Catherine was about to go for the kill when she got ambushed by her best friend and colleague, Kelvin.
Beaming with a smile, "Hey, pretty mamacita."
Catherine grinned. "You never cease to flatter me."
"It's not flattering, Cathy. It's a fact, you're drop-dead gorgeous."
She smiled.
Kelvin never calls her Catherine; he loves to call her Cathy for the weirdest reason, though.
"So, what's up for the night, Kelvin?"
He pouted his lips. "There's nothing much, just the usual company dinner. But we are waiting for the chairman to come give his appraisal speech, and we are looking forward to Mr. Sullivan Jake signing the contract."
"Less I forget," he frowned. "You were supposed to pick me up for tonight's dinner, but you stood me up."
"Oops! I didn't remember earlier that we had dinner tonight, which was why I couldn't make it to your place." She gave him the puppy-eye look. "Please forgive me."
"It's fine." He waved it off with his hand.
Catherine beamed a smile at him with a nudge. "I owe you one."
Kelvin smirked. "Like always."
They both giggled.
"Catherine," he whispered softly.
"Yeah, what's up?" she uttered.
He dimmed his eyes. "I think we've got eyes on us."
She smirked at him. "Our boss?"
"Nope!" He fixed his gaze on her. "It's Mr. Sullivan. He's been staring at us for some while now. I thought you observed it."
She jerked at the mention of Sullivan's name.
Kelvin noticed. "Are you okay?"
"Sure," she quickly reassured him and comported herself.
"But Cathy, have you officially met Mr. Sullivan?"
"Uh! Not yet, but soon. Maybe that is why he is looking at us." She shrugged her shoulders.
"Great!" Giving a bow to Catherine. "Grant me the honor of introducing you to him."
She laughed heartily and sniffed at the idea. "I will do that myself." She winked at Kelvin.
Kelvin passed her a grin full of mischief. "Hmm! That is so unlike you."
Kelvin spotted a colleague across the hall. "I will be back soon, Cathy."
With that, he disappeared into the crowd, leaving Catherine alone to execute her initial plan. She had prepared herself for the reality of standing in front of Sullivan.
Seizing the perfect opportunity, body in motion, Catherine elegantly swayed her hips towards Sullivan. She could feel the tension rising, her heart beating so loudly like it was about to explode. The walk to Sullivan's table suddenly felt like a journey of a thousand miles.
There is something about this man that draws her like a magnetic force to him. This feeling is undeniable, she can't even deceive herself. She certainly felt something deep for this man.
Realizing herself, "I won't allow my body to betray me like this. He is an enemy, not a lover, Catherine. Get into the act," she snapped in a whisper at herself.
She was still maintaining beauty and composure, hard enough for anyone to see through the battles she was fighting with her inner self. With a masked smile, she finally arrived in front of Sullivan.
"I see I've gotten myself an admirer." She winked at him.
"Oh! Really?" He chuckled softly. His chuckle was rich and indulging.
"Catherine Walter." She stretched forth her right hand.
"Sullivan Jake." His eyes darkened as he enclosed his palm with hers.
She felt a sudden vibration, and her pulse raced. His palm was firm and sweaty, but also soft. She imagined the feel of those palms caressing her soft, luscious breasts. Her body betrayed her again.
He lowered his head and planted a seductive kiss on the back of her hand. He lifted his eyes to look at her. She gasped for breath, slightly flushed. But she quickly comported herself as she smiled sheepishly at him.
Gesturing to a seat across him, "Sit."
It wasn't a plea. She was a bit reluctant, just enough to show him that she wasn't easily controlled. She slid into the seat. He leaned back. He was observing her with an energy that made the ground under her feet shift.
Those eyes. Dark brownish eyeballs peering right into her soul, thick with unsaid desires. He was peeling her apart bit by bit with his gaze. She swallowed hard, heat pooling low in her stomach.
He never took his eyes off her all this while. He was craftily studying her and sensing the tension he created within her.
There is something about the way he looks at her, like he sees through her guarded walls. It's so unsettling.
No man ever had such an effect on her, made her feel naked, like she was exposed. She fights the feeling, cautioning herself to keep things professional. Don't get carried away, Catherine. Focus, girl.
"I know who you are." Catherine had a gleam in her eyes.
"You do?" His voice was smooth as aged whiskey. A cocky smile spread out across his face.
"Sure. Your name precedes you," she muttered.
"Wow!" His lips curved, but it wasn't quite a smile.
"I've heard a lot about you," she mumbled.
"Hope they are good stuff?" he asked as he leaned in.
"Certainly." They burst into laughter.
His soft lips slightly brushed her ears, making her shiver. "I like you. You've got guts," he whispered.
"Blame it on the alcohol," she wittingly joked. They laughed again.
He found her amusing and raised his glass. "Cheers to this new friendship."
She grinned, clicked his glass, and took a sip of her champagne.
"You're beautiful." He licked his lips. Something unreadable flickered across his face.
She smiled. "I know, right?" She nudged him. "Thank you."
"So, what does Catherine do for a living?" he quizzed.
"I'm a real estate developer. I work with Soul Plan Limited."
"Nice. How has the job been treating you?" he inquired more.
"It hasn't been easy. It's been a roller-coaster ride. But a girl's got to do what a girl has to do," she added shyly.
Sullivan fixed his gaze on her. He bit his lip seductively as a mischievous grin spread out. "I have a deal for you."
Catherine arched her brow. "What deal is that?"
His eyes were still on her as if he was trying to read out her inner thoughts. "I want you to handle my estate project."
Catherine's pulse quickened, but she kept her expression neutral, not believing her ears. "Say that again, please."
Sullivan scoffed. "You heard me right."
"What!" Her face gleamed up. Catherine couldn't find the right words. This was an offer that could change her career status for good. It was a high-profile deal. A deal of a lifetime.
This deal would put her name on the map of the elite. This is the kind of deal people dream of and wish for, and he just offered it to her on a platter of gold, so effortlessly. This is too good to be true. There must be more to it, she pondered.
"Sullivan, you have already offered this deal to my company. But you're yet to sign the contract. Did you forget?"
"Nope! That was before I met you." His voice was smooth like silk over steel, soft but laced with something dangerous. "Not to worry, I will revoke the contract from Soul Plan Limited."
She swallowed hard. "Are you proposing I work for you?"
"Ah! You got me right there." He licked his lower lip, still staring at her like a predator.
He seemed to enjoy taunting her with his words. His words were filled with intrigue, yet had a double meaning. His tone reflected both business and pleasure. This seemed like a silent dare.
Catherine, reluctant and troubled over his offer, bit her lower lip to suppress her anxiety.
This is not good. She knows working with him would be a wrong move on her part, both for her secret mission and her heart.
I could be walking myself into a trap. Her eyes paced furiously for a solution.What do I do now?She was bemused.
Sullivan's eyes held her hostage as he stretched forth his arm. "Deal or no deal?"
Come on girl, don't fret. You're the one in charge here. The terms are clear. This is strictly business, she thought to herself.
Against her better judgment, she accepted the deal as she shook his hand. A slow, knowing, mischievous smile carved out on his lips—one that said he enjoyed challenging her resolve, and he knew exactly what he was doing to her.
In that single moment, Catherine knew she had thrown herself into the lion's den.