The very first sound I register is the secretary's gasp of shock, followed by Hector's low, angry growl.
My face reddens with shame as Hector's hot, furious gaze flickers over my semi-naked back.
Diablo gets to his feet and my eyes widen in shock when he proceeds to bow before Hector.
"Uh…hello, sir. I didn't know you would come in so early."
I finally snap out of my daze and fumble with the strap of my bra, struggling to clip it back in place. I fully expect Hector to throw a rage-sponsored fit, but his face is hard and ice cold as he slowly makes his way to the chair obviously reserved for the boss and sinks into it.
What the hell is going on?
Hector says nothing to me. Instead, he turns his attention to Diablo.
"What is she doing here?"
The older man reddens like a tomato.
"Uh, please ignore her, sir. The meeting will start soon."
"When I ask a question, I expect an answer. Don't make me ask you again." His voice is almost as ice cold as his expression.
He sounds bored, uninterested but deep down, I can hear the rapid build-up of rage. Damnit, I can almost feel it.
"Well, sir, she's just… she's just a…"
"We're business partners." I cut in, lifting my chin.
Yes, I know he caught me in a humiliating position, but I will die before I cower or show weakness in front of Hector Kensington.
Hector pins me with a blank stare.
"Did you mistake "business partner" for the word "whore?" Last I checked, business partners don't display their… mammary glands for one another's viewing pleasure.
Whore. That word cuts me to the bone because I've been called a whore once — by Hector and his mother.
I tighten my lips, hiding my hurt beneath a will of steel and bare my teeth at him.
"I will let this one slide, but don't you ever call me that word again. You have no right."
Hector says nothing for the next few seconds. He just stares at me. I try to match him stare for stare, but there's something in his sharp grey eyes that always has me squirming.
"I walked in here and met you half naked and displaying your goods for what I believe was in exchange for money. How else do you describe a whore, Athena? Please enlighten me."
I pointedly ignore him and turn to Diablo.
"Mr. Diablo, are we done here? Have you agreed to my terms?"
One thing I've learnt about Hector is that he hates being ignored. And he confirms that very fact with his next condescending sentence;
"Mr. Diablo, I don't know what happened between you two, but I honestly do not think this has been a fair deal."
Diablo turns to Hector and bows again. He looks like he'd rather be anywhere but here.
"I'm really sorry, Mr. Kensington. I'll handle this."
"She asked you for money, didn't she?" Hector deadpans.
I shut my eyes tight. Hector had always believed I was a whore. I'm happy I didn't buy into his romantic shenanigans yesterday.
"Uh, not exactly, sir…" Diablo stutters.
"But it was money related?"
"Yes, sir."
"And what was the deal? That she'd show you her boobs if you agreed to her demands?"
Diablo nods again. "Yes, sir. Something like that."
What? That was totally not the deal. Diablo blackmailed me. I had no choice… but I say nothing. I just want to get out of here as fast as I can.
"Well, that can't be fair."
I watch in confusion as Hector gets to his feet and strolls to the mini wet bar on one end of the room.
Dressed in a navy blue suit, crisp white shirt and slacks that accentuate his long legs, this man makes the conference room look like a runway.
His long hair is swept out of the way in a ponytail as usual. All in all, it should be absolutely diabolical for a man to look this gorgeous.
He pours himself a glass of whiskey and downs it in one swig.
"I mean, you both made a deal. You cannot accept her demands if she hasn't played her part."
I freeze. What is he saying?
"What are you driving at, sir?" Diablo asks, looking as confused as I am.
"Did you see her boobs?" Hector asks coldly.
Diablo slowly shakes his head.
"Then I hope you were not about to fulfil her demands. That's not how a good business man operates. If she wants money from you, she has to play her part."
My chest swells with a mixture of anger and disgust. I'm literally shaking with rage at this point.
"You're nothing but a filthy bastard." I mutter through gritted teeth. "I hate you!"
The only indication that Hector heard me is a slight and very demeaning lift of his left brow. Asides that, he's an ice cold king.
"Go on, Mr. Diablo." He urges. "I never knew you to be a dumb businessman. Ask her to play her part."
Diablo shakes his head frantically.
"No, sir. There's no need for that. Her request will not even be possible."
Oh?
"And what was her request?"
My curiosity is nearly sailing through the roof at this point. What exactly does he mean by my request will not be possible?
Diablo looks downright suspicious.
"Uh, sir, she was interested in becoming partners. Miss Montgomery was about to sell fifty percent of her company's shares to me."
Hector's lips curve in a small smile. There and then, it dawns on me that something very fishy is going on here.
He paces back to his seat and leans against the table.
"And let me guess, you told her to show you her boobs before you agreed to the deal?"
"Sir, I…"
"Answer the question, Diablo!" Hector thunders. I'm shocked at the swift change of his mood. He looks angry as hell.
Diablo lowers his head. "Yes, sir."
"Good. Now, did you inform Miss Montgomery that you're no longer the owner of this company?"
"Wait, what?" I gasp, not sure I've heard right. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Diablo says nothing. He's trembling. His fingers are literally shaking.
I take a step closer to him;
"I asked you a question, Diablo. What does he mean?"
"Don't waste your breath. I'll tell you." Hector says, retaking his seat.
He makes the stupid wooden chair look like a throne.
"You're looking at the new CEO of Diablo Fashion House, princess. I bought eighty percent of the company's shares yesterday and the board unanimously voted me as the CEO. Diablo Fashion House now belongs to me."
For what seems like an eternity, silence reigns in the conference room. My brain is spinning in shock. I take a step back, unable to believe what I've just heard.
"Wh-what? Is this some kind of joke? This company belongs to Mr. Diablo. Right…?"
Hector shrugs. "Unfortunately, your Mr. Diablo ran into some debt that he's been unable to pay off. Seeing that this fashion house looks very promising, I've decided to purchase it for myself. I've always wanted to branch out into the fashion industry anyways.
If you don't believe me, ask him. He's standing right there."
"Mr. Diablo?" I call quietly. "Is what he's saying… true?"
My stomach twists with tense anticipation as I await his response. Finally, he looks up and holds my gaze.
"I'm really sorry, Athena…"
"Fuck." I mutter under my breath. "Bloody hell."
I sink into the nearest chair and place my head in my hands to calm the noise in my brain. And to think that the bastard nearly succeeded in deceiving me to show him my boobs.
"Leave. All of you." Hector orders.
I hear his voice in the distance, but I don't pay any attention to it.
A minute later, I feel a large, heated presence behind me.
"Athena…"
I bolt to my feet and spin around, gasping in surprise when I see him just standing there with his hands in the pocket of his slacks.
"Why are you standing so close to me?" I mutter. "Stay away."
His pupils morph from grey to black in a heartbeat.
"Were you really going to show Diablo your breasts?"
I grab my bag from the table and lift my chin.
"That really shouldn't be any of your business. I'll take my leave."
I try to walk past him but Hector grabs my arm. Before I can protest, he pins me against the table with lightening speed and drills his rage-filled eyes into me.
"You're not leaving this room until you answer my question. Were you really going to show him what's mine?"
Despite my thundering heart, I almost laugh in his face.
"First of all, what's with you and trapping me against tables? Second, no part of me belongs to you, Hector. Cut the bullshit."
He suddenly lifts his fingers and trails them against the skin of my throat, staring at me with a dangerous mixture of anger and desire.
"Hector, let go of me." I whisper.
Fear spikes in my heart when he wraps his fingers around my throat and squeezes lightly.
"It would take very little effort for me to kill you today, princess. Do you know that?"
I grit my teeth and try to shove at his shoulder. It's like attempting to move a mountain.
"If you do anything to hurt me, Jasmine will kill you first."
He leans forward and blows hot, spicy hair against my throat. My heart almost stops beating altogether.
"I like you like this. Angry and helpless beneath me. At my mercy. Mine to do as I wish." He leans back, his eyes gleaming with fury. "Do you know how angry it makes me that you were willing to show yourself to that dirty bastard? How could you even think of doing something like that?"
I fist my fingers and glare at him.
"Unless you plan on giving me more time to refund your money, Mr. Kensington, I will do whatever I can to get the money to pay you back. You don't own me, therefore you don't get to dictate what I do with my body. Besides, I was never going to show him anything. I had a plan before you interrupted."
I blink in surprise when he suddenly releases me and steps back.
His ice cold mask slips effortlessly back in place while I'm breathing like I just ran a marathon. I hate him.
"This fashion house might still be interested in buying your company's shares. If you comply with my new conditions, of course."
My eyes narrow with suspicion.
"What new conditions?"
"You will become my whore for the next six months. Your body will be mine to do as I please. You will warm my bed at my beck and call and in exchange, I'll buy into your company and provide you with other juicy benefits.
What's it going to be? Do you agree?"
My blood is boiling with rage. I'm so angry, I can barely see straight, but I hide it all beneath a very fake smile.
I cover the distance between us and blink seductively.
"What a wonderful offer, Mr. Kensington." I say in my best baby girl voice.
With the speed of light, I fist my fingers, rear backwards and give him a very satisfying punch on the jaw.
"Now, you can take that goddamn offer and shove it up your arse…"