Stella let out a quiet sigh, feeling trapped in the suffocating atmosphere of the room. She kept her head lowered as she pushed the flint on the metal lighter, the small flame flickering to life. Weston slowly brought the cigar closer, watching her intently as he leaned forward. The white smoke began to rise from the tip, curling in the air as the tobacco sizzled.
The light from the flame illuminated Weston’s chiseled features, making his jawline appear even sharper. Stella wanted to look away, but she couldn’t. His gaze held her captive, and she felt the intensity of it pressing on her. She was hyperaware of him, of every subtle movement, of every inch between them.
Weston exhaled a deep breath, the thick cloud of smoke rolling out from his mouth and right into Stella’s face. She immediately began coughing, her eyes stinging and red from the harsh fumes. Tears welled up in the corners of her eyes, and she instinctively covered her mouth, only for Weston to shove her hand away.
He didn’t say anything, but his eyes never left her face. He wanted to see every emotion, every reaction she gave, and he enjoyed watching her struggle. There was something undeniably satisfying in the way she was affected by him.
Stella, though still recovering from the coughing fit, finally managed to slap his hand away, taking a steadying breath. Her face was pale, but she didn’t show weakness. Her voice was steady as she asked, “Is there anything else you want me to do?”
Weston simply smiled, an unreadable expression on his face. He leaned back against the sofa, nonchalantly undoing the top two buttons of his shirt. His collarbone was exposed, and he radiated a cold, commanding aura that warned everyone around him to keep their distance. Despite his detached appearance, his eyes glinted with satisfaction, clearly pleased by Stella’s reactions.
The others in the room could sense the change in the air. Weston’s mood had visibly improved, and though his expression remained emotionless, the gleam in his eyes betrayed his satisfaction. No one dared to question why this woman had such an effect on him. To them, it was obvious — she was Weston Ford’s favorite. No one would be foolish enough to cross her, knowing that she held his attention.
But there was something curious about it all. Weston Ford, known for his indifference to women and vices like alcohol, had always been engaged to Guinevere Cohen. Their engagement had been public, and there had been whispers about their son being born recently. Everyone expected the wedding to happen soon, so the presence of this woman, Stella, raised eyebrows.
The elite circle of people in the room didn’t care about Weston’s personal life, though. They had a rule: do whatever you wanted, as long as it didn’t affect the family. They knew how to keep things covered up, and no matter what Weston did in private, it would remain a secret.
The secretary, relieved by Weston’s satisfaction with Stella, leaned in closer and whispered, “Serve Mr. Ford well,” her tone almost pleading. “As long as you keep him happy, everything you’ve done today will be forgiven. Do you understand?”
Stella’s gaze was unwavering as she looked straight into the secretary’s eyes, her voice firm and clear. “I’ve told you a hundred times! I’m here for an interview!”
The secretary’s expression shifted, her frown deepening as she tried to comprehend Stella’s insistence. After a moment of silence, the secretary’s eyes narrowed, and realization dawned on her.
“No wonder you were…” The secretary pursed her lips, her voice dropping to a whisper. “I’ll investigate this later, but the most important thing right now is keeping Mr. Ford happy. Do you understand?”
Stella, growing frustrated, stood up. “Why won’t you let me leave? I came here for an interview!” she demanded, her disbelief clear in her voice.
Before she could take a step, the secretary pushed her back down into her seat, her voice desperate now. “No, please! Please stay and keep Mr. Ford happy! I won’t make you do anything out of line, I promise! All you need to do is drink with him! Mr. Ford has always been a perfect gentleman. I’m sure he’ll treat you well…”
Stella’s eyes widened, her chest tightening with a mix of anger and disbelief. How had she ended up in such a situation?
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