Chapter 6 : Burn

Kane's POV

Her body stiffens with my abrupt question, her gaze darting down. I can see the lines of stress forming on her face as she clutches the clothes tightly in her hands. Stepping inside, I kick back the door, slamming it shut and stride closer to her, leaning toward the closet.

"Did he leave you?" I shrug, my eyes capturing every small change in her reaction. Her jaw is clenching harder as if she's trying to hold something back. 

"We got separated," her voice comes out as a groan.

"And what about the child?"

"He took him," her voice cracks as she tilts her head aside, slowly wiping her tears off. 

I keep gazing at her intensely. Why on this damn earth did I fall in love with this woman so much? If I hate her from the core, it's only because she was the one I loved the most. 

"You didn't try to get your son back?"

She remains silent for a whole minute before looking back at me, her eyes simmering. "My past life shouldn't matter to you anymore. I believe there was nothing in the agreement which stated that I'm bound to answer you about my past"

I shake my head, sarcastically smiling. "Past"

Glancing at me intensely, she turns on her heels and strides into the washroom. I remain standing there, staring in the direction, memories overflowing me. 

———

"So, the final decision has been made. Report me with the entire blueprint in the next meeting," I announced, dismissing the meeting. 

The employee proceeded to leave the conference room one by one. My eyes scooted over to the north— the woman with long blonde hair with deep smoking hot eyes, messed up in the bundle of papers. As she arranged them, I took the moment to treat my eyes with the immense beauty served in front of me. 

Done with folding the last file, she grabbed her bag and hurriedly got onto her feet. My eyes roamed around the half-vacated conference room.

"Miss Benson," I called her out, her breathtaking eyes straight meeting mine. "You're yet to show me the pending paperwork"

Her face drained right away as she mumbled confusingly. The conference room got vacated for a while and the door locked automatically. 

"Come. Show me the pending one"

She murmured to herself, rolling her eyes down as if she was confused. It made me smile wider. 

"What happened?"

"S— Sir, I don't remember when you asked me to—"

Damn, this woman! So strictly professional when she could easily take the full advantage of being my girlfriend— completely opposite at work.

"You don't remember? Then come here. Let me remind you," I playfully smiled as her eyebrows narrowed into a frown. 

She took lazy steps to reach me. As soon as she came closer, I grabbed her wrist, yanked her by her waist and lifted her onto the conference table. Her eyes enlarged.

"Kane!" 

"Damn! I was dying to hear my name from your pretty mouth," I giggled. 

"You're impossible. Which work did you give me?"

"I guess, this one," I got onto my feet, standing in between her legs and leaning down.

She shivered slowly near me, sucking her breath.

"Didn't we agree to be strictly professional at work?" She squints her eyes, making me smile wider. 

"Well. It's easy to say. Hard to do. How can a man handle it if his secretary is so appealing and hot and she's also his official girlfriend?" 

My words made her blush harder, her cheeks turning rosy. 

"I think I'm already in love with you," I told her straight. Her lips pursed into a smile. 

We were just dating. No nonsense. We felt attracted. I approached her and she agreed to give it a chance. That was how our story started when she was my secretary. We wanted to know if things worked out between us and gradually I started falling in love with her, attraction turning into deep feelings. 

"Aren't you too early?" She nibbled her lips.

"I'm just saying. We promised to be honest, right? No nonsense. No drama"

She chuckled. "Well, I guess I'm also. Let's see"

I slid my palms onto her tender thighs wrapped with satin fabric, gently squeezing them as she threw her head back. 

"Kane, someone's gonna come," she whispered. 

"Don't worry. The door is locked. And we are strictly professional," finding her chuckling with my words, I sealed her tempting lips with mine. 

———

My chain of thoughts breaks with the massive sound of the door slamming. Emily may have come out of the washroom. I don't look back at her for a while, concerned about how I may be looking after recalling those days. I don't want her to know that I still recall those moments. All she can do is take advantage of my feelings.

When I found her years later, timid and silent she wasn't before, I doubted something changed in her life. It happened. She got what she gave me. Betrayal. That man left and took her son too. It was so strange that when she left me, she could still stay happy with that man. And when that man left, she changed into a silent woman.

Did my love mean nothing?

Maybe. 

After a while, I clear my throat and put on a normal look. 

"Okay, so—," turning around, I pause as I find Emily already lying on the bed, her eyes closed.

Did she just sleep?

"Emily," calling her, I walk towards the bed and glance down at her face covered with wet hair. She's softly snoring. 

My hand makes its way to her face, sliding my fingers under the strands of wet hair as I tug them behind her ear, exposing her freshly bathed skin, the aroma of her body hits my nostrils. 

I gaze at her for seconds— minutes. But my eyes still don't get enough of her. They want to consume each inch of her until she's printed all over sanity once again. I know I shouldn't let that happen.

She's a mere desire for me now. 

She's my thirst. And thirst doesn't last long. Once it's quenched, we can toss that thing aside. 

I'm gonna toss her anyway. 

Gushing my thoughts off, I move back my hand affectionately touching her. 

"Emily, get up. It's not the time to sleep," I shrug.

She just woke up an hour ago and she's sleeping again. Is she really sleeping or pretending to sleep to get rid of me for a while. 

"Emily!" I call her aloud.

She squirms onto the bed, stretching her arms a bit. 

"I'm sleepy," she murmurs.

"You just wake up and you have work to do. I'm not gonna consider you without the presentation tomorrow. Wake up"

"I'll do it later, no? Please let me sleep for a while"

Her voice seems to be actually sleepy. Didn't she sleep the entire night?

Who cares anyway? If she wants to sleep, she can. I won't be at a loss anyway. 

Shrugging, I leave the bedroom and slam the door shut.

Emily's POV

I don't have much time!!!

When I wake up from an untimely sleeping session, my head bursts with the load of work I have tomorrow. 

Shit! Shit! Shit!

I was sleeping and that asshole didn't even wake me up. Why would he? He needs a chance to underestimate me, insult me and show me that I'm good for nothing. He definitely wants my agency to shut down anyway so I can be under his charge forever, being his bed warmer. 

I don't know on which cursed day I fell in love with this man. I wish I had never. 

My eyes land on the mirror as I panic to get my mess done. 

"Never regret loving anyone," I remind myself, looking at the mirror and letting out a deep sigh. 

My laptop, my files, my folders. I left everything in my office and for hell's sake my phone. I can't find it anywhere. As far as I can remember, I had it around. 

However, it's more important to reach the agency right now to collect my stuff only if that monster allows me to. 

*

"So, you woke up," Kane grumbles, sticking his eyes to the laptop screen, his legs tanging across the couch. 

"And you were waiting for me to wake up instead of waking me up?" I blurt out and immediately regret it. 

His fingers pause while typing as he takes a second before looking at me.

"I see. So, I'm supposed to babysit you?"

His words leave me dumbfounded. Right. Why would he even babysit me?

"Well, I used to do that before. Not anymore," he shrugs. "And I did try to be good enough by calling you twice. But you didn't wake up. I have enough things to do except for wasting my time on you"

It stings hard. 

Harder! 

This guy had never been so bitter toward me back then, even out of frustration and anger, he used to be the sweetest and most gentle with me. 

"I— actually—" I lose my conviction to speak with his last mean words and gasp. "I left all my stuff in my office. Those are important for the presentation. I wanna go and fetch them," I pause. "If you allow"

"My manager will get them for you. Right now, you have to come with me to the joint office of me and Mr Smith. He has something to talk about the project"

I shake my head. At least, he's taking it seriously. I hope he remains professional as much as he can. I remember those days when I used to be his secretary and despite having the rules set, he could even be strictly professional when I used to be around him. 

"Go and change fast. We need to leave in a while," he says.

"Okay. Amm— you— did you see my phone? I had to call someone but I can't find my phone"

"Call whom?" His eyes are still on the screen as his fingers move. 

That question is simple yet sounds tricky to answer. 

"Anyone to keep my stuff ready. Have you seen my phone?"

He stuffs his hand into his pocket and picks out a phone— looks brand new and of course, it isn't mine. 

"No. I don't need yours. I'll search mine"

"It's yours," he says, literally like a command. 

"But it's— not mine. It—"

"I said it's yours," his ruddy eyes lift toward me. 

"Where's my phone?"

"That's not your business anymore. Keep it and don't share the contact number with those people who keep calling like desperate jerks"

What the hell does he mean? Did someone call me? But who? Must be Frederick. That's why he's pissed and literally took my phone. Damn him! 

Now, I can't even contact my friend. 

"You know that's useless. What do you wanna do? If I have to work, I have to face people whom you wanna drive away from me"

"You don't need to worry about that, Em. I know how to handle people and keep my things away from them. By hook or by crook"

There's no point in arguing with him. 

*

The afternoon arrives and we reach the joint department of Mr Smith and Kane, a well-furnished small three-storied building. I don't know how things are going to be seen if people see us together. I'm a struggling social worker and he's an emerging businessman.

I'm distressed in the damsel.

And he's fulfilled with everything. 

Surely, people are gonna get some juicy gossip that I'll never want. 

I follow Kane to the building as a woman crosses our path. 

"Hey, K. Finally," the lean girl with a tall height and big brown eyes beams as Kane stops near her and I keep two steps distance between us. If I'm not wrong, she's Olivia's sister Nova.

"Yeah," Kane chuckles.

I hate this chuckle right now. If he has become rude and mean, shouldn't he be that with everyone? Why so happy talking to other chicks?

"I really missed you," Nova says, almost hugging him and he hugs her back. 

My eyes widen with a sharp twist occurring in my heart. 

"I mean I missed working with you," she corrects, giggling.

Kane laughs. "I hope Cannon gave you enough good experience"

"Well, no"

Can you just break that hug?

I curse inside. What kind of professionalism is that? Hugging your colleague while gossiping? It feels like I'm gonna explode right over here if they keep sticking to each other for another second. 

"Hi, Nova," I interrupt. 

They part right away as Nova's eyes land on me. She squints at me as if she's surprised by my sudden gesture. I never talked to her before. 

"Ah! Are you the donation girl?" She asks bluntly. 

I freeze with her sudden humiliating use of words and shrug, gawking at Kane. He's staring at me as if nothing happened. His so-called good friend just insulted me. Why would he even care? 

"I think you're still raw at business, Nova. When we work on a certain project, it's called funding for benefits. I'm not taking any donations," I answer.

"Yeah. Kind of same," she rolls her eyes and frowns. "And you guys know each other? I mean did you just come together?"

"Well, yeah. She came with me," Kane says. "Anything wrong?"

Nova gawks at us for a couple of seconds before answering.

"No. It's good," she throws me a forced smile and I don't even know what that smile is indicating. 

"We're getting late," Kane says. "Let's go"

————

            || Squatting in a small cabin, Olivia is noticing the entire scenario of Kane, Emily and David Smith having a chat.

"I have never seen Kane letting any woman in his vehicle. Definitely, not a certain woman he just met," Nova grunts in frustration behind Olivia. 

"This girl is something," Olivia shrugs. "She indeed has some tactics to woo men. Huh!"

"Weren't you the one to dare her kissing Kane? Now, handle this," Nova groans, her face turning red with simmering anger. 

Nova met Kane two months ago when he landed in Austin and started working with her brother-in-law David. Ever since Olivia found an eligible match for her sister, she wanted to settle her down with Kane anyhow. That was why Nova could get into the company and work with Kane. 

"I thought Kane was gonna sue her for daring to kiss him. You know Kane, right? He's a walking disaster for people who mess with him. I wanted to kick Emily out of the project to keep her away from David. But here I think, she has gotten another trump card"

"I don't know anything. It better not be what I'm fearing. Before things actually get worse, do something. You were the one to make me dream of being Kane Gabriel's wife. Two months passed and you couldn't do anything. Now, that fucking girl entered his car just because of you. After a few days, she'll be in his room, on his bed— heck! In his life"

Nova rants out of frustration.

"Will you please hold on? Have faith in me and focus on your work," Olivia shrugs.

"You can only give me excuses"

Slamming the door shut, Nova storms out of the cabin. 

*

When Emily and David leave the reception and walk back to have a discussion, Olivia appears next to Kane.

"Hello, Mr Gabriel," she beams.

"Hello, Mrs Smith"

"Couldn't catch up with you after Stephany's wedding. I hope you liked the ceremony"

Kane shrugs, recalling what exactly happened in the ceremony. "Pretty much"

"Glad to know that. By the way, aren't we having a meeting already?"

"Yeah. Mr Smith and Miss Benson are preparing for it. Hopefully, we can finish it before this evening"

"Oh!" Olivia frowns, speaking deliberately in a disappointed voice. 

"Is there anything to worry about?" Kane frowns.

"Not exactly. It's kinda normal for wives who are almost in their thirties"

"Sorry. I didn't get you," Kane scoffs. 

"Miss Benson and David—," she draws a deliberate pause and peeks at Kane. "Damn! I'm sorry. I was just— it's not a place to talk about all this"

"No, please complete," Kane groans, sensing something unbearable to hear. 

Olivia sarcastically laughs. "That's common, you know. I'm overthinking. Actually, Miss Benson has some unique charisma to get her work done. No matter how weak her concepts are, David seems to be always impressed. He never stops talking about her. And Miss Benson is so dedicated to her job that she doesn't even hesitate to talk about work at midnight," she laughs. "You may think I'm crazy"

However, Kane gulps down the unease and anger down to his throat. Olivia smirks to find her scheme working. To taint Emily's image with more of her dirt, she doesn't stop speaking. 

"You know such talent is indeed necessary. Miss Benson literally has that"

"Well," Kane clears his throat. "We should go to the conference room right now"

"Sure"

Kane walks away from there and Olivia follows him, chuckling at the small victory ||

Emily's POV

I have cleared the matter with Mr Smith since he has been apologising for the change of the plan. Since I don't have enough things to talk about this evening, I find it better to stick with the recent schedule they have. 

Kane enters the conference room after a while when I and Mr Smith are already in conversation. Our eyes meet. He glares at me straight for ten seconds and drives his eyes away.

What happened to him again? 

However, I don't give him much attention and speak back to Mr Smith. The room starts filling and chaos goes all around. I can sense Kane's strong glare at me. 

"Miss Benson," the clerk appears over there. "There's a visitor for you"

Surprised, I get on my feet. "Visitor?"

"Yeah. He's waiting outside"

I look over at Kane since I don't think it would be clever enough to go without letting him know. He can do anything with my project. But when I glance at him, I find his eyes glued to the files. There are so many employees all around that I can't even call him. 

"It's gonna take only a couple of minutes and I'm not even going out of the office," I ponder to myself and leave the conference room. 

*

"Frederick?" I exclaim, reaching the lobby. "What are you doing here?"

"Thank God. You're here," he sighs. "I was getting worried about you. I had been calling you since the morning. You didn't pick up. Then you switched off your phone"

"I'm fine," I tell him. 

"What's going on, Emily? I can't understand. I hope Kane isn't bothering you. Is he? You know you can tell me"

I let out a deep sigh. To be honest, I wanna tell him since he's the only person who knows about my past with Kane, but also I don't want him to mess with Kane. I don't want him to get into trouble because of me.

"Trust me. I'm fine. See I'm here at work. And from tomorrow, I'll be coming to the agency too. Just stay away from me for a month"

"What?" He almost yelps. "Now, what kind of shit is that?"

"Frederick, are you gonna cooperate with me? I know you're worried about me but I can assure you that everything is fine"

"And your ex is having a problem with our friendship?" He frowns. Smart enough to figure it out. 

"Please," I literally beg.

"Okay," he sighs deeply. "But please let me know if there's something terribly bothering you"

I nod and smile at him. My smile stays until my eyes drift in the direction— at those sparkling eyes that scurried onto me. Kane clenches his jaw and disappears right away, giving a skip to my heart. 

Dammit!

*

After Frederick leaves, I get inside the conference room. My eyes locate the way to Kane. He's looking down at the table, rolling the paperweight amidst the chaos. I feel my throat drying up, his silence haunting the hell out of me. 

"Miss Benson, can we start the brief presentation?" Nova shrugs. "We have a lot of big projects to handle. So, it'll be good of you if you finish this quickly and let us go"

A tight-lipped smile crosses my face as I move toward the screen. The lights go off and the rough draft I just made comes in front of the screen. I shift my head completely from Kane for now. 

"So, here's the small draft of our newly launched product. Purely handmade fabric for summer wear," I elaborate and keep changing the slides without even looking back at the screen. 

As I keep ranting about all my ideas, I halt, sensing something weird. All present in the conference room started to murmur and gawk behind me as if they have seen something that they should not. 

Concerned, I gape back in disbelief. My jaw drops at the screen, icing me numb on the spot. On that big screen, there are photographs of me and Kane kissing each other in that wedding venue.

The slide keeps going with the continuous snaps as my body heats up in both anger and embarrassment. The slide moves to the pictures of another corner of that venue but the blunder has been created. I close my eyes shut, swallowing down the embarrassment. The spicy gossip flows into my ears as I turn around at the gatherings when I find Kane still gazing at me. 

Kane! 

Did he—