CHAPTER 3: DUMP THAT IN A TRASH BIN

  Zara Langford

My eyes couldn’t stop staring after him until he completely disappeared around the corner. 

Holy mother of God!

Holy shoots! What just happened right now! 

My face was so red that I could feel my cheeks burning. My palm suddenly became sweaty. The skin where his hand touched still felt fresh. His touch still lingered there.

I still can't wrap my head around it. His arm circled my waist....and somehow, my hand ended up looping around his neck?? Just how! Jeez! So embarrassing.

Many people would have killed to be in such a position with him. Definitely not me. Why did I even settle for heels when I was already late? So freaking annoying.

And it's my first day. Gosh! Why today of all days? How do I stand his ugly face now?

I picked up the last document and walked out of the elevator. Heading in the direction of Declan's office with my heart thudding loudly against my chest.

Take a breath, Zara. It's not like you two did something sinful...right? 

I stopped in front of Declan's door. My hands moved instinctively to the doorknob and paused.

I'm late. 

The He-devil in there won't let it slide. I can already feel it. Scolding. And they will be coming in full force. 

"You can choose to stay there all day...or take your ass back home," Declan's voice boomed from the tiny speaker I never knew was up there above his office door.

Hold up!

Has he been watching me? 

Great! What a spontaneous way to start my first day. My hand turned the doorknob and I went in. The door clicked shut behind me, louder than I intended.

His eyes were glued to the laptop in front of him, while typing away. His fingers are dancing expertly against the keypad.

I walked up to his desk. Anticipating. Or probably looking forward to his scolding. I straightened my shoulders.

“Good morning,” I greeted.

Silence. Except for the clicking sound coming from typing.

Declan still didn't look up, with the loud clicking sound of my heels. He kept typing away, with seriousness written all over his face.

Finally, he stopped typing, his fingers still hovering over the keys and his eyes focused on the screen. “You are thirty-five minutes late” he tapped a key. His fingers started dancing again.

My gaze dropped to my wrist watch and my eyes bugged out. 

Jesus! This He-devil is so accurate. Damn. What a cold freak.

“Natalie, I'll kill you after surviving this,” I muttered under my breath, wishing I hadn't called Natalie to help me pick office wear.

Declan's head snapped up, he raised a brow.

“ Heavy traffic” leaning my weight on one foot. Sudden regrets on why I wore heels instead of flats clouded my heart—all thanks to my friend Natalie.

Declan tilted his head to the side. “ Traffic exists…” His eyes darkened. “But punctuality is a choice”

I held his gaze, refusing to break the contact. “I'm sorry, sir.”

Declan took a pen between his index and middle fingers. Twirling it.” You are sorry?” He asked, and I nodded. “Dump that into a trash bin”

Wait, what?!

Did this asshole just say, I should dump my apology into a trash bin?

How much I wanted to respond. I remembered he's my boss and swallowed my reply.

He pushed a slim folder towards the edge of the desk.” Your first task. The merger summary for the Kleinfeld project. I want it condensed to ten pages. Highlight risk, redline anything that smells like liability. And those files in your hand are to be sorted out and written in a one-page summary. You have until noon today”

I took the file. Flip it open. And Jesus the stack in there could be counted roughly a hundred pages.

Hundred freaking pages, filled with legal jargon, financial tables, and appendices. 

“Noon today?” I asked.

“Yes,” his eyes returned to his screen.” Problem?”

I swallowed the first reply that came to my head. 

Yes… There are lots of problems…how in heaven's sake do I finish this before noon? I'm not a freaking robot!.

“No problem”

He didn't reply. Conversation over.

“ Your office keys and staff swipe card are in the credenza. Out of my office” 

I took the keys and a swipe card. Made for the door.

Working here will definitely be my doom. I can feel it. 

But there is no way I'm backing down now. 

Declan Voss

I watched as Zara walked out of my office. I leaned back on my chair. Swiveling it round and round.

The way she accepted the task without a complaint. How she held eye contact. How she appeared composed…too composed. 

Brave girl. 

I see why she was the one handling deals and projects for Victor. She is fit for the task. 

My stomach grumbled. I haven't had anything since last night.

I picked up the telephone, putting a call through to Zara.

She picked at the second ring.

“I need you in my office right now” I hung up without letting her say a thing.

She walked into my office almost immediately. I seized the moment to check out what she was wearing.

A black suit. White well-ironed shirt. Her suit skirt stopped at her knee level, and those notorious black heels. Her hair falls in loose waves over her shoulders. She wasn't putting on jewelry. Just a gold wristwatch on her hand.

Langford is not putting on jewelry? She appeared too natural. She wasn't wearing a make up.

Impressive.

“I want coffee. Black and a pinch of sugar” I said, searching her face for any facial expressions. But found none.

She nodded.”Okay, sir.”

She turned to leave. Her perfume filled my office. That perfume is really addictive.

She shut the door after her. 

Her confidence seems to be intimidating.

I returned to my laptop. The clicking sound of my door tore my attention from it.

There she was with a mug. She walked slowly towards my desk. She settled the mug on the desk and turned to leave.

I grabbed the coffee. Taking a sip. It wasn't bad. She got the thickness, except the sugar was a little bit much.

“Wait,” I dropped the mug back on the desk.

Her hand paused at the doorknob. She turned slowly, arching her brow upward.

“Make another coffee, little sugar this time” I said, giving her that ‘make sure you make it right, this time’ cold look.

She walked back to my desk…taking the mug after glaring at me.

Who cares?

She walked out of my office.

Zara returned shortly with another coffee. Placing it carefully on my desk without sparing me a glance.

Zara stood beside the desks. Her arms folded. And giving me that ‘I dare you to ask for another coffee’ look.

I picked up the mug..and took a long sip. Perfect! She made it right this time.

There's absolutely no way I'll tell her this.

I dropped the mug,” It's too light…make it thicker” I said returning her glare. Mine is colder.

She had a puzzled look on her face. Her eyes gazed at the mug and then at me.

“Make me a good coffee, is that too much to ask?” I asked tauntingly.

Her hands curled into a fist below her breasts. And her glare was really icing this time.

Oh no!