Down On Your Knees

WHY HIM?

CHAPTER 3

The next day...

Even before she left New York, Samira had formulated a master plan. She had worked out a plan to break off her engagement to an unknown fiance.

The FIRST option--her despicable attitude and demeanor must surface. She would make her character so awful that her fiance's family would notice her inappropriate behavior. She was so sure that no man would like to marry a woman with a disgusting character. Her fiance would break off the engagement himself. Samira noted her plan.

Should the first option fail, then the SECOND option should work. She would beg for her heart to her grandfather. She would talk to him about her pretend interest in a man. Of course, her grandfather wouldn't know the pretend part nor the man she would choose; the relationship must be believable. Her interest in the man must be reasonable. Samira needed to find the right man that her grandfather would approve of, as soon as possible.

A man with solid character and good social standing, in short appropriate. Samira further noted.

Like Andi? The small voice inside of Samira asked.

Samira replied to that small voice, Andi would be a perfect candidate. Her grandfather seemed to have high regard for Andi. However, Andi was also engaged, it was going to be a long shot, but she would like to try to get his attention. She was aware that it was not a good idea to mess a relationship, but she was desperate.

Besides, she reasoned...It would not be all dependent on her. Andi had to choose in the end. If his relationship was not stable enough, it was bound to screw up in the end anyway.

Samira sighed deeply, "Gosh! Could I really do it? Have I become this type of a person? Stubborn and uncaring?" Her fight for her freedom turned her into a vicious woman, but she had to move forward. She must do it at all costs. Samira thought.

She did not know Andi so well, just like her fiance, but at least, Andi was her choice. She would deal with other complications later.

"Okay then, Andi, let's find out if you can resist… a Samira Tantaco!" Samira voiced confidently, she smiled in a silly way in front of the mirror.

Samira had chosen a matching light brown coat and slacks; inside her coat was a laced beige spaghetti strapped shirt. Her long brown hair was in a bun, and her face was dolled up by little make-up. She looked professional, presentable, and highly irresistible.

Pleased with her appearance, Samira made her way out of the room with a silly smile still fixed on her lips. However, the smile faded when she saw Andi. She gasped for air and swallowed the thickened liquid in her throat.

Now she knew why she would have to choose Andi, over her unknown fiance, despite the consequences of her vicious intentions.

“Gosh! This Andi is a sight for sore eyes! So fvcking handsome!” Samira murmured while eyeing Andi from the second floor as he stood straight in the middle of the receiving area. Samira gazed at his face for a short while.

Andi's free hand was on his hip while speaking with someone on the phone. He was wearing a matching dark blue coat and trousers, looking fresh from an exclusive men’s wear rack or made to fit his body. The suit he wore defined his excellent physique --broad shoulders, contoured chest, and muscled legs.

"God, those legs and butt," Samira breathed hard.

On top of that, Andi looked immaculate and distinguished and undeniably hot. For some reason, she was drawn to men with firm buttocks and muscled legs. Andi was born to disturb the sound minds of the female population, herself included. Her lips formed a straight line after thinking about it.

"Dang, it!" She screeched.

Samira shook her head repeatedly, surprised at the notions running in her head. Such thoughts were disconcerting for the reason that she had never been drawn to a man for his physical attributes...until now.

“What was I thinking?” She murmured, “Grandpa's watchdog is attractive, alright, but why drool over his sexy body? Jesus!...why the hell did he look so fvcking gorgeous?" Samira bit her lips, on her simple cravings. Samira stepped on the stairway slowly, going down.

Andi arrived on time as they agreed last night. On the other hand, Samira was five minutes late from their agreed time, but she wasn’t worried at all. She was still the boss.

Upon hearing the sound of her stiletto heels stepping on the marble stairway, Andi turned in her direction and gazed at her form. There was nothing on Andi’s expression that would tell what was in his mind. Whether he approved of her appearance or not, no one knew except himself.

"Excellent poker face," Samira murmured.

“Good morning, Ms. Tantaco,” he greeted her formally.

“Call me Samira or Sami, Andi!” She smiled at him genuinely.

Was her smile that real? Andi’s brows furrowed in concentration. It was only last night that she was so bitchy while speaking with him. What could have happened overnight? Andi wondered what the b***h was up to and his brows furrowed due to that.

Samira saw the fine lines on his face, decerning the reason behind the furrowed eyebrows; her mood changed instantly.

“If you don’t want to call me any of those names, you may call me the way you used to or call me, MISS,” She said shrewishly, squinting up at him.

Andi smirked out of pleasure in seeing her offended in a way. He was unaffected by her sharp tongue and sudden change of temperament, “I’d rather call you the way you want me to call you.” He spoke with confidence. His eyes were twinkling from suppressed glee.

Samira eyed him sharply, “I just told you, didn't I? Now, don't waste my time and wipe that smug smile off your face. Let’s go!” she sneered, stomping her feet towards the front door. Her beautiful hazel eyes sparkled in defiance, forgetting that she should be nice to him if she wanted him to fall for her.

Samira left Andi standing inside the receiving area. He pondered on her reaction, and a mischievous grin formed on his lips, "I managed to annoy you, at last, Ms. Samira Tantaco!" He kept those words inside his head, but he couldn't help to smile while following her towards the waiting vehicle.

When they were outside, he immediately opened the door for her and waited until she slid down the backseat safely before he took the shotgun seat. Andi felt the burning stare of Samira at his nape, and he once again smirked, murmuring to himself, "We are even, our score 1-1." Andi tittered quietly.

They didn’t talk on their way to the mall. Only the gentle rhythm from the car sound system could be heard inside the vehicle. Andi held back his laughter by stroking his chin to avoid annoying her further.

They walked side by side when they arrived at their destination. Curious glances followed them. The mall employees were amazed. They openly gazed at the two elegant and dashing figures walking in front of them.

Samira didn’t even smile while they passed by some employees who greeted them, looking snobby and arrogant. She was still annoyed with Andi and was not in the mood to interact with anyone. On the other hand, Andi nodded and gave an archaic smile or a subtle smile to some people he knew.

Inside the elevator exclusive for the top executives, the two remained quiet, bereft of ideas on how to talk to each other. Samira waited for Andi to speak, but no words came from him; therefore, she remained silent. Andi was thinking the same.

Then Samira noticed Andi's overpowering aura. His intoxicating presence could envelop the entire room quickly. She wondered why a simple mentor would possess such a strong aura? She had to find out more about him.

She was also annoyed that he seemed to have a more magnetic aura than her.

"That should never be the case. I am the boss in this establishment, and I wouldn’t let this man overshadow me. No way!" She murmured to herself.

Samira stood straight and narrowed her brows and whispered to herself, “Let’s see whose aura was stronger between the two of us.” She straightened her back like an astute businesswoman. However, she remembered that she was supposed to charm the man. How could she attract him if she was too snobby and grumpy? "Damn it!" She pulled a heavy breath and closed her eyes, admitting to herself, she had to bring him down on his knees...first! She also asked herself why she was so annoyed about mundane things such as aura?

"You are so petty, Samira!" She scolded herself silently.

Meanwhile, Andi was amusedly watching her expressions on the mirror-like stainless-steel elevator door without being noticed by her. He was silently laughing at her, but his face remained emotionless.

When the elevator door opened on the 10th floor where the top executives held office, she stepped out first on the fully carpeted floor. Then she looked around, she shrieked and told herself, “s**t! Why was I so distracted? I didn't even know where to go. I should have let Andi lead me, first, now I looked like a fool," she froze after a few step, clueless of where to go.

A few seconds later, she heard the low-toned voice that almost snapped the string of her bikini. It was the most sensual way she listened to her name being called “Samira," Andi paused, "This way, please.”

She felt struck by lightning. The emotions she felt in just an hour in front of Andi were all new to her.

Then she heard him again, “Samira?” He seemed concerned.

"Fvck that voice!" Masking her flushed face with a frown, she slowly turned and met his bottomless black eyes.

“This way to your office,” Andi murmured while pointing in another direction.

She held her breath when his hand landed on her elbow.

Samira trembled on the sensation brought about by the contact of his hand on her fabric-covered elbow. She could feel the heat of Andi's hand penetrating through the fabric of her sleeves, going directly to her skin underneath the material of the clothing she wore.

So, so, weird. Samira froze. The heat was coming off his hand in waves, and it was making her mind crazy as hell.

"What's going on?" She asked herself, she felt her heart skip several beats aside from the tingling sensation spreading in waves in her body.

“Am I attracted to him, this early? This Andi? I didn’t even know his last name! Damn it!” Samira scolded herself.

Samira slowly walked while Andi guided her to her office. She remained silent as if in a trance. Samira sat on the chair behind her desk when they entered her cabin. Andi stood right next to her desk. She was blushing, slightly shivering, and her mind was in a total mess.

“Anything wrong?” Andi asked concernedly. His bottomless eyes were focused on her face, detailing every emotion he found there.

Samira pinched her thigh under the table to snap her out of spacing out. She heaved a deep sigh before she replied, “Um,” she cleared her throat, “Memories.” and lied. Memories of her father doing his business in the same office was far from her mind.

“Of course, you're thinking about your father.” Andi nodded his head in agreement.

“Yes!” Samira replied.

"Sorry, dad!" those words remained in her head.

A slight curve appeared on Andi's lips, which further disturbed Samira's thoughts.

His smile was beautiful.

"I'm in deep s**t!" She muttered to herself as she looked at him as if she had seen a ghost.

Andi's bottomless eyes met with Samira's golden-brown eyes.

Samira’s had not been so attracted like this to any man before and she whispered to herself…

"Damnnn! His smile struck a nerve in a good way. No man had ever affected me this way. Now I am sure, it has to be Andi. I will snatch him away from his fiancee, whether he likes it or not."