Chapter 38

MADDIE

Mark showed me around the entire building, pointing out all the key areas. He started with the common spaces, like the break room and lounge, where employees could relax or grab a snack. Then, he walked me through the meeting rooms, explaining how often they were used for team discussions and presentations.
As we walked, Mark kept up a light and friendly commentary. "This is where most of the brainstorming happens," he said, gesturing toward a glass-walled meeting room. "And over there, you'll find the printing and supplies area. If you ever run out of paper, that's your go-to spot."
I nodded, trying to take it all in. The building was much larger than I'd expected, with sleek, modern designs and open spaces that buzzed with quiet productivity.
When we reached the area with the private offices, Mark lowered his voice slightly. "These are for the big shots. You probably won't come here often unless you're summoned," he joked, flashing a grin. "But don't worry; they're mostly nice... as long as you do your job."
He stopped in front of a particularly large office with a frosted glass door. "That's the CEO's office. If you ever need to go in there, you're either in big trouble or doing something really impressive."
I laughed nervously. I know exactly who's occupying that office, and I know him personally, or rather intimately. But of course, he doesn't need to know that.
Mark probably noticed my reaction. He gently tapped my shoulder and reassured me. "You'll do fine."
I responded with a polite smile.
"I know this is technically the HR department's responsibility, but they asked me to step in and help out," Mark explained as we made our way toward the other offices.
"I guess you're the go-to guy for favors around here," I said with a smile, trying to ease my nerves.
Mark chuckled. "Something like that. I'm not complaining, though—it's a good way to meet new people. Plus, it beats sitting at my desk all morning." He glanced over at me. "And hey, it's nice to meet someone new who doesn't already know every nook and cranny of this place."
I smiled in his enthusiasm. His laugh was so infectious that I couldn't help but laugh along with him as we passed along the CEO's office. We were both startled when the door from the CEO's office suddenly swung open. 
Our eyes met, and I noticed his familiar dark eyes. He was frowning as if something pissed him off.
"Good morning, M-Mr. Grant," Mark stammered, his voice shaky. "T-This is Ms. Phillips, our new hire from the Marketing Department," he said, gesturing toward me.
I kept up the pretense and extended my hand for a handshake, plastering on a polite, professional smile. "Good morning, Mr. Grant. It's a pleasure to meet you," I said, my voice steady despite the nerves coursing through me.
Hades raised an eyebrow, his expression sharp. "Miss Phillips?" he repeated, his tone tinged with irritation.
I swallowed hard, instantly catching the annoyance in his voice. It was clear he didn’t appreciate me using my maiden name instead of his. But I had been very firm about keeping my personal life separate from my work, and using my married name wasn’t an option. Still, his disapproval sent a wave of unease through me.
I glanced nervously at Mark, who was standing awkwardly, clearly sensing something unusual about the exchange. My tension eased just slightly when Hades accepted my handshake, his warm hand enclosing mine. For a fleeting moment, I thought he would let the situation slide without incident.
But then, without warning, he pulled me into his office, his grip firm but not painful. The sudden movement caught me off guard, and my eyes widened in shock. As the door shut behind us, I caught a glimpse of Mark’s stunned, bewildered expression.
The moment the door clicked closed, I yanked my hand away. "Are you freaking kidding me?" I hissed, barely containing my frustration. Realizing my voice might have carried, I quickly covered my mouth, horrified at the thought of someone outside overhearing me curse at our supposed boss.
Hades smirked, unbothered by my reaction. He gently pulled my hand away from my mouth, his touch annoyingly confident. "Relax," he said, his voice smooth and calm. "The office is soundproof. You can scream as loud as you like."
The double meaning in his words wasn’t lost on me. His tone and the way his dark eyes gleamed suggested he wasn’t just talking about my shouting complaints. Images flashed through my mind—images of him pinning me against the wall, his hands roaming my body, and us tangled together on the sleek office furniture. My cheeks flushed as the thought stirred something deep inside me, an unbidden warmth that I tried to suppress.
I scowled, forcing myself to snap out of it. This was not the time or place to let my imagination run wild. "What is wrong with you?" I asked, keeping my voice low but laced with irritation.
Hades leaned against his desk, his smirk unwavering. "Nothing. Honestly, I'm perfectly fine. Not until I heard someone not using her married name, Miss Phillips," he said, emphasizing my last name as if mocking me.
I folded my arms across my chest, determined not to let him get under my skin. "Well, I thought I made it perfectly clear that I don't want anyone to know about us," I shot back, keeping my tone sharp even as my pulse quickened under his gaze. 
Hades’s smirk widened, his eyes gleaming with amusement as if my defiance was a game he enjoyed far too much. "Oh, you made it clear, alright," he said, his voice silky smooth. "But it seems you’ve forgotten one crucial thing, sweetheart—you don’t get to dictate the terms here."
I narrowed my eyes at him, refusing to let him intimidate me. "Excuse me? I thought we agreed to keep our personal lives out of the workplace."
He chuckled softly, the sound low and infuriatingly charming. "We did. But when you’re parading around pretending to be single, it's making me question that agreement."
I scoffed, rolling my eyes. "Don’t be ridiculous. I'm not doing the things you're accusing me of. I just don’t want my professional reputation tied to you—or anyone else, for that matter. What do you think will happen if people here in your office know that I'm married to you?"
Hades pushed off the desk and took a step closer, closing the distance between us. His presence was overwhelming, and the faint scent of his cologne made my resolve waver. "They'll probably get their hands off you," he said, his voice dropping to a husky whisper.
I stood my ground, even though my heart was racing. "You're not making any sense, Hades. And I don’t see why you’re making such a big deal out of this."
He reached up, brushing a strand of hair from my face with a maddeningly gentle touch. "Because, darling," he murmured, his eyes locked on mine, "I don’t like the idea of anyone looking at you and thinking you’re available. You’re mine."
His words sent a shiver down my spine, and I hated how much they affected me. "This isn’t about you, Hades," I snapped, though my voice lacked the bite I intended.
His gaze darkened, and he leaned in closer, his lips just inches from mine. "Everything about you, Maddie, is about me," he said, his tone possessive and unyielding. "And the sooner you accept that, the easier this will be for both of us."
I swallowed hard, my resolve crumbling under the weight of his words and the intensity of his gaze. "You’re impossible," I whispered, my voice barely audible, though the trembling in my tone betrayed how much he was affecting me.
"And you," he replied, his lips curving into a wicked smile that sent shivers down my spine, "are irresistible."
Before I could muster a reply, he closed the remaining distance between us and claimed my lips in a searing kiss. The move was so sudden, so consuming, that it stole the breath from my lungs. His hands gripped my waist, pulling me flush against him, and I instinctively raised my hands to his chest, intending to push him away.
But the instant his lips moved against mine, coaxing and commanding all at once, any resistance I had melted like ice under the sun. His kiss was an intoxicating blend of dominance and tenderness, and I hated how quickly it unraveled me. My hands slid up, almost of their own accord, wrapping around his neck as I leaned into him, surrendering to the magnetic pull of his embrace.
A soft sigh escaped me as he deepened the kiss, his tongue tracing the seam of my lips before delving inside. The taste of him—dark, heady, and utterly addictive—clouded my thoughts, leaving me no room for anything but the moment. I clung to him as if he were the only anchor in a storm, the heat between us building with every passing second.
Hades tilted his head slightly, adjusting the angle, and the kiss grew more intense. One of his hands slid up my back, his fingers tangling in my hair as he held me firmly, yet not unkindly. The other hand remained on my waist, its grip possessive, as if he were staking a claim that no one else could contest.
Thankfully, before everything got out of hand, the sound of a knock at the door shattered the moment. However, Hades seems to have no intention of stopping.
I gently pressed my hands on his chest and pushed him away. "Hades...stop..." I said in between our kisses. "Someone's at the door..."
"Let them," he replied when he left my lips for a while. 
When he's about to kiss me again, I quickly put my fingers on his lips, stopping him from proceeding to another mind-blowing kiss. 
"We should stop. We shouldn't be doing this during office hours," I replied.
"Does that mean we can continue after office hours?" he said with a playful smirk on his lips.
I roll my eyes at him as a response before gently pushing him away. This time, he finally put a distance between us. I was shaking my head as I made my way to the door. 
Before I could open it, he said something, "I'll pick you up at lunch."
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