Since Cristina started working at the Sarmientos' company, a whole year had passed. A year in which the tension between her and her boss had not only been maintained, but burned with an almost unbearable intensity, a dangerous mixture of attraction and power that electrified every encounter.
Enrique arrived at his company with his firm and confident step, but as he crossed the door he stopped dead in his tracks. There was Cristina, embracing one of the employees from the administrative area. His hands closed into fists, his knuckles white under the pressure; his nails scratched his skin with such force that it hurt even him.
"Good morning, sir," the receptionist's voice cut through the air like a shot, snapping him out of his contained fury.
"The new one turned out to be quite a gem." The receptionist commented with bad intentions.
Enrique clenched his jaw. His deep voice echoed through the office like thunder when he asked:
"What is happening here?"
Everyone fell silent. Cristina released the man who was hugging her and looked him straight in the eye, without looking away for a second.
"Mr. Sarmiento, we were congratulating Cris on her birthday," an employee tried to smooth things over.
But Enrique was not in the mood for jokes or sweet explanations. His eyes were like sharp daggers that penetrated to the depths of their souls.
"You are on company time. Any displays of affection must be done during your free time," he said in an icy voice, cutting like a knife.
Without waiting for an answer, he turned around and disappeared down the hall, leaving behind a tense and heavy silence, loaded with unspoken promises and contained emotions.
Cristina was paralyzed, feeling how the weight of Enrique's gaze continued to burn her skin even when he was no longer in front of her. The silence in the reception area was almost deafening. In a trembling voice and a mixture of shame and sadness, she tried to break it:
"I'm sorry, guys. Thank you for your congratulations," she said, lowering her head.
Without waiting any longer, she hurried to walk down the hall that her boss had taken, trying to leave behind the knot in her stomach that tightened her chest.
"Cris, wait!" Ricardo's voice echoed behind her.
Cristina stopped for just a moment and turned around slightly nervously.
"I'm sorry, Ricardo, I have to go to work," she replied in a thin voice.
"I just wanted to invite you out tonight," he insisted, with a hopeful smile.
She looked at him confused and a little uncomfortable.
"I'm sorry, but I can't. I already have plans with someone tonight," she said without looking at him directly and continued on her way without turning back. Ricardo felt a bitter taste in his mouth; jealousy took hold of him upon hearing those words that were not even directed at him.
Arriving at her desk, Cristina took her agenda with trembling hands and headed towards Enrique's office. She took a deep breath to gather her courage; she knew that what awaited her would not be easy.
"Excuse me, sir," she said, entering carefully.
Enrique looked up with a frown.
"You're late," he complained coldly. That comment hurt Cristina more than she expected; she had hoped for at least a kind word since it was her birthday.
"I'm sorry, sir. It won't happen again," she replied, trying to hide the disappointment in her voice.
He nodded without looking and ordered:
"I hope so. Now read the agenda for today."
In a firm voice, Cristina began to list the day's appointments. Suddenly, Enrique interrupted without looking up:
"Add a last-minute dinner tonight." He said casually. "I forgot to tell you that you're going with me."
Silence took over them. Cristina felt her heart shrink as she assimilated what she had just heard.
"Is something wrong?" Enrique finally stared at her at her silence. His gaze was dark, almost intimidating.
"Sir, I have plans for tonight."
"It's clear in your contract: you must be available at any time I need you. And tonight I have a very important dinner," his voice firm and authoritative.
Cristina swallowed hard; she knew he was right. That contract was a commitment that could not be broken, which would still last four more years. She forced herself to accept resignedly:
"As you say, sir."
A cold silence lingered in the air as she slowly left the office, aware that that night she would not only face an important dinner... but also her own feelings trapped in that tense and dangerous relationship with Enrique.
Upon leaving the office, she called Miriam to apologize for not being able to see her that night, she was already aware of the illness of the only woman she had considered as a mother after the death of her biological mother and that night she would spend her birthday with her, but now thanks to her boss she could not do it. With great sadness she hung up the phone feeling the weight of guilt on her.
The day passed quickly, without any new unforeseen events and without speaking beyond work matters with her boss. When the afternoon began to fall, Enrique left his office with his petulant attitude "it's time to go".
"It's still early and I'm not done with my work." Cristina replied with visible tiredness in her eyes.
Enrique looked at her with narrowed eyes. "I'm the boss, so we can leave whenever I want." He said in a mocking tone.
"Sorry, I forgot you were the almighty one," Cristina whispered in a barely audible tone.
"What did you say?" Enrique asked, pretending he hadn't heard anything, but he had heard it.
"Nothing, sir. Just let me get my things," said Cristina resignedly.
Both got into the elevator, the tension between them was getting stronger, "we have to make a stop before going to the restaurant".
"As you say," she replied resignedly.
Both left the building under the curious gazes of the employees, some rumors began to be created around the strange relationship of Enrique and his secretary. The same rumors that reached Ricardo's ears who assumed that Cristina's date was with no one other than the son of the owner of the company.
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