Chapter Nine:
Arran's POV:
I never expected her to look so... different. If I say I wasn't turned on I would be lying. This Emberly was completely different than the one working in the office. She completely stunned me.
The dress she was wearing wasn't the most extraordinary dress I've ever seen but it suited her perfectly, showing right amount of curves, especially her long leg. I wonder how would her legs feel wrapped around my waist. My thoughts made me feel uncomfortable and I took a generous amount of champagne.
She just made this night a whole lot worse than I actually planned to. What surprised me that even with her bold appearance, she was colouring deep root red with everyone's eyes on her. My guess is that no idiot ever told her how beautiful she actually is.
She was still standing uncomfortably as we all took in her appearance. Luke passed me a look, which clearly said dude what the hell? I don't blame him at all.
"Sorry but I am going to call dibs on her. I don't care who she is but I am." Luke raised his hands in defensive mode.
We all chuckled whereas she gave me a confusing look soon after she widened her eyes understanding what he actually meant. She bit her lower lip and titled her head down and with great effort I stopped a groan.
"Sorry man she is off limits. Emberly ignore Luke meet Stacy, Julienne, Kim, Bethany and Emma and guys meet my new assistant Emberly Rae." I quickly introduced her to others.
She smiled politely at everyone before sitting down next to Stacy.
"For an assistant she surely knows how to make an entrance." Emma muttered loud enough for everyone to hear it.
Emberly flushed even more. Anyone could let she is not used to this kind of gathering. I was having a hard time keeping my eyes off her even with the sexiest girl sitting next to me. She was now talking with Stacy and smiling softly at her, clearly uncomfortable. Anyone who meets Stacy for the first time usually gets confused by her dry sense of humour. Luke passed me a knowing look and I just shrugged my shoulders. I had no idea myself. The Emberly I knew would trip standing still and she is clumsy as hell. Stacy turned around and frowned at us. She was sitting across the round table. Next to me was Julienne whose hand was caressing my thigh under the table and I had an urge to remove her hand off my thigh.
The waiters came and handed us menu cards. My gaze was still glued to her face. I don't know why I was going crazy but I couldn't remove my stance over her face, which had soft smile on every time Stacy would crack a 'joke'. Note the sarcasm please.
"So what's your name?" Julienne asked, noticing my eyes on her.
Didn't I just introduce her to everyone a minute ago?
"It's Emberly." She muttered quietly.
I've noticed one this trait of hers. She gets nervous very easily.
"You must be really desperate to work for him." She sneered beside me and then gave her a wide smile.
Her face paled for bit then quickly forced a smile. Julienne isn't your usual bitchy snob. If she ever wanted to insult you, she will make sure she'll do it in a classy way, or as known as 'Julie way'.
"Yeah you can say that." She avoided looking at my side.
"Is that from a charity shop?" After getting encouragement from their leader, Bethany said wrinkling her nose in disgust and pointing at her dress.
"No. It is actually..." She opened her mouth when Kim interrupted her.
"Where did you get your hair done from?"
"Uhmmm Why?" She was now fidgeting with her fingers.
"To make sure I'll never in a million year go there." Both Emma and Kim laughed at that.
I had an urge to roll my eyes. This is what I wanted. Have her to quit either by hook or crook, but why am I feeling like someone is slowly yet painfully stabbing me with millions pins. I just wanted to punish my father. However, I never thought they would be so vicious. I almost pitied her.
"Okay." She mumbled.
"Well I think she is looking beautiful tonight." Luke smile made her ease a bit.
I stiffened at his comment and curled my lips tightly together to stop myself lashing at my own best friend.
"Can't you afford to get tan? Being pale is so last century." Emma asked her and from the corner of my eyes I could see Luke shift uncomfortably. He knew how cruel these ladies could be.
"Maybe I don't want to." She snapped at them. I raised my eyebrow at her outrage and she returned by a deathly glare.
"So did you grow up in a farm?" Kim questioned her inspecting her perfect manicure nails.
"What...?" Stacy scoffed, shocked by her silly question.
"It's just your..."
"Ladies, why don't we order something?" Luke jumped in to avoid a verbal fight between Stacy and Kim.
As we all order our regulars, Emberly was struggling with hers. I watched her in an amusement as she was trying to guess the menu. Biting her lower lip, scrunching her eyebrows together, she was looking damn adorable.
Wait a second. Did I just call her adorable? What is wrong with me?
"Signora, che cosa posso ottenere voi?" The waiter asked her.
I study her face closely. You could see disappointment written clearly on her face. Why is she disappointed though? Maybe the fact we all can speak Italian and she can't?
"Oh poor you, you clearly can't speak Italian. He is asking what can he get you?" Julienne said in an over pitched voice.
"I'll have number 4 please." She quickly said without even asking what it actually is.
"Are you sure?" Stacy asked her.
"Why? I mean I never had it before but I'd like to try it." She shrugged it off like it wasn't a big deal. I merely grimace at her choice.
"Emberly are you really sure?" I couldn't stop myself but ask her.
"Why?" She stuttered.
"Because you won't be able to eat. Right sweetheart?" Julienne said as she leaned closer and placed a seductive kiss on my cheek, lingering for a bit longer.
"Well I don't care." She said dryly, looking away.
I was surprised by the tone she was using. She is normally soft spoken or that's what I think.
"Okay number four for this lady please." Julienne said with a sweet smile before I could stop her from ordering. The waiter flustered and then noted down.
"So Arran how's Emberly as an assistant?" Emma asked me ridiculously batting her eyes.
I heard Luke groan and I don't blame him since all we were doing was talking about her.
"There's a room for improvement." I replied bluntly, it's true though she could improve.
She glared at me and I smirked. I'm sure she is using all kind of 'sweet' words for me. Before she could say anything the waiters arrived with our meals. They placed in front of us and Luke told them refill everyone's flutes. I took a look at her plate and smiled stiffly. Without knowing she ordered the hottest chillies of Italy with an extra hot sauce.
She poked the chillies with her fork and made a disgusted face. Nevertheless, she cut into a small piece and we all watched her slowly chewing it. Stacy opened her mouth to stop her but she closed it when she saw Emberly wouldn't listen to anyone at this point. She kept her face straight and took another bite. Only if I could applaud her for that. The others carried on with eating their meals and chatting about latest trends. However, I kept my eyes on her face, not even touching my meal at all. She closed her eyes and sighed deeply. Her face and eyes were red and small beads of sweat were forming on her face.
She took another bite and this time the chilli was red and when she chewed her face paled instantly. She choked and spat the food out on a tissue immediately. She started coughing loudly grabbing everyone's attention.
"What are you doing? Every one is looking Emily." Kim hissed.
"Are you kidding me? My mouth... its burning... so badly." She snapped back with her eyes welling up.
Luke passed her water and rubbed her back soothing her. Her whole face turned red and she kept coughing.
That's when I remembered her again. How one day accidentally she ate green chillies and she kept hitting me for forcefully feeding her. I felt one of my nerves snap and I clenched my fist as tightly as I could.
"Well you should have read the menu first." I snapped at her.
"I'm sorry if it wasn't in English." she glared back at me equally.
"Oh my god I thought Arran had standards. Clearly he doesn't. Choosing an assistant like her." Emma muttered and I felt my body tense.
'I really thought you had standards but it looks like you are just daddy's little boy.'
"I should have known before bringing a low life like you here." The words were out before I could think about it.
Everyone around the table froze. Her face fell instantly and she got up instantly.
"Thank you for a lovely night but I must go now. It was nice meeting you all." She took long strides toward the exit.
'Fuck.'
"Emberly... wait." I ran after her.
We were now outside and I cursed myself for the slip of the tongue. I should have not said that to her.
"Aren't you done humiliating me? Or do you want to continue?" she stopped and turned around.
I was stunned to see her furiously wiping her tears.
"Listen what happened inside..."
I really don't know what I was trying to prove tonight? All I ever wanted was to feel her that she doesn't belong here so she would quit.
"You know maybe I thought if I work hard enough, maybe then you would've given me a chance. I know you don't like working with me but from past few days I literally did everything you've asked me even if it was sorting them stupid files in alphabetic order. I thought I could earn the respect which I deserve by working my butt off but thanks for telling me no matter what I do I will always be some low life your dad forced you to work with."
From past few days that's what I have been doing. Punishing for her mistakes she didn't commit just because she reminds me of her? I wanted to apologize but I couldn't bring myself to.
By now her whole tuned red with tears streaming down her cheeks continuously. The Emberly I know would not break down, instead she will rise up and fight back. But now, watching her crying I felt emptiness inside me. Just like how I felt five years ago and its crazy because I barely know her.
"Maybe I am not rich like you guys are but I did not deserve to be insulted like that." She was furiously sweeping her tears.
That felt like a strong punch, possibly breaking my nose but it didn't. No punch, just that feeling. My tongue was locked, refusing to say any words.
As I watched her retrieving figure disappear in blackness I realized something in a really hard way.
She is nothing like her.
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On the scale of 1 to 10 how mean is he?
Thank you for all the support guys I can't thank you guys enough. Still can't believe I got 3000 reads already.