Ocean

The soft ticking of the clock and the slow movement of its hands resounded like a church bell in my head. The thunder of its gentle movements caused an avalanche of unpleasant feelings in me that rolled down my dry and tight throat.

This was not helped by the involuntary shaking of my leg, elegantly crossed over my bare knee, which was revealed by a tight business skirt. The rattle of a horde of women's heals through the indefinite marble floor was interrupted by the sound of cell phones ringing and the brief sound of the elevator door opening. Even the air I breathed tore my chest like a sharp blade.

Nervousness.

What does it do to a man. To notice what is invisible to the eye and hear what is hidden in the wind.

But when some things are really important and our lives literally depend on them, nervousness is that feeling that keeps us in a state of high alertness. In a state of wakefulness. In life.

With the fingers of my left hand, I quickly straightened the strands of hair, which were already neatly and firmly behind my ear, and straightened the folds on my skirt. My gaze quickly flew over the face of the secretary who lowered the phone, nodding her head affirmatively, and shot us a look.

She pulled on her fake smile masked by a vivid red lipstick, when our eyes met.

"Ocean Bailey, you can come in now."

I reciprocated with an equally fake smile, which covered my tension and sleepless nights.

''Thank you.''

I walked past her and continued toward the massive wooden door, the walls claustrophobically narrowing around me.

This is the last chance for my redemption. To atone for the sins of others. A ticket to my freedom.I knocked three times and the echo burst through the hallway as a deep male voice rang out.

''Come in.''

I poked my head through the massive door, straightening my torso and took a deep breath. Now is not the time to show my weakness.

"Good morning, I would like to thank you for having responded to my call and granted my request to receive me in your office."

I said in a voice full of apparent confidence as my chest moved rhythmically and fast, almost revealing how important this really is to me. Vital.

He looked at me penetratingly, not taking his eyes off mine, as if reading my thoughts and studying every cell in my body.

"Sit down, Miss Bailey."

Gesturing with his hand on the leather brown chair in front of him. With my long legs I cut the space next to the chair, occupying it, and sat down a little stiffly, straightening my back and tossing my hair back.

Taking my Bio from the pile of papers piled up in front of him, he took off his glasses with a thick black frame and left it on the table. He took a deep breath and massaged his nose with the thumbs of his left hand as he left my Bio to mix with the mass of corporate documents.

"I must tell you, young Miss Bailey, that I am normally immune to begging, but your persistence and the way you have written to me in the hope of a job have somehow caught my attention."

A trapped breath that I wasn't even aware I had, left my throat the moment I heard his words. Is it called relief?

"I don't know what your motives are and what drives you so much that you want to work in our corporation with such enthusiasm, but I am ready to give you a chance, even though you have no experience in this field of business."

A sincere smile cut through my stiff face and it was as if a thousand suns were shining on my gloomy sky full of black, thick clouds.

"Thank you for the opportunity, I promise you wont be sorry."

He smiled and leaned deep into his massive armchair, which creaked under his weight. He stretched his mouth in a thin, straight line as if weighing some things in his head.

"I hope you really mean what you said. You ll start working from tomorrow. Jane, my secretary will show you the office in the morning. So, you will be in charge of preparing the documentation for all my meetings, you will accompany me to them, take notes and complete the other tasks that I delegate to you. Is everything clear? "

I nodded, not taking the silly smile off my face. My face seemed to stiffen and if I wanted to I couldn't change its expression. I'm entering an unknown realm, but I'm sure I'll manage. I have to manage.

"Everything is clear, sir. Thanks again for the opportunity. "

He nodded in agreement and extended his hand. We shook hands and thus put a stamp and signature on our agreement. I got the job. Yes, something is finally getting better.

I got up and left the room with a triumphant walk. As I walked past Jane, the secretary with the fake smile, I paused when her high-frequency tone nearly pierced my eardrums.

'' Miss Ocean Bailey, see you tomorrow at 8am exactly. I welcome you on behalf of the company."

The words came out of her mouth gravely, that it would be obvious to a small child that she was not happy to look at me every day. She looked me from head to toe, arching her eyebrow in surprise.

''The pleasure is mine.''

I said and headed for the elevator. I pushed a button and the door opened revealing platinum walls. The elevator doors opened and closed, receiving and escorting a crowd of people flying from floor to floor.

For the first time lately, I felt some hope and relief. There is hope for me to get out of this hell. After a long time, my body was relaxed and like jelly. The ringing sound of the elevator door opening and the signal that we were on the ground floor jerked me out of my trance and without looking ahead I hurried to get out.

Out of nowhere, a group of people in black business suits formed in front of me, deep in their conversation. Just as I was about to raise my head, I felt a strong blow and white papers flew around me like New Year's confetti. Oh God.

As the paper cloud descended, totally covering the marble floor below us, an angry face appeared in front of me, distorted with rage.

Beneath the deep frown on his face, provoked by rage, I was drawn to the enchanting blue eyes that mesmerized me with their depth. His black, styled hair blended with his suit, and his sharp features were screaming masculinity.

Somehow I managed to get out of the trance into which his gaze threw me, and just when I wanted to apologize and collect the papers that had been blown up, the thunderous noise caused by his voice cut me off.

"Look what you did."

I wrinkled my whole face in amazement, didn't we bump into each other ?! I certainly wouldn't run into him on purpose, for God's sake.

''Pardon me?''

He came dangerously close to me, looking me deeply in the eyes, cutting the places where his gaze passed like a razor. The tips of our noses almost touched and his mint breath opened my eyelids even wider.

"You will immediately bent down and pick up these papers."

He looked at me darkly, squinting his eyes at me. Then said in a low, threatening voice.

''Immediately.''

I laughed in wonder. What does he think he is?

"With that attitude, I don't want to and I won't."

I told him, trying not to let the magic of his angry, blue expanses of heaven insert me into his vortex. I pulled away, and walked past him wanting to get out when his strong grip pulled me back. From his strength, my back collided hard with the strong muscles of his stomach.

His breath played around my bare neck, instilling in me a mixed feeling of latent fear and some strange passion.

"You don't want to play with fire, babe."

I turned my head to the side so that I was looking him straight in the eyes under the slope.

"For people like you, I'll be an arsonist if I have to."

I pulled away from his strong grip and without looking behind me, i came out through the revolving glass door.

The fresh air and the gentle breeze outside the building calmed me down. The wind rumbled between the concrete walls that framed crowded streets.

I turned and looked at the sign above the entrance.

‚‚Atkinson & Co‚‚

I hope that this job will help me escape from the clutches of debts that my father left me as a legacy.

As well as from debt collectors.

Mafia.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Thank you for choosing this book, I hope you will have a great time exploring its charms!

Also, I want to inform you that on the December 1st I will be publishg new book "Burning desires"
If you are into enemies to lovers mafia kinda stories, join me on this steamy road.

His presence was almost unbearable. His proximity was painful and densely woven, making the air around us hard to breathe. Although outwardly calm and composed, my body was a restless sea fighting against its own waves, which were swallowing themselves one after another, turning, dying and being born again.

"Don't test the limits I'm ready to go to because limits are something I don't know."

He threatened me quietly and determined, sure that his every word was making a whirlwind in my ears, visibly irritated by my insolent behavior

"Now I'm going to ask you to get out of my office so I can cry like some little girl, scared by your dire threats."

I answered him mockingly, looking straight into his eyes, which seemed to be calling my name.

Silence. A few seconds passed like an eternity. A sly smirk appeared on his face. He slowly approached me, closing the very small distance between us. I thought it was a good thing that I was leaning against the desk, because it held me firmly in a place resistant to his proximity.

His breath swirled around the shell of my ear, making me shiver coldly.

"Oh, be sure you'll cry. But not when I leave the room, but while I'm in it. You'll cry on my ear. Like big girls do. Your cry will be hoarse and pleading. It will be your prayer, your ticket to heaven. And trust me... You won't want to come down from those heights."

His every word was calm and precise, intervowen with some dangerously playful tone. He pulled back slightly, looking straight into my eyes, slowly lowering his gaze to my lips. Then he just turned around and walked out.

I was left breathless in the ruins where I was right now.
•••

Amelia Sammers is undependent and a bit stiff girl, who has a well-organized decent life, working as a partner in a law firm. Focused firmly on the ground, she will experience a real earthquake that will make her reconsider whether the ground is a place where she would like to be.

Sebastian Reese, self-made businnesman in the IT sector. With an enchanting appearance that catches the eye and explosive, masculine energy that spreads around him, he makes his way to the top of the social ladder.

You know that feeling when your body shivers mercilessly and your temperature drops a few degrees. Or all the heat rushes into your cheeks while a swarm of unholly thoughts swarms your head, making you squeeze your eyes tightly.

That's exactly what this enemy-to-lover romance is like.

Bon appetit :D