His Fated Temptation

PLAYING HER ROLE

"I didn't.." Seraphina is about to say something but Andrew beats her to it.

He drops forcefully to his knees so hard it makes a dull thud against the polished floor. His eyes get wet instantly.

"Sir, it wasn't like that. I .. I..."

"Get him out of here!" Kael booms. "He's a disgusting sight."

Seraphina blinks, stunned at the turn of events. For a heartbeat, she's certain she's the one about to be fired. Her heart sinks straight into her stomach. She almost smirks at Andrew's pathetic display but quickly replaces it with a trembling, innocent look instead.

"Take him out!" Kael said coldly, not even glancing at Andrew again.

"No, sir. Please, Mr. CEO!" Andrew wails as guards grab him. "How will I pay my bills now? How will I.. I'm so sorry. I have children to feed! School fees! Feeding money! Please!"

The guards were starting to drag him away, his shoes squeaking against the floor. And for reasons Seraphina doesn't want to admit—even to herself, her heart tightens. She feels the urge to speak for the man.

"Mr. DarkSlade," she blurts out and in her peripheral vision, she sees Amara and Kieran turn their heads sharply towards her. "Please.. forgive him."

Kael pauses. Slowly, he turned to look at her. Her hazel eyes meet his before she quickly lowers her gaze, shoulders shaking, looking every inch the terrified, fragile girl she wanted everyone to feel she is.

Kael notices that this girl isn't as fierce as she was earlier this morning. She looks small. Soft. Why would she plead for a man who mocked her?

He raises a brow. "Forgive him?"

Seraphina nods and lifts her head carefully. "I— I don't.. he didn't do that on purpose. I have bad eyesight, so I didn't see his foot was in my path. I tripped. It's.. it's not entirely his fault, sir."

Kael doesn't know what to say or how to feel. He doesn't know whether to be impressed or confused. He clearly heard this man mocking someone for their bad clothing and their "four eyes". He clearly heard a tiny, soft, scared voice when it cried out. That was her. She has to be the one that was described like that by that man. So why would this little girl be defending him?

After a long pause, he turns and walks towards the conference room and they follow.

"T-Thank you, sir. Thank you." Andrew's facial expression showed that he was truly grateful. He breathes out in relief, practically sobbing with gratitude. He looks at Seraphina and smiles gratefully at her like she just saved his life.

Seraphina manages to return it sweetly but internally, she scoffs. If it weren't for those children he mentioned, he'd already be dead to her. She loves children, in fact, if she weren't busy killing demons and carrying out dangerous missions, Seraphina, the shadow siren, found her peace teaching and laughing with children in the orphanage. She loves them so much.

In the Conference Room,

Seraphina scoffs when she noticed half the women were openly checking the CEO out like he's a walking fantasy.

If only they knew the monster hiding inside that sharp suit and those beautiful golden eyes with that muscular body that could tear right through the fabric any second.

Fuck, focus, Seraphina. Don't get distracted.

"You all may be wondering why I called for this meeting but that doesn't call for all the noise." His eyes snap towards the gossiping women.

The room instantly goes quiet.

For a second, Seraphina feels a tiny spark of satisfaction in her heart when she realizes that he was clearly disgusted by their giggling. 'But come to think of it, why do I even care if they were checking him out or not? Oh Seraphina, you can't keep up with this act if you want to succeed in this mission. Get your shits together.'

"Respect is above all what you should uphold in this company. I will not tolerate such behaviour like that again." He threatens coldly and again, for some ridiculous reason, Seraphina finds this icy version of him.. incredibly attractive. He looks hot!

'I'm f*****g drifting again. Damn it.'

She shakes her head trying to remove every distracting thought away from her mind.

"As you all know, I'm Kael DarkSlade, the CEO of this company. This is.." he pointed to the man beside him.

Seraphina's fingers curl tightly beside her. The f*****g r***r.

"...Lucien, the financial secretary and second in command for now.

This company thrives in excellence," Kael goes on. "..and I'd like for that to continue. Everyone is expected to put in their all for every project that is handled here, and I will tolerate nothing less than your best. No tardiness." Kael stated firmly.

There were a series of "okay, sir" and "yes, sir" filling the room with obedient voices.

Seraphina barely hears them. Her eyes are locked on Lucien in the crowd as a hundred and one violet ideas run through her head. She was planning ways—slow, painful, well-deserved ways— to kill the motherfucker off for all he had done in the past and all he's still doing.

She clenches her teeth together.

"Miss Lightwood." Kael's voice snaps her back to reality and all eyes follow his line of sight and they fall on Seraphina.

She immediately came out of her vengeful thoughts, blinked her eyes—once, twice.

"Y-yes, sir? "

"It seems I've been talking blabber ish and your mind has travelled away to some place far more interesting." Kael says sharply. "Perhaps you believe what I'm saying does not deserve your goddamn attention."

What's with this man and barking so much?

"Not at all, sir, " she answers softly, playing her role perfectly, like she is terrified by his yells. Her eyes were wide and nervous.

"Good. Then tell me," he demands. "What have I been saying all this time? "

Think, think, Seraphina think.

"Ummm.. you.. you started by silencing the room, then you introduced yourself to us and you equally let us know your expectations for us, the company and the upcoming projects. And.. and you emphasized that you want us to be hard working."

She hopes her memory is right.

Instead of the CEO being impressed as she had thought he would, he looks irritated. It was as if he wanted her to mess up badly, and he isn't glad that she wriggled herself out of it.

"I f*****g want everyone's full attention when I'm addressing you." He coldly demands.

He surely is a hot, tempered CEO for him to use a curse word in the middle of his sentence in a meeting with his employees. Seraphina bites back a scoff and her arms itch to fold them in annoyance.