Awa Carpenter stepped out of the meeting room, her thoughts still whirling from the intense discussion. Relief at securing the sponsorship for her radio show should have settled in by now, but instead, her stomach churned with unease. She had barely taken two steps into the hallway when she noticed him.
Kelsey Quinn leaned casually against the wall just outside, a predatory smile playing on his lips, his dark eyes already locked onto hers. He looked as if he had been waiting for this moment, his posture relaxed but his expression anything but.
"Well, well, look who's finally out," Kelsey drawled, pushing himself off the wall and striding toward her. His gaze raked over her in a way that made her skin crawl. "I was hoping I wouldn't have to wait too long."
Awa tensed, her fingers tightening around the handle of her folder. She didn't have time for this—not now, not ever. But she forced a polite smile, hoping to diffuse whatever game he was about to play. "Kelsey, I appreciate your help in the meeting. We're all grateful for the sponsorship."
He raised an eyebrow, taking another step closer, his smile widening as if he found her attempt to steer the conversation amusing. "Gratitude, huh? Well, how about you show me how grateful you are over dinner tonight?"
Awa's heart sank. She had been bracing herself for something like this, but hearing it out loud, the proposition lined with expectation, made her stomach twist with anxiety. She glanced over her shoulder, hoping Keira or Mark might come to her aid, but Keira was talking to the receptionist, and Mark was busy checking his phone, oblivious to the growing tension.
"Kelsey, I'm flattered, but I already told you—I'm in a relationship," Awa said, trying to keep her tone firm but civil. She didn't want to escalate this, not with the delicate situation they were in regarding the sponsorship.
Kelsey's eyes flashed with annoyance, though the smile remained plastered on his face. "A relationship?" he repeated mockingly, stepping even closer until the space between them was almost nonexistent. "I'm not asking you to marry me, Awa. Just dinner. It's not that serious."
Awa took a step back, her heart thudding in her chest. She knew she couldn't let this go on, but she also knew she couldn't afford to provoke him. If Kelsey decided to pull the sponsorship or cause trouble, everything they had worked for would be in jeopardy.
"No, Kelsey," she said again, this time more forcefully. "I'm not interested."
His smile faltered, the amusement draining from his eyes, replaced by something far darker. "Come on, Awa," he said, his voice lowering, taking on an edge that hadn't been there before. "After everything I've done for you today, you're really going to play hard to get?"
Awa's chest tightened, dread creeping up her spine as Kelsey's demeanor shifted. His once playful tone was gone, replaced with a thinly veiled threat. She could feel the walls closing in around her, her pulse quickening as she tried to think of a way to escape this confrontation.
Keira, sensing the growing tension, approached from behind, her usual flirty demeanor replaced by concern. "Everything okay here?" she asked, her eyes flicking between Awa and Kelsey.
Kelsey didn't even bother looking at her. He kept his gaze fixed on Awa, his smile now a cold, calculating thing. "We're fine," he said dismissively, his voice dripping with arrogance. "Awa and I are just having a conversation."
Keira bristled, stepping closer to Awa's side. "Doesn't look like she's interested in having that conversation, Kelsey."
But Kelsey ignored her, his attention still zeroed in on Awa, the weight of his presence suffocating. "I think you should reconsider," he murmured, leaning closer. "I could make things very easy for you. Or very difficult."
Awa's breath caught in her throat. This wasn't flirting anymore—this was coercion. She opened her mouth to respond, but before she could, the door to the meeting room swung open again, and Tina stepped out, her eyes instantly locking onto the scene in front of her.
Tina's expression shifted from surprise to anger in an instant. She stormed over, placing herself between Awa and Kelsey, her hands planted firmly on her hips. "What the hell do you think you're doing, Kelsey?" she snapped, her voice sharp and unyielding.
Kelsey's eyes flickered to Tina, and for the first time, his smile disappeared completely. "This doesn't concern you, Tina," he said flatly, the playful tone he had used earlier gone. "Awa and I were just talking."
Tina wasn't having any of it. She stepped closer, her eyes blazing with fury. "It concerns me when you're harassing my sister. Back off."
Kelsey didn't move. If anything, he seemed amused by Tina's anger, a slow, mocking grin spreading across his face. "Harassing?" he repeated, his voice dripping with disdain. "I was just making a simple request. It's not my fault your sister doesn't know how to appreciate a good offer."
Awa felt the tension between them spike, the air crackling with hostility. Tina clenched her fists at her sides, her voice trembling with restrained fury. "I'm warning you, Kelsey. Don't push me."
Kelsey's expression darkened, his playful facade slipping away completely now. "Or what?" he asked, his voice soft but dangerous. "You think you can stop me, Tina? You think your position at this company means anything to me?"
Tina's eyes narrowed. "I know it does. And I know you wouldn't dare pull something like this if the Chairman knew what you were up to."
The mention of the Chairman's name had an immediate effect. Kelsey's jaw tightened, his eyes flashing with anger. For a moment, it looked like he might lash out, but instead, he stepped back, his smile returning, though now it was more of a sneer.
"You think the Chairman can protect you forever, Tina?" Kelsey asked, his voice low and menacing. "One day, you're going to fall out of favor. And when that day comes, you'll be nothing. And that's when you'll become mine."
Awa's heart raced at the venom in his words, her body tensing as the full weight of Kelsey's threat sank in. Tina, however, stood her ground, her gaze never wavering.
"You'll regret that," Tina said coldly.
Kelsey chuckled softly, his eyes gleaming with twisted satisfaction. "We'll see."
With that, he turned on his heel and strode away, his presence still lingering like a dark cloud even after he was gone.
The moment he was out of sight, Tina exhaled sharply, her anger giving way to frustration. She turned to Awa, her expression softening with concern. "Are you okay?"
Awa nodded, though her hands were still shaking. "Yeah, I'm fine. Thanks."
Keira, who had been standing quietly through the altercation, finally spoke up. "That guy's a creep," she muttered, shaking her head. "You handled that way better than I would have."
Tina's jaw tightened. "I'm going to have a word with the Chairman about this. Kelsey thinks he's invincible, but he's not."
Awa took a deep breath, trying to shake off the lingering tension. "I just want to get out of here."
Tina nodded, squeezing her shoulder. "Let's go. We'll deal with this later."
They made their way down the hallway toward the elevator, the oppressive atmosphere beginning to lift as they put distance between themselves and Kelsey. Awa tried to focus on her breathing, calming her racing heart, but her mind kept replaying the conversation, the veiled threats, the smug way Kelsey had looked at her as if she was nothing more than a possession.
Just as they reached the elevator, the doors slid open, and a tall, striking figure stepped out.
Awa's breath caught in her throat as she saw him. The young man was handsome in a way that was almost unsettling—sharp, angular features, dark hair that fell slightly into his eyes, and a cold, detached expression that made her instinctively step back. He couldn't have been more than 18 or 19, but there was something about him that felt far older, far more dangerous.
As they passed each other, something strange happened. The young man sniffed the air, his nostrils flaring as though he had caught an intriguing scent. His head snapped toward Awa, his eyes narrowing with sudden intensity.
Awa froze, her back pressing against the cold wall behind her as the young man took a step closer, his dark eyes gleaming with curiosity. He sniffed the air again, more deliberately this time, his gaze never leaving her.
"What… what are you doing?" Awa stammered, her voice barely a whisper as her pulse raced.
The young man ignored her question, his lips curling into a faint, twisted smile as he leaned in closer, their noses almost touching. His breath was warm against her skin, his presence overwhelming.
"Interesting," he murmured, his voice low and gravelly, sending a shiver down her spine. "My cousin has already marked you."
Awa's heart slammed against her ribs as the words sank in, confusion and fear swirling inside her. "What… what do you mean?" she whispered.
The young man didn't answer. Instead, he stepped back, his eerie smile lingering for a moment longer before he turned and walked away without another word.
Awa stood frozen against the wall, her mind racing with a thousand questions. Marked? What did that even mean?
Tina and Keira, who had both witnessed the strange encounter, rushed to her side, their faces etched with concern.
"Awa, what just happened?" Tina asked, her voice laced with urgency.
Awa shook her head, her thoughts too scattered to form a coherent answer. "I… I don't know," she whispered, her body still trembling. "He said something about being marked…"
Tina's gaze flicking toward the direction the young man had disappeared. "That was Forrest Quinn," she said quietly. "Kelsey's cousin."
"Didn't you say he was cute?" Marked? What did that even mean?
Tina's voice broke through her thoughts. "Well he is, no denying that, atleast he has no weird rumours floating around."
Awa nodded numbly, her thoughts still spinning as they hurried toward the exit. Whatever game Kelsey and Forrest were playing, Awa had just been pulled into it. And from the look in Forrest's eyes, she wasn't a player, but a chess piece.
As they stepped outside into the cool evening air, Awa couldn't shake the memory of Forrest's intense gaze, his strange words echoing in her mind. Her body still trembled from the strange encounter, and the tension in her chest wouldn't ease.
"Marked…" she whispered to herself as they climbed into the car. "What does that mean?"
But deep down, Awa knew she wouldn't like the answer.