Chapter 10: Chapter 10

Ariana's POV

It's been a week since that incident, a week since I've set my eyes on Dylan, he's probably avoiding me but I don't care a bit, in fact, I am grateful for that because I don't think I wanna see him either. I was in my room pondering on my role as his slave after that last incident when the door burst open to reveal Dylan's angry face, "oh! he's always angry" I thought to myself and he growled making me wonder if he has heard my thoughts, I stared at him with a feeling of indifference, "why ain't you dressed, get your ass down to the office today" he snapped and I was suddenly filled with indignation but held myself from giving him a befitting reply, I simply rolled my eyes at him and saw his eyes narrowed, "don't test my patience" he whispered fiercely, I stood there looking at him, hoping he'll get the hint and move away for me to get dressed, "so? What the hell are you still waiting for?" He thundered as his face darkened, "I would have gotten dressed if you'd allow me, I still have my privacy to get dressed, don't I?" He has the grace to look embarrassed as he stared at me for a split second and without another word, moved out and shut the door behind him.

I sighed, who would have thought I would have such courage to speak back at him in that manner, I have no idea what has come over me, I keep getting strange dreams and now I'm having the courage to talk back at my boss? I quickly dressed in a simple work cloth and went out to join him.

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I had just gone to get Dylan's morning coffee and was on my way to his office when I bumped into someone I have never seen in the company before and almost spilled my cup of coffee on him, "I'm so sorry" I quickly apologized, my eyes seeking his cloth to see if there's any chance that my coffee must have spilled on him, " please forgive me, I wasn't looking" he suddenly put his hands on my arms, "it's okay, I'm fine, you didn't spill any coffee on me anyway"

I felt a strange sting where his hands had connected to my arms and I immediately moved away from his touch, what was that? Did he feel it too? Because he quickly moved away and set a little space between us, I stared at him and oddly felt I've seen him before, he brought out his hand for a handshake, "I'm Eric Masha" he quickly no introduced himself and I forced a smile, " I'm Ariana" I replied and wondered if his eyes narrowed at the mention of my name or if it was my imagination, either way, I have to get this to Dylan, "nice to meet you" I quibbled as I quickly walked away.

Dylan was standing, facing the window with arms at akimbo, for some odd reason, I found his stance sexy and unbiddenly my mind went to what transpired between us and found myself wishing I could experience it again with him with a more gentle touch, he suddenly turned and wrinkled his nose as if trying to follow a scent, his icy eyes penetrated mine and I felt my heartbeat sped up

"What are you doing just standing there? Are you going to hand that over? He growled pointing at the cup of coffee in my hands and I felt my face colored, "what was wrong with me?" A strange feeling of Deja Vu washed through me and I moved to drop the coffee on the table, I suddenly hit my foot against the chair at his front and I tripped, spilling hot content all over, I felt the burnt on my skin and heard him hissed, he must have been touched by the hot coffee also, "goddamit" I heard him growled and I looked up to see him trying to remove some documents from his desk to avoid the liquid getting to them, "oh no! I'm done for" I cringed inwardly and grabbed into a document, at the same time, he grabbed the same paper, trying to save it from obvious disaster, my eyes widened as I watched the document divided into two, splitting itself into halves and I found myself holding one half of it and the other with him, my heart thudded and my eyes widened in shock as I stared at him, his face was dark with rage, his pupils dilated, I watched as he clenched and unclenched his hands as if trying to stop himself from hitting me, he really looks like a man that should be feared. "Out" he stated through clenched teeth and I gaped at him, my brain seemingly slow to grasp what he meant. He fisted his hands and hit it hard on the table and I jerked, "I said outttt" he screamed and without waiting for any clarification, I quickly fled and almost bumped into Eric on my way out, I would have fallen face down if he hadn't caught me in time to steady me, he stared at me then at the door behind me, tears threatened to spill from my eyes and before I could make any more fool of myself, I released myself from his grasp and took to my heels.

Author's POV

Eric narrowed his eyes as he watched Ariana flee, his heart tightened at the pain he had glimpsed in her eyes and he felt rage on her behalf, what had the bastard done to her? He fought the urge to use his power to snap Dylan's neck.

"Aren't you coming in or do you want to go after her? Dylan snapped impatiently at him and he took two deep breaths before walking into Dylan's office, he has to get a job here, that's the only way he can stay close to Ariana and keep an eye on her, most especially now that her seal is cracked, he would have to find the perfect time to reseal it and he has to gain her trust, he can only reseal it if she permitted, for that, he'll need her to trust him.

"Well?" Dylan was observing him closely and he forced a smile as he sat down on the seat opposite Dylan's. His eyes quickly survey the mess on the table as a cleaner quickly walked in to get it cleaned up, that must be the reason for his anger toward Ariana, still, that does not justify him making Ariana cry, he vowed inside that someday, Dylan would pay for putting that tears in her eyes. I'm Eric Masha and this is my portfolio, he said, putting his portfolio on the table

Dylan watched the man who called himself Eric and frowned at his reaction to Ariana, he felt like plucking out the eyes of Eric, he had gazed at Ariana with so much tenderness and concern and that didn't sit well with him as her master, he frowned at his discomfort as the grabbed the portfolio on his desk and quickly went through it, it was impressive but he was loathed to hire him, he frowned at his trail of thought, why was he hesitating to employ Eric? The business obviously needs him. His mind went to Ariana, "am I hesitating because of Ariana? She's just my slave" the question and his answer to that churned in his heart but still, he knew that Eric deserves the position, he curbed his feeling of unease and glanced at Eric, "I'll place you on probation for two weeks, if you're good as you project, then we'll move from there but if not...." He shrugged and let his sentence and hidden meaning trail off.

" Probation"?

Dylan glanced at him straight in the eyes, "if you're not okay with the arrangement, you can as well leave"

Eric gritted his teeth, he has seen Dylan's struggle to employ him, he knew his portfolio had impressed Dylan but yet he hesitate to employ him and instead placed him on probation, he needed the job so damn much, so he has no choice than to nod his head meekly, "I accept your offer"

Dylan nodded once, "good, just so we understand each other"

The atmosphere was tensed as they both shook hands, there was an unspoken animosity between them and Dylan wondered why he would be feeling such way to a man he hasn't met before, he would have time to ponder about the reason later, he watched as Eric walked out the door with narrowed eyes.