Arrogant Billionaire: Love vs Hate

Chap. 15

"Without contraries is no progression. Attraction and repulsion, reason and energy, love and hate, are necessary to human existence"
-William Blake
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My eyes widened in horror the moment I realized who was standing outside the door. The voice was unmistakable. Stephenie. The same blonde girl who had proudly declared herself Mark's girlfriend the other day. The memory of our last encounter flashed through my mind instantly—her condescending attitude, the way she had spoken to me as if I were beneath her, and the slap I had given her in response. If she saw me here now, dressed as Mark Winston's maid, the situation would explode in ways I didn't even want to imagine.

Behind me, Mark stood up from his armchair.

"Why are you getting pale like you've seen a ghost?" he asked casually, already moving toward the door.

Panic shot through me. Before he could reach it, I rushed forward and locked the door. Then I planted myself directly in front of it, stretching my arms against the wood as if physically blocking the entrance would somehow solve everything.

Outside, Stephenie's voice came again, confused.

"Baby? Why is the door locked?"

Mark didn't answer her. Instead, he raised an eyebrow at me, his expression slowly shifting into amusement. He walked toward me unhurriedly and placed both hands on the door on either side of my head, effectively trapping me between his arms and the door.

"What exactly are you doing?" he asked, clearly entertained.

Outside, Stephenie knocked again. "I just want to talk to you for a bit. I won't bother you after that. Please let me in, baby."

I rolled my eyes.

Without thinking, I reached up and covered Mark's mouth with my hand. "Would you keep your voice a little low?" I whispered urgently.

For a moment he simply stared at me, clearly surprised by my boldness. Realizing what I had done, I quickly removed my hand and grabbed his wrist instead, dragging him away from the door. He didn't resist. I stopped beside the bed and turned toward him, slightly out of breath. He looked at me thoughtfully, tapping his finger against his chin as if analyzing the situation.

"Let's see..." he said slowly. "You locked the door... dragged me toward my bed..."

His lips curved into a slow grin.

"Are you trying to take advantage of me?"

"In your dreams," I snapped. "Just tell me where I can hide before you open that door."

He tilted his head slightly.

"Why? Are you scared of Stephenie?"

Stephenie.

Right. That was her name.

"I'm not scared of her," I muttered impatiently. "I just don't want to deal with her. If she sees me here as your maid, it'll create a huge problem."

"Well," he said calmly, "that sounds like your problem."

I frowned.

"Aren't you the one who told me not to tell anyone about our agreement?"

"Yes," he replied smoothly. "Which means I decide who gets to know."

Then he turned and began walking toward the door.

This absolute jerk.

I had no other option left.

Before I could think about what I was doing, I pushed him backward with all my strength. Mark fell onto the bed, clearly surprised this time. Without hesitation I climbed over him and pressed both hands against his shoulders to keep him down.