(Arata)
Like a protective shield, his presence cocooned and held wrapped in a safety net. But as soon as I saw the black doors closing, my heart began its frantic beatings.
Up!
Up!
They rose like tsunami waves ready to drown into them. My breathing beca shallow, there was not enough oxygen in this cuboid of death.
My fingers tightened against Karsten’s hard arm as I tried to fill my lungs with as much air as I could find.
The monts when that man had tried to assault surfaced in my brain along with so other repressed mories.
Before I could get too caught up in this limbo of haunting monts, he ca for .
In a slow movent, Karsten shifted with a calm movent of his arm behind my back, so that I faced him.
His other hand grabbed my chin with his index finger and thumb and nudged it up so I could gaze into his concerned eyes. Worries in abundance swam in his irises.
"Concentrate on ," he warmly said. His arm left my back and both hands grabbed my face, pulling taut to his body.
Like a magnet, I went willingly and murmured. "I can’t breathe properly."
Silent unease in his eyes intensified as his words slipped out in tender softness.
"Then I will share my oxygen with you."
Like a velvety mist, his lips shrouded mine, and all that darkness escaped from my brain and heart. His calmness, tranquillity and assurance slithered inside and nothing else mattered.
Closing my eyes, I gave myself to him, trusting him. Letting his closeness ease and wind down this panic attack.
Tips of his thumbs, drew circles on my cheeks as he savoured my lips like enjoying his favourite wine.
Fresh and warm, his mouth and tongue seed to eradicate whatever fears lingered inside .
The ding of the elevator announcing our arrival had him finally halting, and with reluctance, our lips parted but foreheads connected.
Closing my eyes I stayed like that with him, a place where just him and existed.
I breathed out hard and he just held there, letting my breathing stabilise.
"Breathe, Arata, just breathe. I am here." I obeyed and calmly took in gulps of air.
The door opened and he let his hands drop, gently placing them on my back again. He guided forward and I let him take to my office.
He helped sit down in my chair and calmly asked.
"Do you need water?"
I shook my head, placing my bag on my desk. He half sat on the edge of my desk and let rest my head on his chest.
Calm and quiet we stayed like that for I don’t know how long. Every trace of that stupid panic attack disappeared, and I finally lifted my head to stare back at him.
The ghosts of fear still lingered in his dark pools so I smiled at him.
"I am fine now, thank you."
"Are you sure? Why don’t you work from my office today? Stay by my side." He asked, placing his calming hand on my shoulder.
"I won’t be able to answer the calls. I am really fine, if anything, I know where to find you." It took so convincing from to make him leave.
"My office door is open today so just co if you feel like it," he quietly said before leaving on his long and firm legs.
I collapsed against my chair and stared at the ceiling for a while, this was getting bad. My panic attacks were getting worse and it wasn’t his duty to take care of .
Not soon after he had left when Miranda entered with her smiling face.
"Arata, how are you dear?" I stood up to et her and she hugged , not touching my hands.
"I am good—I didn’t want to stay ho alone, so I decided to co to the office." We settled down.
"I understand, but don’t over-exert yourself. Alright," she instructed and filled in with Karsten’s daily plan.
"I have served him coffee so don’t worry about that. He is going to oversee the session with models today, and he wants you to accompany him. So be ready for that."
I took out my tablet and began to make small voice notes as Miranda filled in with more details related to the Winter Gala and Karsten’s etings.
After she had left, I went through all of his schedule and made ntal notes of when I had to go and remind him.
I was still sorting through the stuff when I heard a soft knock on my open door.
Lifting my eyes I found a smiling Ranold standing in my doorway. Clad in white slacks and a black shirt, the man seed impeccable.
"Arata, you ca." He waved at like parents do towards their kids.
"Mr Whittle, yes I did."
"Ah, always so formal. Call Ranold." The man seed to have so hearing problem, I could swear. He didn’t know when to take no for an answer or rember the previous conversation.
I only offered him a tight smile before politely asking.
"Anything you need?"
"No, I was just going to fetch Karsten for the modelling rehearsal. You should join us."
Of course, I was going to attend. But did the timing change?
It wasn’t for a few hours.
"Wasn’t it supposed to be at 11:30 am?" I asked, rembering Miranda’s words.
"Karsten needs his suit to be fitted and I want us to practice before the other models co in. You know, our walks," he charmingly inford , wearing that charismatic but cold smile.
I could understand why all the ladies wanted to sleep with him. Not only was he handso but that smile could lt anyone’s heart.
Sadly, it did nothing for .
"I will inform him."
"Let’s go together," he announced, and I knew he was doing it to piss Karsten off again. The man seed to get off by teasing his best friend.
Politely nodding I got up and exited my office. Ranold followed , keeping that smile going and clasping his hands behind his back. But his words had stopping in my tracks.
"So, I know Karsten can be extrely charming and the way he has taken you to his ho, I can see how thrilling it must be for you. But, at the end of the day, we are players. Keep your heart guarded, Arata. It would be too bad if it ends up broken."
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