“I demeaned this?” He barks a humorless laugh. “You’re bloody crazy.”
I jump up from my chair, leaning across my desk. Anger rises with something darker, sure to send me over the edge.
“Have you ever actually looked at yourself in the mirror? Because I’m starting to think that you have no idea what a prime idiot you really are.”
“I’mthe idiot?”
I step around my desk, stalking toward him. We’re toe to toe.
“Yes,” I spit. “You’re a grumpy, arrogant asshole.”
“Funny. You said the complete opposite last week. So which is it, Raven?”
I glare at him for several seconds, and without thinking, I slap him across the face.
I almost laugh at his shocked expression. That’s before his face reddens in anger and his fists ball at his sides.
“Did that make you feel better?” he growls.
“Yes. It felt really damn good,” I say, sounding small and unsure.
“Whatever was between us is over,” he says through gritted teeth.
“Agreed. You’ll never touch me again.”
He stares at me for several tense seconds before turning around and storming out, leaving me to stare after him.
I take a deep breath and calmly sit down, get out my file, and attempt to do my work. I’m not going to make a scene. I’m not going to cry.
It’s pointless to think this as the tears start to run down my face in a waterfall of grief.
What have I done?
I can’t be here. Can’t be this close to him.
I might not have said the words, but how the hell did it turn into this?
His anger.
The resentment.
Where did it all come from?
There’s a knock on my office door, and my heart skips a beat, hoping Charles has come to his senses.
“Come in,” I say, my voice wobbling.
The beautiful woman from Zero Bond walks in, and I quickly wipe away my tears.
“C-Can I help you?”
She saunters in, looking like a cat stalking its prey. She’s wearing a beige Chanel suit, looking sophisticated and gorgeous.
“Do you know who I am?” she purrs.
I shake my head, which elicits a Cheshire cat grin.
“Charlie is so secretive. I shouldn’t be surprised.” She takes a look at the flowers he sent last week. They’re on the verge of hitting the trash can for several reasons.