The New Boss
Emma
My heart already leaped. I didn’t need words to explain who he was and why he was here. It was clear as crystal. While everyone bowed, I couldn’t. I couldn’t process why, of all places, did he had to go to the boss. For the millionth time that month, I felt my pride shred away.
“Playing games? I should be the one asking, what’s with the push and pull?” He feigned innocence, seeming like there was something wrong with my question, like the question was out of the blue, and it hit him like a rock. However, he still had that little grin that he probably couldn’t hide. It showcased his pride and excitement, which made me sure that he planned this all out.
“A man walks into the Lion’s den, but it is the Lion’s fault for waking up the greet the man?”
Such useless questions. It annoyed me more. I was almost convinced I was lured, but when you think about it, no one advised me to come here to seek a job. I did walk into the place with my two legs. However, he knew all this while; he must have been receiving reports, he was my application, and he was the one who hired me. Who pulled me in deeper?
A tear cut across my chest when I recalled Liam. How was I supposed to explain this to him? I was working for his greatest enemy. Liam wouldn’t take that well. But then I could just quit…right? Grandma didn’t need money for surgery anymore, I could quit, focus on growing my brand, and become what I dream of being.
With that in mind, my tensed shoulders dropped, and so did my brows.
“Since the Lion is airheaded. I might as well just quit.” Perhaps I should have held that in a little or released that news in the most subtle manner possible, because it wasn’t the typical workplace. Either way, I walked past him, making my way to leave, but two men came to stand right in front of me. One was the same buff man who had saved me from getting into an accident, and then the other was a regular worker, but he stood out more as a gangster or some sort of bouncer to me. With the tattoos that lined from his neck to his hands. Tracing his vein like a snake.
Cold laces its hands with mine.
“Move.” I tried, but the laugh from behind made me regret saying that. Perhaps I should have just fought my way through or taken the run.
“Do you think this is Vortex? Can you leave anytime you want? You had other choices, other jobs to find, but you chose here and now; the gates are closed. Once you are in, you are only limited to staying or dying.”
I slowly and dreadfully turned to him. My body visibly shook at the mention of death, because somewhere in my heart, I already knew they could be brutal enough to kill someone. And given the nature of this industry, no one might hear of my death. They would just continue to search. I didn’t want to imagine the heartbreak when my Grandma woke up to the news that I was missing, so I swallowed and asked, “What do you want from me?”
“Simple, work for me.” He shrugged casually. It could be simple to him, but to me, it was like playing with fire, knowing it would escalate but not knowing when or how.
“I can’t work with you.” My voice was getting soft. The shackles of fear gripped my throat, making it difficult to say a word properly.
“Because of your boyfriend? C’mon, you should be over him. Don’t you know what lies beneath a commoner being with an elite?”
That question hit a nail in my head. But I was well aware.
Peter walked closer to me, but I feared walking back the way I wanted. After all, there were still the two buff men behind me.
“Isn’t that the same with you? I admit, my coming here was a mistake. I could refund the daily pay–”
“You should know such a small amount of money cannot save you.” You got in here for free, so why would you try to leave by bribing?
“It is not bribing.” I corrected with fierceness, glaring at him, and holding my fist clenched, before I did something like sending a slap across his face.
But he grabbed my cheek. Pressing them so that my jaw hurts. It felt as though he was trying to force my tooth to pull out of my gum.
“When I tell it’s bring, it is bribing.” He glared down at me while I continuously slapped his hand for him to let go. He was hurting me.
“Did you hear me?”
What was he expecting as a response? Yes sir? But he pressed harder, certainly bruising my cheeks.
“You don’t have a choice. You work for me now, and you can’t live. Not even Liam can save you; his getting entangled with you will certainly threaten his position at Vortex. People would think he was entangled with you because you were his drug supplier, not just his secretary.”
The bastard had already cooked up fake stories and manipulative words. But despite it being fake, it was plausible for the others to think this way, and then all of Liam’s hard work would have gone down the drain. And that alone weakened my heart.
“You’re trying to gaslight me.” It wasn’t a question. It was in that moment that he let go of me, raising his hand in surrender with a smug look on his face. “I’m not trying to hide it anyway.”
“So you can see why the choice is not in your hands.”
My phone vibrated violently. I wanted to reach out so bad. What if it were Grace and Mikhail? Could it be that Grandma is awake?
“Go ahead, pick it,” He gestured, but I stood still without moving.
“Or do you want my guards holding you down while I take the call?”
With no further threats, I pulled my phone, turned away, and swiped the call to answer. It was Liam, and his first words were expect. Grandma was awake. And he asked if I was coming over. I mean, leaving him was almost impossible. I had left after arguing with him and promising to take the next day off. But I had known that was impossible, given that Peter was now my boss.
“What? Do you need my help?” Peter spoke right while I was on a call with Liam, and I stilled, hoping Liam did not hear. But the chances were small.