Twenty Three.

I enter the Burak Legacys Building with two minutes to spare. I stroll through the foyer to the bank of elevators in a fog of bad thoughts. Some days I feel like I'm punching under my body weight.

Frequently, who or what remains debatable.

I wait for the elevator car to descend to my level and for the doors to slide open.

But, today I have a name and a face. Trent Esposito.

This man drives me insane with agony. He causes my blood to boil as if it were lava coursing through my veins, and my heart to turn black, resembling a shrivelled up prune.

I get inside the elevator car and punch the level eight button, watching as the doors slide shut.

This morning's beautiful nightmare is still too raw. My tongue is stained with a metallic flavour. My ears still ring with the agonising sound of crushing bones, and the sensation of sinking into a black hole still caresses my senses.

As I open my purse and take out a chocolate bar, I grumble and shake my head. One of life's minor joys that I crave when I am caught between what is real and what is not. I tear open the wrapper and take a bite.

As if I'm a starved beast, I devour it as the confectionary goodness dances upon my tastebuds.

I am gradually making progress towards meeting my self-imposed sugar quota before reaching the eighth level.

I permit my mind to recollect specific details from the dream. When a vision of Trent's head rolling across the room rushes through my thoughts, my heart flutters.

I really would like to pat myself on the shoulder for the strength it took to plunge the blade straight into his racing heart before I slid out from beneath him.

The vial with the snake venom Castello gave me on the night of our first encounter is concealed in one of the soles of my shoe, which is tucked away at the bottom of my wardrobe.

I have not yet built up the courage to use it against him.

The car comes to a halt on the third floor, and I relish the extra time the brief stop affords me to savour the gooey caramel chocolate-covered bar that melts delectably on the tip of my tongue.

When the doors slide open, two gentlemen are engaged in an intense conversation with Aydem. As usual, he looks out of place.

A man with a face and physique chiselled by the Gods belongs on a runway or in an atmosphere where his body will be admired.

Not stuck behind a desk.

When I look at him he distinguishes the burning bitterness within me.

Why does he have this effect on me?

Will I ever become immune to him?

Will I be able to financially crush him?

Gods! I have no other choice.

He peers up and when our eyes collide, a slow, heart-stopping smirk curves on his face.

Fantastic!

He's playing a game of cat and mouse with me. As of now, I am his new challenge. I avert my gaze from his and shove my chocolate back into my purse.

The smirk on his face quickly vanishes and his brows crease together. "We will speak of this another time." He murmurs to the men beside him and I can still feel his gaze on me.

He steps into the car with me and faces me. When the other men step forward he holds up his hand. "Catch the next one." He mutters as he forbids them to share the car with us.

Their steps falter, they look at me, between themselves and back at Aydem. The sense of confusion is evident on their faces. I make a move to step out of the car as the last thing I need this morning is to be left in a small compartment with him.

"Not so fast, Ms Cross." His fingers wrap themselves around my elbow and he lightly tugs me back into the car.

When the doors close and the elevator begins its steady ascent. I yank my arm free from his hold. His fingertips feel like fire bands branding my skin.

"Please refrain from putting your hands on me." I snap with irritation heavily coating my words.

I have had enough males touching me without my consent, and the last thing I need is to be dominated at my place of employment as well. I am tired of my skin being covered with beautiful shades like blue, purple, and yellow.

He grips my upper arm once more, but his touch is light and delicate this time. He looks at me, truly looks at me, to the point that I begin to panic internally that he may have some inkling as to why I am here.

"Something has happened. Tell me what's wrong?" The pad of his thumb starts to stroke my shoulder.

The electrifying sensation crackles in the air between us and I quickly find myself swaying towards him as I rapidly find myself getting lost in the depths of his emerald green irises.

I clear my throat and step back from him. "I'm fine." My brows crease and I watch him withdraw a lone key from the inside of his suit jacket. He plugs it into the side panel, all the lights turn off except the one for the top floor.

Today, he is dressed in a charcoal suit with immaculate white pinstripes. Observing him from behind was an added bonus. His strong shoulders accentuated his lean torso and thick thighs. His silky black curls that sat on the nape of his collar was enticing me to run my fingers through them and pull his head backwards.

I want to irritate him as much as I am. I desire to become involved in a fight with him to divert my attention away from the personal difficulties that await me at the mansion.

"Mr Burak, I am not here for your amusement. I have a job to do, and you are barking up the wrong tree if you are hoping for an office fling."

He glances at me over his shoulder. "The truth, Ms Cross. Nothing but the truth between us from here on out." He says with a rich accent that has my toes curling inside my heels.

"Mr Burak, I think you're attractive. Am I willing to risk my job to allow you to fuck me and then fire me?" I raise my eyes and observe the ancient needle flicker as we cross through many floors. "No!"

He gently turns to face me, his hands resting in his pockets and his face lights up with a ghostly smile. I get more irritated by his self-assurance and graceful demeanour. "I never fuck the same woman twice, Ms Cross. I never, and I mean asla (never) terminate someone over a brief fuck either."

"Call me crazy, but I like to be wined and dined before I get naked in front of someone." Pure annoyance laces my words.

I watch as his eyes darken and his voice turns raspy. "Me being romantic isn't in my repertoire, Ms Cross. What you see is what you get." His voice is close to a snarl."

The elevator car comes to a halt. Aydem withdraws the key from the panel and the doors instantly slide open. I breathe a sigh of relief. Being stuck in the elevator with him was causing my anxiety to skyrocket.

"I have something I want to show you." He grabs me by the upper arm and urges me to follow him.

I immediately follow him, intrigued as to where he is taking me. Another bulletproof glass wall comes into view, and he never falters as we are instantly buzzed through.

We walk past the blonde girl at the desk, who glances at me with contempt, prompting me to stick out my tongue at her. Her mouth snaps shut as she continues to glare at me while Aydem steers me towards another office with glass walls.

We enter via two doors. He releases me as he closes the doors and turns the lock, which makes a clicking sound.

"Sit." He demands as he rounds his enormous desk and activates a button beneath it. The windows begin to fog up swiftly as they protect us from the rest of the staff on the other side of the glass.