Allan, a guy from Production, actually wolf-whistled when I walked past him. "Looking good, Yanna," he said, leering.
I stuck out my tongue, wishing I hadn't been reared in a conservative ladies' academy so I could flash him the finger – especially when his exceptionally loud voice had everyone turning towards me.
Drake was there, too, and I slowed down when he turned to me with a smile. "You look beautiful, Yanna." Again, his eyes made no secret of his admiration.
Again, it had me blushing. "Umm, thanks."
"Hot date tonight?"
I quickly shook my head. "Oh no. Just a night out with friends." I tried to think of something else to say but the way Drake kept staring made me want to hide under a rock. "Umm, I have to go."
Eyes twinkling as if he knew – and enjoyed seeing – how uneasy I felt, Drake stepped aside with a polite smile. "Have fun later."
"Uhh, yes, thanks." God, I was so socially awkward. I wish I could think of something wittier – nicer – to say to Drake.
Head down, still mulling over my social ineptitude, a pair of expensive handmade men's shoes suddenly blocked my path. My heart galloped, my nerves prickling in awareness because I knew who it was even before I lifted my gaze and met Constantijin's blazing golden eyes.
He was furious – and jealous.
My heart sang, but I quickly nipped that in the bud, telling myself it didn't mean anything. "Good morning, sir."
"Do you have a date tonight?"
This time, I totally lied. "Yes."
Before he could answer, I walked past him, heart beating even faster. When I got to my office, George took one look at my outfit and grinned. "Va-va-voom, baby!"
Arian just stuck up her nose.
Yeah, well, what-e-ver.
I grinned back at George as I went to my cubicle. "Alyx and I have a bridal shower to attend tonight." Then I giggled. "Or bachelorette party rather. Since I have a feeling it's not going to be a wholesome affair."
"Ooooh. You'll have strippers?"
"Yeah, probably."
Voice lowering, George whispered, "Won't Mr. Kastein have something to say about that?"
I slowly shook my head. "It's not his business."
Lunchtime, I actually managed to remember to leave at exactly noon. George and I walked inside the cafeteria arm in arm, which was a good thing since I almost lost my balance when I saw Constantijin with Arian – again. My chest squeezed painfully when she actually took the seat next to him.
WTF?
"Gold digger," George muttered.
"No." I had to say it. Even if I believed the same. I just had to say no. I had never liked talking about other people behind their backs. "She's just - I guess - she just likes him a lot."
George rolled his eyes. "I hope he's not stupid enough to fall for her."
I shook my head. Even I didn't think that. But still – what if he had sex with her? Would I be able to bear that?
An urge to cry hit me unexpectedly, and I had to look down, blinking rapidly to keep the tears from falling. It seemed so incredibly long ago since the last time I was in Constantijin's arms. Did he not like me anymore? I had heard about men blowing hot and cold. I understood it in theory, but the reality was so much harder than I expected.
"I'll bet you a hundred dollars he's into you, though."
I smiled humorlessly at George's attempt to comfort me. "You're on."
George's phone suddenly rang and he excused himself, leaving me all alone in my booth. I felt like a loser with a capital L and wondered if Arian and Constantijin were glancing my way. What if they were laughing at me?
The thought hurt, but I was the type to confront my fears head on so I forced myself to look up.
Constantijin was staring at me.
He shouldn't have been – not with Arian talking so animatedly next to him – but he was, and I couldn't understand the dark emotions in his eyes. His lips were compressed in a tight line, as if he was holding his anger in check. Was he actually mad at me?
Arian abruptly stopped speaking as her eyes bored into mine. I forced myself to look away. I felt the burning sensation of being glared at from my right, where Arian and Constantijin were.
I gulped. Oh man! Arian as a frenemy was bad enough, but as an all out enemy? That was going to be hell.
"Thank God you're back," I exclaimed when George returned to our table. I stood up and dragged him with me before he could take a seat. "We have to go, it's an emergency."
"But I haven't finish my lunch yet---" he protested.
"Emergency," I gritted out.
With a sigh, he let me drag him out of the cafeteria. We passed by Arian's table as we did, and she was all alone, Constantijin nowhere to be found.
She smiled. It was a scary sight, and I had to force myself not to run from it. "Hurry," I hissed at George. Honestly, I felt like that black-haired ghost from Ringu was after me.
But just like that ghost, Arian was impossible to escape.
When we got to our office, Arian was at our heels. I jumped at the sound of the door slamming shut, feeling like I was suddenly trapped in a cage with a killer shark named Arian.
"Hi Yanna, George," Arian cooed with another smile.
I smiled weakly. George didn't. He was the blunt but polite type and had never bothered to pretend interest in befriending Arian.
"Could I talk to Yanna privately?" she asked George sweetly.
George didn't even hesitate. "No."
Arian was obviously taken aback, but she rebounded quickly with a sharp retort. "You're not her keeper, you know?"
"Actually, I consider myself that," George returned coolly.
I was looking at them back and forth. Was I about to have a bitch fight on my hands? Clearing my throat, I said, "Arian, really, there's no need for secrets. Whatever it is you want to say---"
"Fine," she said cuttingly. "Let's not beat around the bush then. I know you've got the hots for Constantijin."
"No!" George and I immediately rejected.
"Stop lying, Yanna."
Oh. So she was talking to me. Drat.
Her eyes hardened. "I want to let you know that I only applied to this company because I wanted to be close to him. I've got first dibs on Constantijin and I don't like it when someone else has an eye on my man."
"Beg to differ," George interrupted, "but he's not your man yet."
"He will be." Arian smiled at me again.
I did my best not to shiver. It was a really scary sight, like a shark in Prada getting ready to make a meal out of me.
"You and I won't have any trouble as long as you don't mess with my plans." She looked at me, clearly waiting for an answer.
I knew I should have said ‘no' because George was right. Whatever she felt about the situation, Constantijin wasn't hers yet. But see, I also had this weird conscience – one that never let me lie outright. Right now, I couldn't make myself say yes or no to Arian so when I answered, all I could say was, "I'll try my best."
George and I gazed at Arian as she sashayed back to her cubicle, hips swaying as if there were still men for her to dazzle.
George turned to me with a frown, asking, "Why did you give in?"
I shrugged.
"You should have fought for him," he grumbled.
I didn't answer, mostly because I couldn't bear admitting to him that I didn't have a right to fight for Constantijin.
Constantijin didn't try to call or waylay me during or after work, which I told myself was a good thing. The bridal shower was fun and debauched – exactly as I had expected. When the strippers actually started, well, stripping, I knew I had to excuse myself. If I had to see a naked cock for the first time, I'd rather it be Constantijin's.
This was the uppermost thought in my mind when I left the hotel suite, so imagine my surprise when I came out and saw Constantijin across the hall, walking my way with a thunderous scowl on his gorgeous face.
He was mad as hell.
He was hot as hell, too.
"Who the fuck were you with in that room?" he snarled, his long-legged strides eating the distance between us in his seconds, his fingers wrapping around my left wrist in a punishing grip.
"Wh-how-I … " I looked at him in consternation.
"Answer me," he roared at the same time one of the strippers inside yelled, "I'm getting naked, baby!"
Okay, that sounded very bad.
Constantijin paled.
I was white-faced, too. All half-baked thoughts of making him jealous, of getting even with him for letting Arian flirt with him – all of those left me at the look of betrayal on Constantijin's face.
"I lied. I don't have a date. I'm attending a bridal shower," I confessed shakily, saying the words in a rush because I had a feeling if I didn't get them out in time he would leave me forever.
He inhaled sharply.
Unsure whether he believed me or not, I turned around and twisted the knob, intent on showing him the truth, but Constantijin suddenly said my name. And then he was twisting me around, his kiss forcing me against the wall.