It is such a drag.

Ugh.

Absolute folly!!

What am I doing here?! I avoid such interactions instead of seeking them out on my own.

Who is this guy?! What a corporate putz!!

What has coming here turned into?!

It all went downhill as soon as Rose showed positive interest considering going along with the project, partnering with Kronos Inc, as advisors and Mr. Moneybags turned into an official robot pulling up charts detailing what he plans to do with the acreage around Regalia, a room-by-room description of color-combination, material selections, none of the suggestions original or interesting.

He has money, for Christ's sake, unlimited for that matter!! Doesn't he have taste!!

Hmm.. The plans are a smoke-screen!!

Does he think we are dumb enough to plate it all up for his conglomerate to benefit?!

What exactly does he plan to benefit with these crappy ideas?!

After he was done explaining the plans for the lobby area, he looked up at her with practiced ease and charm asking her what she thought of them.

He seems so proud as if he's drawn them up himself.

She replied with equally practiced charm that they were brilliant.

Satisfied with her response, he called his secretary on the intercom to get refreshments for them. She walked in with a trolley laden with food enough to feed 10 people.

No doubt their refreshments bills were high!!

Rose was surprised, even though she didn't show it, to find every item was her favorite and she wasn't mistaken they were from her favored bakery near her office.

Okay, now this was officially odd!!

He smiled at her broadly and asked in his deep voice," Refreshments to your liking?"

They were moments ago, surprisingly they aren't now!! Now it's creepy!!

Smiling broadly tilting her head Rose replied," They are and am intrigued you know what I like!"

Displaying a knowing smile and ignoring her implied question, he went on to make tea for her, which again was no surprise as she liked, with cream and one sugar.

Her eyebrows did perk up at that.

He sat across her on the plush sofa in his office making polite conversation about weather, market and politics as if she were his long-time acquaintance chatting without a care as if trying to add to the aura around him.

He was testing her. Like that would intrigue her further!!

If Rose hadn't grown thick-skinned to such behavior, she'd have puked. People did try to impress Helena Developers more on than off as her company held hard-earned credit in Boston. People trusted them when they gave them work no matter the scale.

She literally expected more from this meeting.

For starters she expected to uncover what the barge-in yesterday was all about....she was nowhere close to getting to know that. It was like more layers had been added to cover it up.

Secondly she was mildly intrigued about the guy who'd barged in, correction, really interested but he seemed to have metamorphosed into this corporate cog that talks all the right words and behaves all prim n prime as if he has no emotions of his own.

"Let's have lunch at Zara today!! I had a table booked for us expecting a meeting with you."

He's trying to impress her by actually forcing her to have lunch with him at Zara, the fanciest restaurant in town which has a waiting list extending for months, but she, of course, politely declined.

Her mask never wavered, maybe that's why he's hiding his true yesterday-self. This automata is not who she met yesterday.

Like they were both comparing who's the best bred corporate now....ugh.

Immaculately dressed staff from Matt's office moved the plans they'd been poring over few minutes ago to Rose's grey Prius while Matt walked her out of his office behaving like the ideal gentleman serving her tea himself and opening the door for her, throwing his boyish charm her way with every turn and word that it seemed stifling.

It all felt a drag till the time she turned to him to shake his hand, giving him a polite smile to part ways saying she'd consult her dad when the errant cyclist came too close and she almost bumped into Matt to get out of its way.

That's the moment it all turned electric.

Strong arms encircled her as if he was protecting something that's way too precious almost hiding her frame within his fold and eyeing with a primal rage at the kid who'd almost hurt her.

His musk mixed with his cologne filled her nostrils and for a moment she wondered if she'd smelled something so enticing ever.

The experience did make her wonder if those advertisements about men's cologne held mettle... which would be alarming.

The warmth was comforting, making her feel safe and secure, which was a feeling she rarely felt. She was starting to get the urge to never get out of this hold which was very similar to what she felt yesterday. And just like that they looked into each other's eyes.

Concerned chocolate brown ones into intrigued hazel ones.

His eyes examined her as if she were made of porcelain holding her a few moments later at arm's length.

"Are you okay?"

For some odd reason his voice came out all husky, as if overridden with emotion.

She looked up at his face and could now see the same guy who'd destroyed her peace yesterday. His eyebrows perked up when she didn't reply immediately.

"Are you hurt?"

He turned to his staff the next instant barking orders to summon their company doctor.

They have a company doctor at their branch office...?! He really is ridiculously rich!!

Eyes turned to her face and she replied once she knew she could trust her voice, "Am alright!" forcing her practiced smile once again knowing she was in unfamiliar territory and this warmth could all be a honey trap as this newly offered partnership.

His eyes pulled up their shutters too hiding the emotions that had surfaced.

"Are you sure?"

She nodded in affirmation.

She wanted to stay in his embrace but she needed to get out of here before she lost her bearings.

And out of the corner of her eyes she noticed someone she never imagined she'd see at Matt's office in a million years peeping towards them...Pete Williams.

It froze her to where she was standing bringing all memories back in flashes. She could no longer stand the air she was breathing as if it were poisoned. She looked up at Matt faintly registering his questions as one of concern. She nodded absentmindedly repeating she was fine and she really needed to go see her father.

After a couple more nods from her, he let go of her arms.

She quickly turned to her car and got away as if her sanity depended on it.

She needed her guide.

Matt had noticed the glazed look in her eyes and understood it was not from the accident. He had followed her vision to notice Pete too.

Someone had not shared all they knew....and he wanted to know.

Everything.

Now.

126 reads in 3 days is really humbling. I wish to thank every one of you from the bottom of my heart for taking out the most finite resource anyone owns- time. To all the shy readers out there, a vote still speaks volumes...

And to the bold ones, your words are keenly awaited....