Page 7 of Off-Limits Bad Boy Protector

I couldn't tear my eyes away from him - it was strange, but undeniable. Every attempt to rationalize my fascination failed; his presence captivated me. Clearly, I wasn't the only one under his spell, and it showed.

The sound of someone else speaking suddenly pulled my attention away. It pulled me away from the gorgeous man who sat across from me. “Number 98?” The voice called again. It brought my attention back to the other board members. Their eyes were now focused on me.

"Please introduce yourself," another man said. He was sitting next to Leo. He gave me an encouraging smile. I gave a hesitant nod.

As soon as I started to speak, a tall figure at the back of the room raised their arm high in the air, commanding everyone's attention with a single gesture. The sudden silence that followed was so profound that even the faintest whisper could be heard, amplifying the tension in the room.

I found my gaze returning to the blonde. He was now standing from his seat and approaching me. Everyone in the boardroom turned to stare at Leo. They all had curiosity written all over their faces.

He stopped just a foot or two in front of me. He did this to get a good view of the gorgeous brunette standing in front of him. Then, he offered me the familiar warmth of his body heat.

"This will be a personal interview," he said. His deep voice boomed with utter authority. I felt as if he could easily rule the world. His scary aura and familiar, smooth voice made my knees buckle. I tried to meet his stare.

At that moment, I was certain that the man standing before me remembered who I was. If looks could kill, he'd be dead a dozen times over. All I wanted to do was turn around and run the other way. This wasn't how I imagined the beginning of my career at SoundEase, and my heart raced as I struggled to find my voice.

“Now, introduce yourself.” His arms crossed over his chest in an unamused fashion as he waited for my answer. I couldn't believe his audacity. He demanded a specific introduction in front of this entire group. I hoped they would soon be my bosses.

He was Leo, and nothing could make me forget that. No matter how much distance there was between us, it didn’t change anything. I was just a foolish teenager who had gotten herself tangled up in something that wasn't meant to be. Being with Leo made me happy. So, working in a similar environment with him wouldn't help me.

So, I didn't comply with his request and trade my peace of mind for cash. I chose to quit working at SoundEase, for my own good.

I gave out a silent sigh before pointing my chin confidently to Leo. My stomach felt like it had dropped to the bottom of my shoes at the thought of seeing him again. “I’m sorry, I lost my way finding the restroom,” I said.

The words slipped out of my mouth reflexively. With that, I lowered my head in an apologetic bow to the table. I knew I probably looked ridiculous doing so. I was surrounded by strangers with cameras pointed straight at me.

I kept my head low, avoiding a particular pair of blue eyes that felt like they were boring into my soul. With quick steps, I backed away until my whole body turned around and I ran out of the room.

The second my shoes were outside the hall, I felt a tight grip on my wrist. It caused me to stop and turn sharply to confront the person who grabbed me.

It was unsurprisingly Leo.

I couldn't hide the surprise written all over my face nor my slightly flushed cheeks. The sudden contact between us sent tingles through my skin. They sent shivers through my body.

I couldn't explain how his sudden appearance made me lose all the composure. I'd built it up over the past three years. It shattered immediately. Overwhelming emotions replaced it when I saw the same guy who broke my heart as if it meant nothing.

"Cassandra Evans," the blonde man spoke. His gaze was intense as he stared down at me, his grip on my wrist tightening. "Is that you?" His eyes narrowed, as if he were searching for something hidden within his soul.

Before replying, I quickly pulled my hand away from his grip, not really wanting to talk to him. "You finally got the name right," I grumbled, not in the friendliest way. But then, his big smile almost made me feel like I had been kinder.

Leo took a step closer to me. His hand reached out again, as if he wanted to shake mine. I could only stare blankly at his face. "It's been three or four years. You've changed," he said with a smirk. Then, he took another step towards me, amused.

"Three," I replied flatly. I took another step backward and refused to let him get close. I avoided his probing gaze. Three years ago, you broke my heart. I added mentally, although I wasn't willing to confess any of those feelings out loud.

My brown eyes danced quickly across his attire, sucking in his polished appearance. "You don't look like the Leo I used to know," I told him. "You don't look quite like yourself," I said. I wasn't sure if that was meant to be a compliment.

He gave me a playful look, seemingly unaffected by what I had said and moved further forward towards me. "Oh, yeah?" he retorted. "Did you come all this way to check me out?”

My nose scrunched up without me even thinking about it. I could feel his cocky attitude again. It brought back memories I'd rather leave. It felt like going back to a place I wanted to erase from my mind.

"You wish," I answered with a shake of my head, then cleared my throat. "But I guess you can consider this your lucky day for this meeting to have happened. Now, if you'll excuse me..." I started walking toward the exit. But, my steps froze midway when two words from him reached my ears.

“Second-best?” his voice boomed through the room. “You're really here just for the restroom, huh?” He added with a tone that made it impossible for others not to hear. It carried the obvious implication in his question.

I could feel my heart pounding against my chest as I turned slowly to glare back at him again. “Yes.” I gritted my teeth. “I'm here just for the restroom. Is that what you wanted to hear?”

Leo's face lit up with a big smile when I answered. "So, why's that hanging on your neck?" he asked, pointing to my ID badge. "That can't be a coincidence," he said, moving closer until he was standing right in front of me.

"Whatever I came here for is none of your business," I responded, my tone dripping with annoyance. He might seem harmless and charming. But, I knew better than anyone that a sharp dagger was hidden inside the blonde. He was always ready to stab me if he got the chance.

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