The only sounds Karen could hear were the sound of her nails on her keyboard.
The next day had come around like nothing happened and Karen was determined to keep it that way. Just like nothing happened.
On her way to get office she had bumped into Nicolas. and all she could see was him and Verena giving each other love eyes.
It disgusted Karen.
She types even more furiously. So many things got on her nerves of late.
“Hello Karen,” a voice drew her from her thoughts. Her head whipped to see Jasper.
“Hello Jasper.” She replied. She noticed his tie. “I like the new tie.”
He looked down at his tie, a shy smile on his face. “Oh thank you.” He fiddled with it. “I got it after you said you liked patterns”
Karen raised a brow. “That’s .. very sweet of you.”
He blushed. “I um… yeah.. it is.”
Karen looked at him closely. In all honesty he wasn’t a bad looking man. He was tall and had a slender build. His eyes were kind and he had a charming face in a high school sweetheart kind of way. He was actually cute.
“Is there anything you wanted to say to me?” Karen asked, her tone prompting.
“Yes actually. I wanted to ask you something.”
“Go on ”
“Would you like to have dinner with me? Tonight. I know a good place and I can make a reservation and…”
Karen found it cute how he was stumbling over his words blushing and rubbing his hands together.
Karen smiled, her eyes lighting up. “I’d love to.” She said.
“And I know you don’t want to but…” He trailed off and paused. He stared at her, his eyes wide in disbelief. “What? You’ll…. you’ll come with me?”
Karen nodded. “I don’t have anything to do anyway.”
He smiled, biting on his finger to try and contain his excitement. “Perfect! I’ll pick you up by seven thirty?”
Karen thought about it. If he picked her up, he could see David. She couldn’t risk that happening. She shook her head sadly.
“No, just send me the address and I’ll find you ”
“Is that okay? I’m supposed to pick you up ” He said, his head tilted.
Bless his heart.
“It’s fine.” She said and placed a hand over his. He looked down at her hand and back to her face, “Seven thirty?”
He nodded. “I’ll send you the address. I hope you like seafood and pasta.”
Karen laughed softly. “Food is food ”
He chuckled. “I agree with you. I can’t believe it though! You finally agreed.”
Karen rolled her eyes. “Please, it’s not a big deal.”
“I can’t wait.” He said and smiled. “I’ll see you then”
“Yeah” Karen replied.
She returned to her work, a half smile on her face. Perhaps it was like Beulah said. She had to get over Kai. She couldn’t keep holding onto him if he didn’t care about her.
Karen’s intercom rang she picked up and and put it to her ear.
“Where are you?” Kai’s deep voice said on the other end.
Karen rolled her eyes. At least he had given her an intercom that linked to his office and didn’t have to bother Nicolas to call her all the damn time.
“I’m at work.” She replied, her voice level and steady.
“Come up.”
Karen ended the call, making sure to slam the reciever. She got to her feet and walked out of the office, her face Stony.
She took the elevator and arrived at Kai’s office. She knocked and waited. It reminded her of the time she would wait for his command to enter his suite .
“Come in.” He said. Still the same.
Karen walked in and paused in front of his desk. “Yes?”
It was just night he had been kissing her neck and leaving hickeys on her skin. Just last night. It seemed like a long time ago.
“What’s with the attitude?”
“I could ask you the same.”
“Is this about last night?”
“What happened last night?” She asked, her eyes focused on him.
He sighed. “Enough with playing dumb already. How much longer do you intend to keep this going for?”
“As long as it takes.”
His eyes hardened. “Where is the report of the prospective restaurants?”
“I’m still working on it.”
“Well you should work on it faster!”
Karen inhaled a lungful of air and exhaled it slowly. “Sir, may I remind you that I am not your secretary? I am a manager.”
“You’re my assistant now.” Kai said. “And we’ve gone over this before. You belong to me, Karen. Whatever I tell you to do, you do it.”
“I’m not your property. This isn’t your pack. I’ve managed fine without you, and I will continue to.”
Kai nodded. “Okay, okay. Perhaps if you had played your part like an obedient slave none of this wood have happened?”
Karen stared at him, unable to believe the words that came out of his mouth. “Obedient?! I did everything you wanted me to do! I gave you my body! I have you my deviation! And you were going to kill me!”
“Why don’t you blame your father for your pains?” He paused and looked around. “Oh yeah that’s right. Your father is dead.”
“You are cruel.” Karen spat. “And I cannot wait to be rid of you.”
“Your body said otherwise, and you know it.”
Karen glared at him. “Fuck you.” She hissed and turned to leave. He didn’t grab her form behind, he didn’t do anything. He just watched her leave.
For some reason she felt disappointed.
“What were you expecting?” She mocked herself as she stormed back to her office.
Had she expected him to cuddle and comfort her? Or what exactly?
Karen went back to her office and resumed her work. She has to get this report done. It was the very last one in a long chain of reports she had to do.
She typed furiously, eager to get it done once and for all.
***
Kai watched Karen leave and he felt the urge to run after he and just hug her.
He didn’t give in to that urge, instead he watched her leave. The previous night was still fresh on his mind. She had looked so beautiful, like she was made to be worshipped. She had gone back to her original hair and eye color, and Kai was reminded just how much of a vision of beauty she was. Kai wanted nothing more than to yet that perfect dress off her perfect body and fuck her till she saw stars.
He could still recall faintly the feel of her soft skin against his lips. He wanted more than a taste of her delicate throat. He wanted to taste her on his tongue, drink in her cries as he made her see colors.
But he was convinced now that she hated him. And he didn’t know what to do about it. Her betrayal was still on his mind, he couldn’t just let it go.
“Kai you won’t believe what I just heard.” Nicolas sad as he burst into the office. He had a mischievous smile on his face.
“What is it?”
“Your little Karen is going on a date tonight. With Jasper dear.”
Kai felt his heart stop. “What?!” His voice thundered. “That shrimp?! What could she possibly see in him?”
Nicolas shrugged. “Perhaps he’s kind and gentle and actually communicates?”
Kai narrowed his eyes. “Very funny.”
“It’s The talk of the office!” Nicolas sighed softly. “Ah, workplace romance! the most beautiful thing ever.”
Kai knew Nicolas was doing this to get on his nerves. Nicolas had believed that Kai got a second chance seeing Karen in the company he had just acquired.
Kai believed in no such thing. All he believed in was his revenge.
“I wonder what you will do about this!” Nicolas sighed, insinuating that Kai could end it.
Kai sat back and continued his work. “I don’t care who goes out with. We’re not together, why should I bother?”
He could feel Nicolas’ eyes on him. “Whatever” he grumbled. “Just let her go then. What the heck do I know about love? Nothing.” He left the office, saying something about stubborn leaders.
Kai ignored him.
He thought he could really just go back to his work. But the thought of that shrimp looking at Karen With lust and touching her was making him lose his cool.
He could she accept it?! Didn’t she know she was his?!
Minutes passed and Kai could take it no longer. He slammed his laptop shut and got to his feet. He made his way down to the office.
There was no way he would allow Karen to go on that date.
He walked up to her desk. She looked up at him, her expression unreadable.
“Mr Sylvester,” She said his nam with venom on her tongue.
“Where is the report?” He asked.
She pulled a flash drive out of her computer and handed it to him. “Anything else, sir?”
Kai felt the animosity in her tone and eyes. “The compiled backlog of reports?”
She pulled a stash of documents out of her drawer and handed it to him. “Anything else?”
Kai felt a spark of anger to her. She knew exactly what she was doing.
“The results of the questionnaire we sent out?”
“They’re included in the flash drive.”
She sighed and closed her eyes briefly. “Do we have to continue this? Mr Deniss of the Last minute has sent this response. Here it is.” She handed him an envelope.
“Very well.” Kai said, narrowing his eyes at her. “You get to have this one to yourself.”
She frowned slightly. “Thank…. you?”
“You’re welcome.” He replied, crushing the flash drive in his hand so tight it almost broke.
“Don’t worry sir.” Karen said with a coy smile. “If you destroy it, I made a backup ” She pulled out another flash drive and showed it to him.
Kai realized he didn’t know this woman at all.