Chapter 40

MADDIE

We all returned to our desks after lunch, the buzz of chatter slowly dying down as everyone settled back into their routines. I was just about to sit when a woman in a sleek black skirt and sharp heels walked straight toward me with purpose. 

“Miss Phillips?” she asked, glancing down at a clipboard before meeting my eyes. 

“Yes?” I replied, slightly confused. 

“Mr. Grant is asking for you. He’s waiting in his office,” she informed me matter-of-factly. 

Just like that, the air seemed to change. 

I felt my breath hitch in my throat, like I’d been punched in the gut. Everyone at the table turned to stare at me, their curiosity practically written on their faces. It was as if I had suddenly turned into the office’s biggest mystery. 

“Damn you, Hades,” I muttered under my breath through gritted teeth, forcing a polite smile. “Thank you for letting me know. I’ll be there in a minute.” 

She gave a curt nod and walked away, her heels clicking loudly against the floor. 

But instead of immediately going to his office like she expected, I plopped down on my chair and grabbed the office phone. My fingers hovered over the buttons—only to realize I had no idea what his extension was. Of course, I didn’t. 

I turned to Lisa, who sat beside me, now eyeing me with thinly veiled interest. “Do you happen to know the CEO’s extension number?” 

Lisa raised a brow, clearly amused. “Wait, don’t tell me you’re about to call Mr. Grant instead of going to his office when he specifically asked to see you?” 

I froze, trying to come up with a believable excuse. Nothing came to mind. 

Lisa leaned closer, her voice lowered in disbelief. “Girl, that’s a death wish. But fine, here it is,” she said, handing me a small piece of paper with the number scribbled on it. 

“Thanks,” I mumbled, taking it quickly before dialing the number with shaky fingers. 

After a few rings, a polite voice picked up. “Mr. Grant’s office. How may I help you?” 

“This is Maddie from the Marketing Department,” I said cautiously. “Mr. Grant wanted to talk to me.” 

“One moment, please. I’ll transfer you.” 

I held my breath as the call clicked and began ringing again. 

“Hello?” came his deep, unmistakable voice. 

“You wanted to talk to me?” I whispered, barely able to speak. 

“If I wanted to talk to you over the phone, I’d be the one calling. Apparently, my instruction wasn’t clear. Maybe I should come down there myself,” he said coolly, with just enough edge to make my stomach twist. 

“No!” I blurted, a bit too loudly. Heads snapped in my direction. I immediately ducked my head, pretending to read something on my desk. “No. Don’t come here. I’ll go to your office now,” I whispered as low as I could. 

He chuckled, clearly enjoying himself. “I’ll see you then,” he said before hanging up. 

I exhaled slowly, feeling the heat rise to my cheeks as I set the phone back down. 

Lisa was smirking. “First day on the job, and you’re already being summoned by the big boss?” she teased. “What kind of trouble are you in?” 

If only she knew. 

I stood up slowly, smoothing down my skirt with shaky hands. My heart was pounding so loud I swore people around me could hear it. I gave Lisa a weak smile and tried to play it cool, but my legs felt like jelly with every step I took toward the elevator. 

The ride to the top floor felt longer than usual. The soft ding of the elevator doors opening pulled me out of my spiraling thoughts. I stepped out into the quiet, polished hallway that led to Hades’s office. Everything about this floor screamed power—glass walls, sleek furniture, and a kind of silence that made you feel like you didn’t belong unless your name was on the door. 

I approached the large, dark wooden double doors that marked his territory. The receptionist gave me a short nod, already expecting me. “You can go in,” she said with a polite smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. 

Taking a deep breath, I pushed open the door. 

Hades was behind his desk, typing something on his laptop. His office was as intimidating as him—modern, cold, and expensive. The large windows behind him gave a stunning view of the city, but my eyes were fixed on him. 

He didn’t even look up. 

I cleared my throat gently. “You asked to see me?” 

He paused for a second before finally lifting his gaze. His eyes met mine, unreadable but intense. 

“Yes,” he said calmly. “Close the door.” 

That sentence alone sent a chill down my spine. I hesitated for a moment before reaching behind me to shut the door with a quiet click. The sound felt final, like something had just been locked in. 

“Come here,” he added, motioning for me to stand in front of his desk. 

I did as I was told, trying to keep my expression neutral even though my nerves were shot. 

"Not there," he said with his deep baritone voice. "Here," he pointed out the space beside him. 

I gulped before moving closer to him until I found myself standing right in front of him. He swiveled his chair towards me. 

“You really had a habit of disobeying me,” he said, leaning back in his chair as he laced his fingers together. “I asked you to come straight to my office, and instead, you called me.” 

“I didn’t think it was that big of a deal,” I replied, trying to keep my voice firm. “I was trying to be discreet.” 

He tilted his head slightly, studying me like I was a puzzle he was trying to solve. “Discreet?” he repeated. “You should have thought about that before having lunch without me." 

My stomach dropped. So, that was all it was about. 

I parted my lips, ready to defend myself, but the words caught in my throat when he abruptly rolled his chair forward, eliminating any space between us. The heat of his body pressed against mine, stealing the breath from my lungs. 

My mind went blank the moment I felt his fingers lightly tracing slow, deliberate circles along my thigh. 

“I–I’m sorry… it completely slipped my mind,” I managed to say, my voice barely more than a whisper. 

He hummed thoughtfully, almost as if he were enjoying the way I squirmed under his touch. His hand continued its slow ascent, gliding higher, igniting sparks in its wake. 

I drew in a sharp breath as his fingers brushed further up, creeping toward the space between my thighs—teasing, testing, and completely unraveling me. 

I drew in a sharp breath the moment his finger slid along my slit, the thin fabric of my underwear doing little to shield me from the wicked pleasure his touch delivered. My hips twitched involuntarily, betraying how my body reacted despite my better judgment. 

"I'm starving..." he murmured, his voice low and husky, eyes locked onto mine with an intensity that made my stomach flip. 

My heart skipped a beat, misinterpreting his words under the haze of what he was doing. I blinked at him in disbelief. "Here?" I asked, my voice laced with shock and something else I didn't want to admit. 

He chuckled, deep and amused, clearly enjoying my stunned reaction. “As much as I’d love to do exactly what you’re thinking…” he trailed off, raising a brow at me with that familiar cocky smirk, “…I meant food. Actual food.” 

He tilted his head toward the corner of the room, finally pulling his hand away—leaving behind a trail of tingling heat in its absence. 

I turned my head to follow his gaze and only then noticed the table near the window, set with an impressive spread of food. Dishes of all kinds were arranged neatly, still steaming as if they had just been brought in. My cheeks flushed with embarrassment as I realized what he’d meant from the start. 

“Well,” he added smoothly, standing up and adjusting his sleeves like nothing just happened, “I skipped lunch because my wife was too busy ignoring her husband’s very clear invitation.” 

The way he emphasized wife made my cheeks heat up all over again. He said it so casually, like it was the most natural thing in the world for us to be having this conversation—in his office, after he’d just had his hands on me. 

I narrowed my eyes at him, trying my best to push past the embarrassment and maintain some shred of dignity. “A little heads-up would've been nice,” I muttered, crossing my arms as I stood up a little straighter, hoping to regain some control of the situation. 

But of course, Hades wasn’t about to let that happen. 

He grinned, the kind of grin that said, I’ve already won. “But then I’d miss out on that adorable expression you just made,” he teased, his eyes dancing with amusement. “You should see yourself. It was… honestly, kind of sexy.” 

I let out a groan and covered my face with my hand. “You’re insufferable.” 

He stepped closer, lowering his voice as he leaned in just slightly. “And yet, here you are.” 

I peeked at him through my fingers and tried not to smile—but failed. “Don’t flatter yourself,” I said, trying to sound annoyed. “I’m only here because I didn’t want you marching into the Marketing Department and making a scene.” 

“Oh, don’t worry,” he said, already moving toward the table where the food waited. “I’ll save the scene for dessert.” 

I blinked. “I’m sorry—what?” 

He simply looked over his shoulder with a wink and patted the chair next to him. “Come and feed me before I decide dessert should come first.” 

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