CHAPTER 12

Ben

As the president of a broadcasting network, I always understood that there would be times when I had to weigh all my options. There were always a lot of variables to consider. Being a "harbinger of truth" was always the first priority, but even news reporting was a business venture. I always had to make sure that for every single person I hired, they should be adequately compensated for their services. That meant that I had to find a way to balance factual and accurate news reporting while also ensuring that my employees had their salaries paid on time.

But the most vital part in running a news outlet was to guarantee that our reputation and our credibility remained intact. We had to be viewed as a serious, meticulous, and unbiased news source. Otherwise, it would be near-impossible to gain the trust of the public and earn their patronage. Failing to make all these checks and balances meant the downfall of the company—another news outlet that strived to be of service to the people shut down without any legacy left behind.

"You don't seem very happy about

Olivia's viral story, boss," Eric pointed out as we walked back to my office. We had rushed down to the newsroom in search of Olivia, but she strangely had not reported in yet by the time we got there. "Isn't it great that we're getting such big numbers? I think we just hit eight million views in the past hour," he added as I sat down at my desk. He took the chair across from the desk.

It was apparent that Eric really had a money-first mindset when it came to business. I couldn't blame him for having that perspective. After all, anyone who worked jobs aimed to earn money, after all. With that being said, I just wished I had someone who understood the situation how I did, but I accepted that it would be somewhat hard to explain it in a way that it would be immediately grasped.

"I have my reservations, I will admit," I replied carefully, though I could clearly see in his face that he was totally confused by my reaction to this whole viral video. "I messaged Olivia to come to my office as soon as she arrived. Would it be alright if we talk about this later?"

Eric simply nodded at my request, exiting my office wordlessly. I could try to explain to him my opinion on the matter, but for now, I had a bigger issue to deal with.

Olivia

I had never been applauded in my life. I was a press release writer once, for god's sake. I was always behind the camera. And even when I transitioned to being in front of the camera as a news reporter, I was not expecting for it to happen to me whatsoever. I wasn't an actress, or a musician. So why was I getting clapped for while I was walking down the OVT lobby!?

"Woo! Congrats, Olivia!" The receptionist cheered me on, and I tried my best to shoot her a smile, but this was all very overwhelming for me.

"You put OVT on the radar again!" One of the junior reporters whooped, and that put way more pressure on me than I thought it would. I didn't want to become this attention-grabbing news reporter. I just wanted to be a journalist.

Near the elevators, beyond the group of people that gathered around the pathway, I saw Eric calling me over. I rushed over to meet him by the elevator.

"Hey, Eric." I had a feeling I knew why he was here.

"Hey, viral girl," Eric greeted me with a smile, obviously teasing, but it aggravated me. The elevator opened, and I stepped inside. He pressed the button for the top floor.

"Ben is waiting for you upstairs in his office. I'll stay back and try to control your crowd of adoring fans." Eric then clicked his tongue, winked, and gave me a purposefully corny thumbs up. I gave one last look at the crowd that gathered in the lobby for me, and another uncomfortable shiver ran up my spine.

As the elevator doors closed, an even thicker tension filled the air as it sunk into me that I was coming up to meet with Ben Oviatt—especially considering that our last encounter wasn't exactly pleasant in any way. Also, my job still hung on by a thread, after all. I didn't do that story to impress those people down in the lobby. I did it to try to impress my boss so that he wouldn't fire me.

I took a few deep breaths as the elevator finished its rise. I knew that the answers to all the questions racing through my head were right in front of me—I just had to push through. Whatever is going to happen is going to happen. Taking a deep breath, I knocked on Ben Oviatt's office door. It was slightly ajar, so I pushed it open. And there he was. He had the same indifferent face as usual, but he looked perfect sitting there, sun streaming in the windows and catching his hair. I almost couldn't breathe as something a little too close to desire surged through my body, settling into the deepest parts of my core.

"Good morning." I forced my voice to be clear and cheerful, but still professional.

"It's already afternoon, Miss Taylor," he responded in a deadpan tone, making me internally facepalm myself. "Please, sit."

I learned the hard way that understanding him meant needing to read between the lines. He definitely knew how to use his presence to his advantage, and I had fallen victim to being intimidated by him multiple times. But this time, I just had a sudden sense of understanding of him.

I mean, it wasn't quite as clear as day. I just knew for a fact that there was a strain in the air, but I had no idea what was makingtheBen Oviatt so tense. Was it just my story?

Ben cleared his throat and loosened his tie. It was a rare sight seeing him show signs of stress, but I was honestly more distracted upon seeing just a little more of his throat peeking through. It was surprisingly intimate, watching the muscles of his throat move when he swallowed hard.

"I'll get down to business. I hope you don't mind," he started, releasing a breath as he relaxed into his chair.

"Of course." My voice was a little shakier, a little breather this time.

Ben then stared at me eye-to-eye. This time, weirdly, his green eyes weren't as piercing as usual. It was more of curiosity rather than of criticism.

"I would congratulate you on your fifteen minutes of fame, but as the President, I am worried about its repercussions to the company," he declared, almost nonchalantly.

It was the detachment in his voice that kind of set something off in me. I thought hearing those words would make me feel like the entire earth was going to swallow me up, but I just felt… angry. It was the detachment in his voice that made me feel like… like…

"Your reporting style, while attention-grabbing, would be detrimental in the long run. Respected reporters can exude fun and be fun while still minimizing the risk of being ridiculed on the internet—" Ben was going on and on about his opinions.

"I think you're full of shit," the words escaped my mouth before I could catch them. They were now out in the world, and try as I might, I could never, ever take them back. But when I saw the surprised expression replace his usually indifferent face, I couldn't bring myself to regret it. In fact, I even wanted to double down.

"Excuse me?" Ben's eyes were the widest I had ever seen.

"You heard me." The strength returned to my voice, but my body was shaking from the rage I had been building up over the last few weeks. "I think you're elated to see that your precious OVT Network is getting a lot of attention. I think—no, Iknowyou liked my story, and Iknowthat you're forcing yourself to see the bad side." There were no more internal barriers holding me back.

"If you think you know me, then you're making a big mistake, Olivia," Ben retorted, his face morphing into anger, but I could not back down now.

There was no going back from this, so I stood up. I stood up so I could stand up for myself. I was finally standing up for myself.

"I have done nothing but work long hours trying to please you and your impossible standards." My voice was slowly coming out as a yell, though I was trying my best to control my volume. I wanted to get a point across, not have a screaming contest with my boss. "But there was always something wrong. No matter howhardI tried, you always found a way to nitpick every single little detail." I was not in full control of my head anymore. I didn't even realize that I daringly walked over to his desk and leaned over his sitting frame. "I'm sorry I can't be factory-processed to be a reporter of your liking, but I know I am reporter, and I now know, after weeks of being hen-pecked, oh sorry,rooster-pecked, I don't need any approval from you," I declared with my full heart, and Ben stood up as well, inching closer and not backing down.

I forced myself to stay right where I was, even as Ben crowded me. I refused to take a step back.

"You know," Ben's voice came out dangerously low. It wasn't just venomous, it was deadly. "For a relatively new reporter, you have a lot of nerve talking to me like that." His scowl was as visible as ever, and I could feel the heat of his breath on my face. His fists clenched up as the light in his green eyes began to dim. Something else replaced it… something dark, something strong.

My heart raged uncontrollably, almost bursting out of my chest. My vision began to blur from all my emotions, and I was completely lost.

"And for a President of a successful company, you're the most infuriating man I've ever met!" I barked, barely inches away from his face.

It was one of those moments where there wasn't any logic running in my head anymore. All my reasoning, my rationality—all of them out of the window. I was only fueled by one thing and one thing only: my primal instincts.

So while I was in a heavy argument against my boss, once I got a whiff of his intoxicating cologne, I felt all of my inhibitions shed away from my body. With a rough yank to Ben's shirt, I found my mouth colliding forcefully against his lips. In a flash, I felt both of his rough and firm hands tightly clasping around my waist, pulling me closer for a deep, punishing kiss.

His desk stubbornly sat between us as our lips couldn't get enough. I felt his tongue slip inside my mouth, teasing me, drawing out a low whimper. He explored my mouth and my knees went weak. I leaned my entire body against his desk, needing support, needing to be closer to him.

All I could think about was how he tasted exquisite and how rough he was as he claimed to me. It sent shivers through my body and liquid heat pooled between my legs.

His lips left mine and I let out a frustrated whimper. I wanted nothing else than to feel his body next to me. Nothing else mattered. Even as I hated him, I wanted him. I needed him.

"Up," Ben growled, as he lifted me up and across the desk with almost no effort.

Suddenly, I was on my knees on his desk, pressed tightly against him. I could feel every hard ridge against my soft curves. His lips were everywhere—my neck, collarbone, behind my ear—as I tried to help him out of his suit jacket.

His arms wrapped around me and tightly gripped my ass, my back arching and pressing myself into him even more fully.

I moaned low and Ben swallowed it with his mouth.

My hands were on his arms, which were perfectly defined, even through the thin material of his shirt. Suddenly, he pulled my legs, and I was on my ass on his desk. He slowly crept his fingers under my dress and played with the hem of my underwear. As his knuckles brushed my core through the thin cotton, stars burst behind my eyes. I needed more.

I started undoing the buttons of his shirt, gently pushing it off and tossing it on the floor. He helpfully raised his arms as I took off the undershirt he wore.

"Oh my God," I breathlessly whispered as I gently ran my hands up and down his chest. Every single inch of muscle was perfectly defined, not to mention he was absolutely stunning with the heated smirk on his gorgeous face. I couldn't control myself anymore—I couldn't control myself at all. All I wanted to do was have him for myself. Without another word, my lips fell back onto his.

The sexiest chuckle escaped Ben's mouth in between kisses, and it made me shudder even more. My senses were being overloaded by… all of him. His voice, his scent, and his blazing hot body. It was driving me insane that I was passionately making out with this insanely attractive man.

Before I knew it, I was off the desk, legs wrapped around him as he carried us to his couch. He sat down, with me straddling him. His erection was right where I needed friction the most, and I bucked my hips back and forth. Ben groaned, and it was quite possibly the sexiest sound I had ever heard.

"Impatient, are we?" he breathed into my ear. His hand snaked its way back inside my underwear, drawing out a long moan.

"Oh, Mr. Oviatt," I whispered as he found the exact spot and rhythm. He didn't fumble, his movements were confident and sure. The result was mind melting pleasure.

"You like that, Ms. Taylor?" How could he even ask such an absurd question? Of course, I liked this. I fucking needed more.

His breath on my ear lobe set my entire body on fire.