My eyes bulged out in shock, flabbergasted at the price tag on the menu.
Seriously, when you said better food, I didn't mean food that could burn a meteorite hole through my wallet.
You need to stop flexing your wealth on commoners like me.
"So, what are you getting?" Nathan asked, as he flipped through the menu.
"Uhmm...water?" I chuckled nervously, reaching for the free-of-charge beverage on the table. "You caught me on the day when I'm coincidentally on my diet."
"It's my treat. Just order as you like." A low chortle travelled from Nathan while I, on the other hand, returned him with a slight frown.
Raising my eyebrows, I looked dubiously at him. "And may I know the reason behind why you're treating me?"
"Does an employer need to have a reason to treat their employee well?" I felt a little disappointment creep in, but with him over here, I wasn't going to let him have that satisfaction.
"But it's still really rare that an employer would have a one-on-one lunch date with an employee." I shot back, not realising that I might have used a better word than 'date'.
"So, you would have preferred that we were something more? I wouldn't mind at all. We could take this as a date." He grinned, the smirk evidently growing wider. "An exception just between the both of us that I know you'd be too thrilled out of your mind."
This bugger.
"Piss off! What makes you think that I'm 'too thrilled out of my mind' to be seated here with you, hmm?"
This man infuriates me. And if lunch doesn't start, I might already be full of exasperation.
With my attitude towards my boss, it's a wonder why I haven't been fired.
Then again, it would be a miracle if someone had the patience to listen to this egoistic twit.
"Relax." Nathan joked, "It's a celebration for your pay raise."
"Raise? But I didn't manage to get him to sign the deal? Besides, even if he were to agree to the deal, it must have been because of the book from Blaire." If there was one thing about me, I abhor taking things that are not mine. In this case, I couldn't seal the deal and fulfil the bet I made with Nathan. As much as it pains me to lose the raise, it was not a hard one to reject.
"Don't be too hasty to judge just based on what you've seen. Besides, if it weren't for you, Hugo wouldn't have been able to hear what Blaire felt."
"I was just speaking from what I feel. Even though it's true that Blaire did love him so much that she stuck with him regardless of what he did, she might not have felt the same way as I did."
"Trust me. I'm confident that she felt that same thing as you did." Nathan assured.
"Uhm, if you say so..."
I was unsure as to why Nathan held such confidence in me. He made me hot and cold; quick to stir up my temper, and at the same time, the one that extinguished the fire. In truth, I felt at ease when I was with him; protected and secure.
"Have you decided on the type of water you'll be having?"
I change my mind. He's a walking nightmare.
"Why would I pass up on the perfect opportunity if you're the one treating?" I responded, not concealing the immense irritation that leaked from that sweet smile of mine. "There's still time to back out from the offer, boy. You're sure you don't want to do that?"
"I'm pretty certain that no matter how much you eat, it'll do close to nothing to dwindle the money I possess."
What is this? A new trend of calling other people poor?
"I'm so glad that you've pointed that out. Now, I can eat to my heart's desire without feeling bad for your wallet."
I went on ahead, ordering the most expensive dish on the menu with Nathan on the side, gleaming with that pompous grin of his while I cut through the juicy and tender steak, pretending that it was him while I diced him up. At the end of it all, the miserable attempt of draining even a teeny tiny fraction of his wallet as I added other side dishes to the receipt, backfired. Horribly.
The only thing I got at the end of the meal was a bloated stomach and the urge to take a dump.
"You could order some more if you like. You haven't really touched a single cent." Nathan taunted, smiling triumphantly as I rubbed my food baby.
"Thank you for your kind offer," the sneer I sent his way only made him laugh in response. "But I'm afraid that I would be wasting your hospitality if I eat any more. After all, it's only a matter of time before I pay the toilet bowl a visit."
I got to admit, I was acting pretty childish.
"Well, if you're done, we should be heading back to the office." Gesturing for the waiter, Nathan passed him his card before standing up to adjust his attire. It only took a moment before the waiter returned, giving us both a bow.
Thank goodness! I really need that walk.
"Do you need my help in walking? Or are you planning on rolling yourself to the car?"
"Ha ha, very funny! Just worry about not falling on your face on the way out." I spat, contemplating to either give him a punch in the stomach or a flying kick to his face. Or maybe both.
I smiled sinisterly as I replayed the scenes of him falling under my non-existent kung fu skills, not knowing that he was already standing on the passenger side, with the door opened.
"Did the food get lodged in your brain?"
"No?" I replied, snapping out my imagination.
"Then get in the car."
Rolling my eyes, I reluctantly got into the passenger seat before he took his behind the steering wheel. Still annoyed at his taunts and mockery, I looked out of the window and into the streets, hearing the soft whirring of the engines and cars that passed by. Given the speed at which Nathan drove, it did not take long to reach the company.
Stepping out of the lift, I felt Nathan hot on my trail, prompting me to look back at him; wondering why he was following me instead of going to his office.
"Why are you still following me?" I asked, pushing through the glass doors.
"Who says that I'm following you?" Nathan retorted, sticking closely to me. As soon as Nathan came into view, the colleagues situated in the office greeted him with much reverence and respect. On the other hand, Bella, who was again, seen powdering her nose, skipped towards Nathan, oozing with seduction.
"Nathan!" She exclaimed, "are you here to see me?" Her bosoms pressed against his arm, causing Nathan to look down, with her cleavage in full view.
Is it weird that I want to claw her eyes out?
"Unfortunately, no." He replied coldly. "If you weren't so busy powdering your nose, perhaps you could have reduced the number of complaints your customers have about you."
I couldn't help but let out a snort. And it seems that the other colleagues and I, all shared the same sentiments.
But phew! What a way to break a girl's heart.
Immediately, Bella let go of his arm, allowing him to stroll over to my desk, leaving the poor and salty girl behind.
"I thought you said you weren't following me?"
"I wasn't." He replied. "I was escorting you." The heat rose from my cheeks at how straightforward and simple his answer was, and the fact that he paid no attention to the people around us. I was at loss for words.
"Well then, I'll see you when I see you." He smirked, before leaving the office for his with a bunch of onlookers who continued glancing my way.
"Well well well, it seems like we have a slut in our midst." Bella jeered as she approached my desk, tapping her perfectly manicured nails on the table.
"Oh please, we all know who's the bigger slut here." Quinn defended while she stood by her husband's side.
"Shut up, Quinn. This has nothing to do with you." Bella sneered, batting those falsies of hers, only to have Quinn roll her eyes in response. "I must say, you are very good. It's only been less than a week since you came here, but now, you've got Nathan wrapped around your fingers."
I was so sick of her picking on me just because I'm a newcomer, but a part of me knew that it was in my best interest not to stir up any unnecessary mess. I needed this job. However, I will not shy away if she personally degrades my character.
"How did you do it, hmm? How did you get him to sleep with you?" Bella blurted, causing the last sense of rationality within me to snap.
"What the h-" From the side glance, I saw Quinn approach me; coming to my aid, while Derrick looked well-indignant on the sidelines. The rest of the office workers simply stood by.
Might as well grab a popcorn to watch how the show unfolds.
"Quinn," I interjected, aware of the blood that boiled in my veins. "It's okay." Quinn halted in her footsteps, now situated between Derrick and me. Closing the distance between Bella and I, I came to realised the height difference as she stood several centimetres taller. With my head now tilted upwards, I glared at her, hoping that it would burn holes in her brain.
"You know, maybe if you honed that useless design skill of yours, you might be able to get in line behind a bunch of women who are dying to throw their bodies at him." The scowl became increasingly evident as I spoke. She did look like she was dying to rip my hair out.
"I've seen your designs, and even constructed them. And it pains me to say that out of everybody's work here, yours are in need of serious, serious work." By now, her eyes were burning with fury as if she were shooting daggers towards my way.
"Ha! And what do you know? You're just a nobody, while I have been here for three years."
"That's quite true." I nodded knowingly. "I don't mean to sound, I don't know, arrogant? And if I do, I apologize. But coming from a person who had just joined this company, I am confident that the artistry I possess, far surpasses yours."
"And if I may add, perhaps the reason behind your lousy performance could probably be attributed to you pushing your duties to others while you're busy improving and levelling up your seduction performance?" I shrugged my shoulder, feeling extremely satisfied at the reaction I got out of her.
That's right. Rage, rage!
Before I knew it, I flinched at her raised hand, bracing for the impact incoming upon my cheek. But it never came.
I felt my chest pushed up against another as our body heat interweaved with each other. The warmth of his arm surrounded my shoulders as he brought me to his own circle of safety, holding me tightly.
"Nathan..."
It frightened me to look upon Nathan that fumed and seethed with outrage. Yet, I felt secure in his embrace. Unknowingly, I clutched on his coat, yearning for more of him.
Looking back to Bella, it looked as if her life had flashed before her eyes. My gaze travelled to Bella's hand, which was now caught in Nathan's grip.
"Miss Brown, it is to my concern that any form of violence will not be condoned in Estelle." The scornful expression on Nathan came on full display as he hurled Bella's hand away, prompting her to clutch on her wrist.
"Any further harassment shall result in immediate removal from this office." The authority in his voice boomed loudly, it was one spoken with much fierceness and clarity. "Am I clear, Miss Brown?" Biting back on her lip, Bella dipped her head as a manner of complying with Nathan's command.
"Then get back to work." The crowd scattered, each returning to their seat, typing away as if nothing happened.
"Are you okay?" Nathan asked, with a concern that threatened a smile to form on my lips.
Now that you're here, I'm okay.
What? What am I thinking?
"Ahem!" I stepped back, allowing myself to have a distance away from him. "I would have handled it perfectly without you."
"Is it? Then why did I feel you snuggle into me?"
"T-that's just your imagination." I spout, finding myself caged between the cubicle and his towering figure.
"Oh, really?" The scent of his cologne forced me to turn my head away from him as he bent down to my eye level; having no doubt that my cheeks were heated red.
"A-anyway, why did you come back?"
"I came to give you this." Inserting his hands into his pocket, he retrieved a small zip lock bag that contained a few tablets.
"What's this?"
"Digestive pills."
"What?"
"In case the food you ate today is a little too expensive for your stomach to digest."
"You little-"
"Uh-uh. No cursing in front of your boss." Nathan teased as he waved his finger. "Not unless you want to say adios to your paycheck."
Just when I thought I'd be expecting something good from him.
"Hey Av! Did you see that?" Quinn blurted, as Nathan exited from the office.
"See what?"
"See the cupids in the air shooting their love arrows your way?" With hands waving in the air as she struts her little dance moves, making Derrick smile in amusement.
"What are you talking about? We are just platonically in an employer-employee relationship." I defended, plopping myself on the chair.
"Right...And what just happened was merely a dream."
Ignoring Quinn, I shook my head and returned to the paperwork piling on the desk, dipping my head low enough before placing a hand over my mouth, hiding the view of a smirk that could no longer be suppressed.
**********
Tada! Finally, the chapter you've all been waiting for.
Hope you guys enjoyed it!