The Cold Edge Of Romance | hj

Chapter Nine: Complication and Conflicts.

Aria had been doing her best to avoid Joshua after their last encounter. She kept interactions with him strictly professional, only speaking to him when necessary or when discussing work-related matters. Despite her efforts, thoughts of that day would occasionally creep into her mind, leaving her flustered and off-balance. She tried to bury herself in work to distract herself, but Joshua's presence was a constant reminder.

One afternoon, Aria was sitting at her desk, trying to focus on a report she was writing, when there was a knock on her door. She looked up to see Mingyu standing there with a friendly smile. They had spoken a few times before, and Aria had found his company enjoyable. Mingyu was easygoing and fun to talk to, a refreshing contrast to Joshua's intensity.

"Hey, Aria," Mingyu greeted, stepping into her office. "I was wondering if you'd like to grab lunch with me later?"

Aria smiled, feeling a bit of the tension ease from her shoulders. "That sounds great, Mingyu. I'd love to."

They chatted for a few minutes, laughing and sharing stories about their work and personal lives. Aria felt her mood lifting, the stress of the day melting away. Just as she was starting to relax, the phone on her desk rang, making her jump.

"Excuse me," she said to Mingyu, reaching for the receiver. "Hello?"

"Come to my office immediately," Joshua's voice barked on the other end. He didn't wait for a response before hanging up.

Aria's heart sank. She turned to Mingyu with an apologetic look. "I'm sorry, but I have to go. Duty calls."

Mingyu nodded, his smile fading slightly. "No worries. Maybe another time?"

"Definitely," Aria promised, feeling a pang of disappointment as she hurried out of her office.

When she reached Joshua's office, she found him pacing behind his desk, looking more upset than usual. She knocked lightly on the doorframe to announce her presence.

"You wanted to see me, Mr. Hong?" she said, stepping inside.

Joshua stopped pacing and looked at her, his expression hard. "We have a lunch meeting with an important client today. Be ready to leave in ten minutes."

Aria felt a surge of frustration at the sudden change of plans. She had been looking forward to lunch with Mingyu, but she knew better than to argue. "Understood," she replied, keeping her voice steady.

As she turned to leave, Joshua's next words stopped her in her tracks. "And Aria, stop wasting your time fooling around with guys and focus on your work."

She froze, feeling anger rise within her. How dare he make such an assumption about her? She turned back to him, her eyes blazing. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me," Joshua said, his voice cold. "You're here to work, not to socialize."

Fuming, Aria glared at him before storming out of the office, slamming the door behind her. She marched back to her office, trying to calm herself down. She picked up her phone and called Mingyu.

"Mingyu, I'm so sorry, but I won't be able to make it to lunch. Something urgent came up," she said, trying to keep her voice steady.

"It's okay, Aria," Mingyu replied, sounding genuinely understanding. "Maybe another time."

"Thanks for understanding," Aria said, feeling a bit better. "Talk to you later."

She hung up and took a deep breath, mentally preparing herself for the meeting. A few minutes later, Joshua knocked on her door and they left the office together, heading to the restaurant where the meeting was to take place.

When they arrived, they were greeted by their client, Mr. Peterson, a middle-aged man with a charming smile. He was the CEO of a major company that Prestige Dynamics was eager to secure a contract with. As they sat down at the table, Mr. Peterson's eyes lingered on Aria.

"Ms. Sinclair, it's a pleasure to meet you," he said, taking her hand and holding it a bit longer than necessary. "You're even more stunning than I imagined."

Aria felt a blush creep up her cheeks. "Thank you, Mr. Peterson," she said politely, feeling awkward under his gaze.

Throughout the meal, Mr. Peterson continued to flirt with Aria, making comments about her beauty and charm. Aria tried to deflect his advances politely, but it was clear that he wasn't going to stop. Joshua's mood darkened with each passing comment, his jaw clenching tighter and tighter.

Halfway through the meeting, as Mr. Peterson was speaking, Aria felt Joshua's hand slide under the table and grip her thigh. She tensed, her breath catching in her throat. His fingers dug into her flesh, sending a mix of pain and unwanted excitement through her body. She glanced at him, but he was staring straight ahead, his face a mask of anger.

"Is everything alright, Ms. Sinclair?" Mr. Peterson asked, noticing her sudden tension.

Aria forced a smile, trying to hide her discomfort. "Yes, everything's fine. Thank you."

Joshua's grip on her thigh tightened even more, and she had to bite her lip to keep from crying out. The rest of the meeting passed in a blur, with Aria barely able to concentrate on the conversation. All she could think about was the burning sensation on her leg and the conflicting emotions raging inside her.

When the meeting finally ended, Aria practically bolted from the table, muttering a quick goodbye to Mr. Peterson. She headed straight for the ladies' room, needing a moment to compose herself. She splashed cold water on her face and stared at her reflection in the mirror, her mind racing.

How could Joshua do that? And why did she feel this strange mix of anger and something else she couldn't quite define? She took a few deep breaths, trying to steady her nerves before heading back to the office.

The ride back was silent and tense. Joshua didn't say a word, and Aria kept her gaze fixed out the window, trying to process everything that had happened. When they finally arrived back at the office, she practically ran to her desk, desperate for some distance from Joshua.

As she sat down, she tried to focus on her work, but her mind kept drifting back to the meeting, to Joshua's touch, and to the confusing emotions swirling inside her. She knew she needed to get a grip, to find a way to deal with Joshua's behavior and her own reactions to it. But for now, all she could do was try to survive the rest of the day.