Chapter 9

The tension that was building in the room made me wanna scream and run away. His cold gaze made me weak and it made my fingers fumble on the hem of my skirt. He looks so formal, a professional. His hair was brushed up behind, but a strand of hair laid on his forehead.

I am amazed at how civilized he was here than the first time I met him. In my place, he looked like someone who would just barges into your house, like the bad boy in the novels. Right now, he looks like a hot billionaire man who was a regal back in the medieval period. Classy and sophisticated.

Adam is Mr. Ross? That is the first thing I had in mind. Although I am not that surprised. The reason why I feel surprised is that seeing him again--- brings about the explosions of diluted emotions that I have been struggling to hide.

His stoic expression never faded even as he turns around to look directly at my petrified body. I can't even move--- it's as if the world has stopped for the both of us, just staring at one another. When he started to walk from behind his table towards my direction, each and every sound of his steps echoed in my very ear. There is this unknown tension once again--- and it is something that scares me.

"Eve." Our eye contact never breaks, my grey eyes to his blue.

The sound of his deep voice and accent rings through my very core. He gazes down at me with his smug and smoking expression, his head slightly tilted, showing the fair skin on his neck, his firm jaws, and the strain of muscle that lines down his neck.

I can't stand down. I stood up straight and let a smile curl up my lips. I still have to say sorry to him. But his attitude makes the situation different.

"Adam," I utter with pride. "Or should I call you, Mr. Ross?"

"You know better." His gaze softened and it made my heart feel the guilt of the last words I threw at him.

"I'm sorry," I whispered as I look at him. He gestured at the sofa in front of his table, so I sit just like he offered me to.

He leaned on his table, one hand holding it and the other in his pocket, his knees are crossed with one another, and he waits--- waits for what I have to say.

"What I said was rude, I was just mad. I shouldn't have shouted back at you like that."

"Hm." He just looks at me, still, with that apathetic ridiculing gaze.

"You're at fault here too." I glared at him, and instead of easing his annoying look, he smiled at me. Like what? Is he bipolar or something? Sometimes, I forget that this one in front of me actually lived for a very long time as a devil, he seems too childish! I sighed and rolled my eyes off of him.

"The reason why you are here, Ms. Eva Reiss, is because you have been promoted and I want you to report the visions you want to incorporate with the branch of this company."

What? Did he just change the topic?

"I am just—"

"Please refrain from speeches of personal life when we are in a meeting." The annoying smile still hasn't worn out of his face.

Fuck you. He really makes my blood boil! I am trying to make this up! I feel guilty and he doesn't even want to listen.

I will play his little game. I smiled back and nodded.

"So, Eve-"

"Ms. Reiss, please. I don't want my boss to address me so casually."

He glared at me but I glared back at him. You started this. I am not scared of him. He crossed his arms and I can see how he expulses air from his mouth, and it made me weird. I bit in my lower lip and focus my attention on something else to stop my mind wander into unwanted thoughts.

"Ms. Reiss, your branch was one of the leading ones when it comes to quantity and quality products in sales. But that was before Leon passed down his position to you. Do you think you can exceed the expectations of the market, now that you are the one in place?"

The tone was now serious and I needed to answer, not as someone who hates this guy, but as the new head of our department.

"I cannot guarantee anything, Mr. Ross. Actually, I never expected myself to gain this position since I can't clearly see any potential from me to hold leadership. But, I am someone who never just backs down for a fight. I will do my best to lead the department left by Mr. Leon until someone more suited in the place comes to replace me. "

Wait. Is he the one who out me in here? I mean, I never knew anything about being the head of the department. There's not even any training of some sort!

My eyes shoot at him, if he is the one who solely puts me in the place, I am going to resign from the publication, even if it means a lot to me.

"Are... you--- the one who ordered Mr. Leon to step down and be replaced by me?"

His brow creased and let out a suppressed chuckle.

"Why would you even think that?"

"It makes sense if you think of it,” I replied, feeling distraught.

"Believe in your own power, Ms. Reiss. Leon won't just let someone incapable to handle his position. He must have seen the potential in you---or maybe, he has seen someone even more capable than him."

A real smile formed on my lips because of what he said and how he said it. His eyes were sincere and honest. Maybe I shouldn't bury myself in the core of my Earth and just willingly take part in it.

"Thank you, Mr. Ross." So you do say good things sometimes. How did he even have the publications in the first place? "Have you always been the CEO of the pub?"

"Only since the real founder sold his soul to me."

"Pardon?" Did he really just mean that? He just beamed at me, never letting me leave his sight. He didn't answer.

"I mean, how did he---did he nearly died too?" If it's like me, then there may be some other men or women too. Women. A pang of jealousy strikes my heart. Pffft.

"No, I threatened to kill him if he doesn't give me what I want."

He's definitely joking... right?

I opened my mouth to say something but nothing came out. I sucked my lips in and just looked back at him, and fuck. His gaze was dark and hot. I felt the beat of my heart racing, and even more when he took his steps closer to me. I gaze upon him and he was towering in front of me. He lifted his hand and his finger brushed against the side of my forehead, I swallowed hard. He anchored some loose strands of my hair and tucked them behind my ear.

My breath was raspy, and from that single touch--- there were fireworks sparkling in my body, and I almost feel like I can sense everything within some distance, his breathing and the tension.

The darkness in his ocean blue eyes turned delicate when his lips opened to utter some words.

"Don't ever. Ever. Compare me to Zach again."

It was my fault...

I nod and smiled at him. I saw his lips form a little curve and I felt contented.

"You can go home now,” he said promptly.

"What?"

I croaked. Why did I ever ask what? Oh, fucking Eva! What am I expecting!?

"I mean yes." I let out an awkward smile and stand up immediately. He was standing close to me but I didn't show how affected I was. Of course.

"Mr. Thompson will be waiting for you outside." He took a step closer to me and there it was again. That magnetic force draws me closer to him. His being there, close to me, makes me feel like I was being pulled by a strong invisible force and it makes me want him so bad. And he is the only one, who can make me feel like this.

As he looks into my eyes, I can feel how ragged my breath is turning out as it is right now. He was so gorgeous. He was so freaking damn hot that it makes every inch of my body sensitive to his touches. His eyes, his mouth, everything about him, seems so familiar, that I can't even stop myself from the thoughts of him. But why?

His eyes were so blue, so dark, yet so cold. His lips were parted like mine, and I can see every swallow he does because of his adam's apple. Time passed so slow, and we were just standing like that, staring at one another.

The rampage in my heart began to grow when he lifted his hand to touch my face, the beating ceased when his hand stopped near my cheek, without even laying it on my skin. It's just like he is struggling to touch me or not.

After exasperating, he dropped down his clutched hand beside him and stood up straight.

"I won't touch you anymore."

I feel like my heart was broken.

"Why?" My voice sounded so desperate but I didn't care. I cannot understand him and I wanted to, right now.

*Not until you realized your own feelings."

"What feelings?" My eyes widened.

"I am not the one inside your heart and I am sorry for doing those things."

Is it Zach that he is talking about? Why is he sorry?  I start to fiddle with my hands as I engage deeper into the conversation.

"Zach and I aren't---"

I stopped. What is Zach in my life? The flood of memories suddenly submerged my very own mind into deep thought. I remember how he kissed me, and how we were about to kiss again several times. So what is Zach in my heart? I looked back once again into Adam's eyes and his expression was quite dismal.

What is Adam in my life? In my heart?

"You can go now, Eve."

His eyes never changed but his lips formed a wobbly smile as he gestured me to the door. I can't even talk. I don't know what I can say to him. I don't know what is happening anymore. Breathe...

I bowed my head a little and forced a smile to show him. I feel disappointed that our meeting is like this once again. But I have to sort things out--- he is right, I have to clarify the battle in my heart. He walked me through the elevator and the area was filled with silence. It was deafening.

I got in the elevator and turned to him. He was looking at me with such a kind expression and I feel my heart breaking from something that I didn't know. We stared at each other without neering a word until the door closes and I was left alone.