two weeks on that proposal so he just had to sign it without any problems. I’m glad he didn’t let our personal matters affect his decision on the proposal.

"Thank you," I replied before I arranged my documents. I'll continue this later because my brain won't function if I'm starving. All I could think about was food. "Do you need anything else?" I added another question because I wanted to go to the cafeteria so badly.

"Yes," he replied before he walked closer to me.

I looked at him… only to have my eyes widen when he traveled the distance between the two of us as he leaned me against the wall. Blocking his two arms on both sides of my body so I won’t be able to escape, it seems like I forgot to breathe.

"W-What is it?" I asked him, and I could not accept why I suddenly stuttered when I saw his face this close.

He was unbelievably handsome. It may be a shallow word to express his features right now. His eyes were like the stars in the sky, shining so bright the light reached out onto my soul. It was like he was talking to me even without his lips moving.

I gulped hard as I noticed another emotion in his eyes. Without a second thought, I’m pretty sure what that is.

Lust.

"You.”

I blinked and tilted my head a little because I didn't understand what he was saying. Maybe it's because I was silently adoring his face and I'm not in the right mind to think of something else.

"I want you, Sandara," he told me in a low tone, and again, as if I was glued in my position, he leaned his face closer to me as his lips pressed onto mine.

I wasn’t able to control my reactions. I suddenly closed my eyes as I felt his expert lips licking, slurping, and biting my lips a bit. The feeling was euphoric. The naughty butterflies were partying on my stomach at the same time he was pleasuring me with his kisses.

I clung to his back while he was holding both my hips, trying to make me stand up because I felt my knees were slowly stumbling. My legs were slightly shaking.

He lifted my ass and made me sit on the table while slowly moving both his hands on different parts of my body. He did that gracefully… without breaking our lip contact.

His kisses were draining the remaining energy I have.

I don’t know why but I am starting to like what he was doing to me. Is this how it feels to be kissed? It feels like something was building inside me. I am craving more. I like the way his body brings warmth, not just to my body, but to my soul.

I know this isn’t right, but I couldn't move my body to stop him. All I can do is hold onto his back while trying to contain all of the pleasures he's giving me.

"You smell good," he whispered in his husky voice before his kisses traveled onto my neck. He sucked on it slowly as if he was trying to tease me and hurt me, but I immediately winced when he bit my neck slightly, like a vampire trying to drink my blood.

My neck felt a pang of pain as he did that, but I'm also thankful that he bit me so hard that I came back to my senses. That became my cue to push him so hard to the point he almost stumbled onto the floor. I never knew I could be that strong!

I am panting and sweating at the same time. What the hell did I just do? And… does it happen in my office?

"What do you think you're doing, Kleinder?" Although I can feel my whole body trembling, I am praising myself in the back of my mind because I didn’t stutter. My voice was also strong. It feels liberating.

I don’t know what got inside me. His kisses even reached my neck. I wanted to bang myself onto the wall, but maybe I would do that later, after running away from this situation. I wasn’t in my right mind. I’m so stupid for letting this mistake happen.

"I told you that I want you," he said in a demanding tone before wiping the drool at the side of his lip.

He looked pissed as he stared at me. He looked like he got disturbed while eating his favorite meal. He took a step forward but I pushed him harder, so there would be enough distance for the both of us. When he started to approach me for the third time, I immediately walked to the other side of the room as I pulled the umbrella and pointed it at him.

"What are you doing?" His expression softened as his gaze went to the umbrella I was holding. My hands were trembling as my heart raced to the point I couldn’t breathe properly.

He slightly tilted his head, wondering why I was suddenly pointing my umbrella onto my position. I know this wasn’t the usual reaction after kissing, but based on my personality, he could have expected that a bit.

"Don’t try to do something stupid. I will hit you with this umbrella," I threatened him as I tried to hit him in his left shoulder. My brows furrowed when he didn’t even flinch nor tried to avoid my attack.

"Don't worry, I am not the type of guy to force someone if they don't like it."

He raised both his hands as if to tell me he was giving up, but I didn't trust him that much… Especially because he’s someone whom I can’t trust that easily.

I didn't let my guard down.

"You want me naked while moaning under you, don't you?" I asked as I gave him a deadly gaze. "Sorry, but the feeling wasn't mutual, Mr. Velasco. All I want is to work and be rich. I don’t have time for these shits.”

After that speech, I accidentally glanced at his body, and I could no longer hide the shock on my face when I saw how big the bulge was between his thighs. I gasped because of the view. I couldn’t believe it… was big.

I wonder what it looks like?

Shit, Sandara. What are you, a pervert?

His eyes widened a bit, but it was replaced by a grin before he placed both of his hands in his pocket.

"Why are you staring at it like that, Vernace?" he asked in a casual tone as he stared at me. His face went darker as his gaze traveled onto my lips, down to my collarbone. "Aren't you aware that you're the reason why it is bulging? Your words are already enough to turn me on, but your gaze makes it even harder. Fuck.”

"You're a hopeless case,” I shot back.

"So as you.” He smirked. He just won’t back down!

"And why?" I raised a brow as I asked him that question. The umbrella I was holding was still pointed in front of him. I have no intention of releasing it.

"Because this is my first time having someone reject me after tasting my lips,” he sounded so confident I couldn’t believe what I just heard at first.

"It's my honor, then." My grin widened because he said that. I’m happy to know that I'm the first woman to break his ego. "From now on, don't talk to me if it wasn’t about work. We should maintain our employer-employee relationship, don't you think?" I added as I stared back at him.

"What if I don't want to?" he asked me, intimidatingly.

"You don't have a choice," I shot back as I prepared myself to leave the room. "You can't manipulate me, sir. That's the last thing I would let you do to me. Now, if you excuse me.”