Avenging Love

Chapter Thirty-one

Jennifer's POV....

Again, I tried to close the door. This time, he forced it open with more strength, the door swinging wide and making a loud thud against the wall. I stumbled back, my heart racing as he stepped in with determination in his eyes. Without hesitation, he closed the distance between us and seized my hand.

"Let's go," he demanded, his voice firm.

I struggled against him, trying to wrench my hand free from his iron grip, but it was useless. He tightened his hold, and yanked me towards him.

I crashed into his chest with a force that left me breathless, the impact knocking the air from my lungs. Before I could react, he twisted my arm behind my back and forcefully placed my hand on my waist, trapping it there with his own. His hand was unyielding, pinning my arm against my body with a strength.

My other hand instinctively reached out, grabbing onto his shoulder in a desperate attempt to steady myself. The warmth of his body pressed against mine, his breath hot against my ear, his grip on my waist like a vice, leaving me with no choice but to stand there, trapped in his embrace.

His gaze pierced through mine, unwavering and intense, as if he could see right into my soul. We were locked in a silent stare, neither of us willing to look away.

Slowly, he leaned in, his face inching closer to mine. I could feel the heat radiating from him, his breath brushing against my skin as his eyes roamed over my face, taking in every detail with deliberate slowness.

A shiver ran down my spine, and instinctively, I pulled my face back, trying to create some distance. But there was no escaping the magnetic pull of his presence.

"Why?" I managed to ask, my voice trembling with uncertainty. The words felt heavy on my tongue, almost too difficult to utter. "Do you... want me to come?" The question slipped out, barely audible, as if I feared the answer.

His gaze sharpened, his eyes narrowing slightly as they bore into mine with an intensity that made my heart race. He looked at me as if I had said something wrong.

His eyes remained fixed on mine, as if he was trying to extract some hidden truth from within me. The silence stretched on, thick and suffocating, until I couldn't take it any longer.

"Tell me why," I asked again, my voice a little stronger this time.

His lips parted, and for a moment, I thought he was going to speak. But then he stopped, the words dying on his lips as if he had changed his mind at the last second.

"Why am I different from the other employees?" I finally blurted out, my curiosity and anxiety bubbling over. I needed to know, needed to understand why this felt different, why he treated me differently.

"It's not like that," he replied after a pause, his voice calm yet firm. His eyes softened slightly, but they never left mine.

There was something in his tone, something that hinted at emotions he wasn't ready to reveal, leaving me to wonder what exactly lay beneath the surface of his carefully controlled demeanor.

"So you hold your employees like this?" I asked, my voice wavering as I stuttered.

"Like, how?"

"Like...like..." I stuttered.

He raised his brow with an amused smirk and leaned in closer, his warm breath mingling with mine. My heart raced at the closeness, and I instinctively closed my eyes. Gathering my courage, I blurted out,

"Like you're holding me."

"Because..." he began but stopped, and I opened my eyes.

"Because?" I pressed, my voice barely above a whisper, my curiosity mounting.

"Because I....love....you."

My eyes widened in shock, and for a moment, I forgot how to blink, stunned by his words.

A smirk appeared on his face as he clicked his tongue and released me from his grasp.

"That's what you wanted to hear?" his tone laced with a mix of amusement and authority.

He stuffed his hands into his pockets and continued to smirk, while I stood there, my mouth hanging open in shock.

"Let's finish this drama and go."

"I won't, why you want me to come?" I asked, frustration creeping into my voice.

"Because, if you don't remember," he began, his voice taking on a steely edge, "let me remind you that you signed a contract. You can't just leave this office whenever you want."

He reached out and firmly took my hand, leading me to my room with an air of finality.

"Go and change."

"I..." I tried to start a protest, but he cut me off with a sharp tone.

"You don't have any option," he said, his expression leaving no room for argument.

I grabbed my clothes, my mind racing with frustration as I walked to the changing room.

"What does this man think of himself? He acts like he's the ruler of the world, controlling everyone's actions as if he owns them. He's such a-"

"I can hear you," amusement lacing his tone.

I gasped, my face flushing with disbelief and embarrassment.

I emerged from the changing room to find him standing tall, his posture commanding, with both hands casually tucked into his pockets. His gaze locked onto mine as I attempted to slip past him, but he grasped my hand with a firm yet gentle hold. Leaning in close, his breath tickled my ear as he whispered,

"Looking beautiful," accompanied by a smirk that sent a shiver down my spine. I gasped in surprise, quickly pulling my hand away from his grip, yet chose to ignore him and headed towards the exit.

He followed me closely, his presence looming behind me. As I headed to my car, he smoothly opened the door of his car and gestured for me to get in. I slid into the seat without a word.

He slid into the driver's seat, turned the key in the ignition, and the engine roared to life.

As he navigated the car through the streets, his gaze repeatedly flicked to the rearview mirror, watching me with a penetrating stare. I kept my eyes firmly fixed outside the window, trying to ignore his intense scrutiny.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

I shrugged nonchalantly. "Nothing."

"Why are you so quiet suddenly?"

"Nothing," I repeated, trying to sound as disinterested as possible.

The car rolled to a stop in front of the office building. As the vehicle came to a halt, I noticed his gaze fixated on the building's sign, which boldly read "A.J. Enterprises." His expression shifting to one of deep thoughts, and he let out a deep sigh before stepping out of the car.

I watched him, puzzled by his reaction, trying to understand the reason for his sudden shift in demeanor.

"That's so strange," I whispered.

Until then....