Not only were his eyes charming, but they also sparked with a hint of wistfulness. His lips pursed tensely below his pointy nose with a perfectly straight bridge. His long and black lashes flapped in annoyance as he drilled his gaze into both of them. Tiffany could not help but gasp. Any woman would fall for a man like him. His complexion and clear skin could easily put any woman to shame. Although his appearance was elegant, he exudes a demeanor of beguiling masculinity. Standing in front of an impeccable man like him, Tiffany could not help but feel weak and small. Not only did he have the looks, but he was also accomplished, and had an enigmatic air about him. He could well be a homme fatale.
Tiffany found him scary. She was originally all worked up by the news, but now that she saw this man in person, she felt weak. “Shannon, I’ll talk to her privately,” the man spoke, waving his hand. Shannon cast a worrying glance at her before leaving. “Tiffany, you have a good discussion with Mr. Hisson. I’ll go back to work first.” Tiffany nodded and Shannon walked out. Now that they were left alone, Derrick beckoned her over. “Take a seat,” he said, toying with the ring on his middle finger. Tiffany did as she was told. She clasped her hands together nervously and mustered her courage. “May I know why are you terminating my contract, Mr. Hisson? I’m under the impression that we’ve been working well together.”
An enticing smile curved on his lips. “Would you come to my office otherwise?” “Huh?” Tiffany opened her mouth slightly in confusion. The smile on Derrick’s face deepened at her clueless face. “Tiff, did anyone tell you that you look cute?” Tiff? Tiffany could not even think straight. She simply could not believe what she just heard. “What’s wrong?” His deep and hoarse voice shook her back to reality. Tiffany looked at him in the eyes and her hot cheeks were flushed red. This had never happened to her before—not even when she met Oscar and Carter. There was something different about this man. She felt an intense pressure being around him, so much so that her heart would burst any time.
Her thoughts were all jumbled up and he made her disconcerted. Tiffany took a deep breath, rubbed her sweaty palms against her thighs. “Mr. Hisson, why are you canceling the contract? Is it because my book is not selling well?” Derrick shot her a mysterious smile as he watched her closely. “You’ve been avoiding me, haven’t you? Tell me if there’s a better way to make you come to me.” Tiffany was puzzled. It was true that she came up with all sorts of excuses to stay away from him, but that was because she figured it would be better to stay as far as she could away from a man so dangerously attractive.
She just wanted to distance herself from him so she did not fall under his spell. He was like a drug to her. No one could resist a desirable man like him, and Tiffany felt a well-to-do man like him was way out of her league, so she had better keep her distance. She did not understand how her staying away from him would provoke him—it should work the other way round! “Mr. Hisson, I think you have misunderstood something. I didn’t avoid you on purpose. I just feel like I only need to deal with the editor to get everything sorted out. She can relay whatever she deems fit to you after that.
I’m not doing this out of disrespect. I’m sorry if I’ve offended you,” Tiffany said in a very serious tone. Derrick put both his hands on the table and leaned forward, closing the gap between the two of them. He was so near to her she could even smell the scent on his body. “Emm… Mr. Hisson,” Tiffany mumbled, disoriented. “Call me by my name.” Tiffany was dumbfounded. She had totally no idea what Derrick was trying to do. Everything was happening at a pace her mind could not keep up with. The man before her was her superior, and she, his employee.
There was no way she could call him by his first name. “Is this a joke, Mr. Hisson?” Derrick seemed to have a good time teasing her. He took a strand of her hair and ran his fingers through it. Tiffany’s eyes widened in bewilderment and her cheeks were burning hot. “Has anyone ever told you that you’re beautiful?” he asked. Tiffany was about to lose it. His compliment gave her goosebumps all over her body and she lost herself in his mesmerizing smile. It was not until he chuckled out loud that she came back to herself. This guy is playing a fool with me.
Tiffany was infuriated. “Do you think it’s funny?” she asked sternly. The man sat back in his chair and folded his hands. “It’s fun for me. I like your reaction.” His words piqued her, but at the same time, she did not know how to react. She had always taken him as her superior, and she expected nothing more from their professional relationship. Both of them were not from the same world. He came from a rich family, albeit being slightly more attractive than his counterparts like Oscar and Carter. Derrick started his own company without his family’s backing and managed to grow it all alone. “Mr. Hisson, let’s get to the point,” Tiffany said, trying to feign indifference. “This is the point.” Tiffany was at a loss for words.
She just could not get through to him. “Look, Mr. Hisson, you said you wanted to end my contract, but you should at least give me a good reason for it. I know the compensation means nothing to you, but don’t you think it’s unethical to just bail out on a partner who has been working with you for years?” “Did I say I want to terminate our contract?” Derrick cut her harangue short. Tiffany stopped and blinked her eyes hard. “But… you said…” “Come on, can’t you take a joke? Don’t be so serious.” Tiffany clenched her fists tight as her blood boiled in rage.
“Do you think this is funny?” “Are you angry?” She stood up immediately. “Angry? Who am I to get angry at you, Mr. Hisson? You’re my boss. I’ll lose my job if I offend you. Since you’re not terminating our contract, I don’t see why I should stay here. I pulled an all-nighter just to finish off my writing, and I need to get some rest now. See you.” Seeing her leaving, Derrick quickly shot her a question. “Did you cross the Yard family by any chance?” Tiffany’s halted. Thoughts ran through her mind as she tried connecting the dots. “Did Mrs. Yard ask you to do anything?” she asked forthrightly. This was the last piece of information she needed to get the full picture of what was happening.
“Yeah, she did. She promised me tons of benefits just to get me to nullify my contract with a best-selling author. It seems like you’ve offended her big time.” I knew it! Tiffany gritted her teeth at the thought of that woman. Does she think she can get back at me just like that? There are still a lot of companies out there who can’t wait to sign a contract with me even if my company ditches me. My books are selling like hotcakes across the world! My fans will not go easy on Yard Group if they know what she’s trying to do to me. She’s clearly underestimated me. I can still publish my books online if the company ends my contract. It’s way easier to promote my novel online. “I got into a fight with her at the hospital.
I thought she would call it even between us, but it seems like she’s holding fast on old grievances,” Tiffany said with a nonchalant shrug. “You got into a fight?” Derrick was alarmed. Her cheeks were flushed unusually red in indignation. “I really couldn’t take her nonsense anymore. I simply had to teach her a lesson.” The perplexity on his face quickly vanished and a smile appeared. “I thought you’re just good at scolding people, Tiff, but it turned out that you’re also a feisty one. I’m glad I got to know this side of you.” Glad to know this side of me? What’s so good about being feisty?
Tiffany was lost. “I’m sorry about Mrs. Yard. If you think it’s too difficult to handle her, I don’t mind terminating our contract. I know I might not be as rich as you are, but my savings are still enough to last me till I find another company. Besides, I’ll still get a handsome compensation from you if you rescind the contract.” “Did I say that I’m ending the contract?” The Yard family is nothing to me.” Tiffany looked at him, astonished. She wanted to tell him not to think so highly of himself, but Derrick did not even give her a chance to speak and changed the topic. “By the way, don’t call me Mr. Hisson when it’s just the two of us.” “Then, what should I call you?” “Call me by my name.”
Tiffany darted her gaze around, trying to figure out his game. “But, Mr. Hisson, I don’t know your name.” “Derrick Hisson,” he said begrudgingly. Tiffany’s pursed her lips and made a wry face. “Derrick? It means ruler. That’s a nice name. I bet your parents want you to grow up to be a capable and successful man. Looking at all your accomplishments now, they must be really happy to see their dream being fulfilled. The girl who got you must be extremely lucky.” Derrick locked his gaze on her without another word. Tiffany met his eyes and blood shot up her face instantly. Her ears were pumped red and she could even hear her own heartbeat.
“If there’s nothing else, I’ll leave first, Mr. Hisson,” she said in a panicky tone, taking a few hasty steps backward. Her calves knocked against the chair leg and she staggered. “Be careful!” Derrick leaped on his feet, dashed forward to the other side of the table, and managed to catch her by her arm to prevent her from falling. Tiffany whipped her head around and saw him up close. An intense shade of pink dusted her cheeks immediately.
She extended her hands and pushed him back against the chair with all her might. Derrick knocked against the stile and bent his body in pain. “Tiffany,” he said, grinding his teeth. She was so shocked that her jaw dropped. “Are… Are you alright?” She had totally no idea why she felt so helpless before him. This was not like her at all back when she was putting up a fight with Elizabeth. Tiffany really had no clue what got into her.
Derrick tugged her shaky hands and planted his lips on hers before she could even do anything. Tiffany’s quivering gaze froze with her eyes wide opened. For a good ten seconds, she could not move. When she finally came back to herself again, she pushed him away, bolted toward the door, and fled. Derrick looked at her scrambling away with a subtle smile on his face, his finger tapping his moist lips.
