CHECKED

Miriam's POV.

We all walked out of the meeting after it was adjourned. But I barely took three steps out of the conference room before I felt a strong grip on my arm.

I turned around to see William, who had grabbed my arm. 

I tried to free my arm but he only tightened his grip.

What the hell was he up to now?

“i just want to have a quick chat with Miriam I really like her idea and would love for her to elaborate more on it.” He explained with a fake ass smile on his face while my colleague stared at us with a confused expression.

I could barely hide the disgust curling in my chest just being within such close proximity with him.

I would give anything right to not go anywhere with him. I haven’t even fully processed the fact that this man….this disaster of a man is now my boss.

Well… not really but…yeah.

Before I can say anything, Mrs. Jones, always chirpy and half-observant, waves at us. “That’s fine, Miriam. Please help Mr. Davidson get settled in.”

Great. Just perfect.

Clara sends me a playful wink, like I’ve scored private time with a hotshot executive. If only she knew. If only any of them knew.

I give her a half-hearted smile, then let William lead me down the corridor. My heels click against the tiled floor, echoing louder than I would like, as I mentally prepare myself for whatever crap he’s about to pull.

We step into his office, and the second the door shuts, everything changes.

His calm exterior was immediately replaced with an expression I knew all too well.

The click of the door being closed echoes through the quiet room like a warning bell, and before I can turn to confront him, I feel my back slam against the wall.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” I shove at his chest. “Get off me!”

His gaze burned sharp with anger as he stared at me, heaving heavily.

“You’ve been here this whole time? Working in la amore and you could not bother to tell me?” He yelled.

I blink at him, trying to push my body off the wall but he pushed me back.

“Today’s literally my first day, asshole. And last I checked, I don’t owe you a damn explanation about my life.”

He steps back just enough for me to breathe again but not enough to feel safe. I straighten my blouse and glare at him, my heart pounding.

“Why didn’t you tell me Sara was the CEO?”

“Why would I?” I snap. 

“Miriam you have been acting so strange, after everything we had together.”

I almost could not believe my ears. The audacity of this man.

“You’ve never cared about anything that concerns me, William. The only time you ever opened your mouth to show concern  was when you wanted to borrow money, which, by the way, you never paid back. I still need that payment.”

His jaw tightens. “You’re just mad because I married Janet.”

That actually makes me laugh. I’m so taken aback by how delusional he sounds that I can’t stop myself.

“You really think I’m jealous? Of you and Janet? Oh, please spare me the pretense.” I scoffed out, finding his words stupid and hilarious.

There was nothing to be jealous about in their relationship. It was only a matter of time before it crumbled. And I will be here to watch it happen. 

“You are. You’re just trying to spite us both because she got me the job here.”

Another laugh bubbles out of me.

 “First of all Janet didn’t get you this job. She doesn’t even work here. How can a low budget actress get you a job at la amore and let’s be honest, William…you’re underqualified, and you know it.”

He flinches slightly. I hit a nerve. Good.

“And for the record? I don’t blame Janet. I blame myself….for being dumb enough to plan a wedding with a man who ditched me on the same day to marry my sister.” 

His face twists. “That’s not…”

“Don’t, don't even bother defending yourself. I don’t care anymore.” I interrupted.

It takes every ounce of self-control not to blurt out that I own this company. That the only reason he even has a desk here was because of me and I was going to ruin his career and make him pay for deceiving me.

Your karma is coming, William.

“Don’t ever call me into your office again unless it’s strictly about work. I mean it.” I pointed my finger at him making my way towards the door.

He grabs my wrist again, softer this time, but I yank it away.

A knock on the door saves me from having to hear another word from him.

“Come in,” he barks, adjusting his shirt like nothing happened.

Clara walks in, holding a slim brown folder. “Sorry to interrupt, Mr. Davidson, but Mrs. Jones asked me to hand you this report.”

Her eyes flit between the two of us, sensing something’s off. She raises an eyebrow at me, questioning. I offered her a tiny nod, subtle enough to signal, I was fine.

William takes the folder with a clipped thank you, already turning back toward his desk. I slip out past Clara and walked out of the office as fast as I could.

She hurries after me. “Hey, Miriam?”

I pause by the water dispenser, pretending to fill a cup just to catch my breath.

“Yeah?”

“Do you… know Mr. Davidson from somewhere?” she asks carefully, like she doesn’t want to overstep.

I exhale slowly, forcing my voice to sound casual. “He’s… an ex.”

Her eyes widen. “Seriously? Whoa. That explains a lot.”

I give her a weak smile. “Yeah. It’s ancient history now. Let’s not talk about it.”

The rest of the day passed in a blur as I buried myself in heaps of work.

Working as a designer wasn’t an easy process but I was happy to be part of the team.

If not for the William encounters, today would have been a perfect first day. Well minus the gossip from some of my colleagues about how I got the job.

It was finally time to go home, so I checked my phone. And still no text from Lazar.

“Hmmm, I hope he is doing okay” I muttered under my breath as my cab arrived at my apartment building.

“Thanks.” I gave the elderly cab man a smile before making my way to the entrance.

The air outside felt cooler than usual, like rain might be threatening somewhere in the distance. 

I made my way to the elevator already daydreaming about my soft bed and what I was going to have for dinner. But then I hear footsteps.

Not just mine but two sets. Behind me.

I slow down, subtly glancing at my reflection in the glass panel of a parked car.

Two tall, bulky men in their  mid-thirties were walking behind me with their faces barely visible.

One wore a cap pulled low over his eyes, the other had a hoodie on even though it’s not cold.

They were not talking. Just walking… too close behind me.

Maybe I was feeling paranoid. But something about them does not sit right with me.

I picked up my pace and so did they.

My heart started to pound again, faster this time, not from anger like before but from fear.  The kind of silent, creeping fear that wraps around your spine like a snake.

I press the elevator button with slightly shaking hands. It dings after what feels like a year.

As I step inside, I glance back. They don’t stop.

They step in after me. And the door closed.

I try to tell myself it’s a coincidence. That they’re neighbors. Maybe they just got off work too. Maybe they live on the same floor. Maybe…

But every alarm bell in my head is screaming.

And then, I hear one of them whisper something to the other.

In Russian.

I don’t know what they said.

But I know danger when I feel it.

Suddenly the door opened and there more men, dressed in all black entered the elevator with me standing in the middle.

My mind was racing with different scenarios as I wondered if I was about to get kidnapped.

I grip my purse tightly, forcing my face to stay blank even though my brain is spiraling while I secretly grabbed the pepper spray in my purse.

My floor comes up. I step out practically racing to my door.

I thought they would come out but the only sound I heard was grunts and bangs before the elevator closed once again.

“Who the hell were those guys?”