Top Note

Chapter 7

Eriantha

"I... I... Don't understand what you are talking about Mr.Karwitz."

I spoke after clearing my throat, I couldn't believe my voice sounded this coy. My nervousness was palpable, and my breathing was hitched.

He was leaning too close...

 Hot and cold, I have never experienced those two sensations together. But that's exactly how I was feeling at this moment.

How does he know? Why does he know? 

Those two questions were making me lose my mind. There was no way anybody else other than Viv and Anders, would ever know my little secret. It's impossible for him to remember me from that competition, I even used a pseudonym.

 Sorbiquet is a small online business that operates through social media, it's only popular among students. A third party b grade company manages it. He shouldn't even know about its existence.When I had seen emails I considered ignoring them as spam. Yet, here is Mr. Darcel Karwitz himself offering me a position at Karwitz Perfume's creative team.

  I already had a lot going on, this definitely can't come out now. Making perfumes is definitely something I love, but not in the hope of building a career or becoming famous. After father's death it's been already hard to save our sinking ship, suppressing his suicide news from the media was meant for company's good. We have already lost a lot, losing anymore would mean losing everything. I always wanted Reux Perfumes to thrive, so, if I could give back anything to the company I would do that. However, if my identity as the owner of Sorbiquet is revealed now, that will unnecessarily escalate the tension with our associates and clients, creating the wrong impression that the company's loyalties are divided. I have no such intention of making Anders' life harder than it already is, and, on top of everything, I don't have the desire to sell my skills to someone else, it's the only part of my life I had absolute power over. Even when father was around, this was my empowerment, I would never allow anybody to dictate terms over my art.

"Mr.Karwitz, I think there's some misunderstanding here, I...I... am not a perfumer. I am simply trying to help my brother, as you must be aware that, after our father's demise the company is having some troubles..."

I shifted in my chair to get access to the ground, my height definitely didn't help much, so I held on to the edge of the table to drag myself lower from the chair, my attempt failed miserably as the wheels of the revolving chair moved, and now I was in an awkward, lounging position with my legs dangling from the chair.

His head cocked and lips curved upwards, I sure am giving him some unexpected entertainment, I hate being this clumsy all the time. The next moment my chair turned into a cage, with his two muscular arms plastered into the arm rest and his amber eyes fixated over me.

"Shy."
"Blush"
"First Date"
"Smooch"
"Afterglow"

One by one he uttered all the names of my Sorbiquet collection.

"It's strange for someone who made so many of those to deny all together. Doesn't make any sense Miss Reux." He raised his brows while his eyes gleamed in a strange excitement like that of a hunter, as if he has finally found the beast hiding behind the bush after a long day's patient waiting.

With all the air pumped out from my lungs, and all blood drained from my face, all I could manage was a gasp. 

No words, no sound. Only fear accompanied by a peculiar excitement I have never experienced before,I felt warmth that grew between my legs I felt ashamed to acknowledge.

'Am I  aroused? Fuck! that's the last thing I should be feeling in this situation.'

Was this always my kink? Did fear and unexpected thrill excite me? No that I have any experience to make a reference from, I was after all a twenty year old virgin. 

I wanted to slap myself for even thinking about it, what's wrong with me?

But the way he was looking at me right now, I couldn't pull myself away. His eyes were like golden flames, and I was a desperate moth.
I was doomed and I could literally see it, towering in front of me in an expensive custom made suit. HIM.

He leaned even further until his mouth stopped right in front of my ears, his voice was deep and raspy, I couldn't tell weather it was deliberate, or if I affected him as much as he was affecting me. But, it felt like a sin to listen to that voice.

 "I can understand you are surprised  Miss. Reux." He spoke in a low smooth tone, "You must be thinking about all the problems that prohibits you from speaking the truth. But there's a bigger problem here, you see,now I know, what nobody should know, and it depends on you, how safe your secret will be. If you accept my proposal, your secret is safe."

He didn't even have to say what would happen otherwise.

He closed his eyes, and inhaled deeply, I was breaking in cold sweats, it's rather embarrassing. But, I had no time to consider such things, I was stuck into this chair like a frozen object.
His eyes opened wide, the wild arousal was suddenly replaced with his eloquent gaze which bore an implicit sadism.

"Time is a luxury Miss Reux" he smiled but it was cold and possessed a degree of cruelty, as he continued, "I am already exceeding my  limit." He withdrew, "So I won't ask you to take your time." He removed a stray hair from my face, "Tomorrow, let me know by tomorrow."

"You don't have much of a choice do you?"he smirked again, "But don't you worry, I am not an unfair man. I have what you need,so, I can give what you need..." He left right away, his parting words resonated in by body, sending chills down my spine, leaving me like a heap of nerves.
My head replayed his voice, "So, choose me, choose me above everything else. Choose Me, Eriantha."