Waiting eagerly in his office, Daryn let out a low whistle. He looked around everywhere to see if there was anything out of place, but everything was perfect. He tapped his fingers on his table and switched on his computer. He called Reyna on extension and said, "Cancel my meetings for the next one hour." Then he rose from his chair, stashed his hands in his pockets and looked outside. His mind went to Maya and what she did yesterday. For a moment he felt bitter and clenched his jaw. He had to break the engagement with her. And for now he didn't want to think of consequences. A soft knock on the door made him turn sharply.

"Come in," he said.

​​

Reyna stepped in. "Sir, Ms. Dawn is here with her team. They are waiting for you outside."

Daryn resisted the smile on his face and nodded. He picked his phone and walked out. He saw a group of four girls, and seven boys waiting for him but spotted her immediately. She was standing in the extreme right corner looking at the office with wondrous eyes. His pulse raced. Did she like the décor? Did it suit her taste? Would she be comfortable?

"Good morning Sir," the employees greeted him.

Daryn clasped his hands. "It's great to see you all here."

Before he could say anything, Yolanda swayed her way up to him. She gave him a folder and in a husky voice said, "Mr. Daryn, here's a list of all media companies who are popular and will accept us without hesitation for our project. I have also gone ahead to find the prices they are demanding for this sort of work. In my opinion, you really need only two people who are experienced in this kind of work and who already know the way the industry moves." She looked at Dawn and added, "Rookies would only create more problems." She turned her head towards him and gave him the best smile that made her peachy glossed lips shine like they were dipped in gloss overnight. She extended the file to him with pride on her face. She knew that once Daryn would see how hard she worked, he would remove this pesky girl and take her off the project.

"And who are you to tell me that?" Daryn asked, narrowing his eyes.

Yolanda gulped. Yesterday only the boss had interacted with her. How could he forget her so soon? She was embarrassed. Someone behind chuckled softly. It was so awkward for her that she rubbed the back of her neck. "I— I am—"

"Never mind," Daryn said curtly and dismissed her. He looked at Dawn. "Ms. Dawn, please get your group over there," he said pointing to a corner that looked like a small private area.

Dawn nodded.

Yolanda interjected, "Sir, I am Yolanda, the Assistant Manager in the Finance Department. You talked to me yesterday." How could she be dismissed? She had taken an hour to complete her makeup and look pretty only to impress the CEO and worked hard.

"Give this file to Ms. Dawn," Daryn ordered strictly and walked away.

Yolanda blinked a number of times at his curt behavior. Anger rose in her chest. Why was he giving so much importance to that rookie when she was more qualified? She went to Dawn and pushed the file in her hands with a grunt.

Dawn sighed and took the file. She looked at the others and requested them all to follow the boss.

Not wanting to be dismissed, Yolanda also went with them. On her way she opened the top two buttons of her shirt to show her cleavage.

As Dawn walked she saw that the entire décor of the office had changed. Ten very beautiful and fashionable cubicles were installed. Yesterday this place was nothing but a big empty hall and now it looked ambient, cozy and inviting.

They all settled in the area, which was at the far end of the room. The place was covered with white muslin curtains. There were sofas all around with a small table in the center. Daryn waited for everyone to sit, no, he waited for Dawn to sit because he wanted to sit beside her. But another boy sat beside her. Irritated as hell, he glared at the boy and hoped he would lift him and throw him out of the window. He chose in to sit on a single seat sofa beside them. When everyone was settled, he looked at Dawn and came to the point straightaway, "The first aspect that needs to be covered or made popular about me is that I am the sexiest and the most handsome man alive on earth."

Dawn's mouth fell to the floor. What kind of shamelessness was that? How brazen? Shameless didn't even define him properly. She added every synonym that came in her mind - outrageous, unabashed, and so wanton. As a CEO of The Silver House, the first thing he should have focused on was his intelligence and business acumen but what was this? Who the hell wanted their image as being sexiest and handsome? Was he a model or a Hollywood star? Her gaze shifted to others and everyone was as bewildered as she was. They all watched him skeptically with wide eyes. Yes, he was handsome with broad shoulders, silky hair combed back in and that impeccable black suit. Yes, he was sexy and she could easily write over five hundred words on why he was erotically attractive. But saying it aloud was simply— Dawn was bereft. She licked her dry lips.

Least bothered about everyone else, Daryn tilted his head and rested it on his palm. In a sultry voice he asked, "What do you think, Ms. Dawn? You are the Head of the project. How will you go about it?"

She rubbed her neck to recover from the brazen attitude of her boss and then said, "Well, the first thing is—"

Yolanda cut her short. She leaned forward to show her cleavage and said, "This can be easily done Mr. Daryn. Just read the proposition I have given."

Daryn gave her a hard smile and turned to Dawn. "Ms. Dawn, how is Ms. Yolanda's proposition?"

Yolanda fisted her hand in the air in her mind. Hah! See how the boss is siding with me, you fly.

Without reading the file Dawn said in a flat tone, "It is not good."

Yolanda's mouth dropped. How dare a new employee challenge her findings? She had worked so hard to compile the data. "How can you say so? You haven't even read the file!" she retorted.

Dawn pitied Yolanda's shortsightedness in her mind. She ignored her and looked into Daryn's eyes.

For a moment Daryn's heart stopped as he saw those green eyes. He remembered the first time he saw her on the highway. He crossed his legs in order to conceal his emotions that somehow again drained south.

She started, "You are already covered very widely in the popular magazines. Everyone knows that for a certain amount, they will again splash you on their covers. What we need is diversification. We need to find avenues, which haven't been tapped. And in your case," she gulped, "I mean, the points that have to be covered in your case," she waved her hand in a circle in front of him, "of being the most handsome and sexiest man," she paused to take in a deep breath, "going back to the magazines would look as if we have influenced them and it might be actually detrimental. So we cannot take the regular route."

Daryn poked his tongue in his cheek. She was intelligent and he could smell her juices mixed with obstinacy. Yes baby I am the best man for you. He brought his pinky finger on his lower lip purposely and pressed it.

Dawn gasped, tore her gaze from him and gave the file back to Yolanda. She clucked. "This won't work."

Satisfied with her answer, without looking at Yolanda and still seeing Dawn, he said, "Pick that file of yours and get lost."