Shadows Of A Forgotten Spring
Chapter 64

Emma's eyes widened in shock, her breath catching in her throat as she froze. Still unable to form words, she stared after him as he opened the door, stepped out, and firmly closed the door behind him. A surge of panic had her bolting after him, her steps cautious in case she woke Ethan. Reaching the elevator just as the doors slid shut, she pounded on them in frustration, her voice rising in desperation. "You can't do that, Alexander!" she screamed, her voice trembling with anger and despair. "Those children's lives are in question!"

But the elevator went down, carrying Alexander out of reach. Standing there, Emma clutched her fists onto the cold metal doors. Her mind was racing. She bit hard on her bottom lip, holding back frustration tears as she went storming back to Ethan's room.

Dropping herself into the chair by the window, Emma buried her face in her hands. The weight of the situation weighed heavily upon her. She blamed herself for pushing Alexander, for letting her emotions get the better of her. If she had kept her temper in check, maybe he wouldn't have refused the offer.

Her heart was bleeding for the children who were still fighting for their lives. She simply couldn't clear the vision of the weeping parents she had just passed. Their wails ringing in her head. Lives would probably be lost if Alexander clung on to his decision, and it would be a guilt she would carry all her life with her.

Emma wiped away the tears streaking her cheeks and glared into her laptop, determination flaring in her eyes. She might have failed to persuade Alexander, but she wasn't giving up.

She would find some other way. Whatever it would take, she was determined those children were going to get the care they deserved.

A few hours later, Emma was standing in front of Alexander's office door; her determination was shaken, but what she wanted to do and why was crystal clear in her mind. She had to talk to him, reason with him for the children's sake. She took a deep breath and walked over to his secretary, who looked at her from her desk and greeted her with a smile that didn't quite reach her heavily made-up face.

"I'm sorry ma'am, but Mr. Black isn't available at the moment." The secretary politely said. Emma's eyes narrowed, and for a second, she did not believe her. "I'll check for myself." she firmly said, pushing past the woman before she could stop her.

She burst into his office, heart racing, but she quickly stopped dead in her tracks. There he was, Alexander, leaning back in his chair loosely, sleeves rolled up to his elbows, tie loose, and the top two buttons of his shirt undone. His hair was just a little ruffled, as if he had been running his hands through it in frustration. Emma's breath caught in her throat. How could anyone look so insouciantly dazzling and infuriating at the same time?

She shook her head, trying to clear the thoughts as she tried to focus on why she was there. Her sharp inhale betrayed her nerves, but she steadied herself.

Alexander didn't look up immediately. He seemed fully engrossed in the file on his desk though she knew he was aware of her presence. The silence stretched between them, heavy and oppressive, until Emma broke it.

"I'm here to talk to you." she said, her voice firmer than she felt.

Alexander looked up finally, his cold, glacial eyes catching onto hers. "We have nothing to talk about, Mrs. Black." he responded, his tone sharp enough to make her falter.

The way he said her name "Mrs. Black" was a sting.

Emma swallowed hard, forcing herself to move closer, though it was almost beyond endurance, suffocating in his presence.

"You should not let your hatred for me get in the way of helping those children," she told him, her voice shaking slightly but filled with desperation. "I went through hell convincing my boss to fund their treatment. Don't let my efforts go to waste."

Alexander's lips arced into a humourless smile as he leaned back in his chair and subjected her to the unnerving force of his scrutiny. "I am really interested in this 'relationship' you have with your boss." he said, his tone heavy with accusation. "She seems to take care of all your personal needs. It is unusual, do you not think?"

His insinuation sent a chill down Emma's spine, but she was not going to let him see her break down. "Not every boss is as cold as you, Mr. Black," she retorted, her voice cutting.

His smirk deepened, and he stood, his towering frame closing the distance between them in few purposeful strides. The air grew thick with tension and Emma instinctively stepped back, though she hated that he could intimidate her so easily.

"Cold?" he echoed mockingly, his voice low dangerous. "Funny. I seem to remember you marrying this 'cold' man without a single complaint ten years ago"

Emma felt her throat tighten as she moved backward, again trapped under the crushing weight of his stare. She stood a little straightened and refused to show weakness.

"That was before I realized who I was dealing with, Mr. Black." She replied, her voice trembling from fear and anger.

The room seemed to grow colder as Alexander's gaze darkened, his eyes like glaciers ready to crush her where she stood. Before Emma even knew what was happening, she felt her body being pressed against the cold surface of the wall. His strong arms caged her in. His hands planted firmly on either side of her head.

Emma's breath caught as her heart started to pound in her chest, a heavy drumbeat in her ears. His eyes impaled hers, burning with an unrelenting intensity as if his prey was being captured. She was utterly paralyzed on the spot, and his presence weighed in crushingly. "I hate it when you call me Mr Black." Alexander rumbled. His voice was low and deadly; it made shivers run down her spine.

Emma swallowed as his words vibrated deep inside her, her throat dry. His gaze softened slightly but didn't lose any intensity as it traveled down to her lips, where it lingered. Every second seemed to pass like an eternity. The heat between them was unbearable. It was charged with something dangerous and electric.

Alexander leaned in closer, his warm breath tickling her skin and intoxicating her senses. Her mind screamed at her to push him away, but her body betrayed her. She slowly closed her eyes, succumbing to the magnetic pull that always seemed to be between them.

For a second, just one short second, her mind wandered to forbidden places. Memories of the past swamped her mind- the feel of his mouth on hers, the way he had stirred a flame deep inside. She remembered the night they spent entwined together in passion, and her resolution began to slip. Her body betrayed her further as her pussy began to ache with hunger, the thought of him slamming his cock in and out of her pussy again causing her panties to become wet.