Chapter 5 She's Not Yours

I shut my office door behind me, shaking my head. I wasn't sure what had gotten into me lately, letting things slide, carrying her to the hospital, buying her ice cream. None of it made sense.

And now? I was asking her to move in.

I ran a hand through my hair, irritated at myself. Whatever this was, I needed to keep it under control.

A knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts.

"The board is waiting," she said, standing in the doorway.

I nodded, straightened my jacket, and followed her out.

The meeting room buzzed with low conversation until I stepped inside. Everyone stood. I waved them back to their seats and moved to the head of the table.

"Long time no see, Lewis," a voice drawled.

I glanced across the room and spotted Tony Brown. My jaw tightened.

He wasn't just an old classmate,he was a rival.

His eyes flicked to Priynka. "And who's this?"

"My assistant" I said flatly.

He smirked, leaning back in his chair. "Lucky you."

I ignored him and turned back to the meeting.

Still, I couldn't help but notice the way his gaze lingered on her. It bothered me more than it should.

As the meeting progressed, I tried to focus on the agenda, but Tony's lingering glances at Priynka gnawed at me. Every time she jotted down notes or shifted in her seat, his eyes followed too closely.

I clenched my jaw, gripping the pen in my hand a little too tightly. Why was he even here? His family has shares with the company but still the guy had always been an opportunist, poking his nose where it didn't belong.

"Mr. Bradford?" Mr. Carl's voice snapped me back to reality.

I cleared my throat. "Yes?"

"We were discussing potential models for the new product launch. Do you have anyone in mind?"

Tony chuckled under his breath, just loud enough for me to hear. "Unless your assistant plans on modeling too," he said, flashing a cocky grin.

I shot him a glare sharp enough to cut glass. Scumbag.

Ignoring his jab, I leaned back in my chair, voice steady. "We'll work with a professional agency. I'll review the final options myself."

Tony's smile didn't fade. Instead, he turned back to Priynka. "Still, you could give the models some competition," he said, his tone too smooth for my liking.

Without thinking, I stood and peeled off my jacket, stepping behind her chair. She stiffened slightly as I draped it over her shoulders, covering the bare skin her dress revealed. Then, as an afterthought, I reached for her hairband, pulling it free so her hair cascaded over her neck. Better.

The room fell uncomfortably silent.

"Let's stay on topic," I said, sitting back down.

Tony tilted his head, clearly amused, but said nothing more. For the rest of the meeting, I kept my face neutral but inside, my blood simmered.

When the meeting finally wrapped up, everyone filed out, except Priynka. I leaned against the desk, watching her as she collected her notes.

The meeting came to an end "You're coming with me," I said.

She paused mid motion. "What?"

"Lunch" I clarified, pushing off the desk. "Let's go."

"But-"

"No 'but.' I'm your boss." Without waiting for her to argue, I grabbed my phone and led the way.

As we walked through the office, I ignored the curious glances from employees. I held the door open for her, guiding her to my car.

When we reached a nearby bistro, a flirty waitress greeted us as we sat down. "What can I get for you, sir?" she asked, I could feel her eyes on me.

"Order whatever you want," I told Priynka, ignoring the waitress's sour expression as she walked away.

She blinked at me, confused. "What was that?"

"Don't worry about it," I said, leaning back in my seat.

We ate quietly for a while, but I couldn't stop watching her. The way her lips curved slightly when she found something funny. The way she devoured her food-completely unbothered by appearances. There was something refreshing about how real she was.

"Is there something on my face?" she asked, catching my gaze.

"Yeah,your left cheek," I lied smoothly.

She wiped at it. "Did I get it?"

I shook my head. "Nope. Still there."

She huffed in frustration, trying again.

"Forget it" I said with a chuckle. "I've got better things to focus on anyway."

She narrowed her eyes. "You're impossible."

"You're stuck with me," I countered, smirking.

By the time we finished, I drove her home, stopping in front of her house. She turned to me, a little more serious. "Thanks... for the lunch," she said softly.

I nodded, watching her walk inside before driving off.

But as I settled back into my house, the silence felt heavier than usual. My mind drifted to her again.

And I realized, much to my irritation, that I wasn't done with Priynka Wald. Not even close.

Priynka's POV

I walked into the quiet house after Lewis dropped me off, not at the office, but home. The silence was thick, almost suffocating, a stark contrast to the heated exchange we'd just had. I kicked off my flats, sighing as my eyes fell on the jacket draped over my shoulders. His jacket.

I shrugged it off and tossed it onto the bed. I still couldn't believe how fussy he got over a simple dress.

Tony Brown was undeniably handsome, with his smooth charm and easy going smile but he was no match to Lewis. There was something about the way Lewis commanded attention, his brooding presence lingering even when he wasn't around. Ugh

I flopped onto my bed, staring at the ceiling. The silence stretched, weighing me down. Boring. Mind numbingly boring. I needed a distraction, something to shake off the tension. The club was definitely an option, anything to drown out the thoughts swirling in my head.

Reaching for my bag, I pulled out my phone, swiped it open, and tapped the music player.

"Señorita it is."

I cranked up the volume and let the seductive melody fill the room, swaying my hips as I peeled off my clothes and made my way to the bathroom.

Warm water cascaded down my skin, washing away the tension. I lathered soap between my palms, the scent of vanilla filling the air as I ran it across my body. My thoughts drifted mostly back to him. His piercing gaze, the way his fingers tightened around my wrist at the club. Why did he care so much?

I stepped out of the shower, wrapping a fluffy towel around my damp hair and tying a robe around my body. The cold air hit my skin as I padded back to my room.

Facing the closet, I tapped a finger against my chin. "Hmm... should I wear this? Or that? No, definitely not too casual. This? Nah, too... much." I huffed in frustration, tossing dresses aside.

My eyes landed on a sleek black ripped jean paired with a fishnet underlay and a silver-studded bra top. Perfect. Just enough edge to make a statement without going overboard.

settled at my vanity, drying my hair into voluminous curls before adding a smoky touch to my eyes. A swipe of red lipstick sealed the look..bold, daring, and exactly what I needed tonight.

I slid into a matching black bra and panties before slipping into the outfit. A choker encircled my neck, adding a touch of rebellion, and I finished the look with knee-high black boots. I admired myself in the mirror, a slow smirk tugging at my lips.

"Nothing much, Priynka. Just a little fun," I murmured, grabbing my shoulder purse and heading out.

A few blocks away, I hailed a cab. "Club Ferchanaz," I instructed, leaning back against the seat, anticipation buzzing under my skin.

The moment I stepped inside, the pounding bass and neon lights swallowed me whole. The atmosphere was electric..bodies swaying, laughter bubbling over the music. I walked with my head high, ignoring the lingering stares.

I ordered a cocktail, savoring the cool burn down my throat before hitting the dance floor. My body moved effortlessly to the beat, hips rolling, hands grazing my waist. For the first time all day, I felt free.

A tall, handsome stranger slid up beside me, his smooth dance moves catching my attention. Bold. Confident. I liked that.

"You look amazing," he shouted over the music, his breath warm against my ear.

"I know," I quipped, flashing him a playful smile. My body matched his rhythm perfectly, the tension easing as I lost myself in the music.

And then everything shattered.

A fist flew, catching the stranger off guard. He staggered backward, clutching his jaw. My heart lurched.

"Lewis?!" I gasped, shock flooding my veins.