Chapter 5 THE GAME BEGINS

Naomi's POV

How I managed to say that was what I couldn't understand no matter how much I thought about it. Fire? Heck! I couldn't afford to lose the job, not when I've tried to get a job for months and none of the companies around hired me, because I had a history-A well-known whistleblower.

"I won't only fire you, Naomi. I will make sure you spend the rest of the year holding your resume while you search the whole city for a job in the scorching sun" He said. Goosebumps kissed my skin, panic clawing at my chest.

The thought of searching for a job again, it made me sick.

"Mr. Kings. I didn't......" I couldn't finish my sentence because I didn't even know what to say. I didn't what? I didn't mean to say that?

"You may leave, Miss Naomi. Your job ended here as of today" He pronounced, and I found myself holding the hem of his shirt while I tried to beg him.

"Please....it really was a slip of the tongue. Please let me keep working with you" I pleaded, my hand tugging at his shirt.

He didn't look at me twice when he snapped my hands off him and walked away. I knew I was done for if I could ever lose this job. A lot of people were out there dying to get a job in his company, but I was offered one through a chance even I barely believed I had and I had the guts to tell him to fire me?

I stood behind him, crouching down as I grabbed his legs. "Please Mr. Kings. Forgive me. I'm sorry, I think I lost it for a moment, so please forgive me" I pleaded, not being able to keep the tears that blurred my vision from falling.

He then turned to me, leaning in close to my face and his hands which rested on my chin brought me back to standing upright.

"You don't yell at me, Miss Naomi. You don't get to tell me what to do and you don't get to threaten me even a bit" He said, his dark voice hoarse.

He had picked up the honorifics once again, and that alone was enough to terrify me.

"I understand sir. And I will abide by every rule sir" I said, now sniffling back my tears.

"Let's get to the office" He said and I bowed respectfully before following him out of the house. Heck! That was close, I almost lost my job because of my craziness. But even this man in front of me was changing. Two days ago, he was probably the sweetest man I had ever known in all my life. He was like a knight in shining armor when he saved me and punished those girls, but now at the moment, it felt so surreal. Like someone as cruel as him wouldn't be able to do those things.

**

Lucien Kings had a meeting a while ago and he made me tag along, the meeting ended and there I learned that there was going to be a gala party hosted by one of the influential businessmen who was only trying to impress the others-as Lucien had said it.

Lucien had gone out once more after then, and when I wanted to tag along, he was against it. I waited for him to pass by my front once again, and when he did, called his attention.

"What should I wear to the gala party tomorrow, sir?" I asked, and then his gaze shot up to me.

"How did you know about the gala? And why would you be there?" He asked. "You talked about it with the investors in the meeting room sir" I told him.

"Search your fucking brains for the answers, Mr. Kings" I wanted to say this to him while yelling at him but I couldn't.

"That doesn't mean you are going, Naomi" he said, bringing back the way I like it when he calls my name.

"But you said two days ago, Sir. That I have to be beside you at every gala....." I tried to remind him what he said to me the other day while pinning me to his office walls.

"That isn't important anymore. I can handle myself without having anyone around" He said, and I bowed, respecting his decision but I couldn't stop thinking about his changes and the fact that I must have angered him in some way.

"Did I do anything to make you angry, sir? If so, please tell me and I will gladly apologize" He said nothing, but just smirked, and then walked into his office.

"You are naive" He said, leaving me wondering what that was supposed to mean.

He peeped out through his door, calling for my attention. "Come over in here and get my ties arranged, Miss Naomi" I quickly stood up, muttering a yes sir as I found my way into the office. My eyes widened when I saw the scattered ties on the table. I could swear I arranged them the previous day, and I even brought some new ones from his home like he had wanted, but there they were, on his desk, scattered like an unkempt child.

I went over to his desk, picking them up one after the other as I tried to arrange them, but then I felt his hand on my hand, and that made electric rush through my body.

My gaze met his, and he was smirking. Like the flirty Lucien I met two days ago.

He took his hand away and all that was left on my hand was a red envelope, written boldly on it "THE MASKED GALA PARADISE" It was an invitation to the gala party he told me minutes ago that I couldn't attend.

My face lit up in surprise and before I could even utter a word, his hands were on mine again, his lips by my ear as his breath fanned against my collarbone.

"Wear red tomorrow. It's gonna be hot" Those words did numbers on me as I started growing hot under my skin.

The invite said it all, it was going to be a party that will leave memories etched in my head, a gathering I'd never gone before and tomorrow, I will be going with Lucien Kings.