Chapter 9 Intimidation

• I entered and saw Lucien and his teams, setting things up while Mr. Bangs' assistant leaning on the wall as they were talking to each other.
• "Hi." I said to both of them.
• Lucien turned his gaze and met mine, intensely. My heart skipped a beat as I passed him a nervous smile.
• They greeted me back and I asked, "Where's Mr. Layne?"
• "Oh, he is coming with our model."
• I didn’t know what I should do so I looked here and there, contemplating his studio with admiration.
• It was gigantic and all kinds of things for a perfect shot were present there.
• Too much stuff I had no idea about but it was fascinating to know that photography was much more than I thought.
• A whole team of five members with him as its leader.
• "Do you like my dream place?" Lucien asked temptingly.
• Popping from behind when I was engrossed in contemplation, stopping my breaths.
• I gasped and turned and saw his face too close to mine. My heart began to beat fast, his enthralling eyes bore into mine.
• "Huh? Y-Yes.. " I replied in a whisper, averting my gaze shyly from his piercing ones.
• “That is why it is called Dream,”
• “You sound so ambitious, I am honored to see you work,”
• “Thanks,”
• "We are here for something else and not to drool over your Boss’ brother just like other candidates, Ms. Beth."
• And that intense voice which was mocking me enough for me to know that it's Mr. Layne.
• Using my words on me.
• “I am not, Sir.” I breathed out, taking a step back and turned to him with a stern look.
• “I apologize but please do not mix my admiration with something else.”
• To my stoic response, he scoffed but Lucien smirked, straightening his back.
• “Don’t mind him, Garnet.” He chuckled, waving his hand to shrug this matter off.
• My Layne was coming with an elegant lady, her head high in pride, height as tall as him and I instantly recognized her.
• She was the supermodel Georgia Armstrong!
• She was even more alluring in real life. I just love her, I never thought I would have the honor to meet her. She was also one of Mr. Layne ex but it was none of my business.
• I greeted her and felt gratified that I talked to her. I was barely controlling myself from not creating a scene and pissing Mr. Layne off.
• "Is she your girlfriend, Lucien?" She asked, smirking at me.
• A blush crept upon my cheek. Lucien laughed a little and replied, "I wish."
• My heart felt like it would leap out of my chest. I felt slight distress, finding it fretful to be attracted to a person I just met.
• Silently, I stood behind Mr. Layne, not replying. It felt strange when I was mentioned by the supermodel.
• "She is ‘my’ personal assistant, nothing else. Keep it in your mind, Georgia." Mr. Layne said sternly as both brothers were almost having a competition accompanied by an unreadable expression.
• What was going through their minds?
• "Let's get to work." Lucien quickly said, avoiding what Mr. Layne enunciated.
• I tugged hairs falling on my face, behind my ears and called Mr. Layne. Lucien was setting up things, Mr. Bangs was lost in his calls.
• Georgia was getting her makeup done and Mr. Layne was using his phone. When I called him he hummed as I handed him his handkerchief.
• "Thanks for yesterday, Sir." I said with a faint smile.
• He didn't look up from his phone and took it from my hand, his hand touched mine accidentally.
• I pulled my hand back and he took his handkerchief in his pocket unaffected but I shivered when he touched my hand, glancing at his handsome features for a second before going back.
• After a while, the photoshoot started, Georgia looked extremely bewitching, the perfect model.
• I looked at her awestruck, she was so beautiful that I was amazed why Mr. Layne broke up with such an angel.
• Definitely his loss to lose this gem.
• While I was lost, I sensed Mr. Layne standing behind me, looking in the same direction as mine. The intensity of his aura elicited an undeniable rush of anticipation.
• "The next time when you are done talking, you cut the call. I have no interest in hearing your snores, Ms. Beth."
• My eyes widened, my face turned red from embarrassment by his hot breath in my ears.
• “What…?” I was snoring?!
• My smile vanished, not daring to chain my gaze with his but sensed him smirking at me.
• “I-I apologize.”
• Stammering, I was about to walk away but he held my arm, restricting my movement, drying my throat when his hand touched my skin.
• “Stay here,”
• “Sir…?”
• My heart rate increased, along with a pant. I looked around, everyone was focused on Georgia and she was lost in her world.
• I slowly turned to my head and collided with his extensive one, looking at me with a dire gaze.
• "What are you doing? Let me go, Sir." I whispered, convulsing under his tender grip, enhancing my heartbeats.
• "Why are you being scared?" He asked, slowly yet in a low tempting voice moving his face dangerously closer.
• His hot breath lingered on my face, stirring my mind.
• "You had no objections when ‘he’ was that close…" He growled, certainly displeased, tightening his grip.
• "Please… I don’t know what you are talking about." I breathed out.
• Giving a brief reasoning but a soft inaudible gasp released from my lips when he moved closer, growling at my response.
• I could bear the danger dripping from these tempting eyes, stiffening me.
• But, gathering my courage, I lifted my orbs to confront him. Immersing me in dread, I waited for him to speak.
• “Why him? Can you differentiate us? We are the two sides of a coin, there is no difference so why didn’t you slap him?” He asked outrageously in a whisper.
• Barely holding his posture and my fatuous heart was incapable of comprehending the depth of his words.
• “He is not you.” I enunciated, losing my breath, scanning around if anyone saw or not but they didn’t.
• Invoking a scornful laugh, he turned his head away.
• “Nice joke, Garnet.”
• He put his hand over his mouth, releasing a long breath to regain his senses and continued after clearing his throat,
• He considered it a joke.
• "Please-"
• He quickly turned me around at the perfect timing and put his hand over my waist but no one could see that. Freezing me when his large hands grabbed me.
• “You are right, he is not me.” He hummed on my neck.
• Sending unnerving tribulations inside me by his next words.
• “He is much worse.”
• I jumped slightly in fear and fell on his chest. He held me to stand still beside him, so close that we were almost touching.
• "Beautiful! Okay, that's enough!" Lucien announced.
• I almost gasped. I moved my hand down, trying to make Mr. Layne understand to remove his hand but he didn't, he was skilled, he knew where to touch without getting noticed.
• Instead his hand moved to my back and since we were standing near the wall no one could see us.
• “Sir, don’t, please…” I whispered when I noticed Lucien was about to walk to us. My heart was pounding against my chest, my breath was uneven.
• “Or what? Would you slap me?”
• He taunted with a devilish smirk. Leaning down, to breathe heavily in my ears as his fingers almost touch me under the shirt.
• “Look, he is coming. What will he think?”
• “Sir, no….”
• I swallowed hard when Mr. Layne traced his fingers at my back, touching my bare waist that caused me to flinch. He seemed unaffected but I was trembling.
• “Where is that courage to do now?- Oh money, of course. You can’t do it, can you?” He snickered, making fun of my vulnerability.
• With my heart pounding against my chest but I wanted him to stop because his touch was oddly satisfying.
• It was… tempting and I didn’t like it.
• "Roy, what do you think about my shoot?" Georgia came instead, asking temptingly.
• He gave her a side hug and kissed her cheeks. He smirked at her as she bashfully pulled away.
• He complimented seductively, tugging her hair behind her ear.
• "How can I look anywhere else than the beauty before me? You are an angel that never fails to compel my heart, darling."
• “Oh, you…” She chuckled and looked at me.
• I passed her a faint smile and was about to take a step forward but then Mr. Layne said.
• "Ah dear, can you get me something to drink?" He asked Georgia.
• "Why me? Tell your assistant." She asked with a frown.
• "Because the taste will enhance. Please, do it for me."
• He winked and at this very moment, upon hearing his manipulative voice, I think Lesley was right, which woman can resist this voice?
• It was heavenly. If he told me to do it like that, I would have done it too.
• Georgia looked away and left, shyly. My soul felt like giving up on me when I felt his glare.
• A began to pant heavily, I couldn't look at his gaze, feeling terrified.
• "I thought I gave you an order to stay still." He said dominantly.
• Under the ambience of his dominating presence my voice came out like a whimper.
• "Please, Sir."
• "Our contract states that you will obey my ‘every’ order." He said moving closer and I realized he was trying to practically show me how delicately I was trapped in his web.
• "But this not-"
• "You better abide by the contract, Ms. Beth... It will be better for you."
• I nodded quickly, not wanting to anger him more and do something unimaginable as he pulled his hand back fortunately.
• "Roy, come and take a look at the pictures." Lucien finally called.
• Mr. Layne nodded and we went to take a look at the pictures.
• "Perfect. However, I want one at the actual location too, okay?" Mr. Layne said.
• “Yes, Boss.”
• Lucien nodded while smiling at me but my mind temporarily stopped functioning with Mr. Layne’s words echoing in my mind.
• “He is much worse.”
• What about you huh?