Love Spell of a Goddess

Chapter 1 - Lingering Feelings

A familiar scent greeted me in the morning as I entered in my own office. Before I could take another walk to my table, my feet automatically stopped when I saw a man sitting in my swivel chair looking vicious as ever.

He has those dark and sharp look in the eyes. His strong features have gone beyond beautiful over time. When was the last time I saw him? Despite the shaking of my knees and my hands getting cold, I managed to return the stare he is giving me.

He gave an amused smile, but it appeared almost an insult. After everything he has done, the first thing I wanted was his begging for my forgiveness. I couldn't see any regret from the guy.

"How should I address you? Ms. or Mrs.?" His vengeful tone was unrealistic. After all, he's the one who's angry.

Sitting in my throne right now is the man who gave up on me at my lowest. I had my whole life together, but there was only one point when I struggled and didn't know what to do, that's when he chose to leave me. Now that I regained everything, he showed up again asking me that casual question.

I took a deep sigh to gather all the confidence I built for five years and walked towards him. I put my bag in the table. In my peripheral view, I saw him not budging at all.

"In my company, we address the employees in a first name basis." I stopped for a while to scan him, but he looked so confident that it didn't affect him even a bit.

"Thank you for the surprise visit, Dwight Jace Bentley, but I don't entertain guests without prior appointment. My secretary is outside, kindly arrange---" He cut me off.

"Drop the formality, Yasmin. We knew to what extent we can break each other. It's not like this is the first time we meet. I came here to personally hear your reasons why our proposal keeps being rejected!" His temper has hit rock bottom. We haven't even greeted each other properly.

It is my first month of taking the highest position in the company that my late parents left. After they died in that horrible car accident, my cousin, Nathan, took dad's place. Nobody was expecting their sudden death and no will was written. That's why when they died, my relatives took everything they could... our properties, shares, companies and all. What's left to me was this company and our villa in Batangas where I stayed for the last years, and I personally asked Nathan to please take the lead while I was preparing to be ready.

I have seen the world turned greedy, and that made me the person I am now. Strong, independent and wise. I learned to have a good judgment of people's characters. It was true that at one's lowest point, you will see who's real and who's only there because of what they can benefit from you. Dwight, that greedy man, was the only person I expected to stay, but he left too. Right now, he's fussing in front of me expecting me to help him and his business that's now falling into a slump.

"This is nothing personal. If you're still mad for what happened 5 years ago then I will let you slap me and hurt me, but don't take it to business. Our companies have been partner since then, and this is the first time that we're being treated this way." He's still the man who prioritizes his career more than anything. He hasn't changed a bit. He talked so lowly of what happened in the past that he thought a slap would be enough repayment. It made me smirk for some reason.

"Your company has loan in every bank in the country. The stocks have gone way too low that even your shareholders are rushing to sell them, they can't find anybody who's willing to buy. Your father's involvement in embezzlement and your personal scandals affected the state of your company. Those are the board's reasons why we want to quit the partnership between us. They decided to delay the renewal of contract until they made a final decision of completely ending it. The only thing I did was approve their decision." Pain was painted in his face. It hurts to hear the truth sometimes.

He was silent for a moment until he wore that evil smile. It was his pride crushing down. Dwight is not used to this kind of talk. In his life, he's the greatest, the best and the highest. A rejection like this will be a big slap to him.

"Are you saying that we are in the verge of bankruptcy? Under my name, I have cruise business, wine and oil company. You might not know it, but we have several restaurants in different countries in As---"

"That is not for me to know. The company that wants to partner with us is no longer capable of providing the service and products we need for the next 5 years. We will not be investing anymore. That is our final decision. If you have nothing more to say, you may leave." My voice broke in the middle of my line.

He stood and slowly walked to the other side of table where I was standing. He grabbed the desk name plate that says Yasmin Madelaine Hale "CEO".

"It was so effortless for you to come back to the top, Yasmin. I heard you regained some of the properties and shares of your parents too. You even developed the villa in Batangas to be a tourist destination. You just won't settle at the bottom, will you?" His eyes were so serious as he stared down at me. I can feel that he's colder now and more greedy than before. I was taken aback when he mentioned about my parents. What's more surprising is he knows about my personal life.

"None of your business." He put down the desk name plate and walked closer to me until I was cornered between him and the table.

"You will regret turning me down this time."

"Why would I? It's not like you lost everything and I'm your only hope. I believe you have a way to find remedy to this unsuccessful deal. You're so good at saving yourself right? Even that compromises other people."

His lips pursed.

"So this is really about the past huh?"

I looked down to his chest. His frame has grown big. He's very ideal like a living masterpiece of the greatest sculptor who ever lived. The muscles in his arms as he leaned on the table is clenching. The distance between us was too little that I felt suffocated.

"I don't hold grudges for what happened, Dwight. I am moving forward and living the best time of my life. I am happily engaged..." I stopped when he lifted my chin so our eyes would lock.

"So I'm not late. You're still single." The danger in his tone made me shiver. He felt that which made him smile wide. I smiled when I pushed him away. He didn't move a single step backward.

"What makes you think you still have a chance on me? Even we're this close, I can't feel anything towards you. I know you so well that your character turns me off before I could find your physical appea---" He claimed my lips. He pulled my waist close to his body and his other hand was at the back of my head. It was a long passionate kiss. I was brought back to the bitter sweet memories of our past when I felt him smiling in the middle of the kiss.

He slowly let me go. His breathing went fast while I remained very calm.

"It's still a no for your business proposal. You may leave." I emphasized the last sentence.

"I don't freaking care about that proposal anymore, I'll earn you back, Yasmin. Your promise was to be mine for the rest of your life. We'll start anew."

"If you think your words still rule me then you're delusional, Mr. Bentley. I'm engaged to a man far better than you. I'll never come back to you, not after leaving me like that. Will you leave on your own or do I have to call the security?" His jaw moved. He grabbed my hand that's about to pick up the phone on my table and put the telephone back. He pushed it that it almost fell off the table. I am not surprised anymore with his harsh actions. He has always been like that since then.

"Fine. I understand your pain. You're not the only one who was hurt. It wasn't easy for me too, but..." I laughed sarcastically. I felt some tears when he can't even lie to give me a reason.

"You mean nothing to me now. Get over yourself if you think I still feel something for you."

He was not expecting that. I was dead in love with him before and I was vocal about it. Everyone knew I was down for him alone. I would have given him the world if it wasn't for that event. He was my everything. Our time was lovely, I can't deny how much I loved him before, but that's over now.

"You're telling straight lie while looking into my eyes. I'll win you back for sure... Whatever it takes." That sounded like a threat than a statement. He left my office like a tornado. He was just walking, but it felt there was a storm in that room. I'm afraid he would look back and shake my confidence again. I felt the relief when he shut the door.

5 years and he still makes my hands cold and my knees trembled. I need to suppress whatever lingering feelings are left. I am engaged now. I can't be playing his games again. No more.