There was a stirring feeling in my gut. This decision could either lead me down a fiery path of destruction or success. Unsure of the outcome, I was prepared to face either one.

My eyes scanned the length of my body. With a satisfactory grin, I pinned my hair to the side letting the rest cascade into soft waves. I deliberately chose a dress that accentuated each curve from my breasts, hips to derriere. My pride had taken a hit, I'd be damned if I let my outer appearance show what I felt inside. I'd also be lying if I said it wasn't partly due to the fact, I would be seeing Elias for the first time in weeks.

That's surely what it felt like but it had only been a week and a half. Which, was more than enough time for the anger to subside, rise and subside again. The last words he spoke to me loomed over my head like a dark cloud. My fingers slid across the screen of my new phone plenty of times, going as far as having a lengthy text typed out, but I never hit send.

What for? He seemed adamant on not hearing my side and his wish was my command. A sliver of me, respected, even embarrassedly turned on by his grit to execute his decision without wavering. I wondered if I should warn him of my upcoming presence at Castellano Enterprises but decided to go with the element of surprise.

Looking at my reflection through the white floor length mirror, my hand smoothed over my left cheek. There was no longer any sign of Thomas's forceful slap, not that it would be seen over my makeup. In hindsight, I went about that situation in the wrong way. Not exactly sure what had crossed my mind to provoke him. I knew being compared to his father would have that very effect yet, I did it anyway.

To be fair, I never expected him to go to that extreme. How foolish of me to put confidence in such a sad excuse of a man. He must have relished in the victory over my silence, his ego persuading him to believe he slapped me back into submissiveness. The lack of remorse displayed into his features made my stomach sick as if he were truly proud that he had finally defeated me.

I admit impulsiveness was second nature to me, most of my issues sprouted from that very fact. Nevertheless, even my irrational side understood notifying the authorities would go in vain. Working at Anderson I became cognizant of 'problems' that conveniently disappeared into thin air. Anderson men had friends in high places and I was a nobody. His word against mine, a no brainer on who would come out victorious.

But, no disadvantage would make me let this go. Too many years, of being an idle, docile woman made me itch to get my revenge—to be the one that made them pay. Anger surged through me at the thought of my sister's accident being a premeditated tactic to get a rise out of me. With Thomas's admittance of my own life being threatened, I wouldn't put it past Cain to treat my sister's life with the same regard.

Thomas may have bought into his father's threat against my life purely being for the sake of greed and his glorious company, I wasn't convinced. Protectiveness of my sister overpowered any fear and their underestimation of me would be the death of everything they valued.

Sitting on my bed, I opened the oak stained drawer beside it. Twirling the small USB drive between my fingers, resolve overfilled me. I had a plan for Thomas and his father. I would be patient, deliberate— a predator hiding in the dark waiting for the perfect time to strike. I would make damn sure they never saw me coming. The classic case of predator turned prey.

Placing the USB back into the small box, I slipped on my nude pumps. It was now or never. Vengeance, the only thing on my mind as I exited out my bedroom.

"How long do you think it will take to sell the house?" My sister exclaimed, spread out on the couch.

It was the first sentence she had spoken to me since our argument. Overwhelmed with emotion over the residing sting of Thomas's slap, she had informed me of her plans of moving in with Tobias. I lost it. She was a child in no way ready for that type of commitment. Her mind was set and there was nothing I could do to stop her.

To make matters worse, when we arrived home a for sale sign was forked into our front lawn. My father was nowhere to be found, his closet empty with a black suitcase full of cash laid out in the middle. An orange post-it note left on top with the message 'Take care of your sister ' in cursive handwriting.

No mention of me because who cares about my well-being, right? I was used to it, used to people disregarding my feelings. There was no flicker of surprise, no— just hurt. Odd, didn't begin to cover it, but his sudden disappearance was a mystery I wouldn't divulge it yet.

"Are you going to stand there and ignore me?" She sat up, her eyebrows crinkling in disgust.

I rolled my eyes, fed up with her blatant disrespect this week. "I was gathering my thoughts. I am not sure, houses in this area tend to sell quickly."

"Just wondering, Tobias wants me to settle into his apartment by this week. Is that okay with you? Have you found somewhere to live or moving with Godzilla an option?"

I opened my mouth but bit my tongue. All I managed to say was a mere 'okay' before slamming the front door shut. I couldn't help but be annoyed by my sister's naivety. If only she knew I was suspended. I didn't even bother telling her about Thomas either. She reminded me too much of myself when I was her age, clueless and desperate for a way out of the misery that was my home life. I despised being upset with her but there was no way I could give her my stamp of approval.

Blushing slightly, I waved goodbye to the Uber driver who was nothing short of a flirt. Relieved to be out of the car, I awed at the sight letting the sun soak into my skin. The sleek, luxurious black building of Castellano Enterprises was an architectural beauty worth admiring. Opening the elegant door, my body shivered with anticipation.

I ignored the grimace from the receptionist and made my way up to the last floor. Employees gawked at me left and right as I traveled down the hallway to his office. I returned each look with a pretentious smile, strutting with confidence. Being suspended hardened me, I could care less of what others thought of me. Feeling bold, I opened the door to Elias's office without knocking.

Taking two steps in, I looked up steadying myself on the armrest of the sofa. Hiding the shock on my face, I forced my eyes off the floor and to the curvy woman whose hands playfully tugged at his suit jacket. The built-up angst towards him resurfaced and instead of running I stared him straight in the eye, heat rising to my cheeks.

Did he really move on so quickly?

Surprise flickered in his eyes before he gave the woman a displeased look. The woman undaunted by my presence smiled at me and grabbed her bag. "Elias, I hope you change your mind about dinner. I'm sure a man of your caliber needs a break occasionally." She ran her hand across his neck. "I'll gladly release this tension."

Elias appeared unmoved, gently snatching her wrist from his neck. "Thanks for swinging by, Ms. Stefani. Alexander will be taking over from now on. Please inform him, if any other technicalities rise."

She sighed. "What a shame, I guess I'll have to settle for second best." Grabbing her designer bag, she sashayed out of his office giving me a wink as the door clicked shut.

Elias took off his suit jacket folding it over the leather office chair. Rolling up the sleeves of his pressed black buttoned shirt, his eyes roamed every inch of my body lingering on my breasts and hips. His gaze was relentless, sending a wave of heat across my skin. I swallowed hard, trying my best to act indifferent.

He gestured with his hand, "Ven pa'ca," his tone controlled and authoritative. Not wanting to appear eager, I waited a couple of seconds making sure to sway my hips seductively. I wanted to see him react to me.

To my dismay, he didn't, remaining expressionless and unperturbed. Which only encouraged to break through his façade and unravel the true intentions that lay beneath it. Any falter to the esteemed businessman made me quiver in excitement knowing I was the cause. While his outer appearance may have seemed uninterested in my presence, the huge bulge in his slacks told me otherwise.

I stood in front of him, bending down slowly to retrieve the files out of my briefcase. Smirking, when I heard his sharp intake of air. I could feel his eyes boring into my back. He stepped closer as I grabbed the manila folder. Taken back by his movement, I turned my face towards him.

My eyes scanned from his leather dress shoes, up his body. Cheeks flushing, but not enough to deter me from continuing my conquest, lingering, on some places more than the others. His eyes darkened when I settled back to his face. Taking me in, the muscle in his jaw twitched as he ran his fingers through my hair and down the nape of my neck.

He lifted me from the floor, my heart raced with the feel of his touch. Resting his hand on my hip, he studied my body once again. "I wasn't expecting you," He paused, running his hand up my ribcage. "You look bellissima— to die for."

I tilted my head towards the window at an attempt to recollect my composure. He was kerosene and I, the match. One damn look and he sent me aflame, burning with desire. I felt scorched with an ache I never knew I had. An ache for him and his touch. A week and a half without seeing him left my body fiending off his presence.

Why did he have to be so distracting? A single look at his lips and the way his biceps flexed in his dress shirt— was all it took to have my willpower wither away. What an infuriating man he was.

Avoiding his eyes, I handed him the files. "Sorry, I hope that isn't a problem, I wanted to drop the financial reports for the New York clients." I cleared my throat, trying to hide the bitterness of my tone. "I didn't get the chance to the last time I was here because I was suspended."

He looked briefly at the files before tossing them towards his desk. "A placer to be in your presence, never apologize for coming. How are you?" I crossed my arms under my chest, continuing to appear disinterested. Hoping my treacherous body didn't give me away. "I'm wonderful. Was that my replacement?" I asked, without realizing it had a double meaning.

He guided me backward until I was leaning against his desk. Grabbing my ass, he lifted me up in one swift move, gripping it with dominance as he sat me down. His hand lifted my chin upwards demanding my full attention. "Are you jealous, Scarlett?" He countered, feeling the guttural vibrations of his deep voice across my body.

I bit my lip, ignoring the delicious tingle between my thighs. Such an impossible task, with the heat of his chest radiating against my breasts and the feel of his breath on my neck muddling my every thought. I looked to the floor then to the sleek bookcase behind him. "No, curiosity gets the best of me. She's pretty."

With the smug look on his face, I know he's caught on to my act. He settled his body between my legs, my chest pressed onto his as my dress slightly rose with his new position. Without wasting time, He placed a kiss on my pulse point while his calloused hands gracefully ran across my thighs raising my dress even higher. My breathing hitched, my body trembling beneath his touch as a moan escaped my mouth next to his ear. My hands tugged at his shirt, untucking it from his slacks, desperate to feel him.

There was a glint of mischief in his eyes as he grabbed my hands, pinning them at my sides. "I don't sleep with employees or clients if that's what you're getting at." He whispered his voice husky and rough.

"There's always an exception to the rule." I breathed out, hating how my body submitted easily to his gestures. Evident with each touch that it was a losing battle. When his hands grazed my skin, my body was his and I was done for. I had no say in the matter.

I focused my attention on his lips as he ran his thumb over them. "Yes, I'm staring right at it."

My body warmed not expecting that type of response. This made what I had to do harder, uncertainty crept on my skin each second that passed. I glanced up from the floor when his thumb brushed my lips, parting them in the process. "Dime, why are you really here? Give it to me straight, I don't like to play games."

Of course, he read me like a book. I smoothed the nonexistent wrinkles on my dress, figuring how to phrase what I was about to say. He placed a hand on my thigh, firmly squeezing. "Tell me, Scarlett." I sucked a breath, placing my hand over his. "Why aren't you pissed off at me? A week ago, you could barely look at me and now you can't keep your hands off me."

"You were jealous. I needed to show that you have no reason to be."

His body tensed as he restrained himself, caging his desire for me. I fought the urge to pull him closer and show him my frustrations at his audacity. But, I refrained kissing him would be like putting a band-aid on a gunshot wound.

"So, you were still angry at me but my jealousy made you forget because I needed to be taught a lesson?"

"Scarlett, I am a man, not a child who gets transfixed on one emotion. I don't dwell. I move on. " The sound of his voice sank into me, more gruff than usual causing prickles across my skin. I nodded, bereft of speech. "Now, answer me—the truth on why you are here." He demanded, running his fingers lightly over my wrist.

I reached downwards into my briefcase, grabbing the typed letter. My hand trembled as I handed it to him. "I'm here because I owe you the courtesy to personally give you my letter of resignation. I appreciate—"

Putting distance between us, disbelief flashed his eyes but it was gone as soon as it came replaced with a hardened expression. "Like hell you are."

I scoffed, placing a hand on my hip. "Excuse me?"

His eyes furrowed at my resignation, shaking his head before placing it on my lap. "I won't accept this."

"You have no choice but to accept Elias. I refuse to be a used as a pawn in some sick twisted rivalry match. I'm making this easy for you. "

He turned his back to me, running his hand through his hair. I stared at his back, watching his muscles tense and contract underneath his dress shirt. A nice distraction from the guilt that welled up in my chest. He faced me, our eyes aligned, both of us trying to discover the mystery that we were.

"Easy for me? I won't allow them the opportunity to affect my company. Let alone, allow them to use you as their pawn. Do you believe they are the first to try? They aren't nor will they be the last. This is the price you pay when you are at the top. People rather envy my success and plan my demise instead of putting the work it takes to get here."

"Elias, do you take me for a fool? I'm positive if you retrieved the hospital footage I would not be suspended right now. You are a smart man, I know you would have demanded it. Which makes me form the conclusion that it no longer exists. "

He gave me a guarded look confirming the inkling I had all week. Unbeknownst to me as to why I felt disheartened. I knew what I was up against. I fought the urge to tell him the truth, that Thomas held me against my will but it was futile.

"There's no telling what your investigation will reveal. They are not above doctoring more evidence to further incriminate me. A scandal, could defame my character, my credibility, ruin my reputation. No reputable establishment would dare to hire me. I didn't spend years busting my ass for me to be unemployed. This saves us both the trouble. " I continued, not knowing whether my explanation helped him understand my reasoning.

"I won't allow them to, I give you my word." Startling me, he cupped my face, with an expression on his I couldn't place. "Lucha, resiste, conquistarias Eso es lo que harás. Tell me you hate this job or that you found something better then, I'll accept. But if it's because of those Cobardes—"

I clenched the desk, his response irked me. He made it seem as if I was succumbing to defeat. "This is how I win, this is me fighting, this is me resisting. I will conquer by not letting them get the satisfaction of making my life hell. You didn't seem to be on my side when I begged you to hear me out more than once. Do you realize how hard that was? How bad it hurt me? "

He kissed my knuckles, sensing the sadness I didn't even try to hide. "It was a corporate decision. I can't let my personal feelings get in the way of the company I spent my life building. My employee's livelihoods depend on me, I can't be selfish. If I didn't reprimand you accordingly it would be seen as preferential treatment. Which it already seems that way, anyone else would have received a far worse outcome than what I gave you."

I tsked, not hiding my annoyance at how easy he made it sound. "I'm glad that you can separate your feelings but I can't. This is the prime example of why it's ill-advised to mix business and pleasure. You have every right to have concerns professionally but personally, I felt owed for you to hear me out." I took my resignation from my lap slammed it beside me. "I should go."

Before I could get off his desk, he stopped me, locking his hands on my hips. "You make it sound like this easy for me. As if I purposely intended for this to transpire. I wasn't looking for or wanting anything. It just happened. Do you think when I set foot in my nightclub that night, I had intentions on kissing the tipsy munequita? I assure you, it wasn't. But, when I saw you looking at me across the bar, I was hell-bent on one thing, you. Then two weeks later you're in my office, my intent was to keep things professional. Not an easy task, when all I want to do is kiss you, have my way with you, and show you what it is to be mine. Tell me what do you want from me?"

"What do I want from you? I want the truth. Do you really believe those photos you saw? Do you really think I would stoop to such a despicable level? Elias, look me in the eye and tell me If you really think I could really be capable of such atrocities?"

He bit his lip, letting seconds fly by. "What do you mean if I believe? Those pictures aren't make-believe or photoshopped. Trust me, I checked. There real whether I want to accept it or not. "

"Wow. Never mind then. Forget I asked." I proclaimed, not hiding the exasperation in my voice.

"No, I won't forget." He fixed his hands on the desk beside each thigh, causing his body to slightly hover over me. "Please, believe I'm trying to understand what you mean. Are you asking if I believe you are the informant? If I think you are playing both sides and keeping his bed warm at the end of the night? Is that what you're asking me?"

I nodded, pleading him with my eyes to answer. He took a deep breath and stared at me. His pause spoke volumes—his hesitation was all the response I needed. I shook my head, my heart felt as if it were shattering beneath us.

Pinching the bridge of my nose, I tried to stop myself from speaking but couldn't. "I swore that I wouldn't put myself in the same predicament I was in and here I am. For your information, I haven't slept with him in a very long time even before I met you. The only bed I'm keeping warm is my own. Also, those hospital photos painted a more enduring figurative than reality. But, I'm sure you don't care. In your mind, I'm the seductress who played you like a fool."

Before he could respond the door sprung open. I slid off the desk, adjusting my dress. In contrast, Elias remained unfazed leaving his shirt untucked not caring about Alexander's shocked expression. "Not now Alexander. Next time knock."

Alexander's exaggerated joyous smile alternated between both of us." Sure thing, patrón. I hate to disrupt this spicy make out session but business calls. It's urgent, dealing with the very fluttered person in this room."

I scowled at Alexander, striving not to give the appearance that knowing I was the subject of an urgent matter unsettled me. "It's fine, I was on my way out."

He peered at me expressing with no words for me to stay. I might as well have been shackled to the floor because I remained still. After I mentally cursed myself, I took two strides ignoring the pull I felt towards Elias.

"Scarlett." He growled— half plea, half warning. I stopped, while Elias raised his hand signaling to Alexander to leave, which he obliged with no questions asked.

Waiting for the door to close, I decided to set my pride aside and allow him another chance. "Are you going to answer my question?" I inquired, not caring that my voice dripped with irritation and hostility.

"My actions are a clear indication of where I stand." He narrowed his eyes, stating with conviction.

Elias spoke again, leaving the words hanging on the tip of my tongue. "Do you remember the contract you signed?" The look on my face must have given my confusion away. He shook his head, tucking his shirt into his slacks. "The contract you signed legally binds you to four years of employment at Castellano Enterprises. Terminating earlier than the agreed-upon contractual end date will require you to pay a steep fine which doesn't include the restitution for the following years."

I stayed quiet at a loss of words. My resignation played a crucial part in my plan, now it was unachievable. The silence surrounded us becoming unbearable to withstand.

"How much is the fine?" My voice barely above a whisper, knowing the answer to my question.
It would be a considerable amount, a fortune for someone like me who barely started their career and hasn't had the chance to save.

He rolled down his sleeves, buttoning his cufflinks before he was disrupted by a phone call. He held his phone between his shoulder and ear resuming his previous task but coming short. I pursed my lips and went over to help.

He was unreadable, but by his short responses, I assumed the phone call was not good news. I grabbed his suit jacket, working as a team he extended his arms while I slid his arm through the sleeves. By the time we were done so was his phone call.

"I apologize, I had to take the call otherwise I would have let it go to voicemail. It's a substantial amount. The cost doesn't matter because I'll pay it. I won't hold you here against your will. If that's what you want, say the word and it's done." He inhaled deeply, choosing his words wisely as he buttoned his suit jacket. "You should never allow anyone to coerce or become an interference to what you rightly deserve whether it be Thomas, your family, me, whoever. If it wasn't for him would you even be considering this right now? Think of yourself, and only that. What do you want? What are your desires?"

I leaned back on his desk ruminating on his response. Two questions I had never been asked before not even by myself. My whole life spent taking care of everyone that I neglected myself in the process. I twirled the ring on my finger, contemplating a reply.

"So, what's it going to be? Stay or resign?"

What should Scarlett do?

Why do you think Elias hesitated? Do you think he believes she could be the informant?

Should Elias be sent to the dog house after this chapter?

Thank you for reading!