Whispers of the Damned

Nervousness gripped me as I walked into the office lobby. I entered at seven in the morning, and only a few people had just arrived. The security guard at the front of the building smiled politely at me, looking at me like he was proud that there was a new employee with youthful vigor who came not too early in the workday.

I did this because I didn't want to run into Zane Bernardi suddenly in the lobby or get stuck in the elevator with him. It seems like it's just a fear of mine, but well... I don't want to take things for granted. I need to be careful with my steps now. Damien said that if I saw Zane Bernardi, I should report what he did and who he met, but I didn't even want to see him, so I wasn't going to report anything to Damien even though he said it was just in case an enemy was working with Zane Bernardi to take over California.

The executive floor was still empty. There was only an office boy mopping the floor and smiling at me. I smiled back kindly and went into my room. I sat down in my cubicle and pulled out the breakfast I had made at five in the morning. It even made Joanna frown in surprise and tease me about how eager I was to work at my enemy's place. She even thought that the reason I hadn't resigned from this job was that I was still giving Zane Bernardi a taste.

Damn it, I really don't. I've never had any feelings for my enemy. What happened five years ago was purely the virginal passion I had for him... well, his looks were different from the men I was around. In one glance, he could already fool me with all his charms.

I guess the saying about 'demons having good looks so that they can more easily ensnare humans' is true. Zane has ensnared me before, and now it won't happen again. I guarantee it.

My accident when I was in Los Angeles a few days ago was because I was drunk, and he knocked me out. I technically couldn't fight him, and he locked me in his exclusive hotel room, so..,well, the weak me couldn't fight him that time. But now... I'm sure I can. I won't leave myself vulnerable, and I'll prepare my stance for when he does something suspicious to me, like wanting to ensnare me like that time. I had learned muay thai with Damien so well. Plus, I had already mastered it since I entered junior high school because the four men in my family wanted to give me the tools to defend myself in their absence. Abraham had also taught me how to use a gun. All sorts of weapons, even though they were illegal for us to own.

But, well, everything about our family business is against the law.

Is it luck or misfortune?

I ate my breakfast solemnly while checking social media on my phone. I almost choked when I saw Joanna's picture on Instagram. She was wearing a sexy bikini and posing sexily with a beach view behind her. To my surprise, Damien liked her post.

I frowned because Damien never opened his Instagram. I was the one who always uploaded pictures on his account, it was just five pictures about the beach and a picture of the two of us with Abraham and Theo on a beautiful beach in San Andreas, Colombia. There were only a few followers because it was a private account, which was mostly our extended family, Damien's friends, and Joanna.

Now, this really intrigues me because Damien is very anti-social media. He only checks it for a few seconds before going back to checking his stocks continuously.

Does he like Joanna?

Well, the two of them rarely interact. They wouldn't if Damien didn't come to our flat to mess with my life, and that's totally normal. Now... seeing him liking Joanna's sexy pictures and never liking my posts makes me wonder. Or am I the one who's always overreacting?

Maybe I was overreacting. I decided to ignore that and liked my best friend's post, then commented: *why isn't there a picture of me? :'(*

Then I put my phone back on the table, focusing on finishing my breakfast menu that I had made earlier before one of my team members came and asked me a lot of questions that I was too lazy to answer.

I finished the rest in five minutes because I was always quick to finish my food. I finished my drink, and then I put my lunch box back in my bag and went to the communal kitchen to make coffee with the sachet coffee I had brought from home. My mind can't run without coffee in the morning. With coffee, my head would be a good place.

The kitchen in this room was nice and relatively modern, with some sophisticated appliances that made me dizzy. I pressed the live screen that showed the icon to turn on the fire because I wanted to boil water, and then I poured coffee into a glass. I leaned against the kitchen counter and gazed around. This office was very cozy and had all the amenities. The concept was really elegant, typical of old money's rich taste.

"Coffee for a pleasant first day of work?"

That voice made me freeze.

My heart beat chaotically inside my chest, but I still chose to stare ahead at the glass wall. The wall revealed the ocean in the distance and the city of San Francisco, which I thought would be so safe for me.

All my nerves froze, and the flow of my blood under my skin stopped.

I could feel his presence closing in on my space, cornering me with all its deadly and dangerous dark enchantment.

*Well, fuck him.*

I had thought that I could avoid him, but this...

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"Cat got your tongue, mouse?" And now he was right next to me, whispering something mocking in my ear.

I swallowed hard. "Yes, sir."

*"Yes, sir?"* his incredulous chuckle mixed with mocking came out.

I bit my lip and struggled to breathe. "Please," I hissed. "I don't want a mess at my job. I want to work professionally, sir."

"I'm not your boss, Cara Mia." He replied lowly.

He was still leaning on the counter right next to me, our thighs and arms rubbing together, causing something to spark inside my core. "In that case, I'll leave this job if you can't restrain your animal lust," I muttered vengefully, but I still wouldn't look at him.

Zane Bernardi let out that deep, heavy chuckle again. "Try me." His voice was full of challenge. "Unfortunately... your boyfriend will know what you did in Los Angeles a few days ago." I felt his lips close around my ear, his warm breath making me shudder. "More like ... your lies."

He threatened me.

"Oh, look at this. I've never seen another woman look attractive in work clothes. But now... I'm speechless. This outfit makes you even hotter."

"All you've been doing since now is throwing around useless words," I folded my lips, growling as I finally turned to him, and I managed to look into his dark green eyes. That was my weakness, the point at which I gave up five years ago. "But I can't find the words to praise you right now."

The master seducer, the annoying and disgusting lousy boy. But.. he always had his charm. A charm that exceeded any man, even his own brother. His hair is currently untidy and ungelled, a little messy but sexy. His black shirt that fits his body allows me to see his sexy muscles. Moreover, he rolled up his sleeves to his elbows.. it makes him.. ugh.

I swallowed.

"You can compliment me on anything, and I won't appreciate it." I stepped away from the counter and moved slightly away, afraid that someone else might walk into the kitchen and misunderstand our closeness. "You're quite rude for a woman." He retorted.

I bit my lip, focusing on pouring hot water into my coffee and not turning to him. "If that's you, then yes... I am rude."

"I like rude women."

Damn it. "Fuck off, Bernardi. If you're playing me to mess with my family, you won't be able to get that from me." I said lowly. " Especially since I'm your brother's girl."

"I don't care about your family or Jason, darling." I could feel him approaching again. He stood at my side, facing me. I looked up at him, and he looked down at me with his eager eyes. "What I want to do is you." "You crazy psycho," I hissed. "I won't repeat that night. You locked me up and forced me. I won't let you again."

"Really?" he smirked.

I shut up.

And he came forward, using both hands to cup my face and shorten our distance.

And before he could take my lips with his again...

My legs moved hard against the = objects between his thighs.

"FUCK!" he looked down with a moan of pain that was so loud.

I pulled away from him."Really."