His words filled the room, and I concentrated on his lecture, diligently taking notes on my pad from work. The content was engaging, and an hour of presentations had expanded my mental horizons considerably. When Callum called for a 15-minute break, signaling the restroom location, I noted Ellie's comment about him being attractive. I managed a smile and stood up, my full bladder urging me to head to the bathroom.
Exiting the conference room, I avoided eye contact with Callum's grey eyes and walked down the hallway to the women's restroom. After attending to nature's call and tidying up, I encountered him unexpectedly outside the restroom.
"So you can find the women's restroom after all," he remarked, his presence catching me off guard.
Gathering my wits, I retorted, "Do you always wait for your program students to exit the bathroom, or is it just the ones that know you're a raging asshole?"
His response was swift, his posture tense as he moved closer, barely an inch between us. His arrogance was palpable. "No, just the ones I make deals with in the back of a dirty nightclub," he taunted, his gaze locking onto mine.
He scrutinized me, and I felt his eyes linger on my lips, a darkness flickering in his gaze. My heart raced, but I resisted its pull. Our silent exchange was intense, neither of us willing to break the stare.
"Don't you have a program to run, Mr. Black?" I challenged, stepping forward into his space, mirroring his invasive approach. Our eyes remained locked, a contest of wills, each daring the other to back down.
"I was just making sure you've found the right door, seeing as you couldn't locate it just days ago," he replied, his eyes never leaving mine.
Unfazed, I moved forward, determined, and met his gaze head-on. "Well, I have located it perfectly fine," I asserted, stepping away and turning towards the conference room. I knew he was watching, his gaze burning into my back, his presence a palpable weight.
"Did you find your way back okay?" Ellie's curious smile met me as I settled back into my seat.
"Yeah, got caught up with something on my phone," I replied, subtly lifting the crossbody bag slung over my shoulder.
"Mr. Hottie left just after you, did you see him?" Ellie's eyes sparkled with excitement.
"Nope, missed that," I responded, pretending to focus on my notes.
Ellie leaned in with a grin, "What a shame. A moment alone with him could have been interesting."
I rolled my eyes internally at her enthusiasm, saying, "Sure, he's decent looking, but his arrogance overshadows any appeal."
Ellie's playful grin persisted, "Decent looking? Seriously? He's like a walking sex god."
"Okay, maybe physically, but his attitude is a major turn-off," I retorted.
"His arrogance is a bit much, I'll give you that," she admitted, still watching the door for Callum's return.
As Callum finally reentered the room, I discreetly glanced his way, our eyes briefly connecting before I shifted my attention elsewhere.
"Apologies for the wait. Had to take a call. Let's resume," Callum's voice pulled everyone back to the presentation.
I resumed my note-taking, finding connections between what he was saying and the research I had done. But the question of how I was handling myself in his presence lingered.
When the class ended for the day, Ellie seized the opportunity to approach Callum. She grabbed my wrist, practically dragging me along. I zoned out during their conversation, aware of his presence and the weight of his gaze. As their exchange ended, Morgan and I turned to leave.
At the elevators, Ellie told me she was going to the bathroom and that I didn't need to wait. I nodded and smiled, pressing the button for the ground floor. Just as the doors were about to close, a hand stopped them. Startled, I watched as Callum entered the elevator, and they closed behind him.
I positioned myself as far away from him as possible, my discomfort palpable. "You really could've taken another elevator," I said, keeping my eyes straight ahead.
"Are you nervous about a short elevator ride with me, Miss Ruth?" His voice held a taunting edge.
Suppressing my irritation, I replied coolly, "Hardly, Sir."
Callum chuckled softly, his presence looming large. "Relax," he suggested.
I clenched my jaw, fighting against the tension. "Of course, Sir."
He remained silent for a moment, then spoke again, his tone changing. "I see you're here to better yourself. Admirable."
I nodded, still avoiding eye contact.
"See you Wednesday," he said as the doors opened.
I exited quickly, relieved to be out of that confined space. Just as I thought I was done with him for the day, his voice stopped me in my tracks.
"Miss Ruth," he called, and I turned, facing him again.
"I anticipate celebrating with you tonight. Amy is rather persuasive." His voice held a hint of amusement.
What.
Before I could respond, he walked away, leaving me bewildered. A message from Amy popped up on my phone:
Amy: Hope you don't mind, I invited Leo! You know the guy from last Saturday? He's bringing a friend. Dress sexy, he's hot ;) Love you <3
My life had just taken an unexpected twist yet again.