Spur Of The Moment Thing

Emma's thoughts whirled in chaotic disarray as she struggled to process the overwhelming reality before her. The man she had spent a reckless night with—the man she had fled from at dawn—stood before her, no longer just Chris from the bar, but Christopher Jacobs, the mysterious CEO of JB Enterprise. Her boss. Not only was he her supposed boss but the same one she had told about how she came about the job. What was she supposed to do now? Her stomach twisted with nerves as Chris crossed his arms over his broad chest, a smirk playing on his lips that suggested he was enjoying her discomfort. Emma wished for the ground to swallow her as she stared at the big nameplate on Christopher's desk, showing his name. “Well,” he said, his voice smooth and laced with amusement. ”I have to admit, I wasn’t expecting to see you again so soon. And definitely not in my office.” Hearing this Emma turned away, her cheeks burning in a crimson red which was as a result of her embarrassment. He tilted his head slightly, studying her with far too much interest. “Tell me, Emma—” the emphasis on her real name sent a shiver down her spine “—did you come looking for me? I thought you wouldn't want to see me again considering the way you ran off on Friday night,” Chris said, making Emma frown despite her embarrassment. “What do you mean?” she asked in confusion. She had been expecting him to talk about the deceit of taking someone else's job which she had told him about, yet here he was talking about her coming to find him. Who does he think he is? Christopher raised a brow, stood up and walked slowly around his desk to where Emma was standing. “Aren't you here because you want to ask me to spend some time with you again? You want me to make love to you like I did that day—” Heat bloomed in her cheeks and she cut him off, without waiting for him to finish his statement. “What? No!” she exclaimed, shaking her head vigorously, desperate to distance herself from the truth. “I had no idea you worked here, let alone owned the place.” Chris arched a brow, clearly unconvinced. “So, you're telling me it’s just a mere coincidence that the woman who left my bed without as much as a word somehow ended up at my company two days later?” The hint of sarcasm in his tone was unmistakable, as if he were savoring her discomfort like fine wine. Emma swallowed hard, her throat dry. “Don't flatter yourself, please. I’m only here for my interview,” she replied after a moment of silence. She didn't know what game he was playing, but she would indulge him for now. His smirk deepened, his eyes glinting with something wicked and tantalizing. “Oh? And this doesn’t happen to be the job your 'friend' offered you, does it?” he said sarcastically. Emma felt her stomach drop. She had told him too much at the bar; how she had confided so much in a stranger still baffled her. Now, not only had she embarrassed herself, but she was about to lose this job, the main reason she had come to Zeden in the first place. She straightened her shoulders, willing herself to stay composed. “You don’t need to worry. I won’t be taking the job,” she said, trying to sound confident. “That’s actually why I came here—to inform the CEO personally,” she lied, not ready to face this torment anymore. The words tasted bitter in her mouth, but she would rather lose the job than work for someone she had a one night stand with. From the way he was teasing her, she knew it would be a very bad idea to work for him. Chris’s expression didn’t change, but she caught the way his jaw tensed slightly. He stared at her, his blue eyes glinting with something unreadable as he covered the space between them. Emma could feel her heart skip a beat as he approached and without meaning to, she took a step back. For every step she took backward, Christopher took one step closer until her back hit the wall. Seeing that she was cornered, Emma swallowed, feeling her body warm up under his scrutiny. “Why?” he asked, his voice softer now but no less intense. “Why what?” Emma asked, feeling lost at his question. Chris smirked, knowing she was reacting to him. “Why do you want to quit, Emma? Because I’m the CEO?” He paused, watching her reaction carefully. “Because you’re afraid you won’t be able to keep things professional? Do I unsettle you that much?” He asked, lowering his face to her neck and exhaled, letting his breath fan her neck. Emma closed her eyes abd swallowed. He was messing with her but there was no way she was going to let him win. “Unsettle me?” she managed to ask. “That’s not it at all,” she quickly defended. Chris chuckled, clearly enjoying her flustered state, he seems to take too much pleasure in her being embarrassed. “Oh? So you have no concerns about working under me? I don't unsettle you at all?” Emma felt her cheeks burn. The way he said "under me" made her mind wander to things she shouldn’t be thinking about, especially not in front of him. She swallowed and lifted her chin defiantly. “Even if I were to take this job, I have nothing to worry about.” She forced her voice to remain steady. “What happened between us was just… a spur-of-the-moment thing and it would never happen again. You should stop trying to seduce me because it won't work,” she said, holding him s gaze. Chris’s smirk faded slightly, his expression darkening into something more serious. “Is that so?” He studied her for a long moment before nodding as if making a decision. “Alright then. Prove it.” Emma blinked, startled by that. “What? How?” she asked, her brows drawing together in a frown. “Take the job,” he suggested smoothly, stepping even closer and invading her personal space with an air of unyielding authority. “Show me you can manage yourself. That you won’t—what was it?—‘give in to a spur-of-the-moment thing’ again.” His lips turned upward in a smirk. “Unless, of course, you’re worried you 'will.'” Emma’s heart pounded in her chest. She wanted to say no. She 'should' say no. But the smug look on his face, the way he was challenging her, ignited a rebellious spark inside her. One she never knew she had. She wasn’t about to let him think she was weak or that she couldn't control herself around him. She needed to show him she wasn't one to back down from a challenge. “Fine,” she said before she could stop herself. Chris’s smile widened. “Fine?” She lifted her chin. “Yes. I’ll take the job.” A dark satisfaction flickered in Chris’s eyes, making her pulse quicken. “Good. But just so you know…” He leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a husky murmur that sent shivers down her spine. “I plan to actively pursue you.” Emma’s stomach flipped, but she refused to let him see how much he was getting to her. “Then you’ll be wasting your time,” she said with a hint of determination. Chris chuckled. “We’ll see.” He straightened, his expression turning businesslike. “You start immediately.” Emma swallowed hard, her nerves tangled with frustration. She had just walked into a game she wasn’t sure she could win. But she’d be damned if she backed down now.