I fought back an angry retort but somehow my next words managed to come out harsh. “But it’s the weekend and I’m not your personal assistant.”
“Well, if you have the time to go on dates, you should be able to sacrifice some time for the company that has being paying you to laze about.” He said, “Let me guess, your boyfriend would be mad if you’re working on the weekend.”
I started to wonder why he made the statement like that.Why does he care what I do during the weekend, anyways? How much of a nutcase was this guy really?
“Did you call me to work on a weekend because I am trying to enjoy my life and get away from work for a while?”
“ Watch your tone, Ashley!” He warned, his eyes blazing towards me, but he wasn’t the only angry one here.
“I will take whatever tone I want with you, Ian!” I snapped, my anger a burning lava in my vein. If I have to put up with his antics anymore, I might go crazy. “You’re the one being unprofessional, you faked an emergency to call me in to prevent from enjoying my weekend with my friends!”
Ian Maxwell stepped towards me which automatically had me stepping back a little. He stopped right in front of me and bent towards my height, his hand falling on my shoulder. I felt instant sparks shoot from that spot and right through my body and this led to a sharp gasp from me as my body shook lightly under his hand.
He moved close and said , “I don’t remember giving you the permission to use my first name, Ms. Ashley Lane.”
I gulped, trying to convince myself that whatever feeling was running wild through my body at this moment was as a result of my anger and nothing else. There was no way the sound of my name from him had this much effect on me. “I don’t remember doing the same either, Ian Maxwell.”
I didn’t expect what followed. Ian Maxwell burst out in laughter, throwing his head back as he did so. I watched him with mouthagape as I wondered what was so funny and wished the sound of his laughter didn’t sound so beautiful.
What was wrong with me?I had to be crazy, there was no other way of classifying this.
“I was right about you, Ashley, you’re crazy” he said bluntly., His green eyes staring right into my face. He walked towards his desk and placed his hands on it.
He sounded a little confused and so was I. Never in my life has anyone ever treated me the way this brute has and I hated him with all my gut. But for some inconceivable reason I wanted to hear him laugh again or I wanted to feel his hand.
I loved the feel of his hand on my shoulder, the way he said my name, the feeling of being close to him, and the way his eyes stared me as though he could see my deepest desires for him.
I took in a calming breath and said, “Nothing makes sense because I was right about you being a crazy asshole!”
Ian Maxwell laughed once again, but this time it wasn’t that free hearted laughter I had heard before. It was a dark kind. “I’m going to make you regret ever insulting me, Ashley Lane.”
I knew that he did not make idle threats, but at this point, I didn’t care. I was done with him. “You can try all you want!” I flipped my hair and stormed out of his office.
I was done with this crazy CEO and his stupid job. As I stepped out and headed out from Ian’s office, I passed a man that looked a lot like Ryan McMahon, but I was in no mood to find out. I was done with everything IM Corps and by the time I arrived home, I made this known to Justin while on call with him.
I was hoping Justin will accept my decision, but I had been greatly wrong. Justin remained on the fact that I could have reacted some other way and leaving my job wouldn’t be such a great idea when I don’t have another job lined up yet. He advised me to stay put for a few more months, but that is because he wasn’t aware of the fact that I had insulted his great Ian Maxwell right to his face again. I couldn’t bring myself to say such a thing.
“Believe me, Ian wouldn’t keep up this charade for long. I think you should just apologize for insulting him back then,” Justin said calmly. If only I was a lot more like Justin.
“Yeah, you are right, I should do that,” I said, grating my teeth.
“It’s all good since you didn’t say anything to him this time around and just left,” Justin added, a slight questioning tone in his voice. I just knew he didn’t believe my claim. “You didn’t insult him again, or did you?”
I laughed, lying . “Of course, I’m not stupid enough to insult my boss again.”
“Nothing makes sense because I was right about you being a crazy asshole!”
I cringed as I recollected my own words. Great, Ashley. That’s bye-bye to your well-paying job, isn’t it? I should just issue myself a sack letter already instead of going to work on Monday.
“ How about I drive you to work on Monday, maybe seeing my face would brighten your mood.” Justin sounded chirpy , ruining my plan to avoid work.
“Yeah, that would be great, Justin, thanks.” We said our goodbyes and I hung up, my whole head ringing with everything that was happening around me.
“I’m going to make you regret ever insulting me, Ashley Lane.”
His words rang through my head once again, sending the exact shivers it had caused while I was in his office. Damn it, I wanted out of his craziness, but I could already tell that I had a long way to go with him.
Chapter 7