Pleasure and Sin

CHAPTER TWO

“I see. You have a lot to learn in this company, this isn't a playground. And nobody speaks to me like that."

He shifts, and adjusts his tie, "I noticed you didn't spare me a glance when your PA introduced me, so I thought to steal your attention. You don't have to lecture me about my job role, I'm quite conversant with it." He counters.

My eyes widened.

Dude! He dares to breathe in my presence!? Where did this person with a sickly attitude come from???

"Who are you again?"

"I'm Jack."

He won't survive this place, he'll be gone soon. I console myself. Why did Amira hire this kind of person to tick me off?

A knock disrupted my mood. I sit up and ignore Jack hoping he'd get the gist and get out.

"Come in," I answer, waving Jack off. He didn't budge.

Raising my eyes to see his which glisten like those of a cricket in a dark room. Did he not understand?

"Leave my office!"

The team leader flinches and takes a few steps backwards.

"Not you, Peter. You, Jack."

Peter straightens and moves towards me. Jack left. I look at the cup of coffee he left on my crystal colored cube shaped desk.

"Peter, tell the marketing team to meet me in the meeting room now."

"Alright, ma'am."

"Take this with you," I add, signalling the coffee.

A few minutes later, Amira walks in, "the marketing team is waiting."

I take my coffee from her, sip a little and shake my head. "I don't like this new secretary."

"Not again! He just resumed, give him a chance. I'm tired of interviewing people on your behalf, Mrs Charles."

I take a deep breath, "Ms Laurina. Do you have a death wish today?"

"Sorry, Ms. The team members are waiting for you."

"I need a new secretary by the end of the week. No excuses. I can't work with Jack."

"At this rate nobody will be willing to work with you."

"They'll come running when they need the money," I snapped.

The team leader signaled the team members when he saw me approaching, and they scurried to take their seats. I took my seat positioned at the end of the table, my eyes slowly searched their faces to pick out my prey. Bingo!

“You!”

All eyes turned towards me, their faces frightened, the team leader worried.

“Yes, ma'am!” The team leader answered immediately, jumping off his seat.

“No. You. Sit properly!” I thunder, my voice sending chills down their spine. The guy straightens on his seat, his eyes looking down.

“He's the new intern. Go easy on him,” Amira whispers. I glare at her, my eyes cold.

The new secretary was sitting across facing the new intern. And he saw when the intern jumped on his seat, and arranged himself properly. That should teach him a lesson not to get on my bad side. I give a slight nod of satisfaction. Jack glares at me. I could notice the way he slowly crumpled the piece of paper in his palm, his eyes watching me act aggressively.

“Ma'am, here's the marketing proposal concerning the recent product launched into the market.”

Calmly browsing through the proposal, my nose twitched. I look up to see their scowling faces and sweats on their forehead.

I slam the document on the table. “Do you all think that I'm running a charity organization?”

My fist bangs on the table. “I do not pay you to sit your lazy ass down doing nothing while scribbling nonsense and trashing my papers!”

Peter tries to speak up, “We..”

“If you can not come up with creative ideas, why not take your dull brains home and fry it? What sort of shitty proposal is this? Is there nobody that can think of something creative enough!?”

The sheets scatter all over the table immediately I fling it in the air. The intern adjusts in his position, but stops midway when his eyes catch a sideways glance. I smirk.

“If you're paid to do something, isn't it your responsibility to do it right???”

“I'm sorry ma'am,” the team leader muttered.

Ignoring him, I ramble on, “I need a new proposal on my desk in two hours. Dismissed!”

They scramble out of the meeting room with panic on their faces. I paused on the staircase watching them with the satisfaction that the office will be in turmoil for the next two hours as they brainstorm ideas together.

“You should go easy on them sometimes. They adore you.”

“Will adoring me bring revenue to the company?” I snap.

“They will..”

The buzzing of my phone silences Amira mid-sentence. I peeked on my phone, it was Elena. Why would she be bothering me this morning? She probably wants to persuade me again.

“I'm busy! Call me back in…”

“Have you checked the news???” Her voice was cracking.

“What news?”

“Oh, Laurina! Poor you! What will you do about this?”

My feet stagger against the floor.

“Hold on!”

My PA brings the Notepad closer, the glaring headline throws me off guard.

Private Infidelity Scandal Goes Global as Mistress Announces Secret Pregnancy in Unscheduled Press Event

I stumbled backwards trying to gain momentum, but it was too late as my heartbeat had already skyrocketed, my body collapsed on the floor while trying to catch my breath as the headline kept playing in my head.

“Charles… Why would he? He said it was all a lie… That b***h!” I shrieked.

My entire body trembles at the thought of my picture going viral alongside Charles and Anna's pictures making me cringe. I drag my shaky fingers slowly to my chest. The disgust toil my stomach and makes me retch. I clutch my stomach.

“People are watching… Let's get you to your office, Ms,” Amira whispers, holding out her hands to me.

I could feel my eyes burning and the tears that were rolling out sting my eyelids, my pale face mirrors through the glimpse of the reflection I could see on the Notepad screen. I push her hand away restraining myself from breaking down completely, gathering the remaining energy in me, my fingers grapple on the staircase rails, and my knee wobbles like soggy noodles.

The news about the press conference is spreading like wildfire all over the company building and the employees are watching it. Some nosy ones are peeking through the glass to see what is going on with me. Their scornful eyes measuring every movement of mine and gladly judging me.

Amira probes her hands again, pleading in a low tone. “Don't do this alone.”

I ignore her. Someone sweeps me up on his shoulder and carries me towards my office without giving me time to process the whole thing. The vanilla and cedar scent hits me first. It’s Jack. He places me on the couch, pulls off my heels and keeps them by my side.

“You must think that I deserve this too.”

He didn't respond, he only looked at me. I can not tell what he is thinking, yet I somehow feel safe.

“Do not look at me that way. I don't want your pity.”

My phone rings again. Charles's name pops on the screen making me feel nauseous over again. “How could he call me right now? Such a shameless asshole!”

Jack snatches the phone from my hand. “Don't listen to that jerk.”

“He's my husband, show some respect.”

“He doesn't deserve you.”

I signal Amira to get me some chill water to calm my nerves. Jack was still looking at me.

“Why? Do you pity me?” I blurt out.

“I don't.”

“Then stop intruding in my life. Don't give me funny ideas.”

“What funny ideas? You just met me for the first time today.”

“Let's have s*x!”

His face was expressionless. It was as if he had been expecting it all along. I don't care about whatever he's thinking, or if he pities me. I'm going to use him as my weapon against Charles.

“Don't tempt me. Don’t do something you’ll regret, Laurina.”

“I want that right now. I want to get back at Charles!”

“Are you sure?” He asks, staring directly at me, his doe eyes shadowed with lust.

I shrug, “I was planning to do it someday even though it was to be another person.”

His eyes darkened and his face turned livid. “Have you forgotten you're a wife?”

“Charles forgot that he is a husband. Don't do it if you do not want to… I was planning to divorce him anyway.”

His lower lips curled into a faint smile. He pulled me up and buried my lips in his. I arched my back and glued my body on his letting him suck me slowly and gently, tracing every corner of my mouth with his tongue. His hand held the back of my head to steady my frail body and his other hand held my waist drawing me closer to him while his breath warmed my face.

The scent of his cologne which scented like cedar and vanilla simmered through my nostrils, a soft moan escaping my lips. My eyes voluntarily shut on their own and my whole body relaxed. “Damn!”

The moment his fingers slip underneath my shirt, I hear the door creak and a voice calls out my name, “Ms Laurina!”

“s**t!”