I nodded, slowly melting. “Why so angry?”

Expression back to serious again. “I’m a very possessive man, Rosebud. I don’t like my woman laughing with some other man.”

My eyes widened at the ridiculousness. “He’s just a friend. Stop behaving like a caveman! And I’m not your woman!”

His orbs darkened as he pulled me closer, his nostrils flaring. “You are. You’re mine, Emerald Hutton. The sooner you accept it, the better.” He took a swift glance at his wrist. “I’ve got somewhere to go right now. I’ll talk to you later. This talk isn’t over yet.”

“But this is ridic—”

My words died in my throat with his mouth claiming mine in a punishing kiss. As if thousands of electric shocks ran down my entire body the moment his lips touched mine. Delicious shivers shot through my insides as his expert tongue explored every inch of my mouth.

Instead of fighting him, a whimper left me as my eyes closed on their own. And just as I was about to cling to him, he pulled away.

No…

Still dazed from the euphoria of his scorching kiss, my treacherous eyes cast him a look of irritation.

Why did he pull away?

“Nobody can take you away from me,” he growled close to my yearning lips, his eyes flashing with rage.

Carter came out of the office and stood behind him, but I was too busy thinking of his words.

Giving me a last deep kiss, he said, “I’ll see you later. Go home.”

Then he was gone, leaving me unsated and confused.

“Nobody can take you away from me.”

What did he mean by that? Somehow, I knew he didn’t say it because of Matt. There was something else. I saw it in his eyes. Rage, hatred and… fear.

Why was that?

Letting out a sigh, I touched my bruised lips.

Intolerable man! How dare he behave like he owned me? I’ll definitely kick his ass if he kisses me once more without my permission!

Huffing, I decided to head back to my office.

As I turned to another hallway, I stopped when Sierra came out of the main conference room.

The thing that had my brows knitted was her trembling state. With her arms around her, she silently wiped her cheeks, her dark hair hiding her face from me. Without looking anywhere, she put her head down and rushed away.

What’s wrong with her?

As far as I knew, there was no meeting today. So what was she doing in the empty conference room?

Then the door of the conference room opened again and came out a person I knew quite well.

Arthur Valencian.

With a blank expression on his face, head high in confidence, as usual, he shoved his hands into his pockets and followed the way Sierra just took. He didn’t notice me standing at the other corner of the hallway.