DEVON

My throat was dry like sandpaper. I tried to gulp the saliva but felt like I would choke on it, so I held back.

Thump

Thump

Thump

My heart was beating like large drums, and I wondered how the only sound that came over the muffled music was our ragged breaths.

The moonlight lit up her face partially. Her big honey-coloured eyes looked like the two pots full of molten caramel, calling me, alluring me to taste its sweetness.

We stood close to each other with a distance of only a few inches between us. One step and she would be in my arms, right where I wanted her at that moment.

She was looking at me expectantly with the same excitement as I had. My grey eyes travelled down her oval face only to settle on her full pink lips.

As if feeling the weight of my lustful gaze, her lips parted like the petals of a lotus. And that was my invitation. I didn't care about anything else at that moment as my mind, heart and soul wanted only one thing in unison.

I took that one step to close the distance between us, and a soft gasp rocked her chest. Her back was flat against the brick wall behind her as I placed my hand beside her head.

The vibrations of the music blasting inside ran through my palm, but the vibrations that my hand on her waist sent into her body were more amusing to me.

She gulped, and my eyes followed every little movement of her throat. It ignited something wicked and dark inside me that I had never felt before in my entire life.

'She is not the first girl Devon!', I kept reminding myself, I had to.

"This... is my... f-first k-kiss." She barely whispered as her voice betrayed her.

Her fists clenched around the front of my shirt, which I barely noticed.

"And I promise it will be the most memorable one!" I promised in my husky voice before leaning down my head to end all distances that kept our mouths apart.

I jolted with the bolts of electricity as soon as our lips met, and my eyes snapped open as I hit my forehead on something. The horn blared irritatingly, worsening my headache.

Was she hurt?

I looked around in worry only to realise that I was again dreaming that same night, just like the past five months!

"Damn it!"

"I am sorry sir but a bike came crossing the speed limit and I had to hit the brakes in urgency."

I pursed my lips in anger as my driver informed me.

"Be careful!" I warned, choosing not to lash out at him.

"Yes sire!"

I sat looking out of the window to see people pausing, slowing down to take a double look at my silver Rolls Royce Phantom. I smirked, thinking how many of them could afford this car ever in their life?

Probably none!

The car took a right turn to pass through the large automatic gates, and a fleet of security saluted though they couldn't see me inside the car.

The name of 'Sanders Group of Companies' shone as bright as Sun at the entrance. But I never liked to use those paths that hundreds, if not thousands walk every day.

The driver drove the car to stop it directly in the parking lot that was reserved only for the Sanders. I spotted a brunette standing railing on the black car behind her.

She wore a white pencil skirt with a pastel pink top matched with nude heels. If only the woman had chosen the right career, then she would have surely been the neighbour of one of those celebrities in Beverly Hills.

I won't complain though, because then I wouldn't have been able to find such a perfect personal assistant for myself.

Christine looked up from her phone, and her stylishly set, straight hair moved. She instantly put her phone inside her bag and straightened up before rushing to open the door for me.

I stepped out of the car, buttoning my suit jacket.

"Good morning, Boss!" She greeted him like a chirping bird. Her full lips were painted in nude lipstick and stretched in a beautiful smile that always helped me to feel relaxed.

"You were supposed to get me breakfast." Instead of greeting her back, I pointed at her hands where I didn't see the takeout from my favourite cafe.

She smiled sheepishly as we began walking to the elevator.

"I am sorry Boss but I was late already. But don't worry I have already arranged someone to get it for you. Your breakfast might be waiting in your cabin."

"It better should be!"

The elevator door opened with a ping, and we stepped in. Christine pressed the button for the thirty-ninth floor.

"Why did you get late by the way?" I asked, slipping one hand into the pants pocket.

The silence gave it all away. When the elevator finally crossed the thirtieth floor, I said, "Stop wasting your time in choosing the right shades of lipstick Christine or you will not have money to buy enough of them."

The door of the elevator opened, and I strode out confidently, well aware of the glares I received from behind.

As soon as the people working around took a notice of my presence, they stood up, wishing their greetings. But none of them received any reaction.

At the end of the way was a large black door. Christine stepped in front of me and opened it. I entered my office, and indeed there was my breakfast sitting on the table.

I heard her release a sigh of relief. Smiling at myself, I sat on my chair and didn't wait to dig into the food. The hot brewing coffee finally did the trick for me, and once done, I was finally ready for the new day.

Meanwhile, Christine took out some files from the long shelves at the other end of the cabin. She sat in front of me, tapping rapidly on her tablet.

"Alright! Let's begin."

She began with my today's schedule, my appointments and meetings. She then filled me with some other data and details that we discussed in great depth.

"That's it, Boss. I will let others taste your medicine that I have already done." She said, standing up from the chair.

I raised my brow at her. "You don't get extra pay for your skills of sarcasm, Christine."

"It is not a skill Boss. It's an ART!" She said with such seriousness that I instantly believed her.

She turned to leave and was near the door when I asked, "You haven't filled me yet with the news from Swindon, Christine."

I watched her shoulders tense and imagined how her face must have cringed.

"I am waiting."

She slowly turned around, and the apologetic look on her face soured my mood instantly. Yet I waited for her to say it by herself.

"Boss... actually... erm... we are... trying to handle the situation and I think we will be able to do it soon. I mean very soon and-"

"I have a meeting with father in the afternoon, Christine. Should I tell him that we will handle it soon? And would he be happy to hear that?" I asked through a clenched jaw.

Christine visibly shivered before she jumped in fright at the loud clattering sound. Everything on my table was now on the floor, staining the clean tiles as I pushed my chair back and stood up angrily.

"Boss, please boss! Listen to me first... we are trying but those Greenchasers, they are not easy to handle."

"Why the fuck the Sanders co., the business unicorn is unable to handle this pity organisation?" I yelled, straining the veins in my throat.

My otherwise light skin reddened in anger as my fists clenched to my sides. The light padding sounds from the outside told that people had gathered outside the door, ready for another drama to witness.

"Boss, we are trying to reach out to their team leader, but she is refusing to have any talks with us. They are demanding to shut down the factory and don't want any kind of negotiations.

They... they have already filed complaints against the establishment of the factory and have threatened to ask the government officials to reexamine the whole plan of the factory."

"What the fuck is going on, Christine? When were you planning to inform me of this? Once father throw me out of this company and the project?" I took a step in her way, and she instinctively backed in fear.

Though she was working for me for the past year and was the only PA who dared to put up with me after six of them resigned within only a matter of days, she still was quite scared of my anger.

But at that point, I didn't care if I scared the shit out of her. All I cared about was the fertilizer company that we were planning in the small town of Swindon.

It was a crucial project for me and also the Sanders Group of Companies, as both of our fates depended entirely on its success.

******************************

TPV

A silver car followed the other car on a deserted road under the starry sky. The digital clock on the dashboard showed the time of 12:37 am.

Both cars were driving at a safe speed. The silver one could have easily taken over the other one, but it deliberately remained a few metres behind, to not gain any suspicion.

Leaving the concrete road, the first car gave the left indicator before slowing down. Hitting the brakes under a tree on the roadside, the driver killed the engine.

The silver car stopped at some distance behind and killed the engine.

The hooded figure sitting in the driver's seat of the silver car looked around. There was no living soul in near sight, and there was sparse traffic on this way, a longer route that used to be the common route years ago before the better option was constructed.

In the other car, a man who had completed his fifty turned on the music. He was intoxicated while celebrating his birthday with his friends.

He was having fun when his eyes caught this blonde beauty. Her flimsy black dress and her large breasts spilling out of it made his mouth water.

And when she agreed to be a part of his birthday celebration, he pulled her to his car and drove straight to his favourite spot.

Unfastening the seatbelt, he turned to face her. Her heavily painted face and unnaturally long fake lashes smiled back at him. Her pink-coloured lips smiled back at him suggestively.

"Come on darling! Let's celebrate my birthday!" He smiled while taking in her voluptuous body with his lust-filled eyes.

She leaned forward, running her fake nails on the length of his face.

"Why not, handsome! I would also like to give you a birthday gift."

His eyes twinkled in excitement. He rubbed his palms together before bouncing in his seat. She laughed coyly, placing her fingers on her lips.

"And what is my birthday gift."

That coy smile turned into a sultry one as without wasting another moment, she pulled down her strapless dress. Her large bosoms fell out, and the man squeaked in exhilaration.

His eyes instantly moved, and he placed his palm on the pointed tips, moaning in delight.

"I want my gift right now!" He asked.

She held his hand before they touched her anywhere else and moved them away.

"Wouldn't you give me the return gift?"

He smirked, flashing his wallet to her. Her eyes widened, and she tried to grab it, but he moved his hand away and out of her reach.

"First.. my gift."

She rolled her eyes and said, "Sure!"

He was about to pull her onto his lap when someone knocked his side of the window. The blonde woman gasped before she grabbed that man's jacket from his lap and covered herself.

Annoyed by the unwanted interruption, he lowered the window.

"What do you want man?" The man tried to see the stranger's face, but they had their head covered with a black hoodie and dark goggles shielding their eyes.

Who wears goggles at night? The man scoffed inwardly.

"I heard it's your birthday sir and you like to get birthday gifts."

The stranger's voice sounded weird, groggy and strained.

"How do you know? Who are you?" The man asked in confusion.

A smile appeared on the stranger's face before the person presented a glass bottle. A perfume!

"This is my gift. Happy fiftieth birthday!"

The man grinned, looking at the expensive-looking bottle.

"See how much people love me!" He boasted in front of his female friend.

The woman's eyes shone in delight at the sight of the bottle. Maybe she could ask for it later. She only had to show one or two tricks to lure this fool.

The man took the bottle. He observed it before opening its cap.

"Let me see how it smells." He sprayed the perfume on himself, in his car and on his friend, who was excited to try it more than him.

A sugary scent engulfed the entire space in its fragrance.

"I loved it! Thanks man!"

"No problem! By the way... may you roast in hell!!"

The man was startled as if slapped by someone. "What the fuck did you say?" he growled angrily.

"Hey! You shouldn't say that to the birthday boy!" The blonde woman frowned.

The stranger's attention shifted to her. "Sorry sweetheart! You just happened to be unfortunate to be at the wrong place at the wrong time and with the wrong person!"

"You motherfucker! What the hell are you talking about? Wait I will show you-"

"Save it!"

The stranger took out a lighter from the jacket's pocket and said in a cold chilly voice.

"It's time for payback!"

Before the couple understood what this stranger intended to do, the person lit up the lighter and threw it inside the car before stepping behind.

As soon as the flame touched that perfume bottle, it exploded, and within a minute, the entire car caught the fire. The couple tried to open the door, but little did they know that the locks were already broken when the car was parked at the hotel from where they came, and now there was no way of escape.

That hooded figure leaned against the silver car, watching the fire and listening to the cries. After getting the satisfaction, the person took out a notepad from the waistband of their pant.

It was a list, and the name on the fifth number got its tick.