The Million Dollar Contract (On Hold)

Chapter 13

13

Tristan was pacing in circles from the moment he reached his office. His jaw was clenched tightly and hands fisted in a painful grip. Stress lines were marring his perfectly carved forehead. He could openly smell her uneasiness. She was on pins and needles to leave the conference room, but couldn't fathom why. Was he making her feel anxious there? Did she run away from him because she couldn't withstand him? Fury irked his insides at such thought.

He had no fucking clue what was going on. He needed her to tell him what the hell was wrong with her.

Without waiting for another second to slip, he rounded the table with rushed strides and picked up his spare phone to call on his number. The bell rang three times before the line connected. Ariel thought her snivel didn't make it to his ears, but she was mistaken. It was the very first thing his ears pricked up at, and through her voice, he deduced she was actually on her lows.

Did she cry?

His eyes stoned like daggers as molten lava erupted from them generously. Hell will break loose if he would see her nose, lip, eyes puffy red and swollen. He didn't desire to unleash his other side but the sudden change in her behaviour was forcing him to free the strings from his hold.

He immediately asked her to be in front of him, maybe slightly rudely.

She cut the call and he began strolling in circles again. After what felt like an eternity, a knock snapped his attention from the storm roaring inside him. He dashed to press down the button under his desk as he locked the door, it clicked-open. Ariel paced in slow strides, her fingers tangled together and eyes lying on the ground.

"Miss. Sullivan, is everything alright?" The urgency in his tone didn't let the question sound professional.

Ariel's eyes mousily raised to meet his impatient orbs. He noticed her eyes looked worn out. His inside endured a frustrated roar. "Yes, sir. I'm sorry for the unexpected inconvenience," She mumbled softly. Tristan might have had a hard face on but her shyness always intrigued him. Just he worried about her lack of confidence. It was something he wasn't prepared for.

Tristan ambled up to her with his hands in his pant pocket. "I noticed you apologise a lot for the actions that are not worth your pardon," He reached closer to her, Ariel averted her eyes to his black Gucci belt. "Allow me to share with you a piece of advice," Ariel blinked, pressed her lips in nervousness and nodded like a mouse.

Tristan was witnessing her adorable face, a smile threatened to break out but he seized it. "First, look up. It's disrespectful to avoid gaze when your senior is talking," he commanded firmly.

Ariel's ribcage suffered a twist as her heart marathoned madly. She gulped and lifted her head at the turtle's momentum. Their eyes paired in an instant. Tristan again felt like losing his tongue along with his mind, he clenched his jaw and continued staring at her innocent face. "Never say sorry to me until I ask you so," He wanted to say more things to her. More like telling her how much she had the right to do whatever she wanted.

His eyes followed her face religiously, "Why did you leave?" He asked almost in a whisper.

Ariel stretched a breath, "I..I got afraid," Tristan's forehead creased a frown.

"Afraid, by who?" He wasn't ready to hear by him. Their story barely even took a flight and the woman of his dreams was driving away from him. The thought irked him.

Ariel's eyes started to brim as she remembered the humiliation occurred minutes ago, and now she was being interrogated for it. She casually shook her head, "I...don't know, I just...I feel nervous around new people," Tristan pursued his lips, masking a smile.