Her palms were sweaty, and her heart raced as Bruno's eyes stayed locked on her, as if waiting for her to approach.
She swallowed hard, feeling the eyes of every coworker on her.
Jessie nudged her forward, whispering, "Go on. He's waiting for you."
"What if he fires me?" Beauty whispered back, her voice trembling.
Jessie shrugged but gave a reassuring smile.
"I doubt that. He's sitting at your desk, remember? I think he's here for something else. If it's to fire you. He would have invited you to his office".
Jessie whispered back.
Beauty's feet felt heavy as she tried to lift them off the ground.
Jessie's Apple Watch beeped.
"Oops, time for my schedule".
She told Beauty. "Meet you at lunch break, good luck, tell me all about it".
Beauty nodded slowly, but her heart still raced at the intensity of Bruno's gaze.
"Hey! Mr. Bruno, nice haircut. You look damn hot with that expression on your face! Who got you mad with our reserved young boss?"
Jessie announced, swinging her hip like she was on the runway. Her mini jean skirt and the belt moved seductively, rhyming with the steps of her heels.
"Jessie".
Bruno groaned, already sick of her.
"What?!"
She chuckled and made her exit as chaotic as her entrance.
Beauty cursed inwardly, hoping Jessie didn't make him more angry in an attempt to lessen the tension.
As she stood frozen in place, her mind racing and heart pounding, Bruno's gaze never moved from her face. The silence in the office was deafening, and she felt like everyone's eyes on her.
Just when she thought she couldn't bear it any longer, Bruno suddenly stood up from her desk, his movement swift and started walking towards her with his eyes still looking at her.
It made her breath hitch.
Before she could even process what was happening, Bruno reached out and gently took her hand.
The warmth of his touch sent a jolt through her, and her heart skipped a beat. He didn't give her a chance to protest or explain, he simply pulled her with him, guiding her through the office toward his private office door.
The sound of whispers erupted behind them as their colleagues watched in shock and confusion.
Beauty, still too stunned to speak, allowed herself to be led, her mind a whirlwind of emotions.
Many of her colleagues stood there, wide-eyed and slack-jawed, as Bruno pulled Beauty into his office. They exchanged glances, baffled by the sight of the normally reserved and composed boss dragging someone to his office, let alone Beauty?
The door to Bruno's office clicked shut with a force, cutting off the noise of the office.
Inside, the atmosphere was entirely different.
To Beauty, it was quiet, intimate, and charged with tension that made her breath hitch.
Suddenly, she felt Bruno's tall, broad frame loomed over her as his intense gaze pierced into her soul.
He stepped closer, the scent of his cologne swept over her nostrils, filling the surrounding air.
Beauty's heart was pounding harder than ever now.
Without saying a word, he reached up and, with his large, muscular hands, loosened his tie, pulling it off in one smooth, deliberate motion.
He went to the water dispenser and took a glass of chilled water before returning to her.
Unexpectedly, he snatched her neck, not too hard, and kissed her hard like he would cut the life out of her.
"Sir Bruno".
Beauty gasped.
Without saying anything, he went on and pulled her by the waist then lifted her onto his desk, pinning her down with his body. She could feel the heat radiating from him, their faces inches apart, her heart thundering in her chest.
He leaned in, his lips brushing hers, soft at first, teasing her, before capturing her in a deep, passionate kiss that made her head spin.
His hands gripped her waist, pulling her closer, as if he couldn't bear the distance between them.
When he finally broke the kiss, they were both breathless, her hands tangled in his shirt, his lips ghosting over her skin.
Then, in the haze of passion, he whispered against her ear, "Marry me, Beauty."
Her entire body trembled at his words, her mind unable to process what she just heard.
Marry?
Beauty blinked, shaking her head, her cheeks flushing red.
What a fantasy she had in her head.
They are yet to even get into the office, she started overthinking the whole thing.
When they got inside the office, the door shut after them. Bruno gently released Beauty's hand, his expression intense as he turned to face her.
Beauty took a deep breath, her mind was spinning with a thousand thoughts, and her heart was racing faster than she could handle.
None said anything to each other.
Then Bruno ran his fingers over his hair and went straight to the water dispenser.
Beauty felt her heart skip a beat at that movement.
Can her fantasy come to life?
Bruno drank the water like he had been starved for at least a week. Watching him made Beauty thirsty instantly.
He walked back to her and loosened his tie, the way his masculine hand moved around the knot did things to Beauty's head.
"Sir Bruno..." she finally started, but her voice trailed off, unsure of what to say.
He didn't give her time to finish.
"Why have you been avoiding me?"
His voice was calm but held a frustration, the same burning question that had been eating away at him since he noticed her change in behavior.
Beauty looked down, her fingers nervously playing with the hem of her blouse.
She can't say anything about Jessie, she would appear like a desperate bitch to him.
How could she explain that she had been overthinking everything?
That she had let Jessie's joke and her own insecurities get the best of her?
After she had convinced herself that Bruno was out of her league, that their moment in the car that day had meant more to her than to him.
"I .... I ...wasn't avoiding you, sir," she whispered, though it was clear neither of them believed it.
Bruno stepped closer, his eyes searching hers for answers.
"You were," he said softly, but there was no anger in his tone now, only confusion and something deeper.
"Why did you ignore my presence and shut me out? Tell me...did I do anything wrong, is this about the car ride?"
Beauty eyes snapped open at that statement.