<Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed>

|Jadesola|

Tuesday, June 29, 2021

"I DON'T fuck with you. You little stupid ass bitch, I don't fuck with you. I got a million things I'd rather fuck---"

I pried open my bleary eyes, trying to make sense of what on earth was happening. Realization dawned. It was my phone, ringing, the music blaring wild and loud.

Dang. A disgruntled frown etched to my face, I reached out with a tired arm to the bedrest. Who could be calling by 12 midnight?

My bonnet had slipped away so my mussed hair, I was probably sure it resembled a bird's nest, streamed curls down my face. Swiping a few away, I sat upright and tapped the screen.

Poring over the glowing letters, bemused, I widened my eyes. Unknown number flashed against the dark wallpaper background but I decided to answer anyway since I'd already awakened. Besides, one never knew when an emergency could occur.

"Hello, Jadesola Anyalewechi speaking," I said into the phone, rubbing my eyes.

"You're needed in the office in the next thirty minutes," a man growled, a certain voice that I was very familiar with.

I blinked, the drowsy state I'd been wallowing in fading into the thin air. Like deja Vu, all over again, the disastrous Brazilian trip hovered at the back of my mind.

Anger threaded a burning stitch in my chest, infuriation at his order fuelling my reply, "Are you being serious right now?!"

"Terribly serious. Get your ass out of that bed," he jeered, tone oozing with sarcasm.

Irritated by his nonchalant attitude, I scowled at the phone for a second then voiced my opinion, resentful, "Mr. Fields, in case you're not aware, it's 12 am in the morning. 12! I should be sleeping, at least it's the little reprieve I got from coming back home late today, all thanks to you. So no, I'm not coming to your goddamn office. My work hours don't include 12 am."

He only chuckled, an arrogant, haughty tune that never failed to stir my blood in the wrong way, "The office or your casino? Choose wisely."

Slowly, I tipped the phone away from my ear, my vision a sea of red. Why couldn't I conjure black magic, juju, anything to rid the planet of this man?

"Are you still there, Miss Jadesola?" he prompted, that breezy tune still attached to his voice.

Placing the electronic device in the crook of my neck, I croaked out in a strangled tone, "Yes I am."

"Good, I'm glad you made the right choice. See you by 12:50."

Still incensed, I cried, hoping my loud voice would at least render him deaf, if anything, "How do I get a taxi this time of the morning?"

Unconcerned, he bluntly told me, "That's your problem, not mine." Apparently done with relaying his information, my boss from hell clicked off.

I stared at my phone, frustration weighing me down. Damn his bloody arrogant hide. What was even so important that he'd disturbed my precious sleep? I swear if it was for a task with absolutely no importance, then he would pay in kind- preferably with blood.

Werey.

Stuck with no goddamn choice, I dumped the phone and moved my lazy ass out of the bed. As I slid a probing gaze across the white sheets, tucking its edges in, a red stain glared at me. Wonderful. I was on my fucking period.

Damn mother nature, damn Kian.

Tossing the soiled sheets away into the washing machine, I padded along the matted floor, heading towards the bathroom. As I freshened up, my thoughts replayed to that cleaning session in his office.

The man had been undressing me with his eyes, I was certain. Scrutinizing my every move, lingering on the dips and curves I possessed. And my body had responded, desiring to melt into his arms, especially when I'd begun dusting his table off. Those eyes, lust glimmering in their azure depths had almost made me forget he was the man I loathed with every fiber of my being. Almost.

Reining in those betraying thoughts, I willed my traitorous mind to not think about him then focused on preparing myself. Donning a flowy blue gown on, I styled my unruly hair into a kinky bun before I took a couple of Tylenol pills to avoid the incoming cramps that would soon wreck my stomach muscles. Hopefully, I would be back from Kian's stupid mission before the resulting truckload of pain assaulted me.

Courtesy of the numerous calls I placed at the taxi center, I eventually got a hold of a driver who would drive me to the Field's enterprise. I arrived, the security guards permitting me to enter without any questions—Kian must have probably notified them of my visit. As I trudged past vacant desks and empty chairs, my sandals clicked on the floor, setting off a thousand eerie echoes. Bumps pierced my upper arms, the frigid air enhancing the weird feeling. It was surreal being the only person present in the entirety of a twenty five storey building.

Ahead, the office door loomed, my steps hastened. Marching towards it, indignation written on my pinched features, I flung the door wide.

"Why the fuck am I here?!"

Cold air stroked my heated face, a vacant space in the spot Kian usually occupied. My boss was nowhere to be found.

What the-

Pissed, my frame quivering violently, I whipped my phone out to dial his number. "I'm here but you're missing."

"That's because I'm somewhere else. Come up to the penthouse, the elevator's code is 789."

The line went static.

Fingers knotted in a ball, I whirled towards the exit and advanced to the elevator, millions of questions settling in my mind. Important questions I had no answer.

What was this dude up to?

He'd been acting cold, unfeeling yesterday and to assuage his so-called ego, he'd made me go through a series of back breaking work. A tiny part of me suspected it had to do with that text message and coming across Ryan and I together. Well if he was jealous, then envy didn't suit him.

I gloated in satisfaction as I proceeded into the mirrored enclosure of the elevator and keyed in the numbers. Within minutes, it climbed up, then shuddered, coming to a stop.

Heading into the brightly lit hallway, I veered off to the direction of the only entrance I could see- a steel door.

One step. Two steps. Three steps. And the door sat just an inch away.

Okay. Here we go. Burying the anger that coursed through my veins, I prepared myself, steadying my breath and knocked.

It didn't take long for the door to widen, yawing open to reveal a drop dead gorgeous man who was clad in nothing but a towel, his bare chest swallowing up my vision.

I blinked. Holy Moly.

Then blinked again, my lashes fluttering as I squinted, greedy eyes taking in the smooth expanse of his chest, the matted hair trailing down south, muscles rippling as he crossed an arm across his mouth watering abs.

Lord knew, I could spend all day licking off those droplets of water that shimmered on his golden skin, tanned and nubile.

Unable to help myself, I uttered in a tiny squeak, "Is this how you welcome your guests?"

My boss merely grinned, that alluring action deepening the dimples that adorned his cheek. Christ have mercy. "It depends on the kind of guest."

"Uhm. . ." I rested my glittering gaze, at the room behind him, careful not to stare but that was difficult. My eyes drank in him like water, as if starved, unable to resist admiring the sensuous curl of his lush lips, damp hair falling in uncertain waves, the sheer gorgeousness he exuded eliciting a tingle in my belly.

"Come in." He flashed another sexy grin at me, adjusting the towel that had slid an inch, golden skin hinting at the fact that he was naked below.

Hold on. Was that ridge, bulging and straining against the fluffy material of the towel, his cock?

Eyes up, eyes up.

I combated the urge to look below, settling on some other part of his body that wouldn't set me into cardiac arrest- his shoulders for example. "But you're in a—

"Towel, I know. You don't need to state the obvious." His blue eyes sparkled, mischievous.

Truth be told, I wasn't exactly complaining. If this was how visitors welcomed their guests, then I would gladly come visiting. Every fucking day.

I gulped, throat dry, at a loss at what to say. This wasn't what I'd envisioned when I arrived here, fury streaming through my veins. I'd been prepared for a screaming match, ready to jump the boat and wrestle, screaming fuck it all. I hadn't prepped for a half-naked Kian to let me in, not this stunning, attractive hunk of a man hell-bent on piercing through my defences. And now, all I could see was a conjured vision of us naked, bodies intertwined, fucking. Raw. Animalistic.

Get yourself together, Jadesola. He's just a man in a towel and you've seen male models decked up in way less before.

Squaring my shoulders, I faced him, ensuring that my vision was fixed onto his stunning face. That didn't help by the way, not when a glimmer of fiery passion reflected in his heated eyes.

"Out of my way. I'm here to work," I bit between clenched teeth as I brushed past him, making certain my body dared not come in contact with his.

Safely tugging myself out of that proximity he'd enforced, almost, a warm hand latched onto mine.

A/N: Excuse me, but what is Kian doing?👀 Hehe. I think Jade needs a sprinkle of holy water 'cos warris happening?

Please vote, comment and share. Gracias.

BTW, this chapter was meant to be a combination of the next one BUT it was heading into 5000 words or so. Because of this, I had to publish this part and of course let you guys stew in curiosity.

Yes, let it be known that the queen of cliffhangers is back.😏

Keep an eye for the next chapter. Thanks.
Nita.❤️