Rebeka – 3. chapter

No meetings were scheduled for Thursday. The next one wasn’t until Friday. Rebeka worked behind closed doors until lunch, then decided to go down to the cafeteria on the ground floor. She took the papers she’d been reading and stepped into the hallway.

Erik was standing by the reception desk, of course. He was on the phone, smiling, clearly in a good mood. His other hand rested casually in his pocket, holding the edge of his jacket open just enough to reveal a shirt that hinted at a flat stomach. As she walked in his direction, she studied him discreetly. Broad shoulders, a firm ass. What more could a woman want?

Her gaze slid down to the zipper of his pants, and Friday flashed through her mind. After her body reacted, she immediately regretted it and looked up at his face instead. She found him watching her openly, amused. When he caught her eyes, he winked at her, shameless.

She cursed herself silently, kept her face unreadable, and walked past him.

“Miss Langsfeld,” the receptionist called after her. “You have something here.”

She turned back, took the envelope, and as she signed for it, the other girl behind the desk whispered dreamily.

“That Demský looks unbelievably fu… good.”

Rebeka clicked her tongue in disgust and replied.

“Obnoxious managers should have a belly and a bald spot.”

She finished signing just as she caught a familiar scent close to her. A man’s hand appeared on the counter beside hers.

“And single Rebekas and Xanthippes should weigh a hundred kilos.”

She lifted her eyes with an irritated grimace to the familiar face, which added.

“Life isn’t fair, is it, Miss Langsfeld?” He stressed the title deliberately.

She straightened and stepped back.

“Mister Demský, are you familiar with the concept of personal space? I would appreciate more professional behavior from you in the future.”

He smiled confidently and let his deep gaze sink into hers.

“I doubt that.”

Then he turned and walked away.

Her teeth ground together as she headed for the main entrance.

“…was he hitting on her?” she heard someone whisper behind her before the doors closed.

She decided the cafeteria would never be one of her favorite places, but she was willing to eat something there. She had barely sat down with her tray and returned to her papers when Erik appeared at her table. Her look of disgust didn’t discourage him from taking the seat across from her.

“Tell me something about yourself,” he said.

“I don’t like people,” she growled.

“I was hoping for something I don’t already know,” he shot back and took a sip from a can of Coca-Cola.

She exhaled loudly and thought for a moment.

“Mister Demský. Let’s try this differently. We both want the same thing,” she said in a lecturing tone, waiting for him to agree.

Instead, his eyes drifted slowly into her cleavage, then over her rounded breasts and throat. Her heart started pounding. She felt that look like a physical touch.

“I’m sure of that,” he said, his voice husky.

A jolt of electricity ran through her. Butterflies went wild in her stomach. It infuriated her how her body reacted to him, how it knocked her out of her usual rhythm.

“Stop it!” she warned sharply. “You’re nothing more than anyone else. Forget Friday, it didn’t happen!” Her voice rose, something that happened only rarely.

“You know what I’m curious about?” he ignored her completely. “Which feeling I stir in you more. Fear, or arousal?”

Arousal, arousal, arousal! her entire body screamed. Out loud, however, she began clipping her syllables.

“I have no reason to be afraid of you.”

“That’s true. As long as you’re nice to me.”

“That’s not how this works, hotshot!” He was driving her absolutely crazy. “Quite the opposite. Do what I want, and I’ll let you breathe!”

He studied her face in silence for a moment, then stood slowly. He walked past her as if leaving, then stopped and leaned down to her ear.

“My offer from yesterday still stands, you little menace. Piss me off, and I’ll take you by force.”

Breathe, you dumbass! she repeated to herself as his footsteps faded away. She abandoned her food and went outside for a cigarette.

All right, she watched the blue smoke rise. Enough already. A big hole needs a big patch. I’ll take what I want, but you’ll be the one who pays for it.