“Take off your jacket, Sabrina.”
The moment he repeats himself, I have the desire to slap him. Punch him in the nose. Or maybe break his neck.
But I do none of these.
Instead, I let out a slow breath, fingers brushing the edge of my jacket. My mind is racing, calculating, weighing consequences I don’t have the luxury to consider.
My grandpa. The hospital bill.
This job, that’s been the only thing keeping food on the table.
Ever since I came here, Vincent Hale has been flirting with me, but I refuse to accept his advances. But I can’t outright reject them because I am powerless.
And he’s the chairman, and son of CEO of Esthoria Entertainment. Just like his sister, Vicky, anything Vincent says goes, will go.
I slip the jacket off my shoulders and place it neatly over the back of the chair, before sitting down in front of his desk, in the chair he’s gesturing to.
“Wouldn't want you in wearing that, in this sweltering heat.” He says, eyes shamelessly lingering on my now on display cleavage.
“You said you needed help with something, sir.” I fold my arms, in an attempt to cover up myself while look imposing.
His lips twitch at the formality. “Still with the ‘sir’.”
I don’t respond.
For a moment, he just watches me. Then he leans back, crossing one leg over the other like we’re finally about to have a normal conversation.
“We closed a deal this morning.”
I blink.
That wasn’t what I expected.
“With an important celebrity.” He continues. “We’re partnering with them on the biggest project Esthoria has ever embarked on. It’s the secret project we’ve been holding several meetings about.”
Unsure of why he’s telling me this, I remain silent.
“And I personally made sure you were assigned to the project.”
My eyes widen in surprise. As a member of the PR team, I have minimal involvement with important company projects. Unknowingly, I lean in on the table, and ask. “Assigned? To what exactly?”
He smiles, and I notice his eyes dip low on my chest that’s now pressed against his desk. I immediately move back.
“An important role.” He declares.
That’s it. He doesn’t elaborate further. Vincent intentionally told me just enough to pull me in and leave me hanging.
“I’d like to know the specifics so I can prepare properly.”
“You will.” He says lightly. “In time.”
In time.
Of course.
Everything with him is a game.
“Alright ” I say simply.
He tilts his head, studying me like I’m something interesting he hasn’t quite figured out yet.
“You don’t seem excited.”
I try to hide my annoyance. “I prefer to understand what I’m working on before I get excited.”
Something flickers in his eyes. Amusement plays in his eyes.
“Careful. That attitude can be dangerous.”
“For who?” I ask before I can stop myself.
His smile deepens.
“For you.”
The room feels smaller.
I shift my weight slightly. “If there’s nothing else-”
“There is.” He cuts in.
Of course there is.
He taps his fingers against the desk, slow, rhythmic. “I’m taking you out for dinner tonight.”
It’s not posed as a question. And it’s not the first time he’s said this.
“I have work.” I reply immediately, because each time he offers, I politely turn him down.
“You always have work.”
“Yes.” I nod, with a fake smile.
“You’re turning me down again.” He quips.
“I’m prioritizing my responsibilities.”
His gaze drops briefly to my top. The heart-shaped neckline suddenly feels too exposed under his scrutiny.
“You should prioritize yourself sometimes.” He says leaning in, towards me.
“I do.”
He hums. “Let me rephrase. You should let other people prioritize you.”
If he weren’t my boss, I’d say that sounds stupid, but because he is, I remain silent. Willing this conversation to come to an end, so I can return to my post.
Vincent’s eyes darken slightly, and the next words come out low.
“That top...it suits you.” I stay still, refusing to cover under his predatory gaze. “It makes it very easy to get distracted.”
Just remain silent Sabrina. You can’t shout at him. He hands you your paycheck every month.
“Especially when you lean forward like you did earlier.” He adds, thoughtfully. “You might want to be more careful. Or not.”
For a split second, I imagine slapping that smirk off his face.
Instead, I do nothing.
I don’t laugh or smile coquettishly, the way other employees might have. I remain unresponsive, with a calm, cold stare I’d mastered.
His expression changes, the smile dropping from his lips.
I almost rejoice, but then his mouth drops into an even bigger grin. He’s more interested now.
Vincent Hale must be crazy.
“Is that all?” I ask, between gritted teeth.
“You’re dismissed.” He waves his hands, as if I’m a little kid he’s done playing with.
I grab my jacket, and walk out without another word. I practically feel his eyes staring at my behind as I leave.
_____
The next morning, the office feels different.
As funny as it may sound, our entertainment company’s office is usually boring. But when I walk in, I notice that my colleagues who’d be sipping on low grade coffee to power themselves through the day, are now buzzing with energy.
People are gathered in small clusters, whispering, phones in hand, excitement barely contained.
Even Clarissa, isn’t glued to her computer, and looks up when I sit down. It never happens.
“What happened?” I ask, while logging into my system.
George slides into a spare seat at that moment, like he’s been waiting for me.
“You don’t know?” He says, eyes wide.
“Know what?”
He leans closer, lowering his voice like it’s some top secret information.
“They announced it.”
My fingers pause over the keyboard.
“Announced what?”
“The project.”
My heart picks up. The secret project Esthoria Entertainment had been working on, which Vincent said I’d been given an important role to work in.
Perhaps I’d be assisting the head social media manager, with ideas on how to promote?
Just the thought of it, made me giddy. But I instantly shook off the feeling. I wasn’t getting my hopes up, after years of constant disappointment.
“What’s the project about?” I ask George.
Before he can answer, Vicky bursts into the room, practically glowing.
“Oh my God, Sabrina, you’re here!” She squeals, rushing over.
I blink at her sudden enthusiasm.
“Yes...I work here.”
She grabs my arm, dragging me halfway out of my chair. “You have to see this.”
“I can see it from here.” I say, trying to pull back.
“No, you really can’t.”
She shoves her phone in my face, showing me a post that was uploaded by the CEO, on Esthoria’s private chatroom for employees only.
ESTHORIA ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCES GLOBAL REALITY DATING SHOW WITH OSCAR-WINNING ACTOR FRANCIS COLLINS
George whistles under his breath. “Dating show? With THE Francis Collins?”
Clarissa adjusts her glasses. “This is… massive.”
Vicky beams. “I told you, didn’t I? My brother doesn’t play. He finally got Francis to work with us!”
I don’t hear the rest.
My eyes are locked on the name.
Francis Collins.
A man who the entire world loved, but I so deeply loathed. He was the centre of a project, I was supposed to be working on?
“Wait.” George says suddenly. “There’s more.”
He scrolls, then reads out loud.
“Selected staff members will be assigned to participate in the production...”
My name is the first, written in bold, all capitalised letters.
SABRINA ADEYEMI.
“That’s what I wanted to tell you! You’ve been given a MAJOR role in the dating show!” Vicky chirps. “Isn’t this exciting?”
Exciting.
That’s one word for it.
Because, what is working with your nemesis, after an intense clash seven years prior, anything, but exciting?
My fingers tighten around the edge of the desk, as I realize how messed up things will become, if Francis Collins sees me during the project and remembers me.
Because if he remembers me..
Then this isn’t just a project that will lead me to a promotion.
It’s a huge problem.