CHAPTER FOUR

Sarah welcomed me with a bright smile as soon as I entered the office.

"Good morning, Anna!", her voice as radiant as the sunlight coming in through the windows. She gave me a wink, her eyes glimmering with mischievous intentness, and I smiled back at her greeting.

Sarah gave Ethan's office a covert gesture as I walked to my desk, her eyes resting on the closed door. I chuckled and responded with a dramatic gesture, making a fake slash with my hand across my throat. After chuckling, Sarah went to her desk, leaving me to get comfortable with my task.

A great deal of calculations, emails, and document sorting characterized the morning. Before I heard his voice, I was so focused on my job that I failed to notice the tall shadow hanging over me.

He said, "Good morning, Miss Anna," his deep, endearing voice piercing the quiet like a June wind.

My heart fell when I saw the endearing man from the auction standing in front of me, even though I had expected to see a familiar face when I looked up.

He smirked.

"What do you want?" I thundered in a slightly stronger tone than I intended, I asked directly.

His eyes sparkled as he laughed.

"You,", his voice low and intimidating he answered.

A wave of annoyance washed through me as I rolled my eyes. I firmly answered, "Please leave before I call security”.

His eyes never left mine as he laughed quietly once again.

"Oh, chill, Ethan wouldn't be happy that you sent his client away without informing him."

My patience was growing thin, I got up. "I'm not here to entertain you, I'm not a receptionist, though," I stated, slightly raising my voice.

His amused eyes glinted as he grinned I left for Ethan's office.

Ethan was working on his computer, his eyes glued to the screen, when I walked into his office. "Excuse me, Ethan," I called calmly. "The man from the auction is here to see you."

Ethan's gaze flitted in my direction, his face displaying a mix of astonishment and irritation. He exclaimed, "Oh, Mr. Wesley, let him in already," with a trace of hatred in his voice. "I hope you haven't given him a bad impression of me now."

Ethan's tone made me a little uneasy, but I ignored it.

“Mr. Wesley," I called in a formal tone. "Mr. Ethan would like to meet you now."

With his eyes sparkling with laughter, Mr. Wesley smirked at me once more before making his way to Ethan's office. A chill went down my spine as I watched him leave. What did this man want with me, and who was he?

Sarah arrived with a pile of paperwork as I was heading back to my desk. "Hey, Miss Workaholic," she taunted, her mischievous eyes glimmering. "How's it going over there?"

I grinned, relieved that the interruption had come. "Thanks," I said, "I'm doing great,"

Sarah sat down next to me after leaving the paperwork on my desk. With an alluring tone, she said, "How about we go a little clubbing after work today?"

With a twinge of fatigue, I laughed. I answered, "Well, I'm already so tired," too. "Maybe some other time."

With her lower lip protruding in a faux sulk, Sarah pouted. "Please, I'd like to go, but what's clubbing if you're alone?" Her eyes glistened with conviction as she persuaded.

A sense of stiffness enveloped me as I shook my head. "I'm sorry, babe, maybe some other time."

At that moment, Mr. Wesley came out of Ethan's office, his eyes searching around the room and then focusing on me. Sarah turned to face me, her words hardly more than a whisper, her eyes wide with wonder. "Anna, look how handsome that guy is..."

I felt a chill go down my spine as I locked gaze with Wesley. His eyes crinkled at the corners as he grinned and came toward us.

Sarah responded, "Yoooo, Hey, girl, gimme gist," her eyes glistening with interest. "You know him?"

I felt uncomfortable and shook my head. "No, I don't, just saw him yesterday and once again here at work."

Sarah kept her gaze fixed on Mr. Wesley's face, taking in every nuance. With excitement in her voice, she said, "Ouuu, he is coming this way..."

With my eyes flashing warningly, I attempted to silence her, but all she did was chuckle.

“But do you know him?”, she asked.

I felt uncomfortable and shook my head. "No, I don't, just saw him yesterday and once again here at work."

Sarah drew close to me as her eyes glistened with interest. She muttered, "What's his name?"

I took time to think before responding. "Mr. Wesley," I said in a quiet voice.

Sarah's eyes grew wide with wonder. "Mr. Wesley?" she said again in an animated tone. "He's so handsome!"

I felt a wave of annoyance and rolled my eyes. I muttered, "Sarah, please," in an attempt to quiet her.

Sarah, however, was not deterred. She cried out, "Hey, Mr. Wesley," clearly audible.

Mr. Wesley smirked, as he walked over to us, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Hey, ladies," he remarked in a husky, low voice. "What's going on?"

Sarah's mischievous eyes gleamed as she giggled. She responded, "Just discussing the latest fashion trends," in a sarcastic tone.

Mr. Wesley laughed, amusement glimmering in his eyes. He remarked, "Well, I'm glad I'm not interrupting business," in a humorous tone.

I got to my feet, apprehensive. "Mr. Wesley, what do you want?", I asked directly.

Mr. Wesley's piercing gaze never left mine. He said, "I need a minute with you Miss Anna," in a husky, low voice.

His voice sent a thrill through my body, and as he whispered my name, However, I ignored the emotion, telling myself that I didn't trust this man and that I didn't know him.

"about?" With a forceful voice, I asked.

Mr. Wesley grinned, amusement glimmering in his eyes. He said, "Let's just say it's a matter of great importance," in a mysterious tone.

I skeptically arched my eyebrow, "What makes you think I'm interested?" I posed the question in a sarcastic tone.

Mr. Wesley's eyes wrinkled at the corners as he laughed. He said, "Oh, I think you're very interested, Miss Anna," in a husky, low voice. "I think you're just pretending not to be."

His remarks caused a wave of annoyance, but I forced myself to remain composed. "I'm not pretending, Mr. Wesley," I said firmly in response. "I just don't know what you want, and I'm not interested in playing games."

Mr. Wesley's piercing gaze never left mine. He said, "I'm not playing games, Miss Anna," in a husky, low voice. "I'm dead serious."

His voice sent a thrill through my body as he said the words, and I felt a chill go down my spine. However, I pushed the thought aside.

I don’t know this man and I certainly cannot trust him.

I responded, "Fine," in a stern voice. "What is it that you want to talk about?"

Mr. Wesley grinned, amusement glimmering in his eyes. "Let's take a walk," he said in a husky, low voice.