Love & Seduction

Aurora pov

I quickly wiped the table in front of me before rushing to my supervisor's office.

"Sir, you called for me..." I smiled, trying to hide my exhaustion. Mr. Rex (our supervisor) is someone who truly hates it when his staff shows their exhaustion. He just wants us to work and smile all day without being tired.

"You're the one doing the delivery today," he said, catching me off guard. I was the one who handled delivery yesterday and today was supposed to be my off day,

" Mr. Rex, I did the delivery yesterday; I am supposed to get off in an hour. "

I tried so hard to keep up the pitiful face that never really worked on him ...

"Are we not going to have to argue out your role and how I want you to execute it?"

Mr. Rex's attitude is never for the gentle and soft-hearted .. "No, Mr. Rex, but please I would like to take an off today if possible will do the rest of the deliveries this week "

He raised his left hand which had his wristwatch strapped to it, "You have thirty minutes to get back here and get back on duty, or consider yourself fired! "

Mr Rex walked away from me, I could feel the pity stare from the customers who were still having their meal...

I picked up the package, dashed out of the door, straddled my bike ....

"Damn it..." I spat in frustration as I drove down the bustling street. As much as I hated Mr Rex's attitude, I couldn't even give him a proper punch as I always wanted. I have to keep this job no matter what, it's my only means of livelihood right now. My phone suddenly rang and I hurried to check the caller's ID...it was my mom.

"Mom...you okay?" I asked as I prayed silently that nothing had happened to her again.

"It's your mom's neighbor...Donna, your mom collapsed a few minutes ago"

"What!" My heart immediately started banging against my ribcage.

"Where is she now?"

"Everett Green Global Hospital..." she said

"Ok give me a few minutes, I'll be right..." I looked around to find the nearest turning point ...

There was one ahead of me, forgetting totally about the package I was to deliver ...

After twenty minutes of cycling, I finally got to the hospital, I rushed through the reception, scanned around for a familiar face

"I guess you're ma'am Donna?" I asked the old lady sitting in the waiting hall, She smiled.

"Did the doctor say anything?" I asked

"You know how medical practitioners are, they refuse to say anything unless it's to you" she answered

"Ohh thank you so much for bringing her here ma'am"

"No need for that; your mom's been a very nice neighbor to me ever since I moved into that neighborhood. This's just one of the smallest things I could do to help her," she gave me another smile before walking out of the hospital with another lady.

I went straight to the doctor's office to inquire about her condition first before going to see her. I wanted to have at least the smallest answer to the questions she'd be bombarding me with when I got to her ward. The doctor explained her situation to me and I couldn't stop shaking in fear

"Your mom would have to undergo a major surgery. Her kidneys are badly damaged, so she'll have to undergo the surgery as soon as possible," the doctor said, handing over her medical report to me.

"How much would it cost?" I asked as I tried all I could to hold back my tears.

"Approximately A million dollars, since we're operating on both kidneys," he said

"A million dollars?" I asked again to be sure I heard clearly, and he answered affirmatively, and my heart dropped.

'Where am I going to get a million dollars from? My job doesn't even pay up to fifty dollars and I recently spent all my savings on her drugs, house rent, and other pressing bills". I stood up from the chair, feeling devastated; my head twirled as I walked out of the door down to her ward.

"Aurora..." she smiled innocently on seeing me

"Mom..." I called and hugged her right. I couldn't stop my tears from flowing this time.

"Mo...m" I cried

"Please stop crying...stop" she consoled.

I waited till she fell asleep, and right at this time it was already night time, " shit, I am going to lose my job"

I ran right out of the hospital not minding the crazy eye they all sent my way... I found my bike but the package was gone ...

" I can't just lose this job, I still need the job to raise money for Mum's surgery" I cycled back to work

As I suspected, Mr. Rex was already waiting for me, "Where have you been and where is my package ?" He roared at me

I was still holding on to the door, the whole place was empty but, with a young man sitting at the end of the roll minding our business

I ran towards him and knelt before him, " Mr. Rex I am sorry about today, my mum was hospitalized, and I somehow lost the package, I will repay you but please don't fire me "

Mr Rex kicked me making me jump a few centimeters away from him, holding my arm in pain

" you swine, how dare you lose my money and expect me to let you live, go look off my pavan age or you consider yourself dead "

He kicked me, concurrently, with no mess, there was no one there to save me, all the workers had gone home

I was there at his mercy, " please, you are hurting me " I screamed in pain... "You piece of shit, you have no one to save you!"

" stop that!" A voice came, a calm and gentle voice ... " Come in now !" The young man spoke again... he must have called his men, the door suddenly opened up

" Who are you and how dare you stop me" mr Rex asked the young man who walked slowly towards us, I couldn't look up, due to the pain that had been inflicted on me

" I am your greatest fear!"

Aurora's pov

Mr. Rex bowed fearfully and walked away the moment the man spat out those words angrily, it seemed like Mr Rex feared the man.

The man, my savior... I looked up, expecting to see him close by. At least, I should say thanks. On raising my head, I noticed he'd already walked out with some men walking behind him, everywhere was so quiet as he left.

I struggled hard to get myself up and get going before Mr. Rex came out, I couldn't go report him to the police

He was friends with them, I walked all the way home forgetting my bike, prowling kept staring at me

"Oh, what happened to her "

" she looked badly hurt and dirty"

" Oh my, I wish I could help her!"

The words haunted me for days; I couldn't sleep, and neither could I go to the hospital; before I slept that night, I made sure to pay the bills.

I couldn't go to the hospital to treat myself, just because I needed to cut the cost.

3 Days Later

I sat at the counter with my hands moving back and forth. The thoughts of my mom's medical bills clouded my sense of reasoning. I received an email the night before that I could resume back at work.

"Aurora!" Mr Rex's voice made me realize where I was.

"Get your flat ass off that chair and go attend to customers!" He yelled

"Yes sir..." I quickly rushed to the lady who just walked.

"Hello ma'am...please may I take your order?" I asked

"A cup of cappuccino and a Red velvet cupcake," she said.

I went to the counter to place the order but Danielle, my colleague, suddenly rushed to me.

"Are you busy?" She asked

"Yap...I need to attend to a customer, I already placed her order" I answered

"Please help me attend to that group of men; I have to use the toilet now," she pleaded, as she pointed at a group of three men who were settling down at a corner.

"But the lady?"

"I'll ask Sonia to take the orders to her table, please help me," she said. From the look of things, she was going to mess herself up if I didn't do anything so I agreed to her request.

"Hello sirs..." I greeted the men with a friendly smile.

"Hello pretty," one of them answered, giving me a funny look, which I ignored.

"Please may I take your orders?" I asked

"I'd like fresh milk..." the second man said, obviously staring at my breast. The others laughed seeing how uncomfortable they were making me feel.

"I'm sure it's going to be delicious..." the third man laughed

"I'll go straight to the point; I'd love to have you for dessert," the man answered with that same look on his face. I just smiled and turned to ask the others again but I suddenly felt a hand grab my butt. I turned to see the man with a coy smile.

"That was ama..." I landed a slap across his face before he could finish his sentence.

"How dare you?" I asked but he only smiled more and tried to touch me again. I pushed him but the other men suddenly held me back.

"You piece of..." the second man raised his hand to slap me. I quickly closed my eyes in fear, waiting for the slap to land in my face, but after a few minutes, I didn't feel anything, so I opened my eyes only to see a hand holding the other man's hand mid-air.

"You want to lay your hands on a woman?" The person who helped me ask.

"Who are you?" The men muttered trying to oppress him with their looks.

"Rex take these idiots out of here!" He yelled and my supervisor immediately informed the security who rushed over to drag the men out.

I released a sign of relief immediately after they were thrown out.

"Are you ok, miss?" The person asked and I nodded. Looking up, the voice sounded familiar but I just couldn't place where I heard that voice from

"Thank you so much..." My words stopped halfway as I looked at the young man who just helped me.

"You ok?" He asked again but his voice sounded distant this time. I was lost in his eyes. He looked like a demigod from those fantasy romance books. My heart couldn't stop pounding as I batted my lashes in surprise...

"Where did this man come from?" I didn't realize I said that aloud.

"From Vietnam..." he answered with a small smug on his lips. That action alone was enough to make my fairly functioning heart stop beating immediately.

"You're from Vietnam?" I asked, shamelessly taking in every part of his body.

"Nope, just kidding" He bent down to my level and brought his face close to my ears. I could feel his hot breath against my ear, that alone got me weak in the knee.

"I know I'm handsome, but I'll appreciate it if you could stop eye-raping me; you could face a jail term, you know," he said; I couldn't help but giggle. He quickly pulled away and faced Mr Rex who was in front of us already

"Rex, is this how you handle this place? Some hoodlums were about to violate your employee and you just kept quiet?" He asked as Mr Rex trembled in fear. Whoever this man is, he must be powerful.

"I'm sorry sir, it will never happen again" Mr Rex apologized

"That's your problem..." the man said. He turned to me with a cute smile.

"You too, take care..." he said and I nodded. He was about to leave when I rushed to him...

"Excuse me..." I called

"Yes..."

"Please I want to properly thank you for your help...can I buy you coffee tomorrow?" I asked and he gave that smug of his again.

"I only drink expensive brands, can you afford that?" He asked

"I might not be able to buy you an expensive one, but it'll be delicious, I promise." I smiled; he just giggled, entered his car, and zoomed off.

"Is that a yes or a no?"

Kai's pov

I angrily picked up my car keys before exiting the living room. If my morning can be this bad, I wonder how the rest of my day will be. Clio kept blabbing behind me. She's been doing that since we woke up.

"Kai, do you even consider my feelings at all?" She asked coming to block my way

"Clio I'm not cut out for this right now, I have a meeting with the board of directors and I need to be in the right frame of mind for that" I placed my hands on her shoulders and gently pushed her to the side but she didn't give up, she rushed to my car and blocked the door to the driver's seat.

"Kai, you're not going anywhere until we solve this puzzle. Why are you treating me this way? You keep talking about having a child but you don't consider my feelings" she accused

"What? When have I ever not considered your feelings? Clio, it's been four years...four good years of marriage but still nothing to show for it. We keep turning in circles, Clio, and I'm fed up!" I spat.

"You're saying it as if I'm barren!"

"That's the problem here, isn't it? You're not barren, but we still don't have a child, and you blame it all on your career. Clio, you've been a model for ten years; just a year of a break to have a child wouldn't hurt, would it?"

"Kai, you don't get it; the modeling world revolves; that one year you keep talking about is like six years to us. In that one year, the modeling world would've changed, and I would've missed out on all the trends..."

"The trends?" I giggled sarcastically

"I guess marriage was also part of the trends at the time you agreed for us to get married" I concluded. With one hand, I pushed her aside, got into my car, and zoomed out.

"Damn!" I banged my fist on the steering wheel repeatedly. She has no right to tell me I was not considerate. I've been considerate for a good two years. She agreed to become a mother two years ago but the following year, she asked me to hold on because of her career. Once again, she agreed, but the following year,r, she changed her mind. I don't just know what to do about her now...

I got to the office and went straight to the board room. The directors were already wearing frowns when I got there, it's obvious they weren't happy with how I delayed them

"I'm so sorry for my late arrival, I had some pressing issues to attend to" I bowed

"Pressing issues that are more important than the company?" Mr Alex, who was a member of the board, said. His statement caused commotion as some other board members started discussing among themselves

"I'm sorry, but you all know I'm a family man; I have to put my family first," I said, and they all went quiet. We began the meeting which lasted for a few minutes.

"You have a meeting with the new investor from China next," My PA said as we headed to my office.

"Ahh..." I exhaled, I hadn't even started my day but I was feeling this tired and frustrated.

"Zǎoshang hǎo zhào xiānshēng (Good morning, Mr Zhao)." I smiled as I entered my office.

"Zǎoshang hǎo kǎi xiānshēng (good morning, Mr Kai)." We shook hands, and I offered him a seat. We discussed it at length, after which we signed the deal before I saw him off.

After the meeting with Mr Zhao, my day went on with a series of back-to-back meetings with various clients and colleagues, even with my staff. I didn't have the slightest time to even get lunch or rest my banging head.

Despite my efforts to think straight, I kept making silly mistakes and struggled to keep up with the demands of my job. As the day went on, my frustration kept increasing. The altercation I had with Clio this morning just distracted me. Why couldn't she understand my point of view? Why is she only concerned about her career? I decided to just go home and relax after everything.

"Sir you have a few more papers left to sign," My PA said

"Bring them home..."

My mind drifted back to the lady at the coffee shop that I had to save twice.

Finding myself laughing at such an incident baffled me the most, "But there is something that gets me too drawn to her, why do I have this urge to see her?"

I asked myself... I suddenly diverted my car and drove back to the coffee shop. I think I should just get the coffee and use that as an opportunity to see her again, it's better than going to Clio this early.

I entered the shop and the first person I saw was the lady. She waved at me immediately after she saw me; I smiled and waved back, too, before going to get a seat.

"Welcome sir..." she smiled.

"Yeah..." I smiled back

"So what can I get you? It's on me"

"Ice tea..." I answered

"Ice tea? You're not going for your expensive coffee?" She asked

"No...to be honest, I don't like coffee," I answered, and her mouth took the o shape.

"Ok, I'll be right back with your order," she happily went to get the order. I couldn't help but giggle at her care-free attitude

"Here..." she said. She was about to drop the glass on the table when a kid suddenly rushed by and pushed her. The glass cup fell first and shattered on the floor while she was about to fall on the shattered glass. My adrenaline never fails me, I quickly reached out for her before she could fall.

"Blood of Christ!" She said, opening her eyes slowly. My heart couldn't stop pounding, what almost happened?

"That was a fast one..." I muttered with my eyes locked in hers.

"Thanks for the save..." she smiled once again and I felt something strange kick in. At this time, my heart wasn't pounding as fast as it was earlier. This time, it was slow and rhythmic. My hands couldn't help but tighten around her tiny waist. It felt like it was just both of us in a slow-paced world, wrapped in each other's arms, in a beautiful beach resort.

"Mr Kai..." a voice suddenly jolted me to reality. I looked around and saw Rex with the kid who almost caused an accident a while ago. A lady who I assumed to be the child's mother was standing beside Rex.

"Can't you watch where you're going Aurora?! Why do you like causing trouble in this shop?" Rex fired immediately and she suddenly jumped out of my arms, so her name's Aurora? My hands suddenly felt empty, like I just misplaced something very important to me.

"I'm so sorry, Mr Rex," she apologized with her eyes looking down. How dare he shout at a worker who did nothing wrong?

"Rex, what did you just say?" I asked.