[Warning: Slightly mature content ahead]
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Aliana paused mid-step, her back still facing him, refusing to turn around, afraid she might see the ghostly man again.
Jacob walked up and stopped just behind her.
At that moment, Nigel appeared in front of Aliana, handing her a glass of water. "Here, boss, have some water."
"Thank you," she murmured, accepting it with slightly shaky hands, a detail that did not escape Jacob's eyes.
He glanced at Nigel and asked, "Nigel, can you give us a moment?"
"Uh…" Nigel looked at Jacob, then back at Aliana, silently asking for permission.
After gulping down the water in one go, Aliana gave him a small nod.
"I'll be right outside, boss," Nigel said before stepping out of the conference room.
"Aliana, is everything alright?" Jacob asked, concern evident in his voice, as she still refused to turn and face him, something he found a bit odd.
"Yes, I'm fine, Jacob. As I said, I just got a little overexcited," she said, trying to keep her voice light. She fought to hide the slight tremble that still pulsed through her body at the thought of the ghost behind her.
All she wanted was to rush out of the room, so she quickly added, "Why don't we head out? My father wanted to see me, anyway."
She tried to take a step forward, but a firm hand landed on her shoulder, stopping her in her tracks.
She tensed at Jacob's touch and heard him say, "Aliana, I've known you for a while now, and I know when something is wrong. And from where I stand, I don't think you are quite al-"
"I said I'm fine, Jacob," she cut in a little more firmly.
She reached up to pry his hand from her shoulder, but his grip tightened, making her frown.
"Then why aren't you saying that while meeting my eyes?" he countered.
She stilled, unsure of what to say to him.
'That's because I'm afraid a pale ghost standing behind you will scream at me again,' but she bit her tongue.
Taking a deep breath, she realised Jacob wouldn't let it go unless she faced him, facing him. Standing there with her back to him was already strange enough.
So she removed his hand from her shoulder and finally turned. Her grey eyes, instead of meeting his, drifted past him… only to find that the pale man was no longer there.
She released a breath, she had not realised she was holding and replied, this time without a tremor, "Look, it might have seemed a little unusual to you, but I'm really fine. There's nothing more to it.
She continued, "But I need to leave now so that I can catch up on all the work that piled up while I was recovering. So I'll see you around later."
Jacob studied her carefully, trying to read her, but he knew better. When Aliana chose to keep something hidden, no one could pry it out of her.
Giving her a slight nod, he said, "Alright. If you say so, I'll take your word for it. But if you need anything, or just someone to talk to… you know I'm always there, right?"
Aliana gave him a small, polite smile, "I will."
With that, she turned to leave, and Jacob did not try to stop her this time. As she reached for the door handle, she paused and glanced back over her shoulder, "Thank you for having my back in there," she said.
Jacob smiled, "Always."
With that final word, she was gone.
Jacob remained rooted in the now-empty conference room, his gaze fixed in the direction she had just disappeared to,
After a moment, he turned and looked behind him, towards the spot where she had been staring earlier.
He wondered what she was looking at before his dull yellow eyes drifted to his hand, the one that had rested on her shoulder.
Curling his fingers slowly into a fist, he turned and walked out of the conference room, heading towards his own office.
At the sight of him, his assistant immediately stood up, "Mr. Grant-"
"Hold all the meetings and calls for the next fifteen minutes," he cut in, his tone leaving no room for questions.
Without another word, he stepped inside his office and locked the door behind him, leaving his assistant staring after him in confusion before she quietly complied.
Inside, Jacob leaned back against the door and let out a slow breath.
"Oh…Aliana," he murmured.
He closed his eyes, as if merely calling her name would allow him to taste her. Her striking face and figure flashed through his mind, and he felt a sudden tightness in his pants.
A shiver ran down his spine as he lifted the hand that had touched her and brought it to his face reverently, before taking in a deep inhale. He then let out his tongue to lick his own palm, and a low groan escaped his lips.
"F*ck! Look what you did to me, you beautiful, sexy thing, Mm!" he whispered breathlessly, his gaze dropping to the prominent bulge straining against his pants.
His eyes drifted towards the CEO's chair at the centre of the luxurious office, and he imagined Aliana sitting in that very seat in the near future.
His mouth watered just thinking about it, and before he could stop himself, his feet moved on their own, carrying him across the room until he sank into the chair she was destined to claim.
He switched on his laptop and opened the latest interview she had given to the media, which was already trending on every news outlet imaginable.
With a swift motion, he undid his pants and freed his aroused member. He gripped himself with the same hand he had touched Aliana and shuddered at the contact.
Biting into his lower lip, he held back another groan and began stroking himself as his eyes remained fixed on Aliana as she moved across the screen.
"Yes! Yes…. just like that. Look how sexy you are, answering those wolves out there," he murmured to himself. He was breathless now, his movement quickening as his gaze never left her face.
"Ah, yes, Aliana. Tell them! Tell them there is no other man for you except me! Ah! Yes! F*ck me hard!" His movement turned frantic as he neared his release.
"I. Am. The. Only. One. For. You…..Al-"
A sharp knock on the door startled him. His hand jerked violently, and he erupted all over his pants.
"F*ck! F*ck! F*ckk!" he hissed, his voice thick with frustration and irritation. In his mind, he had just been interrupted during his private time with "his" woman.
His pants were a disaster, and the heavy, musky scent of his release filled the confined space of the office. He hurriedly shoved his member back in his pants and grabbed a handful of tissues to wipe himself clean. It was useless, of course, since the evidence had already left a prominent, damp mark on the fabric.
Annoyed, he buzzed his assistant, "Carol!" he barked into the intercom, his voice trembling with suppressed rage. "Did I not explicitly ask not to be disturbed?!"
"I-I'm sorry, sir, it was Mr. Nigel. He requested to see you urgently on behalf of Miss Vanderbilt."
"Miss Vanderbilt?" Just at the mere mention of Aliana, Jacob schooled his expression. He pressed a button on his desk to unlock the heavy door.
"Send him in," he ordered.
Nigel walked in, looking largely unapologetic despite his words, "My apologies for interrupting you, Mr. Grant, but my boss had sent me urgently. She asked for the files regarding the upcoming confe-"
Nigel trailed off, noticing Jacob's slightly breathless demeanour. He saw that the man's cheeks were flushed, as if he had been exerting himself, and then his eyes widened at the sound of Aliana's interview replaying on his laptop.
Jacob realised his carelessness and forced a quick hollow chuckle, "Ah, I was just reviewing the interview to see how much damage control we need to prepare for."
"I see," Nigel replied. He offered a slight smile but decided not to say anything more.
As the silence stretched uncomfortably for a few seconds, Nigel cleared his throat, "Um… so, the file?"
"Right," Jacob replied. He reached into his desk drawer, pulled out a thick black folder and placed it on his desk, "Right here."
Since Jacob didn't get up, Nigel moved closer to collect the folder.
Just as he neared him, his nose scrunched up at a heavy, musky scent that permeated the air.
'What the hell is that smell?' Nigel screamed in his mind.