Let's Play A Dirty Ass Game, Mr. CEO

Chapter 33: IF YOU KEEP LOOKING AT ME LIKE THAT

LAURA

Tristan’s fingers brushed mine as he handed me the glass. The very mere contact sent heat rushing through my veins.

"The PR team has organized a photoshoot to elaborate our partnership."

"Elaborate? I’m confused." I cleared my throat and took a sip of the whiskey.

He leaned against the arm of a couch and watched me closely. "It’s their job to do what they think is best for the company." Then he took a sip from his glass, watching me over the rim.

I opened my mouth to protest but he quickly cut me off.

"Our partnership is with you, Laura, as the face of Pierce Holdings. Don’t you think it’s right to paint that picture from the very beginning? A totally harmless photoshoot where we stand close to each other as business partners and smile for the camera."

"Harmless, huh?" The alcohol already swirled around in my head like an ocean. It was getting difficult to sit still under his gaze. I leaned back against the couch and tilted my gaze to his. "Tell me that this is not one of your schemes to be near me, Tristan."

"I can’t exactly tell you that, can I?" His eyes sparkled mischievously.

"Why?" My heart picked up a race as he pushed off the armrest and walked towards me.

"Why? Because then, Laura, I’d be lying to you."

He paused a few inches away from me, standing there with one hand in his pocket, looking like he wasn’t sure what to do with himself at the moment. "So, what do you say?"

I swallowed a lump down and summoned the courage to rise to my feet. I swayed very slightly and steadied myself in the next second. I didn’t want to give him the idea that I could be very vulnerable at the moment.

His eyebrows shot up in a small frown as he watched me. "Are you okay? You might want to take it easy on the whiskey."

"I’m fine," I snapped.

He shrugged. "Good. So what do you say?"

I drained the glass and before I could think twice about the question, my body gravitated towards him, stopping just a few inches away. Then I extended my hand.

"This makes it official, I guess."

His eyes twinkled with delight as he took my hand. "A yes, then."

I gave him a firm nod, fighting against the urge to lean in and inhale the cologne that clung to him like a second skin.

He held my fingers for a moment too long, and they actually began to burn under my skin. Breathless, I tried to pull them free. But he held tighter and pulled me in slowly, with an undeniable authority.

My walls of resolve came crashing down the moment our chests collided. This was very wrong. But I could not find it in me to pull away or call it out. Not in this scalding moment where all I can see and feel and perceive is Tristan Pierce.

His hand came up from behind and snaked into my hair, drawing a gasp of shock and pleasure from me. "What do you think you’re doing?" I demanded in a breathless voice.

He leaned close until his lips hovered inches over mine. My skin burned like it was laid over a cauldron.

"If you keep looking at me like that, I don’t trust myself to keep respecting you as a business partner."

My mouth ran dry and my head swam. The way he said those words gave me a sneak peek of what he was thinking. He wanted to disrespect me.

God, how fucked was it that I wanted that too? Disrespect me, Tristan, a silly, horny voice begged in my head. I would never let it out.

"Tell me you want it, Laura." Blue eyes burned dark as they found my lips, devouring quietly. He tugged lightly on my hair, and despite how much it made me cream between my legs, it also gave me a bit of clarity. Could he be reading my mind?

I grabbed his hand and flung it off my hair. "Thanks for the drink, Mr. Pierce. I would be on my way now."

His expression had changed by the moment I grabbed my purse off the couch and headed for the door.

"I’ll see you tomorrow, Ms. Hayes," he called after me.

I ignored him, never looking back for fear of what might happen to me if I did.

°°°

It would be my first official work day with Pierce Holdings, today. But my eyes were dry and painful the moment I woke up.

That’s because I tossed and turned in bed all night, thinking about what it’s going to be like, working there again, having to be near Tristan in almost all that time. Most absurd of all, I spent all day thinking of what to wear. To impress him, I shamelessly admitted to myself.

I had wardrobes full of clothes made by my hands, window-shopped on the streets of New York, and gifted to me. But I could not think of a single outfit for my first day as a top model at Pierce Holdings.

The door to my room creaked open and Eli trotted in. "Morning, mama."

"Come here." Grinning, I pulled him close and pressed a kiss to his forehead. "Sleep good?"

He nodded, eyes twinking just like his father’s. "The teacher asked me to give you a letter when I get home."

My heart skipped, my eyes searching his face. "A letter?" From his teacher? God, I hoped nothing else had happened at Eli’s new school. It had been such a hassle, changing schools in the middle of school term.

"Where is it?"

"It’s in my backpack. I’ll go get it." He scurried off and I eventually got out of bed, trying to push the apprehension out of mind.

I was able to brush and pick out an outfit before my son eventually returned with a brown envelope in his hands.

"She said not to lose it, and make sure it gets to you."

I ruffled his hair as I took the letter from him, my heart bubbling with pride. "That’s my boy. Now run along. Mama will be down soon."

He bounced off, and waited till the door was shut behind him before taking a deep breath.

Inside the envelope was a neatly typewritten letter addressed to me, Eli Hayes’ parent.

The content tore my heart in the next second.

<<Dear Mrs. Hayes, this is to inform you that the school has received a very concerning tip about the status of your son’s parental care. We kindly ask that you visit the school for a proper evaluation of this matter, as we take seriously to the general welfare of our students. And please, his father is expected to come along with you. Thank you.

My blood ran cold as the letter slipped from my fingers.

A tip?