Playing the Game of Temptation

CHAPTER 8

(Two months later…)

“What’s taking them so long to close the deal? I thought that contract should’ve already been signed since last week? Or are they just really doing their job so poorly?” Mr. Bennett ranted as he signed the papers in front of him furiously with his eyebrows knitted together.

I took out the papers he had just signed and replaced them with the other ones in my hands. “I had sent a follow-up to the marketing department first thing in the morning when I came in to the office earlier, Mr. Bennett. I’ll follow this up again with the division leader.”

“And these papers again!” He huffed in annoyance. “I already told them to go paperless with these documents. The next time they send me hard copies again, I won’t sign any of these and I will shred them into pieces. Tell everyone to strictly follow the paperless rule or I’ll have all printers wrecked by next week.”

I nodded. “I’ll send an email to everyone, sir.”

“And Amelia, clear my schedule for the rest of the afternoon. I have an important meeting to attend. Tell them it’s a personal matter.”

Although he had important meetings lined up for later in the afternoon, I simply nodded and noted to myself to do as he said or else I'd be the poor one who'd receive his wrath.

As soon as he signed the very last page, I scurried out of his office and sought comfort from my work desk where I was at least a few feet away from him.

Two months ago, I was the happiest woman in the world after being promoted as an executive assistant. But on the very first day of working with Liam Bennett, it felt like hell on earth.

He’s very strict and, if I may add, obsessed with control. He wants everything to go his way and when something is off for him, he either wants it corrected or, worse, banished.

He’s clear with his orders and he doesn’t want a ‘no’ for an answer. When he asks someone to do something, even if it may seem unfeasible, he won’t bat an eye until the task is done. He’s a complete terror and just like what I called him back then when we first met in the club…truly, irrevocably and undeniably a first class a**hole.

And I despise him in every way possible.

I believe this was his way of getting back at me after I slapped him when we first met. He’s really out here to make my life a lot more miserable than it already is.

I heard my phone beeping, alerting me with a text message.

It was from my sister.

From Aria: Need my drinking buddy tonight :(

I already typed ‘no’ as my response but I figured I could join her tonight since it’s Friday and I’m pretty sure I’ll be off from work a little early because of this personal meeting that my boss needed to attend. Besides, I could use a little de-stressing right now.

To Aria: Alright, where and what time?

—

“I caught him cheating, not only once, not even twice, but three times. That’s three friggin’ times, Amy! How could he do this to me?” Aria wailed before she chugged down another bottle of beer.

I shook my head and sighed. She only met that guy almost five weeks ago, moved in with him two weeks ago, and now she has just caught him cheating not even two months into their relationship.

My sister definitely has the most interesting relationship timeline of all the people I know.

“I told you, men are trash. But did you even listen to me?” I clicked my tongue. “Never.”

She sniffed as she held my arm. “I know I’m stupid, but I really thought he was the one.”

I rolled my eyes. When did I hear this line before? Oh, right! She said the same thing about the other relationships she had before.

“Aria, why don’t you try to focus on yourself this time? Like, for real. You’ll realize that it’s actually fun to be single.”

“But I’m a very affectionate person. I need to give love and be loved, you know?” She wailed again, this time a little louder.

It’s a good thing we’re in our own room. I’ve never been to this kind of bar before, where you could rent a whole room so you could drink privately with your group of friends. I actually prefer this kind of bar instead of going to clubs and being surrounded by a bunch of pervs and a**holes.

I sighed again, picking up the glass of the drink I ordered earlier. I haven’t even touched my drink because my sister was already crying her eyes out as soon as we arrived there.

I ordered something with low alcohol because I know my sister would probably end up knocked out after drinking tonight. Someone among us should at least be sober to get us home safely tonight.

“Tell me about your hot CEO instead.” My sister slurred and I almost choked on my drink.

“What?”

“Is he single? Do you think you could find a way to introduce him to me? Maybe he’s the one I've been looking for this whole time.”

I remembered I haven’t really shared to my sister all the sh*t I have to put up with every single day while working with that bastard.

I shook my head as I began to tell my sister every little detail about my hell on earth and with my boss as the devil himself.

—

“What a bastard!” Aria exclaimed after I told her how Mr. Bennett would call out people as if they didn’t have feelings. “Ugh, he’s really good looking, but what kind of devil would even do that to people? I won’t be able to stand someone like him. My clients can be a pain in the butt sometimes, but I don’t get to interact with the same client every day, so I can imagine how difficult it is for you to deal with a boss like that.”

“Tell me about it!” I rolled my eyes and took a swig from my drink.

“If we need to shake off all the ugly things around us, you should drink this instead.” Aria placed a bottle of beer in my hand.

I quickly handed the beer back to her. “Not tonight, sis. We can’t both be drunk or else we’d wake up on the side of the road tomorrow morning.”

“Oh, come on. It’s Friday! We can just sleep here. I’m pretty sure the staff wouldn’t kick us out if they found us knocked out here. You need this, too, Amy.”

I sighed in defeat. “Alright, but just one bottle.”

And as the hours passed by, that one bottle became two and then three until I couldn’t see straight anymore. We were singing along in off key to some Taylor Swift songs and just dancing around, enjoying the fact there was only the two of us inside the room. I didn’t even notice that I was already drinking too much.

“I have to go to the washroom.” I slurred, my legs couldn’t even hold me properly as I stood up. “Don’t go anywhere, Aria. I’m serious.”

I turned to look at my sister but she seemed like she'd already passed out on the couch. I could still book a cab even in my current state, but I really need to go to the washroom first. I held on to the wall in the hallway as I searched for the washroom. I saw the blinking sign that was pointing in the direction of the washroom, so I followed it until I reached my destination. I quickly emptied my bladder and washed up a little to hopefully sober up. And then I walked out of the washroom and tried my best to find my way back to the room where Aria was waiting for me. Was it room B3 or C3? Shoot, I forgot. I know it was just a few steps away from the washroom, right?

I ended up in front of room C3. I held on to the knob but it was locked so I knocked on the door.

“Aria, open this up!”

I banged on the door a little harder this time. My head already felt a little light and all I wanted to do was to lie down on my bed.

The door opened but instead of Aria, a very familiar face came into my view. The face that I learned to hate for the past two months.

What, now? Is he haunting me?

“Amelia, what are you doing here?” That voice was all too familiar now that, even with my eyes closed, I would know whose voice it belonged to.

“Mr. Bennett.”

I almost lost my balance but I felt him gripping both of my shoulders.

“Are you drunk?” He asked.

I snickered. “I thought you’d be smart enough to tell when someone’s drunk. But no, I’m not!”

“Who are you with?” He asked again.

“Sister.” I mumbled. “Is the room spinning?”

I thought I heard him curse, but I was not so sure of it. He pulled me inside the room and made me sit on the couch.

“Where’s your sister?”

“Oh, right!” I stood up but I fell back on the couch, almost hitting the ground actually. “I need to go to her.”

He clenched his teeth as he grabbed my arm to keep me from falling. “You’re not a very good drinker, Amelia. I’ll take you home. Do you remember your room number?”

“Do you even know where my house is, Mr. Bennett?” I hiccupped. “Oh, right! I don’t think you do. In fact, I don’t think you give a single f*ck about your employees because you’re an egotistical bastard.”

“You’re drunk, Amelia. Let’s go.” He spoke in a more domineering tone.

I smirked. “Always so bossy. Why are you even here? Is this where you’re having your very important meeting?”

I stood up while attempting to slip away from his grasp but he only tightened his hold on my arm. When I tried to use a little force to wrench my arm away, I fell backward and right into his body. I was on top, almost straddling him and with his face too close to mine.

My bleary memory of the very first time I met him at the club flashed in my mind. My gaze fell on his lips and I watched the way his tongue darted out to dampen his upper lip. In my drunken state, I was having this crazy idea of doing the same thing on his lips using my tongue.

Shoot, this is dangerous.

I looked up and met his gaze. I could be wrong, but I knew that was the same look he had when he wanted to kiss me back in that club where we first met.

“Amelia.”

The way my name rolled on his tongue with his baritone voice made my insides melt. I hate that he has this effect on me. This is really stupid.

I want to kiss him.

I realized my hands were resting on his chest. I lifted one up to touch his face, tentatively touching the bridge of his nose with the tip of my finger and then down to his upper lip.

“I hate you.” I mumbled. “But I really want to kiss you right now.”

I noticed the way his eyes darkened and the next thing I knew, he had one arm wrapped around my waist while his other hand cupped the back of my head as he pulled me in and kissed my lips.

My eyes fluttered close automatically as I kissed him back, his tongue was not even shy as it darted inside when I slightly parted my lips and then tasted me which caused me to moan.

Fudge, I’d be lying if I said he’s not a good kisser because he’s really good at that. It’s the kind of kiss that you want to get lost in and never be found again. The kind of kiss that makes you forget about everything.

I threaded my fingers with his hair and grabbed a handful as I tried to get a little deeper into this kiss. I thought I heard him moan. Or maybe that was me again. I don’t know anymore.

“F*ck, Amelia. You have to tell me to stop.” He grunted, kissing my chin and then my neck this time.

Instead of telling him to stop, I answered him with a moan and a grind of my hips. And when I felt how hard he was between my legs, it sent a dizzying signal to my brain.

With fumbling hands, I undid the top buttons of my blouse until the top view of my breasts became exposed to his view. He didn’t waste time as he leaned down and placed his lips and kissed my exposed skin. Another moan elicited from my lips.

I heard him growl as he fisted the fabric of my blouse in his hands and tore it at once, buttons flying across the room.

And then all of a sudden, I felt a buzzing in my head and my throat felt a little funny.

I pressed a hand over my mouth and gagged. Oh, no. With very little strength left in me, I pushed the man beneath me away and attempted to stand up, but it was too late.

I threw up right at Mr. Bennett’s chest and I could swear I saw the horror on his face after the realization of what I had done.

The lights were still dancing around us. That’s all I remembered before everything went black and then I fell on something hard.