My Crazy Boss

Chapter 007

Lola's POV

Mia burst into laughter the moment I finished telling her what happened at the Miller family's house. She laughed so hard that she had to hold her stomach, while I sat across from her with my arms folded tightly over my chest, already regretting telling her anything.

"Stop laughing!" I snapped.

That only made her laugh harder. "I'm sorry, but I can't! Lola, are you seriously telling me that Zack Thompson, the same cold-blooded man who almost worked you to death yesterday, suddenly asked you to be his girlfriend?"

I rolled my eyes. "He didn't ask nicely."

"That makes it even better!" She slapped her thigh, laughing again. "So what exactly happened? Did he suddenly fall in love with you?"

"Of course not."

"Then why would he choose you?"

I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. That was the exact question I've been asking myself since we left the Millers' house. Zack didn't even look like the type of man who would pretend to have a girlfriend just to escape a woman. Yet, somehow, he dragged me into his mess without even giving me time to think.

"I don't know," I muttered, rubbing my forehead. "Maybe he just wanted to escape his Grandmother and Ruka."

Mia raised an eyebrow. "And you agreed?"

"I didn't have much of a choice."

"You always have a choice."

I groaned and leaned back against the couch. "Mia, how am I supposed to walk around pretending to be that man's girlfriend? What if someone asks us how we met? What if his family asks about our relationship? What if they expect us to hold hands or..."

My phone suddenly vibrated on the table. I stopped talking.

Mia glanced at it. "What's that?"

I picked up my phone and opened the notification.

My eyes widened. For a moment, I thought I'd read it wrong.

I checked again.

Then again.

"What's wrong?" Mia asked.

I slowly turned the screen toward her.

Her mouth dropped open. "Is that...?"

"Triple salary," I whispered.

We stared at each other. Then I smiled.

A slow, satisfied smile spread across my face as I leaned back into the couch.

"Never mind."

Mia frowned. "Never mind what?"

I grabbed my phone and quickly opened Zack's chat.

"Tell your billionaire boss that his girlfriend is available whenever he needs her." Mia burst into laughter again.

I ignored her and typed the message.

"Let me know whenever you need my service again."

I stared at the message for a second before hitting send.

There was no way I was turning down that kind of money. If pretending to be Zack Thompson's girlfriend could pay my bills, then I was more than ready to play the role.

After all, it was just acting.

What could go wrong?

---

The next morning, I walked into the office with a cup of coffee in one hand and my handbag hanging from my shoulder. I was still yawning when I noticed someone standing near the reception area.

I almost choked on my coffee.

Claire.

She was dressed in a tight, revealing outfit that looked more appropriate for a nightclub than an office. Her skirt barely reached her thighs, and the neckline of her blouse was low enough to make me wonder if she had forgotten where she was going.

I slowed down and looked her over. Then I glanced at my own simple office dress.

A wicked smile tugged at my lips.

"Wow. Someone in the bloody chat!"

Claire turned around. "What?"

I took another sip of my coffee. "I was just wondering if there was a company party I wasn't invited to."

Her face tightened. "What are you talking about?"

I looked her up and down again. "Nothing. I just didn't know we were allowed to dress like this at work."

She folded her arms. "At least I know how to dress beautifully."

"Beautifully?" I nearly laughed. "Girl, you look like you're auditioning for attention."

Her eyes narrowed.

I should have stopped there.

But I didn't. "Maybe you should have worn a sign saying, 'Zack, please notice me.' It would save you the stress."

Her face turned red. "Watch your mouth, Lola."

I smiled innocently. "Why? Did I say something wrong?"

"You think you're special because Mr. Thompson hired you?"

I shrugged. "I don't think I'm special. You seem to be the one worried about me."

She stepped closer. "Stay away from him."

I raised an eyebrow. "Or what?"

"You senseless slut that crave for attention!" I screamed. 

Her hand moved before I could react.

Smack!

The sound echoed through the reception area.

My coffee slipped from my fingers and crashed onto the floor.

For a second, everything went silent.

My cheek burned, my lips shake gently as my body recover from the vibration. I slowly turned my face back toward her.

She was breathing heavily, clearly shocked by what she had just done.

I touched my cheek. "You slapped me?"

She smirked. "And what if I do?"

Something inside me snapped.

Before she could take another step back, I grabbed a handful of her hair.

"You're crazy!"

"Let go of me!"

"You slapped me and expected me to stand there?"

I dragged her a few steps backward while she screamed and tried to pull my hands away.

"Let go of my hair!"

"You should have thought about that before touching my beautiful face! A pineapple face like yours won't know the value of a spotless face!"

People gathered around us, but I didn't care. My anger had completely taken over.

Then a deep voice cut through the chaos.

"What exactly is going on here?"

My hands froze.

Claire immediately stopped struggling.

I slowly turned around.

Zack stood at the entrance, his expression colder than anything I'd seen before.

Oh, great. Of all the moments for him to appear, it had to be this one.

"Mr. Thompson..." Claire quickly fixed her hair the moment I let go.

Zack's eyes moved from her to me, then down to the broken cup on the floor.

"Both of you. My office. Now."

My stomach dropped. I can't imagine getting myself into trouble all because of this useless pig.

I stood in front of Zack's desk, my arms folded tightly across my chest.

Claire stood beside me, looking suspiciously pleased.

Zack sat behind his desk, his face unreadable. "Explain what happened."

Claire immediately opened her mouth. "She attacked me."

My eyes widened. "Excuse me?"

Zack looked at me. "Is that true?"

I stared at him in disbelief. "She slapped me first!"

"And you grabbed her hair?"

"Because she slapped me!"

His expression didn't change. "That doesn't excuse your behavior. You acted without thinking about the damage of the company's reputation!"

I felt something sink inside my chest.

I stared at him.

Was this really the same man who had stood in front of the Miller family the previous night and begged me to pretend to be his girlfriend?

The same man who had needed my help?

Now he was standing there like I was some troublesome employee he couldn't wait to get rid of.

"Fine," I muttered.

Zack's gaze sharpened. "What?"

"Nothing."

Claire tried to hide her smile.

I noticed it. My fingers curled into fists.

"Apologise" He ordered. 

My eye widened. I never expected this from him. "Really?"

"The next time you question my order, be ready for the penalty" Je declared, his tone has no room for objection. 

I turned to Claire, gritting my teeth as I bowed slightly. "I'm sorry"

"Both of you, get back to work," Zack said coldly. "And I don't want to see another fight in my company."

I turned around without saying another word.

As I walked out, my chest felt strangely heavy.

I shouldn't care about what he thought of me.

He was my boss.

Nothing more.

So why did his words hurt?

I returned to my office and dropped into my chair.

The moment I sat down, I grabbed my phone and called Mia. She picked up almost immediately.

"What's up, girlfriend of the billionaire?"

"Don't start."

Her laughter came through the phone. "You sound angry."

"I am!"

"What happened?"

"My boss happened!"

I leaned back in my chair, my blood boiling all over again. "That man is seriously crazy. Do you know what he just did?"

Mia went silent.

I started venting before she could answer.

"After everything I did for him yesterday, he treated me like some criminal! He didn't even bother to ask what happened properly. He just stood there and..."

My office door suddenly opened.

I didn't bother looking up.

"And the worst part is that he thinks he's always right! Who does he think he is? A brainless dude walking like an empty gigolo, thinking that he us handsome. Very stupid human being..."

A deep voice interrupted me.

"Are you talking about me?"

My entire body froze. The phone remained pressed against my ear.

Slowly, I lifted my eyes and my mouth fell open.