Chapter 9 A Heated Exchange
ALICE
Once I stepped into his office, the mood changed right away and it was the one thing I noticed more clearly than anything else.
My asshole of a boss was looking at me for a long time with his fist close to his mouth, even when I stepped before his desk, hands clasped in front of me, feeling like a naughty schoolgirl who was about to be scolded by the principal.
Mr. Linden-Hawthorne really looked at me for a long time. Long enough to make me uncomfortable. The worst part was that I couldn't read this silence of his.
I had no clue what was hiding behind that stony gaze. Was he angry? Curious? Had I done something wrong? Was this about something else completely?
At last, he asked, "Do you have a problem with the trip?"
I blinked. "No."
"No?" He waited for me to say something else to this, but I didn't. I just stared back at him and wondered where the hell he was going with this. "When you have an emotional reaction to my announcement, I can only assume you do."
I nearly gasped but somehow managed to keep my lips together. The tears. He'd seen them even though I turned my damned head away on time. Or, at least, I thought I did. Clearly, I failed.
Now, I was scrambling for an answer to give him. "No, you've got it all wrong, Mr. Linden-Hawthorne. It's not that. It's a...a personal matter."
He gestured with his hand for me to continue.
I had to stop myself from scoffing and repeated, "It's a personal matter and has nothing to do with the trip or even the company."
"Yes. You've mentioned that already. I'm waiting to hear it."
I frowned. "I don't think it's something appropriate to share with my boss, sir."
Was he being serious right now?
"Appropriate? Miss Rhodes," he began, "I know what your mouth tastes like. How much more personal do we have to get in order for you to tell me?"
I blushed. This was the last thing in the world I expected him to say and my reaction to his words was unexpected. "If you recall, I asked you not to bring that up!"
"If you recall, Miss Rhodes, I'm the boss around here." He stood up quickly after saying that and closed the distance separating us. He then sat on the very edge of his desk and we were at eye level.
I stared back at him with all the hatred in the world that I could muster. The look on his face remained unreadable. Being this close to him reminded me of that night in my office and I immediately wanted to step back.
But to show him how uncomfortable I was? To step away from him and give him so much power?
That was out of the question for me.
"You intrigue me, you know that?" His voice lowered when he added, "Just when I think I have you figured out, you slip away."
I had zero clue how to react to his words, and with no warning at all, he raised his hand and touched my cheek with the back of his fingers. Electricity flowed from my cheek to the base of my spine.
Our eyes were locked. I quickly realized that I was letting him touch my cheek. It was like I was rooted to the spot and couldn't move no matter how shocked I was by the fact that he was touching me.
It was an embarrassingly long time before I flinched and stepped away from him before quickly asking, "Anything else?"
His answer took a few beats to come. "No."
I wasted no time in turning on my heel and racing toward the door. Once I left his office, I continued onward until I reached the bathroom. I had to hold onto the sink because of how weak my knees felt, and I questioned my decision to keep working here for the thousandth time.
I turned on the cold water to splash water on my face, then remembered that I was wearing makeup. Dammit. I wet my hands and ran them along the back of my neck to help me cool down.
Why did I let him do that?
No wonder he kept getting the wrong impression. I was behaving like a true idiot! I couldn't seem to control myself around him.
It wasn't entirely my fault. That man had a way of unnerving me; it was ridiculous.
I could still feel his touch on my cheek. I wanted to scrub it off, but I couldn't do that either. I tore my gaze away from the mirror when I heard the sound of flushing from one of the stalls, and then the door opened and Emma walked out.
We made eye contact for about two seconds, and then she approached one of the sinks and washed her hands. I kept my eyes low and tried to ignore how tense the air all around us became. My eyes were on the taps and I was determined not to look at her.
The realization that, once upon a time, we used to come here and chat nonstop because we didn't have a chance to do that on the main floor, demoralized me. I still felt pain upon seeing her and there was nothing I could do to make that go away. Lying to myself that I didn't care was the only solution.
My heart was broken even though Benjamin had been a jerk. He was an adult. I always found him smart. There was no reason why he had to believe Emma's schemes over me, who'd been with him for such a long time.
"You know," Emma began, pulling me out of my thoughts, "I'm still trying to figure out how you kept your job."
I couldn't wrap my head around the fact that she was talking to me. I kept my eyes straight ahead, but what I wanted to do was swing my arm and slam my fist right into her shameless face.
"Knowing what a whore you are, you're probably fucking the boss."
This time, I snapped my head around and glared at her. "The only whore around here is you! And if you talk to me again, I won't hold myself accountable for my actions."
Emma ignored everything I said and spoke even as I walked away. "It's against the rules, you know. You could get fired or even sued by the board. Just so you know. It's all in our—"
I stepped toward her quickly, a surge of violence driving me forward. It pleased me to see how she flinched. Pathetic cow. "I thought I told you not to speak to me, tramp. Why don't you worry less about me and mind your little junior executive existence?"
Seeing anger written all over her face after I said that really brought me pleasure.
I walked out of the bathroom feeling triumphant.