I watched as Maria walked out of my office, her heels clicking on the floor and her hips switching with each step she took.

She was temptation in human form, I thought as she slammed the door shut behind her.

Her scent lingered and as I turned to get my phone, my eye caught a pink animal print scarf resting at the edge of the table. It was a small delicate thing with her initials embroidered at the top - M.B.

I grabbed it and sniffed, leaning back into my chair. It had her intoxicating scent. I tucked it into my pocket. I'd keep this piece with me.

Resigning? I chuckled. Funny how she thought she could just walk away from me, from this so easily.

I ran my hand through my hair.

Maria Bennett was a complication I had not anticipated.

Normally, I avoided complicated women. I always thought if a woman was complicated, maybe she didn't love you much.

Cienna had always been a simple woman, easy to understand and we had a simple, easy going marriage.

But Maria was something else. She held a fire I didn't know I had been craving. That is, until she ignited it.

That night at the club, she had been drunk, vulnerable and…easy.

But since then, she had become something else entirely.

There was absolutely no way I was letting her go. Not yet.

My phone buzzed, disrupting my thoughts.

Brandon's name flashed across the screen. He was my PA. I answered, making no effort to hide my irritation at being disturbed.

“What is it?”

“Inspection reports are ready for your review, Sir. Also, the board is requesting to schedule a meeting with you. It's about the new acquisition.”

“When?”

“They're pushing for tomorrow sir,”

“Fine. Email the reports to me. Tell the board that the meeting will hold next week and not a day before.”

I was not in the mood for corporate nonsense. My mind was elsewhere - on Maria and I did not want to be disturbed.

“One more thing, Sir.” Brandon said. The hesitation in his house was evident. “Miss Benett called. She was asking about the resignation process. Should I prepare the paperwork, Sir?”

My jaw tightened. So, she was not joking? Too bad the process had to pass through me.

“No. She's not resigning.”

“Uh Sir, but she…”

“I said no, Brandon.” My voice was low. “Handle it however you can. Make sure her request does not go through. Else, you will lose your job, Brandon. Do you understand?”

There was a long pause on the other end. I hated to threaten Brandon but at that moment, keeping Maria was more important than his feelings.

“Understood, Sir.”

I ended the call and began pacing around the room.

I could not get her out of my mind. I kept seeing her full lips, her wild eyes and the anger that flashed through them as she pushed me away.

She was lying to herself. She was pretending she did not feel the way I felt but I knew better.

Her body betrayed her words.

I don't want this, she had said.

But the way she had melted under my touch earlier contradicted her words.

I prided myself in being a man who didn't beg for anything. But this young lady was making me break every rule I had set for myself.

She was Duke's daughter. She was my best friend’s little girl. Thirty years younger. She was my employee.

But when she looked at me with those daring eyes of hers, all that did not matter anymore.

My phone buzzed again. It was a text from Duke.

Dinner at my house? Sasha is cooking. Bring your appetite.

I stared at the message for sometime. Dinner at Duke's house meant I would see Maria again.

I would have the opportunity of sitting opposite her and watching her struggle to pretend that I had not turned her every which way, screaming for me not to stop.

The thought sent a thrill through me. It was dangerous but I loved to play the game.

I'd never reject Sarah's meal. I typed back.

I was probably going to regret this but that didn't matter right now.

If Maria thought she could run away from this, she was mistaken.

I had poured years into building an empire. She was no different.

And if I wanted to have her, I will - body, heart, soul, everything.

And I'd make sure she wanted it just as much as I did.