"Hera Ainsley," Hera responded softly.
"Very well. Let me just check the schedule," the receptionist said, typing away at herputer. After a moment, she looked up. "Your meeting has been confirmed. You can proceed directly to the top floor. Someone will be waiting there to escort you to the CEO’s office." She then informed the top floor of Hera’s imminent arrival before bidding her farewell.
"Thank you," Hera said with a gentle smile as she stepped onto the elevator. Her gaze remained fixed ahead, her mind focused solely on the task at hand—getting everything over with and reaching her intended destination.
"Hera?" A voice called out uncertainly. "Is that really you, Hera?" The disbelief was evident in the familiar tone.
Turning slightly, Hera spotted Alexi standing behind her. He must have emerged from the underground parking. Beside him stood his assistant, someone Hera had glimpsed a few times while she still shared an apartment with Alexi.
As Hera nced back, she noticed the assistant’s awe at her appearance. Though subtle, the changes in her seemed enough to render them breathless.
Hera remained silent, her finger pressing firmly on the button for the top floor. Alexi observed her actions, a bitter taste creeping into his thoughts as he realized he was being disregarded. It was a sensation he was unustomed to; Hera had always been there for him, nurturing and attentive. In his mind, her world had orbited around him, and he had convinced himself that he was her everything. Now, however, as she moved forward without acknowledging him, he couldn’t help but feel the sting of her indifference. She didn’t even spare him a nce or a greeting, a stark reminder of how easily she had moved on from their shared past.
"What are you doing in mypany?" he inquired, his voiceced with a mixture of confusion and disbelief. Yet, met with only silence, he pressed on, his words carrying a weight of usation. "Are you here to trade your talents as an artist just to prolong our time together?" The usation slipped from his lips, already convinced of its truth, a pang of bitterness quelled within him. "Hera, you don’t need to resort to this. You know I still harbor feelings for you, don’t you?"
Taken aback by what he heard, Alexi’s assistant discreetly nudged him, a flicker of fear passing across his face. His gaze darted nervously towards the elevator’s CCTV camera, his mind racing with the potential consequences if their conversation were to be overheard. The mere thought of Minerva discovering their exchange sent a shiver down his spine. With no recourse but to silently emphasize his concern, he continued to urge Alexi to tread cautiously.
From his vantage point behind her, Alexi couldn’t help but notice Hera’s captivating attire. Each detail seemed meticulously chosen, enhancing her allure to a tantalizing degree. The delicate curve of her fair shoulder, the subtle glimpse of her enticing corbone, and the asional reveal of her back through cascading locks of hair—all conspired to captivate his senses. Her satin silk evening dress draped over her figure with an almost maic allure, entuating every curve and contour. As he stood in the confined space of the elevator, he felt his heart quicken and his breath caught in his throat, consumed by undeniable arousal ignited by her presence.
His attention became solely fixated on Hera, oblivious to anyone else in the vicinity. The details of her attire faded into insignificance as his gaze lingered hungrily on her curves and the tantalizing expanse of exposed skin.
Despite his intimate encounters with Minerva in the past, Alexi found himself more aroused than ever before. Even the sight of Minerva’s naked form paled inparison to the sheer allure emanating from Hera as she stood silently in the corner, draped in a seductive evening dress. Rationality was eclipsed by his overwhelming desire, as his mind stubbornly clung to the belief that Hera’s presence was a deliberate attempt to seduce him back into her grasp.
A wave of jealousy washed over him as he thought of her walking around with that dress, an overwhelming desire to shield her from the prying eyes of others and keep her beauty exclusively for himself. The mere thought of other men ogling her sent a surge of anger coursing through him, igniting an irrational impulse to protectively shield her from their gaze. The intensity of his emotions bordered on primal as if he were ready to unleash his fury upon anyone who dared to look upon her with anything but reverence.
Before Alexi could even begin to process his tumultuous feelings, his assistant forcefully extracted him from the elevator upon reaching their destination, leaving Hera behind as the doors slid shut. Alexi’s gaze remained transfixed on Hera as she disappeared from view, his agitation intensifying. Unable to shake the captivating image from his mind, he felt an overwhelming reluctance to let her go wherever she intended.
It was in that moment of separation that Alexi fully realized the extent of Hera’s allure. Not only was her shoulder exposed, but her frontal view revealed an even more enticing disy, with her cleavage on full disy,manding attention with undeniable allure. Her overall visual impact was impossible to ignore, leaving Alexi caught in a whirlwind of desire and fascination.
He stood motionless in front of the elevator door, his gaze fixated on the ascending floor number disyed on the indicator above. An intense desire to uncover Hera’s destination or the identity of her meeting consumed him. His jaw clenched tightly, his nails digging into his palms in a futile attempt to suppress the overwhelming agitation coursing through him. Nowhere to vent his swirling emotions, he remained trapped in a state of internal turmoil.
Despite the distance that now separated them, vivid memories of Hera’s appearance and the sweet floral scent that enveloped her lingered in his mind. With each inhale, his throat grew parched, and a wave of heat surged through his body, a visceral reminder of the maic pull she exerted over him.
Desperate to track her down, Alexi felt the urge to bolt up the fire exit until his assistant intervened, whispering urgently, "Alexi, we’re in thepany. If Minerva finds out, we’re both done for." His plea was almost desperate, grasping for any words that might convince Alexi to restrain himself while within the confines of their workce. "Remember your ns for the ss reunionter?" he continued in a hushed tone, "She might be attending too. You’ll have your chance to talk then."
Recalling this vital detail, Alexi’s frantic energy subsided slightly, though he still cast a longing nce towards the elevator, reluctant to leave Hera unattended.