The Subtle Art of Love and War

Chapter 9: I Want You To Be Mine

He stares at me with his green eyes full of amusement. Does he think this is funny? God I hate him!

"Are you done with your tantrums?" He cocks his head to the side, a sly smirk on his lips taunting the crap out of my already thinning patience.

Little shit!

"That depends. Are you done being a man-whore?" I hurl back at him, tilting my head up.

He slowly lifts himself up from his chair and languidly strolls back to where I am standing near his closed door. As much as I want to stand my ground, I find myself stepping back until my back hits the wall as he hovers over me with all his intimidating height and built. He reaches his hand up and cups my cheek, my breath hitching as I once again find myself getting drowned and lost into the depths of his mesmerising green eyes.

"You are so different from the rest. You intrigue me with these lips," he slowly traces his thumb over my lower lip. "With your fiery eyes and with that feisty attitude you have," he says, his voice lowering to barely a whisper. He leans into me and I'm too captivated by his eyes and his deep seductive voice that I can't, for the life of me, bring myself to push him off of me. "I want you to be mine, Jo," he whispers, his hot minty breath fanning my face as his lips ghost over mine, just like how he did the night before.

He wants me to be his?

"Y-you're engaged Hero... h-how can you ask that of me?" I stutter, loudly gulping at the sudden dryness of my throat.

"What does that have to do with me wanting you?" He cocks his head to the side.

I could feel my temper coming back with a vengeance. Who does he think he is to do this to me? I am Josephine Fucking Landford and nobody disrespects me like this.

"I'm not gonna let myself be sucked in to one of your games Hero," I grit, glaring at him. "Just like you said, I'm not like the rest of the women who throw themselves at you." I tilt my head up to prove my point which is just the dumbest move as my lips connect with his. I suck in a breath at the electricity shooting down my back, feeling his tongue dart into my mouth. Before I could let myself be carried away by seduction, I push him by his chest hard and just like the night before, he stumbles back in surprise at my rejection. "No!" I snap at him.

A devilish smile breaks across his face. "I can't take that seriously, Jo. You see, your lips are saying something but your lips are doing something else."

I'm so done with him today, I don't have the energy left in me to deal with him and it's still nine in the freaking morning. I straighten my back and purse my lips. "Do you need anything else, Hero?" I say in my most professional tone.

"Yes... you," he taunts me with that devilish smile again and I don't hide the eye-roll I make from him before turning to my heels and grabbing the door handle but before I could pull it open, he speaks again. "Pack an overnight bag. You're coming with me to Paris. I'll fetch at your place in an hour."

"You don't have a scheduled trip to Paris," I say with furrowed brows as I turn back to face him. He's already back in his desk, scanning through some documents.

"I do now. Tell Tracy to cancel all my engagements today and tomorrow," he says dismissively.

*****

After making the necessary arrangements with Tracy, I drive back to my place and hastily pack an overnight bag as per Hero's instruction. i change out of my office get-up and swap it for a more casual look of white ribbed crop top and baby blue culottes, kicking off my heels as well and trading it for some white sneakers. I look at myself in the mirror and see how much younger I look. I still have zero idea what Hero's business is in Paris but I packed an extra business clothes just in case we're meeting one of his important clients or business partners.