LOVE SOAKED

CHAPTER 18- in a world of boys,he's a gentleman

TRISHA

The sterile silence of the office building was shattered by the rhythmic click of my heels as I walked alongside Vidhyuth , my boss, towards the designated section for the interior inspection.  A nervous fluttering filled my stomach.  This was the first official visit to view the progress of the work, and I wanted everything to be perfect.

Reaching the designated area, I prepared to launch my ideas i had stayed up thinking about, but the words died in my throat.  There, standing next to Asher, was a woman whose sculpted jawline and broad shoulders were intimidating in person.  A woman who could have easily graced the cover of a fashion magazine.  She was a brunette, with a figure so slender it seemed impossible, and an outfit that screamed designer from a mile away.  A dazzling smile was plastered across her face as she leaned in towards Asher, whispering something in his ear.

A pang of jealousy, sharp and unexpected, sliced through me.  Was he… seriously trying to get rid of a woman like her?  I quickly quashed the thought.  It was none of my business, right? I was here to do a job, as a designer and as his fake girlfriend.

"Mr. Brown," my boss boomed, attempting to regain our attention.  " we have reviewed the work going on in the office and it's all according to the plan put forth after our previous discussions."

Asher turned, his expression a mix of annoyance and something else I couldn't quite decipher.  "Good morning Trisha," he said, his voice clipped and professional.

Our eyes met, and a jolt went through me.  His gaze held a flicker of warmth that sent a shiver down my spine.  I forced a professional smile and nodded in greeting.

Vidhyuth cleared his throat, breaking the unexpected moment.  "So, Mr. Brown, shall we get started with the meeting?"

We launched into the presentation, my voice steady despite the turmoil brewing within me.  Halfway through, my boss with a big fat mouth, turned to the woman and asked, "And who might this lovely lady be?"

Before Asher could answer, the woman spoke up, her voice laced with a sweetness that sent ice down my back.  "I'm Anna," she chirped, her smile widening impossibly further.  "Asher's fiancéé."

My breath hitched. The word hung in the air, heavy and suffocating.  I fought back a surge of nausea.  Professionalism, Trisha. Remember professional.

Asher, however, seemed less than thrilled with her declaration.  "Don't spread lies, Anna, especiallynot the kind that would upset my girlfriend" he said, his voice low and dangerous.

He looked straight at me, his gaze apologetic, and my heart did a little flip-flop.

My head snapped up, eyes wide.  Girlfriend? Did he just tell my boss that I'm his girlfriend?  A flicker of something akin to triumph battled with the lingering pang of jealousy.

"Girlfriend?" Anna scoffed, her voice dripping with disdain.  "Don't be ridiculous, Asher. I thought you were joking yesterday. She's …"  She cut herself off, but the unspoken accusation hung heavy in the air.

Asher didn't even let her finish.  "You're fired, Anna," he declared, his voice leaving no room for argument.  "Security will escort you out."

Anna's face contorted in fury.  "You can't just fire me!" she sputtered.  "I…"  But Asher held up a hand, silencing her.

"You either leave now, or I'll call security," he said, his voice cold.

The defiance drained out of her face, replaced by a mixture of fear and resentment.  She cast one last withering look at me before turning and walking away, head held high but a tear glistening in her eye.

Vidhyuth, clearly uncomfortable, cleared his throat.  "Well, that was… unexpected," he mumbled, avoiding my gaze. But murmured something along the lines of " You're sleeping with a client? Have you freaking lost your mind? Since when did you become a gold digger?" He had no right to judge my personal life, not when he's going through his third divorce. But he did it anyway.

I'm not sure if Asher heard any of this, but he just calmly looked at my boss and said " This is how I treat people who disrespect my girlfriend, you know how it is."

Clearing his throat and avoiding my gaze Vidhyuth started " I think we should get back to our meeting."

"Actually," I interjected, surprising even myself.  "I think  Mr. Vidhyuth might have another meeting to attend."

Mry bosses eyes widened.  "Uh, yes, actually," he stammered.  "Very important meeting.  Couldn't possibly miss it."  He gave me a hasty nod and scurried away.

Suddenly, I was alone with Asher.  The air crackled with unspoken tension, and a strange mix of emotions – anger, confusion, jealousy?

"Girlfriend?" I blurted out, unable to contain my excitement.  "Since when?" I asked teasingly

A slow smile spread across Asher's, " Since the day you first made an impression on me Storm."

Chuckling and letting him pull me closer I asked " is that the story we are going with?"

Nipping my ear Asher seductively said "call it a story or reality Storm, It's anything you want it to be and everything I could ever ask for."

With this he claimed my mouth in a passionate kiss, his tongue begging for an entrance and I gladly opened a little wider to let him in. He took his time exploring my mouth, but a pang of jealousy suddenly hit me and I had the urge to bite his lower lip and draw blood.

So I did, I bit his lower lip making him moan a little with pain. His moan did wonders to me, I wanted to hear him moan again, without thinking my hand slid down to his belt, unbuckling it, before his hand suddenly stopping me from continuing.

I looked at him with confusion written all over my face. " There are cameras baby." He answered me before I could even ask. " I get the first taste Storm, you can have your way after I've had my way with you first." He whispered before buckling his belt. He pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead before taking my hand and ushering me out of his office.