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CHAPTER 4
Waking up to the sun rays shimmering into her room, Skai grunted as the pang of headache swept through her brain.
"Ugh... What was that?" she questioned and sat on her bed, rubbing her eyes with the back of her hand.
It must have been a dream...a nightmare, she decided before stretching out over her sheets.
It had felt so real... The pain and anger that coursed through her body when she'd awoken only added to her confusion.
"Why is my body so sore?" Skai asked no one in particular and yawned when suddenly an image flashed in her mind.
A man, his face filled with lust as he held a knife to her throat and muttered disgusting things to her and... It was him.
Her eyes seemed to go wild recalling those piercing red beautiful eyes narrowed at her by another man—her saviour.
**Flashback**
Skai thought of running, but staring into his eyes, her lips could barely move, her heart drummed, and her pulse quickened. There was a certain pull towards this man—a sort of connection.
She could not see his face clearly due to the darkness surrounding them and her blurred vision but from his back view, she could feel his might.
And then without warning, his voice thundered. "Run!"
His words were deep and booming which filled her ears with fright, yet it still drew her attention.
**Flashback Ends**
Skai shuddered recalling everything that happened and reached for her phone by the side of her pillow.
"6:30 am," she muttered. Although she knew it was early for someone like her naughty friend, she felt shaken and she wanted to talk.
"Hey Siri, call Kiera."
"Calling Kiera." Following the sound of the AI's voice, the phone soon began to ring as Skai lowered her head to her knees.
Suddenly she heard the sound of a deep voice forcing her head up as he said, "Hello?"
Skai's eyes widened when she whipped her gaze to her phone screen.
Did Kiera take a guy home and if so, why was he the one answering the call?
That had been her earlier thought until she saw, Kiera Dare Guy and not Kiera Darling, what she saved her friend's name with.
Immediately flashes from the previous night came rolling in.
They were in the club after he left when one of the workers walked up to her and handed her a note.
She took it quickly and squeezed on it preventing her nosy friends from bugging her.
However, when she was in the taxi, she opened it and saved his number with such a name given she had failed to ask for his name.
"Hello?"
His voice pulled her back to reality and she answered, "Hi."
"Yes?"
She swallowed, trying not to shrink on her bed. "Um, it's me, the girl from yesterday evening at the club. I..."
Beep!
Skai's eyes widened as she stared at her phone. Did he just end the call on her?
Her brain buzzed at the effrontery. He was the one who gave her his number. Why did he do so if he was only going to do this?
Or was everything that happened the previous night only in her head?
As much as she wished to ponder about it, her phone buzzed again and with it, the sound of her alarm went off, indicating her eating time.
"Yikes."
Usually, her alarms were set to help hasten her when it came to her day-to-day activities.
It was already 6:50 am and by 7:10 am, she ought to be leaving the house to maintain a unique schedule of arriving early—7:30.
**********
Arriving at the company, she settled down in her seat and went through her unfinished work from the previous day.
Thanks to the little surprise her department had for her, she ended up leaving her work midway and now, she had to finish up before her director entered.
The clock ticked minutely and finally, it hit 8:10 am.
"Good morning," the manager greeted as he walked into her office. "I hope you had a good sleep?"
She snapped her head up at the familiar voice and quickly rose to her feet. "Good morning, sir. Welcome. I'm sorry, I did not notice when you passed to your office," she greeted him with a smile.
"No worries. I hope you enjoyed your birthday yesterday after work?"
He had a charming smile and a friendly demeanour which made him quite popular among the staff.
"I did sir and thank you once more for yesterday."
"It was nothing. Here at Sterling Enterprise, we treat our staff well."
"I'm a living witness," Skai giggled.
"Anyways, just checking in. I see you are as diligent as ever. I was expecting you would call in sick from all the fun yesterday since it is a weekend."
"No sir. Work first," she stated politely.
"Good. Oh, and the project from Davis Telecom, have you been able to..."
"Yes sir. I am almost done with it. I will have it sent to your mail in fifteen minutes top."
He nodded, putting on a proud smile. "Keep it up."
She smiled and watched him leave.
Thirty minutes later she stretched out of her seat and picked up her cup of coffee to drink when she heard the Project Manager call out her name.
"Sir."
He appeared at her door, popping his head out. "Come with me with the printed files. We need to see the Vice CEO."
"Sir?"
"Hurry."
She picked up the newly printed files, gathered the necessary documents and rushed out the door following after him as he led her to the elevator.
Seconds later, they were on the 2nd to the last floor.
"Keep close." She nodded with the files in her hand allowing him to lead them to the Vice CEO's office.
Her heart drummed in her chest. This was the first time she would be meeting with the Vice CEO and she did not know what to expect.
Taking in deep breaths, they rounded the corner when suddenly the Project Manager halted in his tracks.
Her brows creased and when she looked up, her gaze met with the one man she never expected to see.
Dressed in a black tuxedo and matching black oxford shoes, his tall frame was standing elegantly opposite another man with equal standing.
From what she knew, that was the Vice CEO having seen him once before but for the other man...
His shoulder-length hair was combed neatly behind his ear, leaving his face devoid of any expression.
Badump!
Her heart thumped wildly in her chest and she could barely control herself from gasping.
Skai was in shock, speechless in fact.
In front of her stood the very man that made her heart race wildly the night before at the club. And just when she thought she might hide, his piercing green eyes locked onto her.
Skai swallowed visibly, unable to peel her gaze from him and then the most absurd words resounded in her ears.
"Ah, when I decided to pay the Vice CEO a visit, I never thought I would bump into the CEO here. Good morning, Mr. Raphael."
Badump! Badump!