55. Playful, yet Sadistic

As I step into the room, the sight before me almost knocked me off as I see Carina Martin, my chief-editor manager sitting on the sofa opposite to none other than Dakota Black, the one who sued her pretty printing company.
*What in the fresh hell is going on here?*
Carina raises her gaze at me and I pick up my dropped jaw as she greets me with a sweet smile. “Hi, Emara..”
Dakota tilts his head and toxic green eyes meet mine. I feel a loud thud in my chest as his cold, icy orbs stare into my warm ones.
An electric current bolts down my body and my heart seems to freeze on the spot. It’s as if the entire world is disappearing and all I can see is his smooth clean-shaven face, staring back at me intensely.
There is no ounce of emotions on his face, but the way his piercing eyes make a slow path down my body, deliberately checking every inch of my figure and the dress on me, I can see a subtle glint in his eyes which says he likes what he is seeing.
* *Cough* *
Carina clears her throat, and my attention draws towards her. Dressed in a cream chiffon shirt paired with a pencil skirt, she looks as professional as a chief-editor.
“I am glad that you are finally here.” She again plasters a sweet smile on her face, before informing me. “As we have been waiting for you since past.. Thirteen minutes.” She says, glancing at her wristwatch.
*We?*
My confused gaze once again finds those green enigmatic eyes, and I find them staring back at me with a stern expression of a boss, as if waiting to hear why I am late.
*Wait, did he call her?*
My gaze surf through the files and papers on the table, wondering if this is some kind of meeting that I am just informed about.
“Um, uh-sorry.. Traffic, you know.” I whisper awkwardly as I come sit beside Dakota, keeping a professional distance between us.
And suddenly the couch feels so small.
I feel a rush of emotions intensifying in me as I feel his eyes on me, lingering on my knees where the dress ends. I shyly pull the edges of my dress, trying to cover up my skin from his prying gaze as if he has never seen me naked.
“Of course, traffic is worse in Seattle. Especially on a Sunday morning.” Carina comments from the opposite side, casually sitting on an armchair while staring at me with a scrutiny of a fox.
Her sharp gaze seems to peer every detailed expression on my flushed face, before shifting their focus to my disheveled hair. Suddenly, a wicked smile slowly spreads across her lips as if she discovered a million dollar secret.
And that’s when it hits me- my hair is still wet from the morning shower.
*Shit!*
I was so excited to wear the dress and come down to see him, that I completely forgot to blow dry my hair first.
Nervously, I push my damp hair behind my shoulders and Carina’s smirk widens, one that could rival a cheshire cat. I quickly look away, suddenly finding the plain walls incredibly interesting.
“Would you like tea, or coffee?” Dakota asks me, breaking the awkward silence.
My gaze shift to him, and instantly my heartbeat increases. Heat flushes on my cheeks as his deep ocean green eyes stare back at me like I am the only girl in his world.
“Tea. I mean coffee.” I correct myself, feeling extremely shy with his keen attention on my face.
Even this one arm distance feels so close, so intimate that I could feel his body warm from a meter away, as if we are still tangled in each other’s arms.
“Sweet?” He asks me with a hint of smile, still not looking away.
The eye contact feels more intense than the times I have been naked in front of him. It makes something move in my stomach, like worms. Or is it.. Butterflies?
“Yes.” I blink sheepishly with blush tingling my face.
A smirk teases on Dakota Black’s untouchable lips, but he looks away just in time, molding his expression into a heartless man he is well known for.
And when I look away, I see Carina sipping and peering over the rim of her tea cup, observing us with a razor-sharp gaze of a fox.
She narrows her eyes at me and raises a brow, as if asking what is going on? I shake my head and instantly look away from her prying paparazzi eyes.
“El Café. Mocha.” Dakota tells to Martina, and that’s when I notice her presence in the house. She gives me a small smile of acknowledgement, before returning to the kitchen.
* *Ahem* *
I turn to her, but this time Carina’s eyes are fixed on the man beside me. She sets her cup down and politely says, “Thank you Mr. Black, for agreeing to discuss about the interview which caused a blunder in the media last week.”
*What?*
I couldn’t help but steal a glance at Dakota who takes a leisure sip of his black coffee and responds, “I only agreed to discuss on one condition.”
His voice is as sharp as his clean-shaven jaw, reminding who holds authority in the room.
“Of course, Mr. Black.” Carina replies cautiously. “I have taken down the interview from all our news outlets and I have prepared a new, revised version of it.”
Though Carina usually appears like a cunning fox, but in front of the big bad wolf, she seems to have adopted the demeanor of an obedient squirrel.
“In the edited version, I have removed the controversial statement which raised allegations on your past, and questionable doubts on your character. It has all been edited out.” She explains while handling over a confidential file.
“Also, I have drafted an apology for the inaccurate information gathered by my sources.” Her eyes meet mine and I feel the weight of her unapologetic gaze upon me.
My heart sinks heavily with the fact that it was me who triggered this legal turmoil, trapping her company along with me. Only if I was aware of the storm I was walking into.
“Good.” Dakota replies in his executive tone.
“And I am heartily sorry for the damage caused due to a misunderstanding. My interviewer must have heard things wrong and I take full accountability for that.” She reassures him, while I sit with my anxieties, fidgeting with my dress.
“It’s alright. Everyone makes mistakes.” Dakota’s voice cuts through the air, leaving me surprised by his unexpectedly gracious words.