Unholy Obsession

Chapter 13; Breaking bad

Vincent's POV

A week had passed since the announcement of Lance's death. The whole of New fort had been cast in a grey mood. I could understand them though. He was the pride of the local basketball team. But it was his time to go. Everyone should move on and not waste their precious time on a serial asshole like Lance. Especially the damsel seated five seats away from me.

It was conference day and Hannah sat at the other end of the desk, her hands tracing imaginary drawings on her paper. She had been this way for the past week. Ever since the news, her work schedule has been interrupted. She still did everything on time, but there were little errors here and there.

"Now as you can see, book con is only six weeks from now and as expected Pedro Alvarez would be in town we have…" I focused on Hannah as Rose droned on an on about her marketing plans to ensure Pedro would be convinced to join our publishing house. Hannah's curls were tied up to a bun as usual, but today, little curls were left to frame the sides of her face and she didn't have her lip gloss on. That meant she most likely hadn't been herself. Despite that,  I took my time to appreciate the double shades of her lips. The upper one was brown while the lower a succulent pink that made me gulp and adjust my tie. She looked up and we locked eyes, heat fanning on my neck. 

She gave me a soft smile and shifted her gaze to Rose. She was brave. Most women would've lost their mind when they heard their ex's head was dropped at his front porch. But I was bothered that she would still be disturbed about Lance or maybe, still be in love with him. I needed to be quite tenacious with my process. I needed my name branded in her mind.

Is that too much to ask, Hannah?

Her soul belonged to me. She may not know it, but I did. No man, Hannah. No man was allowed near her. If they dared, I would make them go missing. They would be wiped off the face of the earth. Their family would mourn them and in their flooding tears, I would fuck her and drown her till she tasted all their misery.  I would make her believe she was  fucked in the head and once I was done, all she would want would be me. She would see me as the only safe haven in her fucked up life.

Rose finished her plan and I dismissed everyone and only asked Hannah to stay. Everyone left the room, some women giving her accusatory stares. Jealousy ran rampant in this office and I knew some people wished they were my secretary. But the problem was that I had eyes for one woman, Hannah Tsegaye. A woman who was so hardworking, selfless and determined. What was there not to like?

Unfortunately, her destruction in my bliss would be the only thing that brought me great pleasure. She was the perfect puzzle I couldn't wait to dismantle and piece together in ways I deemed fit, no matter how hazardous it might seem.

"How are you, Hannah?" I asked, inclining my head.

She gulped, stretching her forearms on the desk and locking her hands together. "Fine."

"Well considering you've been making lots of typos, mistaking clients' names during your calls and sobbing when some yell at you over the phone, I would say you're most definitely not fine."

Her eyes widened at the last part. "I don't cry."

"News travels fast. There are eyes everywhere and people talk." 

"Well they should keep their eyes to themselves."

"In an office where the majority of the staff are women, I'm guessing gossip wouldn't be so easily expunged."

She inhaled and rested her hand on the bridge of her nose. "You're right, I've been messing up a lot lately. I would do my best to do better I promise. It's just," a sharp exhale left her, "things haven't really been good back at home."