16

"So you're dating Nathaniel again."

The feathery voice of my boss tears me out of my thoughts and as if by pressing a button, my head rings up where I look straight into her beautiful blue eyes.

"Yes." I answer shyly and look down.

"Do you think you can handle the magnitude of his power?" she asks, sitting in the chair in front of me.

Her posture is straight, her gaze stern yet loving, and her smile is a work of art in itself.

Just like her son, Aurora Vance has an expressive appearance. Strong, precise, dominant, influential and also very aware of being the best in everything she does.

"When I married Nathaniel's father, he had nothing. We've been through thick and thin to get to where we are today. Nathaniel, however, is a young man who knows what he needs to work out, how, and with whom to be To reach his goal, that's why he's the richest man in the world under 30. There's no question who he got it from. You're younger than him and so inexperienced, I worry about your mental health, Sophia," she says and her voice echoes throughout my body. I appreciate your concern, but I'm tired of hearing the same thing from everyone.

"I'm already mentally shattered, Mrs. Vance, and it's not just because of my mother. If I ever get so bad that I'm going out of my mind, and in public, Nathaniel certainly has nothing to do with it. Your concern is very flattering , but I don't need a mother, because I could live without it for the last 18 years, so it will work without it for the next time.", I reply, not taking my eyes off her blue eyes and trying desperately, my voice sounding almost as strong to let her like.

"I didn't mean to offend you in any way, Sophia.", "I know that and I'm really grateful that you care so much about me, but I ask that you respect me and my privacy and if you have any questions about my relationship with your son , then ask Nathaniel and not me.", I say and without another word, after a nod she disappears.

I take a deep breath and lean back in my chair.

It's all just too much sometimes and right at that moment everything seems to be getting over my head.

My hand slides to the receiver by itself and only a few minutes later, the voice of my lover sounds.

"Hello, Sophia." He starts and my whole body reacts to his voice.

"Hi, Panther." I sigh, running my fingers through my hair.

"Is it something important, Sophia? I'm in a conference right now," Nate replies, all tense and cold. My heart clenches and I bite my lower lip. I know he's busy and yet it hurts me when he's suddenly so cold and distant when it comes to work.

"No, that's fine. See you later.", I murmur just as monotonously as he does and want to hang up, but of course Mr. Dominant won't let me.

"Sophia, please," he says sternly, letting his deep bass vibrate in my chest.

"It's all right, Nathaniel. I just wanted to hear your voice," I admit wistfully.

"Don't ever call me Nathaniel again, Sophia. I'll call you back when the conference is over, okay?", "You don't have to. I'll just drive home after work and maybe come to your place then.", I reply and sigh.

"Sophia, if you don't want me to storm into your office in less than five minutes and force you to tell me what's going on, then you should speak up right now." one time my mood seems to sink completely into the ground.

"I'm not an appointment, Nate. You can't reschedule me or I don't know what! I said I'm going home after work and-" "Your home isme,Sophia," he interrupts sternly.

On the one hand my heart rises, but on the other hand I could punch him through the line.

"I'm going to hang up Nathaniel," I mumble, sighing.

"You're driving me crazy, Sophia." Nate growls and seems to be having a hard time pulling himself together.

"Don't go home, please. I need you," he adds, though, and my chest gets warm and goosebumps cover my whole body.

"Okay." I mumble, playing with my lips and staring at the ceiling.

"I'll wait for you in the car at 6 p.m. exactly and hope you get in."

His voice calms me down again, but somehow something has changed between us that I don't really like. It's not attraction or the desire to fuck each other until you forget the date, it's something else. Since the breakup, I have changed, even if it's only been two weeks. I've gotten more confident and outspoken and I know Nate doesn't like that. He wants me to submit to him completely, so this bad girl phase doesn't really go over well with him. I just hope that things will work out for the best and that I can pull myself together.

"I'll come.", I just answer and then I already hang up.

My head is full and Mrs Vance's words are blurring my vision. The thoughts, the questions and all the missing answers make me very tired and I feel so broken.

I don't really want to be fooled by anyone, but Mrs Vance had that look in her eye that got me thinking. Of course I'm aware that she only wants the best for me but also for her son and in her eyes we're just not that good for each other, but at some point I really couldn't pull myself together anymore.

Why does everybody need to interfere in my relationship? We're in the public eye anyway and everyone knows everything about us, so I really don't need any personal opinions that are only "well intentioned".

I turn to my stereo and let the music play, enjoy the soft sound of Adele's strong voice and just start drawing, otherwise I'll be racking my brains over irrelevant stuff and then be in a bad mood when I finally meet up with Nate .

Shortly after work I see Nate's car as I get out of the elevator and despite the tense mood from earlier, I'm more than excited to finally see him again.

Just as I'm about to step out of the building, I hear my name and the voice is far too familiar.

Deep, raw and distinguished by an intense British accent.

Of course, I look into the matching brown eyes, which make me very nervous.

"Coen, what are you doing here?" I ask surprised, can't believe my ex boyfriend is standing in front of me.

My relationship with Coen Klein was passionate at the time and while he broke my heart towards the end of it all by moving to Liverpool, I'm delighted to see him here now. It's been almost three years and it's still a sight to behold.

Striking, angular facial features to a straight nose, the perfectly matching lips and brown eyes that I would have killed for in the past because they always looked deep into my soul.

"I got transferred to New York. I'm now working at Vance Industry as head of the engineering label. I met your sister and she told me you work here, so I couldn't wait any longer," Coen tells me and I enjoy his British accent way too much.

His strong hands reach for mine and before I can say anything, his muscular arms are wrapped around my petite body.

Without holding the hug for long, he breaks away from me a few seconds later and his eyes are filled with longing, but I doubt whether I feel the same way as he does.

"You look even better than in the pictures," he murmurs, sliding his hand down my arm.

"You've held up well too. Coen I-" even before I can utter my sentence, I can literally feel my panther entering the building and attracting everyone's attention with its beauty.

In his eyes, however, I see anger and what appears to be a mixture of anger and jealousy.

"Sophia, is there a problem?" comes his dominant voice and his arm immediately slips around my waist so everyone can see that I'm his alone.

"No, I'm fine. Coen, an old friend from England, is now working in your company and wanted to see me," I reply, looking into his green crystals, trying to calm him down.

"Mr. Klein, from the engineering and architecture field, right?" asks Nate, now letting his gaze drift to Coen, who has been watching us both with a fake but convincing smile.

"Exactly, I'm glad to finally meet you in person, Mr. Vance." Coen replies and the two men shake hands.

I'm getting more and more uncomfortable and the air seems so thick that you could split it.

"I'd love to meet up sometime to catch up," says Coen, smiling at me.

"How about I come to your office tomorrow and we have lunch together?" I suggest, and the pain that suddenly arises when Nate abruptly tightens his grip on my waist makes me wince a little.

"Sounds great. I'm on the 21st floor. I'll see you tomorrow, Bambi." Coen replies and gives me a quick hug, which Nate is reluctant to let go of.

I wave goodbye to Coen again, and as Nate and I get into the car in silence, I don't even dare look him in the face.

"Look me in the eye, Sophia.", he commands sternly and after a moment's hesitation, I follow his command.

His Green Crystals spit fire and the anger associated with jealousy and possessiveness makes me horny in the most intense way, but also scares me.

"Do you like making me jealous?" he hisses, wrapping his hand around my neck. He's not exerting any pressure, but I still feel like I can't breathe.

"I don't like the way you're acting like that, kitten. Once we get home, I'll know what to do with you to make you remember who's submitting to whom," he whispers to me and puts his thumb in my mouth while speaking, but at the same time slides his hand under my skirt.

The growl that escapes him as he realizes how wet I already am makes me shudder and arousal runs through my bones.

His thumb massages my clitoris gently and with the perfect amount of pressure, so that shortly afterwards I start moaning.

"Today isn't about you, kitten. Daddy's mad and as long as I say you're not coming, you won't be. Just so we're clear."