Page 6 of Darkest Deception

I hate him with all my might.

For taking my company.

For leaving me with nothing and now forcing me to accept whatever conditions he may set for working under him. Certainly, I can try to convince my younger sister to talk to her husband about this. Remo Cainn and Helia were both in the picture, so there is some link between them. I just need to know exactly what to do to get back what is mine.

For now, I have to accept a small defeat. But small losses are nothing but a stepping stone for the final battle.

I stride towards his office. When no one in the building stops me, I know he is expecting me. This twisted monster was expecting me, and that only makes me firmer in my decision. I feel everyone’s eyes on me, curious but hesitant.

I look back at them all, sliding my gaze across each curious face.

“Is there a TV show going on? Get back to work.” My tone is bitter, and it works to get them to look away. They scramble to grab papers, drop their eyes to the screen, and cough even. All six of them on this floor.

I knock twice on the door in front of me.

Upon hearing the ‘come in’, I turn the handle, take a deep breath, and steel my spine, ready to face him again, ready to lose my breath while I suffocate in his presence.

“Came back so soon?” He lifts his gaze from the papers in front of him, and I just want to hit him across the face for having that smile on his face. It’s not one of sincerity but of mocking, one to tell me he knows I’m playing right into his hands.

I stand there.

Unmoving. Waiting. Contemplating.

I need to do this. For me. To survive.

Gritting my teeth and holding in my fight, I open my mouth to accept a small defeat. Just a small one.

“I accept.” My voice turns hard.

Helia’s dark eyebrows fly up. “That easily?”

I don’t reply, nor do I move when I see a flash of amusement go across his face.

This fucker finds this funny.

“That doesn’t mean I don’t hate you or despise the fact that you snatched my company right out of my hand.” A glare is set on my face, and I hope he sees the burning hate I have for him.

“And you want what? A job? How does a clerical position sound? Receptionist?”

My blood boils inside of me at his suggestion.

I have never worked a job at reception. The idea of having to keep a smile on my face to greet people who will test my patience every single day as I sit through hours of it sounds like torture.

“No. I have conditions of my own.”

Helia drops his pen and leans back. The suit jacket he discarded hangs on the back of his chair, and his sleeves are rolled up to his elbows, revealing the thick tendons in his forearms and hinting at the muscles beneath the cotton fabric of his shirt. He rests his elbows on the table in front of him, sitting like he owns the place.

And he kind of fucking does.

Like a damn cheat.

“You think you are in a place to be negotiating?”

The grip on my bag tightens.

“Go ahead. I would like to hear it, nonetheless.” He motions with a hand as if he is doing me a favour.

“I will keep my previous post and—”

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