“Pub— publicity?” Rick stuttered. “But you are already so popular!” His tone carried bewilderment for all the employees who were near them. 

Daryn looked at Rick with a raised eyebrow as anger curled in his stomach, which in turn manifested on his face in the form of darkest expressions he had ever seen. 

​​

Rick began to feel so shaky that sweat trickled down his spine. If he didn’t make an amendment to his statement, he might lose his job. “I think we need to keep this surge of popularity in flow, else the Company might suffer losses,” he blabbered. 

The word ‘losses’ only made Daryn angrier. He glared at Rick and said in a cold voice, “I think you need to go back for more training to our training center. I will arrange it for you soon.” 

Rick’s throat dried. That place was for people who performed badly. He wanted to smack his head for speaking nonsense. “I am sorry, Sir. I am going to make a list for you as soon as possible and send it to you.” Although in his head, it was an absolutely ridiculous project but whatever boss said was the rule. 

Daryn turned his attention to Dawn who was looking shocked at the entire situation. She felt a prickle in her skin, as if it would erupt with acne. “Mr. Daryn, I am a Junior Market Analyst. How can I assist in the ‘Popularity’ project, let alone head it? I am into finance, not mass communication.” 

Even though she was on defensive, Daryn loved it. It was so refreshing for him. Most of his employees, business colleagues and relatives, either sucked up to him or talked nonsense behind his back.Too bad Dawn, you will have to do what I say. He was turned on. He glanced at her blouse that was hugged to her body. He wanted to yank it off her and lick his tongue up that belly to the north. “Your job would be to assess the market of all the popular magazines and other kinds of media and guide the team to tell them where to advertise. You will allocate them funds accordingly.”

This was absolutely the stupidest project she had ever come across. Even in her college, this thing wasn’t covered. She so wanted to tell him that she was the type who had predicted his Company, The Mink Corporation’s downfall, and he thought of putting her in this foolish job? Raising the popularity of a man who was famous beyond imagination? Had he gotten out of his mind. He had so many restraint orders against girls who had become obsessive about him, his Company was like one of the most valuable companies of the country and yet he wanted to invest money and time on becoming even more popular? What was this new gimmick? She planted her legs wide and glared at him. “The only market that you can now tap is the moon!”

He wanted to laugh loudly at her bratty behavior. His gaze shifted to her wide legs and his imagination took off in every dirty direction he could think of. Take it easy boy. His voice was hoarse when he said, “See you soon,” and started to leave. He walked out of her cubicle, stopped to look at Rick and said, “From tomorrow, these ten employees will sit on my floor because they have to study every aspect about me.” 

Rick nodded vehemently. Did his boss actually go so shameless? What did he mean ‘every aspect’? He blinked rapidly. And why did they have to sit there on his floor? Another headache. He better have more boys than girls in the team. 

Daryn turned to look at Dawn again. “Don’t forget – my office, 2PM.” Why did it sound like a date? 

Dawn balled her fists so hard that her fingernails dug into her palms as she watched him saunter like he was enjoying himself because he had made her even more miserable. Sadist.

As Daryn walked he let out a low whistle, which converted into a soft hum. He imagined her naked, spread-eagled on his desk with her legs wide open. Do not think like that Daryn. This is not how it works. He tried to leash his flight of fancy. She will kill you. His cock twitched yet again. 

He took the elevator to his office. Before going inside, he instructed Reyna, “A team of ten new employees will be coming here. Cancel all my appointments for the day. They will be sitting on this floor, so make room for all of them.” He walked inside, leaving a gaping Reyna. “Also an employee will come first, don’t stop her. I have called her.” 

The CEO had never interacted with the new employees. What was this new thing? “Yes Sir,” she replied with a fuddled mind. When his door closed, Reyna shifted her gaze to the beautiful thirtieth floor that was wall-to-wall carpeted, had exotic tropical plants, chandeliers from across the world, a mini-putting green and a personal gym for the CEO himself. There were only five more employees besides her who were allowed to step on that floor on an everyday basis other than those who came for a meeting and of course Maya and some relatives. She couldn’t imagine stuffing ten cubicles here. She couldn’t figure out how this would happen. But his instructions were crisp. Immediately, she called the interior decorator. 

Inside the office, unable to sit on his chair, Daryn arranged his table neatly. Then he walked to the area in front of the couch and did push ups. He sat on the sofa and took his coat off. Thinking of her in his office made him push to the verge of shifting. Suddenly there was a ring on his extension. He went to pick it up. Reyna’s light voice came, “Sir, Ms. Maya is coming to meet you.” 

What? His lips pressed together, almost to the point of flattening. She was hell bent on creating a show in the office. “Tell her that I am busy.”

“I told her that, but she is already on her way up. She is in the elevator as we talk.”

Daryn’s face tightened. She was getting on his nerves. “Okay, tell her to make this short. I have a meeting in less than fifteen minutes.” Daryn slammed the phone down. She was becoming difficult to deal with. He knew her agenda. She was trying to pressurize him to visit her father. The heck he would. He ran fingers through his hair. 

Maya opened the door of his office with a loud noise. “Darynnnn!” she said in a loud dulcet voice for others to hear. 

Reyna chuckled softly. “Cute couple,” she muttered. 

As soon as the door closed, Maya went to Daryn and said, “Darling, what is it with you?” She held his hand and then wrapped her arms around his shoulders. “I had to come to your office to convince you to join me for tomorrow evening.” She kissed him on his cheek. 

Repulsed, he removed her hands. “In what language do I make you understand that I won’t go?” 

Suddenly Maya threw herself on her knees and sat down in front of him with tears in her eyes. She held his legs. “Please Daryn, what have I done? We used to love each other so much. What has gotten into you? I can give you what you want.” She started opening the zipper of his pants. 

“Stop it!” he said and tried to zip his pants back.