Chapter 3
969 Words
As I stood outside the CEO’s office, I felt the weight of the moment pressing down on me. The hallway was silent, save for the faint ticking of a clock somewhere in the distance. I took a slow breath, steadying myself before knocking.
“Enter.”
The voice was deep, rich, and commanding. It sent an unexplainable shiver down my spine. I pushed the door open and stepped inside.
The CEO’s office was nothing like the rest of the company. The décor was sleek, sophisticated – dark wood, deep leather, and a massive window that overlooked the city skyline. Everything about the space exuded power, much like the man himself.
And now, standing this close, I could fully take him in.
Cassian Moreau was breathtaking. His presence was overwhelming, an effortless command of attention. He was taller than I had realized, lean yet impossibly strong, like a predator who had perfected the art of stillness. His long jet-black hair, smooth and straight, framed his chiseled features, the strands just brushing his sharp jawline. His skin was pale, but not in a sickly way – more like polished marble, smooth and untouched by time. But it was his eyes that captivated me most. Golden-amber, burning with an intensity that felt almost inhuman. They weren’t just looking at me; they were consuming me, stripping me down to something raw and exposed.
Cassian sat behind his desk, his golden-amber eyes locking onto mine the moment I entered. There was something predatory in his gaze, a silent intensity that made it impossible to look away. He wasn’t just watching me – he was studying me, assessing, as if he already knew secrets about me, I hadn’t even uncovered yet.
“Miss Delacroix,” he greeted, his voice smooth as silk. “Close the door.”
I hesitated only for a second before doing as he asked. The soft click of the door shutting felt like sealing my fate.
“I assume you’re wondering why I called you here,” he continued, gesturing toward the chair in front of his desk. I walked forward, careful to keep my steps measured, my face neutral. I refused to let him see how unnerved I was by his presence.
“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t curious, Sir,” I admitted, lowering myself into the seat.
A slow smirk curled at the edges of his lips. “Curious. I like that.”
His tone sent a flush of heat through me, though I forced myself to remain composed. There was something dangerous about him – something that whispered to a part of me I didn’t fully understand.
“I make it a point to meet individuals who intrigue me,” he said, leaning back in his chair. “And you, Miss Delacroix, are quite… unique.”
My pulse quickened. “I don’t know what you mean.”
He tilted his head slightly, studying me as if he could see right through my carefully constructed defenses. “Don’t you?”
The way he said it – it wasn’t a question. It was a statement, a knowing declaration that sent a shiver down my spine.
I swallowed hard, shifting slightly in my seat. “I appreciate the sentiment, but I’m just another employee here. I don’t see what could possibly be so interesting about me.”
Cassian chuckled, the sound deep and almost… amused. “I think you already have an idea, Eloise.”
He said my name like a caress, and it sent a delicious warmth down my spine. I gripped the arms of the chair, grounding myself. “If this is about my work performance, I assure you – “
He raised a hand, stopping me mid-sentence. “This isn’t about your performance. At least, not in the way you think.”
The room suddenly felt smaller, the air between us charged. His eyes traced over me, slow and deliberate, as if memorizing every inch of my face.
“You feel it, don’t you?” he murmured, his voice dropping lower, more intimate.
I should have denied it. Should have laughed it off, played it cool. But I couldn’t. Because I did feel it – this magnetic pull between us, this unspoken tension that cracked like a live wire.
“Sir, I really don’t know what you’re talking about,” I lied, but my voice betrayed me, coming out softer than I intended.
Cassian leaned forward then, resting his elbows on the desk, closing the space between us just enough to make my breath hitch. “Lying doesn’t suit you, Eloise.”
The way he said my name again – sent a delicious thrill through me.
I clenched my hands together, willing my pulse to slow. “Is there a point to this meeting, Mr. Moreau?”
He smiled, and it was equal parts wicked and knowing. “Just getting to know my most intriguing employee.”
I should have felt flattered. Instead, I felt like prey caught in the sights of a predator. A part of me wanted to run. Another part wanted to lean in, to see how close he would get before this careful game we were playing shattered completely.
But then he leaned back, as if giving me a reprieve. “For now, that’s all, Miss Delacroix.”
I exhaled slowly, forcing myself to stand without stumbling. “Thank you for your time.”
Cassian’s eyes gleamed with something unreadable. “Oh, we’ll be seeing each other again soon.”
The way he said it wasn’t just a promise – it was a certainty.
As I left his office, my legs felt unsteady, my mind racing with thoughts I wasn’t ready to confront. One thing was certain – Cassian Moreau was dangerous.
And I wasn’t sure I wanted to resist him.
- Writer
