THIRTEEN

Her soft moans bounced off the walls of his office as Alexander pleasured her senseless. r. Her body quaked as waves of pleasure washed over her.

His heavy breaths mixed with the sounds of her softer ones as he joined her in her bliss. He claimed her lips in one last kiss before withdrawing from her.

She felt almost lightheaded as she sat there on his desk with her skirt bunched up at her waist and her panties hanging on her ankle. She was suddenly so exhausted that she wanted nothing but to take a nap.

"Feeling better?" he asked her, adjusting himself.

She merely hummed a response, too exhausted to come up with coherent words.

"Would you like to clean up in the bathroom?" he asked as he rolled her underwear up her legs.

She was too exhausted for that too. The past two days of self-neglect had taken their toll on her; she could hardly keep her eyes open and her body was trembling. Nonetheless, she nodded. She had never been one to give into weakness and exhaustion; her perseverance had gotten her this far.

"Alright," he said.

He helped her down from the table and set her gently on her feet. She had kicked her heels off somewhere during their makeup sex. Her legs wobbled slightly, and she held onto the edge of his desk to balance herself.

He didn't notice because he was busy smoothing her skirt down. He straightened up when he was done and reached out to caress her cheek tenderly before settling back in his seat.

She made her way to the bathroom tiredly, and when she returned, she was even more exhausted. Alexander noticed from the look in her eyes, and his temple creased slightly with concern.

"Are you alright?" he asked her.

She nodded. "I'm just exhausted," she replied.

He nodded, considering. "You should head to the penthouse then," he said. "Get as much rest as you need."

She shook her head immediately. She couldn't just leave work like that; it was unprofessional.

"I can manage," she told him.

So was fucking the boss. But that didn't count since they were already in this twisted relationship even before she started working for him.

"Don't argue with me, Yalda," he said almost dismissively. "Go and get some rest. Come back tomorrow."

She shook her head again. "But there's work to be done," she argued.

His eyes darkened suddenly, and he seemed almost irritated. "Do I have to make it clear that you have two jobs?" he asked her. "Do I have to point out your priorities for you?"

His words stung as always, and the fact that they had just made up made it even more painful. "So you don't care about anything else?" she asked him. "You just don't want me fainting when you want my legs spread out?"

His eyes darkened even more, and he glared at her coldly. "You just love to be dramatic, don't you?" he asked her.

She shook her head. She didn't have the energy for this. She made her way back to his desk and put her shoes on before turning around and beginning to walk away.

"I'll be at my desk if you need me," she said quietly.

He pushed his seat back and rose to his feet, wasting no time in stalking over to her and grabbing her arm. She hadn't expected him to spin her around, or at least she hadn't expected that she was so exhausted. She gave into the exhaustion as dizziness hit her mercilessly.

She lost her balance and would have fallen if he hadn't held onto her securely. Her chest heaved heavily as she tried to pull herself together and regain her composure. His gaze raked over her form as if he wanted to confirm whether or not she was alright, and he seemed more worried than irritated.

"Don't make me say this again, Yalda. Go to the penthouse," he warned.

More tears stung her eyes, and she wanted to argue but held her tongue. What could she possibly say after she had just almost fainted? What arguments could she possibly have?

"And this should be the last time you don't listen to me," he told her.

He would never change, he had said that, and he would never really care about her or what she wanted. And it was absolutely no use of her trying to get him to understand; it was no use of her thinking he would ever understand.

"Please let go of me," she said quietly, her voice thick with emotions.

He seemed like he wanted to say more but decided not to. He released her.

Saying nothing more, she turned around and walked away as quickly as her exhausted body would let her, she would have broken into a run if she could; she was literally overwhelmed.

~~~

She hadn't expected Ryan Blackwood to be standing there as the elevator opened smoothly. She was glad she had taken a moment to breathe and regain her composure after leaving Alexander's office, else she would have looked rather disheveled at the moment.

She pulled on the most courteous smile she could muster, though all she wanted to do was walk past his arrogant ass.

"Mr. Blackwood, good morning," she greeted.

"Ms. Harris, correct?" he asked.

She hated his attitude still. He obviously knew her name, why act like he didn't? Why waste her time with worthless questions?

She nodded. Her smile remained in place regardless of the fact that his attitude upset her even more.

"Heading out already?" he asked her.

She nodded once more.

"Was there something you needed from Mr. Monroe?" she asked, seeing that he was headed to Alexander's office.

She stopped herself from balling her fingers into fists as his gaze raked over her figure quickly, assessingly. He raised a file she hadn't noticed he had been holding.

"I need him to go through this," he replied.

She glanced at her wristwatch briefly before returning her gaze to his. "Mr. Monroe isn't usually open to seeing anyone until 11 am," she told him. "But please, go ahead and have my assistant set an appointment for your meeting."

He rolled his eyes subtly. It seemed he was irritated. She wouldn't expect him to suddenly understand how things worked here or anywhere else, seeing that he had only just attained a master's degree and taken a job. He was young and probably unprofessional, he probably felt like it was okay to do anything since he was the president of the company his father had left him.

"Will that be all, sir?" she asked him. The sooner she was done with him, the sooner she could leave, and that was all she wanted to do right now.

He nodded curtly.

Good.

"Glad I could help. Please excuse me," she said.

"You look unwell," he pointed out suddenly.

It was no business of his, but she nodded still. "Yes. That's why I'm heading out now," she replied. She tried not to sound curt. It suddenly felt like she was being probed by him and she hated it.

"I see," he said simply. "Get well soon."

"Thank you. Have a nice day," she replied. Her tone suggested that he stepped aside so she could pass.

A smirk curved his lips as he stepped aside and gestured for her to pass. She nodded curtly before walking past him. She was probably being petty towards him, but she truly couldn't help herself; she didn't like him, and she happened to be in a wretched mood. Besides, she wouldn't have been this way towards him if he had just left her alone, but no, he just had to talk to her, he had to make her even more upset than she already was.