SIENNA'S POV
The second I stepped out of the restaurant, I felt like my lungs were failing me. My heart still pounded in my ears, my skin—where he'd touched me—still burned.
What in the actual sense just happened?
Sliding into my car, I gripped the steering wheel to control my trembling fingers, but it didn't stop. I was freaking out about the whole ordeal.
Last night was etched in my mind like a permanent tattoo.
And the one at the restaurant?
I could literally still feel his large palm hovering above my waist.
'This was nothing.' I tried to remind myself, taking deep breaths to calm down. 'It was just some stupid and meaningless moment. Nothing serious happened.'
Then why the hell did it feel like I'd just escaped something dangerous?
I was panicking now.
I couldn't calm down.
I knew I needed someone to talk to.
I reached for my phone and dialed Lila's number, feeling the urge to rant and vent. Her cherry voice rang out on the first ring. Hearing her voice alone made me slightly better.
"Why does your breathing sound ragged? Did you just survive a natural disaster?"
I raked my fingers through my hair, staring at the devil as he made his way into his car. Why did I focus on his lips, why did I gaze out the window to stare at his lips?! I was internally freaking out.
"Sienna!"
"I ran into Theo Sinclair." I muttered, leaning my head on the steering wheel. "I ran into him at a restaurant."
"Again?" Lila's amused voice rose to a higher octave. "It seems like the universe keeps bringing you together."
"I think the universe should just go to hell."
Lila hesitated for a while, I could literally imagine her brows snapping together. "Wait, what happened between you two?"
I sucked in a breath, massaging my temples. "Nothing…we..we just talked."
"Sienna."
"Fine." I groaned, "He caught me before I landed my miserable butt on the ground. That's.. that's it."
Lila gasped. "Like in those romance movies? Did the time slow down with you too?"
"It wasn't romantic." I spat. "It was…electric." But I couldn't say that. Instead, I inhaled a deep breath and stared at Theo's car as he drove away.
"Why do I feel like there's something you're not telling me?"
I swallowed hard. "The same thing happened last night during dinner. He…"
"Don't you dare hold back." Sienna snapped.
"He pinned me against the wall."
"Oh my God!" Lila yelled, and the sound of something crashing followed. It went on and on for a while before Lila's voice filled my ears again. "I'm sorry, I panicked. Tell me it didn't really happen."
"It really did."
"And he's about to become your step brother?"
I rolled my eyes. "I'm still going to stop the wedding."
"Why do I smell something forbidden?"
And that was it.
I hung up and didn't bother to listen to her nonsense again.
I drove straight to Harper Industries headquarters, hoping to shake off what happened last night and this noon. Theo was just trying to get under my skin—nothing more, nothing else.
I walked into the lobby, nodded at a few employees.
Just as I was about to step into the elevator, my body froze.
Theo Sinclair was there, his hands tucked in his grey pants, looking way too relaxed in my workplace. He looked like he was at home.
This wasn't a coincidence.
He was stalking me again.
Until my boss, Mr. Bobby, walked towards him and gave him a handshake. "I'll look forward to it, Mr. Sinclair."
Was he giving up now?
In my sky high stilettos, I charged towards them. "What the hell is he doing here?" I demanded, shooting a glare at Theo. He wasn't just here for nothing, I knew he was here for a negotiation.
Just after snatching the one with Patrick.
"We're discussing a merger deal." Mr. Bobby said calmly, his eyes still fixed on Theo. My whole body trembled. A merger?
Theo slowly turned to stare at me. "Good day, Blake. Miss me?"
Hell no! I wanted to yell, but I couldn't do that In front of my boss. I clenched my jaw, taking a step towards Mr. Bobby. "You seriously want to partner with him? Theo Sinclair?"
"We're exploring our options, Sienna." He responded calmly, looking unfazed when I was freaking out.
A merger meant I'd have to see this asshole even more often, perhaps every day. I'd seen him for three days straight and hell, my life was no longer the same.
Theo leaned in slightly, a smug smile on his lips. "I suggest you stick with your boss's advice." His gaze flickered right to my lips—just a brief second—and my cheeks heated up.
No. No. No.
I will not let him get to my head. He doesn't deserve so much power.
But my cheeks were heating up.
Theo's smirk deepened. "You're still thinking about last night, aren't you?"
My boss nodded at Theo and walked away, but now, I was cornered with him instead.
My pulse raced as I took a step backwards. "La..last night?"
"Or our little moment at the restaurant?"
My body trembled with rage. "You're insane."
"Doesn't explain your heated cheeks." He leaned even closer, his lips barely an inch away from mine. "Tell me, Sienna Blake, did I make your heart skip a beat?"
I pushed him away and dashed into the elevator.
Without giving him one last glance, I could tell he was still smirking by how perfectly he managed to crawl under my skin.
Upon reaching my office, I unlocked the door, but a familiar tone made me halt.
I pulled my phone from my bag and placed it on my ears. "What's the matter, mom?"
I'd avoided her ever since she told me the heartbreaking news. I wasn't planning any wedding with her. Never. Not with that devil around.
"We're speeding up the wedding process, Sienna." She said excitedly and I cursed under my breath. "Good for you."
"I need you to be happy for me, Sienna." But I wasn't.
"I can't, I won't, I can't accept you dating other men just to divorce them and snatch their properties. Does Theo know you'll do the same to his father?"
"Sienna!" She spat, her voice deadly. "I love Robert."
"Yes. You love Robert, James, Adrian and Luke. You loved all of them, and guess what, you still divorced them for their properties."
"I didn't call you to have this discussion."
"Then why did you call me?" I spat, feeling the urge to kick the wall in frustration.
I wouldn't call my mother a harlot, but maybe she was. She gave birth to me at a very tender age.
She told me she didn't know who my father was when I became of age.
It still haunted me to know I was the product of some rape.
I strode into my office and slammed the door hard. "You're wasting my time."
"I'm…I'm pregnant for Theo's father."