Chapter 14 Fight Back
SIENNA
The moment the elevator dinged and opened, I dashed out before he could catch his breath. I walked as fast as my legs would carry me and collapsed into a chair. I didn’t raise my head until he had entered his office. A deep breath escaped my throat.
Maybe he was right when he said he was the type every girl wanted. I didn’t think any woman would pass up a handsome man like him. He wasn’t just handsome—he was rich. He had all the qualities every woman desired.
“You are two minutes late.” A familiar voice slid into my thoughts. I didn’t need to look to know who it was. The intruder was none other than my ex-husband, Ethan. I would have been surprised if he hadn’t come to my table to make a fool of himself. Sometimes, I couldn’t figure out what he really wanted. I thought he would let me be after I divorced him, as he had always wanted. Why did it feel like things were getting even more complicated after doing what he wished?
Oh my God! He shouldn’t have come now. Not today. Not after my ugly boss had angered me in the elevator. Forcing on the fakest smile ever, I turned my head. “I’m sorry, Mr. Ethan. It won’t happen again,” I said simply, hoping he would leave without stirring up more trouble.
“Follow me right now,” he commanded, striding toward his office. Everyone on the team exchanged glances and looked at me. It felt like I had been slapped across the face, and the urge to react surged within me, but I held back.
Reluctantly, I stood, ignoring the probing eyes of my colleagues, and followed him into his office. As soon as I entered, he shut the door behind me and stood in front of it.
“You are late,” he repeated.
“When did you start tracking everyone’s arrival?” I tried to keep anger and rudeness out of my voice. “There’s a penalty for latecomers, and I don’t think you’re in a position to penalize me. Please move aside and let me leave. I have more important things to do than waste time here with you.” I reached for the doorknob, but he blocked it with his body.
“I know why you are doing this, Sienna. Trying to prove a useless point? Do you think this will make me believe the breakup hasn’t affected you?” His scrutinizing gaze darted over me.
I scoffed, my stomach churning.
“Oh!” I snapped my fingers. “You’ve got that wrong. The breakup did affect me,” I admitted. “But it only made me realize how wrong it is to bathe a pig and put it on the bed—because no matter what, it will always return to the slum.”
His eyes widened. “Sienna! You!!!” he gritted through clenched teeth.
“I made you who you are, Ethan. I thought dressing you up could hide the fact that you belong on the streets and shouldn’t be relied upon, but I made a mistake. You will always return to the streets you belong to, no matter the luxury life you’re introduced to,” I fired without restriction. How dare he think leaving me would break me? Yes, it hurt, but my heart gradually healed whenever I remembered he wasn’t worth it. He left me for my best friend. Men like him were nothing but public cake, ready to be eaten by anyone.
He blinked; his mouth opened, but no words came out.
“If you don’t want to have a sensible conversation, kindly let me leave. The last thing I want is to be suffocated in a room with a man like you,” I blurted out.
“You…” He clenched his fists, fireballs rolling in his eyes as he bit his bottom lip.
“Will you let me leave now, or do you want me to report you to management for intimidation?”
“You are toying with fire, Sienna. Don’t forget I have the power to promote or relieve you from your position. Don’t tempt me…”
“If you really had the power you always claimed, you wouldn’t tell me before sacking me. You are not generous enough to tolerate my presence.” A part of my brain urged me to stop, but I blocked it. I’d had enough of him and his antics. “You’re merely keeping me around because you have no power to fire anyone.”
His jaw dropped. The glints of anger and pride in his eyes vanished, leaving only humiliation, frustration, and discomfort. His eyes silently asked how I knew the truth, though his lips stayed sealed.
He scoffed, his eyes clear and vicious as ever. “Don’t tempt me, Sienna. If you push me beyond my limits, you won’t just lose this job… you’ll be blacklisted. No company will hire someone like you,” he growled.
I stared into his eyes for a few seconds and snorted. “Wake up from your slumber, Ethan. You’re still as powerless as you were before I met you,” I hissed, pushing him aside and storming out of his office before he could stop me.
Anger boiled within me. My veins popped, my breath grew erratic. I walked past my table, removed my office tag, and put it in my pocket. I felt like I could explode at any moment, and it would be safer if it didn’t happen in front of others.
I climbed the stairs to the building’s rooftop. But who would have thought I would be greeted by another crazy sight? I met an even crazier human up there.