6| Hungry horny boys.

ADRIAN POV.

“Wait Ms. Turner,” I ordered. Kat paused, turning back to face me, surprise etched on her face.

“Babe, what are you doing?” Vera clenched her teeth, her grip tightening on my arm.

“It is work, and I need to attend to her,” I replied calmly. “Katherine, come in.”

Kat hesitated but then stepped forward, giving me the file. “This is the report you asked for.”

“Thank you,” I said, grazing my hand on her, she shot me a surprise stare. “We will review it later, you may leave.” I said feigning innocence.

Kat left, passing Vera and Lilian who gave her death stares. As soon as the door clicked shut, Vera’s eyes blared with anger.

“This is unbelievable, Adrian! You're choosing that low-life employee over me, your fiance?” Vera lashed out, her voice rising.

I clenched my teeth at how she described Katherine. “Vera, calm down,” I said. “This is about work.”

“Sure,” she said sarcastically. “It is clear where your priorities lie,” she scoffed, pulling away from me.

“You should be ashamed, Adrian. Supporting an employee instead of your fiance? Pathetic.” Lilian added with a frown on her face.

I sighed, massaging my temples. “You are both exaggerating. It was a work matter.”

“Overreacting? Really? You embarrassed me in front of her,” Vera snarled, crossing her arms.

“Exactly. You made us look like fools,” Lilian agreed, her eyes narrowing.

I met their glares, “I’m the CEO. I have to maintain professionalism.”

“Professionalism?” Vera echoed, her voice filled with bitterness. “Is that what you call it?”

“Yes,” I replied firmly. “And I expect you to respect that.”

Vera shook her head, “You’re impossible, Adrian.” She turned on her heel and stormed out, with Lilian following closely behind.

As the door slammed shut, I exhaled deeply, those two were devil-sent and the fact that I might have to pull up with Vera all the rest of my life made me pity myself.

KATHERINE POV.

The two ladies from earlier passed by my desk giving me a death stare. What did I do? I thought I heard an invite to enter.

The lady with the long blonde hair and striking blue eyes who had called Adrain, ‘babe’ was said to be Adrian’s fiance.

My heart sank a bit. If he had a fiance, why was he reminding me of our past encounter?

Zoe had told me he was engaged to be married to a ‘Vera’ whose father is a key partner of the company.

I tried to focus on my work, but the image of Adrian's hand grazing mine lingered in my mind.

The way he scrutinized me, the way he talked to me. it felt different. But maybe I was just imagining things.

The lady was stunning, with her perfect hair and elegant style. She looked every bit the part of Adrian’s girlfriend.

The two ladies seemed to belong in Adrian’s world, and I felt out of place. I don't have such expensive or stylish clothing, nor am I young.

I shook my head, trying to dismiss the feeling that threatened to creep into my heart. Adrian was my boss.

Nothing more. Yet, the memory of our night together kept resurfacing, making it harder to keep my emotions in check.

I buried myself in work, hoping to distract myself. Later that afternoon, I met with Adrian to discuss the report, and he unexpectedly suggested we continue our discussions over a ‘business date’.

Later that evening, I found myself at a modern restaurant, nervously smoothing out my dress.

This was supposed to be a business date, but It made me look like it was a romantic date for just the two of us.

Don't blame me, the setting didn't say ‘business date’. The cool secluded area with little lighting screamed ‘Romantic dinner.’

I mentally chided myself from those thoughts, he is younger, he has a girlfriend. I am not in his league. I chanted internally.

When Adrian walked in, looking effortlessly handsome in his tailored suit, my heart did a little flip. I tried to push that feeling away as he joined me at the table.

“Good. This is the report,” I began immediately, pulling out the file from my bag.

Adrian leaned back, his gaze fixed on me. “Relax, Kat. I just got here. But first, what would you take?”

I looked up, surprised. “Nothing sir, I have to get home soon.”

“I won't take much of your time.” he said with a smile. “Our night together in the UK,” he began, his eyes not leaving mine.

I felt a flush rise to my cheeks. “Sir, that was…it was a mistake. We should maintain our employer-employee relationship and not exceed it.”

He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a low murmur. “I want to exceed it. I can't lie about the attraction I feel towards you.”

“It's just lust,” I said quickly, feeling angry and something more. His voice.

He gave me a long, intense stare. “You might be wrong, I feel it’s more.”

I swallowed hard, trying to compose myself. “I remember the lady in your office earlier calling you ‘babe.’ I heard she is your fiance.”

He went quiet. I should have known he was a playboy. “I'm not blind, Sir. And moreover I can never date someone younger.”

His eyes flashed with something I couldn’t quite place. “Age doesn’t matter, Katherine. What I feel is real.”

I kept my voice steady. “Twelve years difference doesn't matter? I've witnessed a lot of hungry, horny boys in my time, sir, and you're one of them.”

His expression darkened with anger. “You’re calling me a hungry, horny boy?”

“Yes,” I said, standing up, my anger boiling over.

Before I could take three steps, Adrian's voice halted me. “Is that all you think of me? Just some boy who can’t control his desires?”

I turned back, my own anger rising. “Yes, because that’s exactly how you’re acting. What kind of man goes after another woman when he’s engaged to someone else?”

His eyes blazed with a mix of rage and hurt. “It’s not like that with Vera. You don’t understand.”

“And I don’t want to,” I snapped. “Keep your private life out of our professional one.”

“You can’t reject the fact that there’s something between us,” he argued, standing up and closing the distance between us. “You felt it that night. I saw it and I can see it now.”

“I can, and I will,” I said, my voice shaking with the effort to stay composed.

“You’re denying this,” he accused, “Why? Because you’re scared of what you feel?”

I glared at him. “I’m not scared. I'm revolted. And I don't feel anything.”

With that, I turned and walked out. My heart was thumping, and I couldn’t tell if it was from fury or what he said.