☘︎ Lʏᴋᴀs Vɪᴛᴀʟʟɪs ☘︎

Stupidity should've been my middle name.

There was no other explanation for why I was standing outside Jennifer Ryson's office, holding a takeaway bag filled to the brim with cupcakes and a glass of rainbow smoothie in my hand and having an eye-to-eye stand off with her four bulky bodyguards.

I like to believe I have a rational reason for being here, the said reason being the platinum bracelet tucked inside the back pocket of my jeans, even if my conscience acknowledged the bluff and knew it was just a means to an end.

Getting past the front desk receptionist was a piece of cake. All I had to do was charm my way into sneaking a first-on-the-list appointment. I'd been more than relieved when the call to Jennifer's office wasn't answered because there was a high probability she'd send me away or worst yet, ban me forever from this place. But the sweet, clueless receptionist who didn't know I was her boss's rival told me her boss's schedule was free anyways so I was good to go-

Oh wait, right!

"I have an appointment." I state as confidently as mortally possible, holding up the appointment slip under the bodyguards' noses.

The four of them exchange robotic glances, check the note, check me for any dangerous objects and then finally with a if-you-dare-try-anything-funny-you'll-pay-fucker look, let me in.

Pushing open the office door and shutting it behind me, I feel a sense of victory engulf me. Ah, the struggles to get inside Jennifer Ryson's office.

"If I didn't know better, Ryson. With the amount of security you have, I'd think you're the Prime Minister of the United Sta-" My words and my footsteps alike come to a screeching halt the moment I take in the sight in front of me.

So this was why she didn't pick the call.

There, seated behind the desk in all her glory, is Jennifer Ryson. Only she's. . .sleeping.

Her head is cradled between the cage of her crossed arms resting above the table. Her hair is a silky curtain framing the edges of her face, her long lashes shut and casting a shadow down the angled lines of her cheeks.

Momentarily starstruck, I approach the desk with silent steps as if a little sound would wake her up. Setting down the takeaway bag and the smoothie glass on the desk, with the table a barrier between Jennifer and me, I lean down a bit to get a better view of her face.

There's a peacefulness to her features, lost in the serenity of sleep, that makes her look like a dark angel resting on earth to bewitch the humankind.

Not being able to help myself, I bring my hand up to gently tuck away the little strands of hair falling in front of her closed eyes, behind her ear. My fingers gently graze the skin of her cheek in the process.

Feeling like I'm invading her personal space without permission, I'm about to snatch my hand away when she leans into the touch with a soft sigh.

My entire body locks at the reaction, my fingers freezing midway. I should pull away, I really should.

But it only takes her resting her face on my hand with another exhale of breath in a drowsy demand, for me to loose all sense of resolute.

My fingers navigate the slopes of her cheeks, the shape of her jaw, feeling the softness of her silky skin. Something in my chest softens, bringing a smile to my lips as her features relax in contempt.

I don't like her. I definitely don't. Neh, not even a bit. She's my rival. We will always have cold war between us. But a man can always appreciate beauty and God, she's fucking beautiful-

The next moment, before I can even grasp the situation, her eyes flash open. She grabs my wrist in a death grip and her knee connects with my jaw in a brutal hit making me loose my balance and fall face first on the shiny surface of the black-wood table. I don't even get the time to groan out in mortal pain as she locks my arm behind my back, rendering me immobile.

What in the name of freaking Bruce Lee.

I lift my gaze in time to find her staring at me in disbelief and annoyance. Despite the painful situation I'm in, the look on her face has amusement filtering through my veins. Although the moves she just used. . .

"The fuck are you? A Ninja?!" I groan, trying to get out of her strong hold.

For a person who looked so delectable, she sure had the strength of hulk.

Jennifer tightens her grip on my arm locked behind my back, "The fuck are you? A stalker?"

Okay, I deserved that.

But hearing her swear for the first time in my presence, her say the word 'fuck' is surely worth it. Geez I need mental help.

"I'm here for a reason!" I try to defend myself but she doesn't have it.

Jennifer loosens her hold on my arm. But when I straighten and try to distance myself from the walking Ninja woman in front of me, she plasters her palm on my chest and pushes me down so that my ass is glued to the chair in front of the desk.

"I don't care about your reason, Vitallis." She walks around her desk to stand in front of me, "I've let you go far too many times without warning. But you've crossed a limit. So let me tell you this. . ."

Leaning to my eye level where I'm seated on the chair, her irises blaze with fire, "You so much as hover around me one more time, I will make sure you regret it."

"A threat?" A mischievous smile stretches on my lips, my eyes shining with mirth, "Are you flirting with me, Ryson?"

Instead of my words riling her more, she sees right through it. A cold glint crosses her expression, her eyes narrowing with challenge. With a sacharine smile, she rests both her arms on the chair on either side of me, stepping forward and invading my personal space.

"Trust me, Vitallis. If I were flirting with you. . ." All traces of playfulness escapes me, my mind going numb when her warm breath touches my earlobe and she whispers, "You wouldn't stand a chance."

She's so close, I can smell her intoxicating lavender scent, see the little flecks of hazel in her fiery green eyes, notice the long curve of her thick lashes and make out the precise shape of her lips. . .

Fuck if I didn't know that already. I could never stand a chance.

Feeling overwhelmed by her presence, I kick my feet on the ground and swivel the chair away from her the instant she steps back.

"Well, that was intense. But. . .I really am here for a reason." Pulling out the platinum bracelet from my jeans pocket, I hold it up in front of my face like a shield to block the sight of my rival, "You dropped this earlier when you stormed out of the dining room. Thought I should return it, and not commit a sin by keeping it with me when I know the owner."

Jennifer blinks, staring at the bracelet then glancing down at her bare wrist as if just realizing she'd lost it.

Rolling her eyes, she takes the bracelet from my hands, "Thank you." She didn't sound thankful at all, "I didn't take you to be a religious person though, I must admit."

"How do you know that?" My earlier playfulness returns, enveloping the unsettling attraction I'd felt a few moments ago, "Keeping tabs on me, are you now, Ryson?"

"You wish." That sacharine smile graces those luscious lips again, "Now that you've done your holy deed by giving me back my belonging, you're free to suit yourself out of my office."

"Ouch, is this how you pay for my kindness, Ryson? I'm hurt." I plant an aggrieved hand to my heart.

"Get out, Vitallis." She keeps smiling in that creepy, emotionless way.

I sigh, making a sad face, "Alright alright. I'll leave before you go Ninja on me again."

She crosses her arms, waiting.

I get off the chair with extra slowness, taking my sweet time to straighten the non-existent creases on my jeans and shirt. It's only when I finally glance her way noticing the desk in the process, do I remember.

"Oh, by the way, I brought these for you." Stepping ahead, I pick up the foodie goodies from the desk, "I saw you didn't eat anything at breakfast and guessed you might be hungry. So. . ."

Holding out the cupcakes with the tutti-frutti toppings and the rainbow smoothie to her, "Here's some colour to your black and white life."

Jennifer stares at the takeaway bag weirdly like it's a dynamite wrapped in paper, a flicker of surprise flashes in her eyes for a fleeting moment before she covers it with fake suspicion.

"Is it poisoned?" She raises an emaculate brow in question.

"Maybe."

I grin maddeningly, grabbing her hands to deposit the takeaway bag and smoothie on them because she didn't look anywhere near taking it herself. But the moment the warmth of her soft, small feminine hands touch my much larger, masculine one, my senses go on high alert. Because her hands in mine look far too appealing. . .

Just stop thinking, Lykas.

Gingerly, I place the takeaway bag and smoothie on her hands and pull my hand away as if her touch scalded me.

"Okay bye, Ryson!"

Turning around, I rush out of the office without a single glance behind, like the hounds of hell are following me.

Damn I need to get my head straight.

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I think by this point, we all have figured Lykas is obsessed with Jenna. Like not in a diabolic, crazy way but yeah, you get me😭👍

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