Chapter 32 Chapter Thirty Two
CANDY’S POV
I spend the entire car ride to the Grand Maddox hotel where the meeting is taking place, holding back tears and asking myself what the fuck just happened? What the fuck does the universe have against me that she keeps throwing me in these horrid situations just for the fun of watching me crumble.
Every time I try to put it all into perspective, to understand and accept the joke my life is fast becoming, I just want to claw my eyes out and crawl out of my skin and scream until I go deaf from my own voice. First Brent and fucking Lindsay and now this?
Him?!
Is there something I’m doing wrong? Something so bad it can’t be forgiven and for every day I live I pay for it by attracting the rejects of luck and the most twisted fates like a damn fucking magnet?
Was I such a terrible person in my past life and this is my retribution? Angry tears fill my eyes as I watch the fine evening scenery transcending into an even more beautiful night view as it sweeps by in colours and blurs, refusing to fall, yet refusing to dry up.
The car slows in front of the magnificent building, letting us out before Adrian’s driver takes off to find a space in the overflowing parking lot to sit in. Stuffing all my emotional turmoil into the dark abyss of my mind so I can focus and somehow survive this stupid night without making a mess of myself and work, I fall into step beside my boss.
I’ll prefer to be my best self right now and maybe after, I can curl up and wallow in guilt and self loath, or whatever else comes with the territory of what I’m dealing with. I won’t let my scheming parents and that lying bastard devil probably gulping down the dinner my mother made with so much happiness while swiftly moving on to his life sized prize, also known as my sister, cost me my job.
I glance at Adrian and as always, the man looks like the poster boy for seriousness, brows furrowed as he listens intently to whatever is playing in his air pods. If he’s noticed that I’m fighting my biggest inner battle tonight or something, he hasn’t said anything to that effect and I appreciate it almost as much as I despise it. He barely even acknowledged my existence when he came to unknowingly rescue me from the house.
We get to the elevator and he lets us into the empty space, the silence from the car following us still, each to his own thoughts. At least that’s what I think until I feel his eyes suddenly lift from the screen of his phone and come to rest on me, roaming over me from hair to heels, softly like hands.
I respond with furrowed brows and questioning eyes, disconcerted by the look. He’s never looked at me like this since I walked into his office on my first day, hopeful and dewy eyed and oblivious to the ruthless monster waiting on the other side. He’s never looked at me with anything besides irritation and anger, period. This is different, it’s bold in its assertion and it’s gentle, slow, almost appreciative and these are all qualities you’ll have to think twice before associating with the devil’s favourite child, ergo him, so permit me to say it’s just unreal and uncomfortable.
“You’re beautiful.” He says quietly, almost to himself.
Okay now I’m either hearing things or there’s something in the air in this elevator and if it’s yes to the latter then why the hell is it not affecting me? Why are my problems not taking a backseat in my head while I become consumed by inappropriate thoughts about my boss?
Why is the image of Nikandr standing outside my door looking like a menacing but delectable snack not being wiped from my brain while I fantasize about jumping Mr. Cunsulo’s bones since that’s the timing we’re on? Oh please.
He makes a small sound in the back of his throat when I don’t respond to his sudden complement, like that little line is supposed to erase this past hellish month of working for him and make me smile and blush like a stupid teenager with no idea of how vile men can be.
“I mean, Selene did a good job.” He says and it takes me a full minute to recall the stylist he’d sent over who’d waved her wand and turned me from Cinderella in rags to the mystery hit cake at the ball.
He makes a half shrug and then shakes his head like he has no idea what’s wrong with him and honestly, that makes two of us. Especially tonight, I need him to stick strictly to his royal assholeness character while I figure my shit out, I don’t need any more surprises or confusions.
“Don’t.” I mutter, more to myself than him but he hears it either way because he pauses and then asks,
“Why?”
I don’t get to answer because the elevator suddenly stopping and spitting us out on our floor puts an end to his moment of insanity, zapping us both back to our respective realities.
I can’t believe Nikandr is here or do I call him Kingston now since that was a lie too? And the fact that he’s the bastard my father is selling Peach off to, there’s literally too much slipping out of my grasps and going wrong, too much that I still can’t wrap my head around.
I just can’t.
My hands tremble slightly as I wrap it around my purse, my vision starting to blur again from unshed tears. My chest feels heavy and now I wish I didn’t agree to be here. I just want to crawl into my bed and cry my pathetic self to sleep so I can wake up from this fucking nightmare. Anything but this.
But sadly, I did agree and I can’t bail now, not when the clients already have their eyes on us as we make our way to them.
They were already seated at the VIP table I’d personally reserved for them when we finally showed up and thankfully, they didn’t pick any offense at the fact that we’re a tad bit late.
They were more interested in discussing their project and our proposal as soon as we settled and I was happy to indulge them. I spend the next hour or so going over the vision and projections, the estimates and work window, you know, all the nitty gritty to tie down a skittish client. I don’t even glance at my boss to see his reaction to my rambling, just eagerly going because it’s between this and breaking down in front of everyone at this table and my life heavily depends on choosing this.
He didn’t seem to mind though, only chipping in to agree to what I said when I finally finished and putting his offer down again in his take it or leave it tone even though I know he’ll rather they take it than leave it.
We ended on a promise from them to get back to us first thing on Monday morning and I just know the wait will be hell. Adrian hates being put on hold and I just know by Monday morning he’ll be hell to work with and he’ll take it out on me as usual.
Just my luck.
“Are you okay?” Adrian’s voice pierces through the fog of my mind, finding me in the chaos and bringing me back to the table where I’m still sat next to him.
I nod, ignoring the absurdity of his constant switch up this night.
“That went well,” He continues.
“I think it’s safe to say we can celebrate. What will you have?” He asks in a lame attempt at being casual even though we both know there’s nothing to celebrate, his fingers indicating the menu that just appeared on the table.
“Nothing, I……I just want to leave. Please take me home.” So I can wallow and die piece by piece in my privacy…….that’s the part I don’t add.
He nods and doesn’t speak to me again, not when he settles the bills, not when he helps me up from my seat or when he follows silently behind me until we’re inside the elevator again. Nothing.
“You’ve been damn near tears since I picked you up and just now when you asked me to take you home, you sounded like you were requesting a ride to hell. Still want to tell me you’re okay?” He asks finally when the elevator starts going down, his eyes pinning me like he’s daring me to fucking lie again
His voice is an annoying perfect cross between pissed and concerned and it takes everything in me not to guffaw at his antics right now. What fucking right does he want, really?
“With all due respect sir, you’ve treated me like shit since you gracefully employed me, ruined my days and nights the same and acted like nothing I do is ever good enough. Please don’t start now to act like it matters that I’m having issues in what’s left of my personal life…..please.”
The unexpected outburst forces a lone tear out of my eye and I immediately swat it away, angry that it’s ruining my beautiful make up. Angry that he’s acting like he cares, angry my pathetic heart actually missed beats in stupid excitement when it saw Nika….Kingston again tonight.
And angry because by tomorrow, I expect to not have a job.
Pathetic.
“So you don’t want to go home yet.” Adrian muses like he was deaf to every other thing I just said, leading me from the elevator to the car the driver has running in front of the entrance, his hand grazing the small of my back but staying respectful. I start to argue but I don’t even have the strength for it anymore.
He didn’t lie anyways, I’ll still rather be anywhere in the world right now than at home.
Instead of taking me home, tell me why this man takes me to go get ice cream at my favourite ice cream place and spends the next hour sitting and eating it next to me like our lives depend on it in the empty café in very uncomfortable but comforting silence.