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?