Claimed By My Driver

BEAUTINA The letter hit my face. It didn’t hurt, but the sound of paper slapping against my skin made my chest tighten. “What’s the meaning of this?!” John’s voice filled my room like thunder. I slowly lowered the paper and looked at him. He stood by the door, his chest was rising and falling hard, his hand was still half-raised like he couldn’t believe he had just thrown something at me. My brows lifted slowly. He must have forgotten who he was talking to. John had worked for me for three years. In all those years, he had never shouted at me. Not once. Even on the days when my mood was terrible and I snapped at everyone around me. But today? Today he was standing in my room like he had every right to question me. The fight I had with my ex-husband at court yesterday was still sitting inside my chest like a stone. My head had been pounding since morning and the worst part was the judge. Another useless hearing. Another adjournment. Another day without my son. My throat burned, but I swallowed the feeling down quickly. I had promised myself something last night. I would not cry again. Not for that man. Not for anyone. I straightened the belt of my pink robe and lifted my chin. “You can read, right?” I said coolly. “Then read it. Whatever is there, that’s what it is.” My voice came out steady, but deep inside, my chest still ached. John stared at the letter in my hand. His fingers tightened. “You’re serious?” he asked slowly. I folded my arms. “What does it look like?” His jaw clenched. “Say it,” he said. My eyes narrowed. “What?” “Say it with your mouth.” His voice dropped lower. “Say you’re sacking me.” The room suddenly felt smaller. I frowned at him. “What’s wrong with you today?” I asked. “Why are you shouting in my room?” He stepped closer. “Because you just fired me like I’m nothing.” “You are my driver,” I snapped. “And I can dismiss my driver anytime I want.” “Driver,” he repeated under his breath like the word annoyed him. His eyes moved around the room for a moment, like he was thinking about something. Then they returned to me slowly and suddenly I became aware of how I looked. I had just finished showering. My pink robe was tied loosely around my waist. My hair was wrapped in another matching towel robe, but my neck and shoulders were bare. Tiny drops of water still clung to my skin. John’s gaze slid down my collarbone. Then lower My breath caught. His eyes had always been gray. Ash colored and calmed but right now they looked darker and warmer. Something inside them burned and I didn’t like the way it made my stomach tighten. I quickly looked away. “See,” I said, trying to sound bored, “I don’t need your service anymore.” Silence stretched between us. Then he ran a hand through his brown hair in frustration. “We both know as big as you are...” My head snapped up. “Excuse me?” He ignored my glare. “... you don’t know how to drive,” he finished calmly. My lips parted. “I’ve been driving you everywhere for three years,” he continued, his voice low. “So tell me… who exactly will drive you now?” “I can hire another driver,” I said quickly. “Like who?” “That’s none of your business!” “It is if you just threw me away without a reason," he argued. I pointed to the door. “Leave.” He didn’t move. “Your service here is done.” He stared at me. Then suddenly... He laughed. It wasn’t a loud laugh, it was just a low chuckle that rolled out of his chest but the sound made the tiny hairs on my arms stand up. Why did he sound like that? Like he knew something I didn’t? I crossed my arms tighter across my chest, trying to hide how exposed I suddenly felt. “You’re still here,” I said sharply. “I noticed," he murmured. “Then go.” Instead, he walked toward me. He took one step. Two. Three. My heart began to beat faster. I didn’t know why. John had stood close to me many times before. Opening car doors. Handing me files. Waiting outside meetings. But this felt different. Something in the air had changed. I took a step back. My legs brushed against my long white closet behind me. He stopped right in front of me, he was too close. I could feel the warmth of his body. I could feel his breath on my face. “Why are you laughing?” I asked softly seeing his face. He didn’t answer. My palm pressed against his chest to push him away. His chest was solid and warm. And he didn’t move an inch. Instead, his hand came up and wrapped around my wrist. His grip was firm, but not painful. It was just enough to stop me. “Maybe,” he murmured slowly, “my service here is just starting.” My heart skipped. My eyes lifted to his face. “What are you talking about?” His gaze held mine steady and deep like he was searching for something inside me. Something no one else had ever bothered to look for. Before I could pull my hand away, his other hand reached up. His fingers brushed the small towel wrapped around my hair. Then... He tugged it loose. The cloth slid away. My wet black hair fell down my shoulders in heavy waves. Cold air touched my neck and I gasped. “John...” He didn’t let me finish. He leaned down and his lips crashed against mine. For a moment my brain stopped working. My whole body froze. His mouth was warm and soft at first. Then deeper. Hungrier like he had been holding himself back for a very long time. His hand moved to the side of my neck, holding me gently but firmly. My head tilted back slightly under his touch. A soft sound escaped my throat before I could stop it. The kiss burned through me. Through the anger from court. Through the stress. Through the pain I had been carrying since yesterday. His chest pressed lightly against mine. His hand slipped from my wrist down to my waist. Then to my hip. His fingers tightened there like he was fighting himself. My heart was racing. My fingers twitched at my side. For one strange second… I almost reached for him. Then my mind finally woke up. I shoved him hard. He stumbled back with two steps. My breathing was uneven. “How… how dare you?” I whispered. My voice trembled but John didn’t look sorry. He didn’t even look guilty. If anything... He looked pleased. His gaze dropped to my lips again slowly. “Pretty and sweet,” he muttered under his breath. Anger rushed through me. “What audacity do you have to kiss me like that?!” I snapped. Before I could step away, his arm suddenly wrapped around my waist again. His grip tightened slightly like a warning. “Don’t yell,” he said quietly. My eyes widened. Then he leaned closer, his breath brushing my ear. “I’ve always wondered what those lips taste like.” My heart skipped. “I knew they’d be sweet,” he murmured. My stomach flipped. “John...” “And damn,” he added with a low chuckle, “I was right.” I pushed him away again, harder this time. He finally let go. I stepped back, my chest rising and falling. “You must have gone crazy to behave like this,” I said. I pointed at the door again. “Leave.” My voice shook slightly. “I don’t want to see you again.” He stared at me for a moment. Then he chuckled again, almost… amused. “I know you’re always angry at your ex-husband,” he said. My jaw tightened. “But don’t take it out on me.” “I’m not...” I frowned. “I’ll leave today,” he continued calmly. My words died in my throat. “But tomorrow, I'll come back early.” My brows pulled together. “For what?”He tilted his head slightly. “To drive you to your meeting.” My stomach dropped. “How do you know about...” “Three years, have been driving you for three good years, how could I not know anything about you? More reason you can’t sack me like that,” he said softly. “Not when I haven’t done anything to annoy you.” His eyes locked with mine again. “Not when I still need to stay close to you.” My heart skipped again. Close to me? Why? Before I could ask anything, his hand suddenly lifted again. His fingers gently touched my neck. My body stiffened. Then he leaned forward and placed a soft kiss on my forehead. A strange shiver ran down my spine. It wasn’t fear. It wasn’t anger. It was something else. Something I didn’t understand. Then he stepped back, turned and walked out of my room like nothing had happened. The door closed behind him with a quiet click. Silence filled the space. I stood there. Frozen. My fingers slowly touched my lips. They still felt warm. My heart was still beating too fast. What was that? What just happened? My driver had just kissed me and the worst part… I wanted him to try it again. I swallowed at the thought, I must have been going crazy... just like him.