Chapter 14 An Unexpected Encounter

Mia couldn't pretend she hadn't noticed what was happening. Her heart skipped a beat, and her hands trembled as she struggled to keep hold of the cup lid in her grip. Panic surged through her, and she immediately jumped to conclusions about what Tobias meant. "Mr. Larkin! Once Cordelia comes back, I won't let her off easily! How dare she handle something you specifically requested so carelessly? Honestly, this company never should've hired someone like her in the first place. Who in the world was blind enough to bring her on board?" Blind enough? Those three words hit like a bolt of lightning. Tobias' brow furrowed deeply, his expression darkening with icy displeasure. The heavy scent of cheap perfume in the air made his irritation palpable. The room seemed to drop in temperature as his simmering anger filled the space. "Get out," he ordered coldly. "What?" Mia stammered in disbelief, her voice shaky. "I said, 'All of you, get out!'" The tall, commanding man suddenly rose from his chair. Without a moment's hesitation, he swept an entire stack of documents off the desk with a single motion. Papers fluttered into the air like a chaotic blizzard and scattered across the floor. Everyone froze, their legs nearly giving out beneath them. Tobias' chiseled, striking features were now twisted with fury. His anger radiated so intensely that it sent chills down their spines. One by one, the employees scrambled for the door, tripping over themselves in their haste to escape. Mia felt utterly wronged, her chest tightening with frustration. She had no idea what she had done to provoke the wrath of this powerful man. "Mr. Larkin…" she tried softly, her voice tinged with desperation. "I won't repeat myself," he snapped, his tone cutting like steel. Left with no choice, she swallowed her grievances. Her cheeks flushed a bright red as she glanced back at him, hoping for even the smallest acknowledgment. But he didn't spare her a glance. Fighting the sting of rejection, she reluctantly retreated. Now, the vast conference room was silent, with Tobias standing alone. The man stood silently in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows, his silhouette shrouded in an air of loneliness. His gaze lingered on the rain falling steadily outside. Everything was hazy. He lit a cigarette with practiced ease, but his furrowed brow betrayed a restlessness that refused to dissipate. In the end, even the solace of a cigarette seemed futile. He crushed the smoldering embers in his palm and brushed the remains into an ashtray before crossing the room to grab his car keys from the desk. Without a second thought, he left the office. Outside, a gentle rain fell, and the sky darkened unnaturally fast. Tobias sped through the wet streets in his sleek silver-gray Maybach, the engine roaring as the car splashed through deep puddles. Water sprayed in all directions, yet he paid no mind. The gloomy weather blurred the world beyond the windshield, and his expression, obscured in the dim light, was unreadable. … At nearly ten o'clock, Cordelia stepped out of the cab in front of the villa. The night had fully descended, and the soft glow of the streetlights reflected off the puddles dotting the cement road, creating a flickering effect. The wind howled around her, rustling the leaves on the roadside trees. She instinctively wrapped her arms around herself, still feeling a bit cold. Then, she remembered not making it back to the office that afternoon and wondered if Tobias might be upset. As the thought crossed her mind, she decided that once she was inside, she would give him a call to explain. She took out the villa's key and, in the dark, fumbled for her slippers. Barefoot, she stepped into the living room and, with practiced familiarity, followed the wall toward the staircase at the corner. But on the way, a strong scent of rich, aged wine wafted through the air. Intertwined with the unmistakable chill of cologne, the scent was potent and distinctly masculine. Almost instinctively, she halted in her tracks and turned her gaze toward the couch in the living room. There, she saw a shadowy figure that seemed almost melded with the couch. He was dressed in a deep gray suit and appeared somewhat desolate, slouched heavily into the cushions. On the coffee table before him sat several empty wine bottles and a half-full glass of red wine. The scene left no doubt that those empty bottles were his handiwork. Cordelia's chest tightened. The entire atmosphere of the living room instantly fell into a dead silence. "Tobias?" She hesitated, her voice laced with uncertainty as she called out his name. It's rare for Tobias to step foot into this villa. Why would he suddenly return today—and in such a drunken state? Her body stiffened, and she cautiously approached. Stopping about three feet from the couch, she lowered her gaze and immediately noticed his partially unbuttoned shirt. His tanned chest was faintly visible, rising and falling with each breath. Her brows furrowed as she watched his hand reach for the glass of liquor on the table again. Unable to hold back any longer, she quickly closed the distance, dropping to a crouch beside him. Grabbing his arm firmly, she said, "You've had too much! You can't keep drinking like this!" Her words seemed to jolt him as his broad frame shuddered visibly for a moment. The next instant, as she tried to steady him and help him to his feet, his tall, powerful body swayed under the weight of the alcohol. Before she could react, an icy force seemed to sweep toward her. With a dull thud, she found herself pressed tightly against the couch beneath his heavy body. In the fleeting moment, under the faint moonlight streaming through the window, his dark, obsidian eyes reflected a familiar face. Her bright eyes and radiant smile, framed by impeccably applied makeup, resembled a rose in full bloom. "Aurelia?" His low, gravelly voice echoed through the empty living room. His gaze was tinged with a dangerous red, and his short hair fell messily over his forehead. Cordelia froze, her wide eyes locking with his, and a sudden realization dawned on her. "No!" she exclaimed, her voice trembling. Shaking her head frantically, she denied his words. "I'm not her! I'm not Aurelia! I'm Cordelia!" The chilly wind from outside suddenly swept into the room, lifting the off-white, wave-like curtains, carrying with it a faintly eerie and ghostly aura. Tobias' large hands clamped down on her arms, his body radiating a feverish heat as he held her in place. His dark eyes churned with emotion, anger, longing, and despair, like a storm about to break. "Why are you denying it?" he demanded, his voice cold and edged with a raw intensity. "Why won't you admit that you're her? You're Aurelia! Tell me. Why did you leave? Why?!" His voice, filled with pain and rage, poured over her like an avalanche, pinning her as much as his weight did. "Tobias! Tob—" She stretched out her hand to try to push him away. "Hmm!" Before she could finish, his lips descended on hers in a searing, overpowering kiss, silencing her protests completely.