This position was far too sensual for my liking. I was finding it hard to breathe.
He seemed to enjoy the atmosphere immensely. He didn’t make a move and gave me a piercing stare. “Going back? Where to?”
He moved his lips closer to me as he spoke.
I was so taut that I almost forgot to breathe. Acting on instinct, I closed my eyes.
I tried to wiggle around and escape as I sensed his movements. He ordered in a deep tone, “Don’t refuse me!”
I was taken aback and didn’t know what to do. So I froze and let him have his way.
He deliberately took his time, placing featherlight kisses along my cheek.
I can’t focus when he’s doing stuff like this.
“Sienna,” he rasped, and I luxuriated in his rich baritone.
I mumbled incoherently, beginning to fall under his spell. He suddenly stopped just as I was anticipating his next move.
I opened my eyes and was met by his knowing smirk. He teased, “Do you want it?”
I knew my face was as red as a tomato at that point. I accused weakly, “Anthony, you jerk!”
His laughter rang out through the room.
I’d be lying if I said I didn’t expect what happened later that night.
I woke up to the piercing rays of the August sunshine through the window. I was shocked when I saw the man lying next to me.
“Why are you still here?”
Anthony was lying on the bed. When he saw that I was awake, he pulled me into his arms.
He chuckled, “Why wouldn’t I be here?”
I was still getting over my surprise and stuttered at him. “I-I…”
“Are you hungry?”
I chewed my lips and pulled away from him. “I should leave!” I still need to go to work this morning.
He pressed me down on the bed. “Where are you going?”
I kept mum for a bit before saying, “Anthony, let’s just treat last night as a drunken one-night stand. Next time…”
“We go our separate ways?” His warm tone had disappeared as he interrupted my words. “Sienna, did you really think I was going to let you get away?”
I shook my head. “No!” I paused again, thinking of what to say. “I’m not running away. I just want to make a life of my own. Anthony, you’re really good to me, but I will always be living in your shadow.”
He retorted, “That’s rubbish! What do you mean that? Is my existence somehow disturbing your life?”
I nodded woodenly. “Yes, it is disturbing my life. I want to live alone and not become entangled with you like this. Why can’t you understand?”
He stared at me coldly, not gratifying me with a reply.
He’s angry all right.
I got up and picked up my clothes. I got dressed quickly and looked at him coolly, “I’m sorry for bothering you last night.”
Then I rushed out of the hotel without waiting for his reply.
I hailed a cab to Murphy Corporation. The alcohol from last night was still messing with my system, and I felt light-headed.
I was greeted by the sight of Armond in a sharp black suit as I walked into the office. His stare was burning a hole through my head.
I was surprised when I saw him. I remembered Nora telling me how much he’d drunk last night and wondered if he was okay.
I put on a small smile and greeted him, “Good morning, Mr. Murphy!”
Linda ambled over with a pile of documents which she then dropped on my desk. “Ms. Stanhope, there’s quite a bit of work for you today. Good luck.”
I nodded and greeted her as well. I noticed that Armond was still staring at me after Linda had left.
Flustered by his staring, I said, “Mr. Murphy, you…”
He interrupted, “Where did you go last night? You didn’t come home.”
Slightly stunned by his question, I tried to hide my embarrassment with a laugh. “I bumped into an old friend. We had a few drinks together and ended up pulling an all-nighter.”
I knew my excuse was a bit far-fetched, but this was the only thing I could come up with.
He looked at me wordlessly. His incessant staring unnerved me.
I tried to clear up the awkward tension in the air by making some small talk. “Mr. Murphy, have you had your breakfast yet?”
I almost forgot that my current job entailed looking after his meals.
He left my question hanging as he turned and headed into his office.
I wondered what I should do. In the end, I went downstairs to get some pastries for him. When I returned to the office, Armond was gone.
I didn’t see Linda either. That was when I realized that there was a meeting this morning. I hurried to the conference room.
The person who was presenting his slides stopped talking when I entered the room. My embarrassment grew when I noticed that everyone in the room had turned to look at me.
Erm, awkward much!
I addressed my apology to everyone in the conference room. “Sorry for the interruption! And sorry I’m late for the meeting.”
Armond was seated at the front of the conference room. He shot me an intense gaze before motioning for the presenter to continue.
The meeting seemed to last for ages, and my hangover didn’t make things any better. When the meeting finally ended, I got up to leave and was stopped by Armond.
“Sienna!”
I slowed down and turned my head. I smiled awkwardly and addressed him. “Mr. Murphy!”
“Did you forget about the meeting today?” he asked sternly.
I nodded sheepishly before shaking my head in an attempt to clear myself of the funk I’d been in since this morning. “Mr. Murphy, I’m really sorry. That was an oversight on my part, and I promise it won’t happen again.”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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