TAKE ME, RUIN ME CHAPTER 5

TAKE ME, RUIN ME CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 5: THE EDGE OF THE STORM

ARIA'S POV

I am moments away from the door, my hand hovering near the handle, but I can’t bring myself to turn it. The thoughts in my head are buzzing like a swarm of angry hornets. I need to know what is happening. I need to know what this means for my future. I stop at the door and slowly turn back to look at him.

Adrian is standing at a far section of the large, sun-drenched office. He isn’t looking at me anymore. Instead, he is gazing through the massive floor-to-ceiling windows that offer a panoramic view of the city sprawling below. From this height, the cars look like toys and the people like ants, but Adrian looks like he owns every bit of it.

I close my eyes for a second and let out a long, shaky breath. "I am sorry," I whisper, the words feeling heavy. "Does that mean I am fired?"

I drop the question like a bomb into the middle of the room, then I wait. My heart is pounding so hard I can feel the pulse in my fingertips. He doesn't say anything at first. The silence stretches out, long and agonizing, and it makes me raise an eyebrow in confusion.

Finally, he exhales a long breath, keeping his eyes closed as if he’s trying to find his center. "No. You are not," he says, his voice low. "Just go."

The last two words sound almost like a plea, like he needs me to disappear so he can breathe again. I close my eyes and let out a puff of air, a tiny spark of relief lighting up in my chest. At least I won't lose my job. At least I have that one small anchor left.

But even with the permission to leave, I still don’t move. I feel like there’s more that needs to be said. "Look," I begin, my voice a bit more steady. "For the record, I am sorry about what happened in the past. I was just... I was young, and I—"

"Just forget it," he interrupts, his voice turning cold and sharp. He still doesn't look at me. "You and I both know you are not really sorry, Aria. You are just saying that so your boss has nothing to hold against you. Just leave."

I blink, the harshness of his words stinging like a slap. I bite down on my bottom lip, swallowing the urge to argue. At least I tried to apologize. Egoistic prick, I think to myself, though a part of me knows he has every right to be angry. I turn and step out of the office, the heavy door clicking shut behind me. I take a deep, lung-filling breath, trying to wash away the tension of the last ten minutes.

Selena is waiting for me right on the other side of the door. The moment she sees me, she rushes over and begins to check me over as if I’ve just been pulled out of a car wreck.

"Are you okay?" she asks, her voice frantic. "How did it go? What did he say? Did he scream at you?"

I can only exhale, feeling completely emotionally exhausted. My brain is a knotted mess. What am I supposed to tell her? That I just discovered our new boss is a gorgeous, powerful version of the boy I used to tease in high school? That I once made fun of the man who now holds my career in his hands? I shake my head, unable to find the words.

"He didn't fire me, Selena. Let's just forget about it," I say, trying to walk past her toward my cubicle.

She doesn't let me go that easily. She falls into step beside me, her eyes wide with curiosity. "What exactly happened in there? He seemed so angry before. I thought for sure you were a goner."

"And I am telling you that he did nothing," I repeat, my voice tight. "See? I am still here. I am still keeping my job."

She doesn't look convinced. Her eyes search my face, looking for the secrets I’m hiding, but I just can't do this right now. I don't have the energy to explain the history or the weird tension that just passed between us.

"But really, what happened?" she asks again.

I grit my teeth, my patience wearing thin. "I really do not want to keep talking about this, Selena."

I make it back to my desk and start grabbing my things. I glance at the time on the corner of my computer screen. It is only five minutes until the end of the workday. Usually, I would be happy to leave, but the thought of going back to the mansion makes my stomach turn. I know what's waiting for me: more questions, more cold looks, and another round of mistreatment from Daniel. He always finds a reason to make me feel small.

Selena is still scrutinizing me, watching the way I’m shoving my notebook into my purse. She seems to be reading my mind, or at least sensing the dread rolling off me.

"Why don't you come over to my house tonight?" she suggests softly. "You will be safe there, and you can have some peace of mind, at least for one night. I promise I won't mistreat you."

I squint at her, my heart aching a little at the offer. "Is that supposed to be funny?"

She scoffs and rolls her eyes, but her expression is serious. "I am just angry about the fact that you don't want to help yourself, Aria. If you had just listened to the advice I gave you months ago, maybe you wouldn't be in this mess right now. But I guess that window has closed."

I sigh and roll my eyes back at her. "I am not that kind of person, Selena. I can’t just walk away."

"Yeah, I know. I got it the first time," she says, her voice a mix of frustration and pity. "Keep wallowing in your self-imposed torture then. But seriously, are you staying with me today or not?"

I sigh again, my chest feeling heavy. I am about to respond when my phone suddenly starts vibrating in my purse. I pull it out and look at the screen. My heart thumps painfully against my ribs. It’s Daniel.

What does he want now? It’s never good news when he calls this close to the end of the day. I look at Selena, and she sees the color drain from my face. She sighs and nods toward the phone. "Answer it. Let me know what happens."

I don't hesitate. With Daniel, hesitation usually means double the trouble. I slide the bar to answer the call and press the phone to my ear.

"Get back home right now," his voice growls through the line. "You have five minutes."

"But I am not even out of the office yet—"

"Do I look like I have the time to negotiate with you?" he snaps, cutting me off. "Get back home now."

The call ends with a sharp click. I swallow hard, feeling a cold chill settle over me. "Oh great," I mutter.

Selena walks closer, her face full of concern. "What happened?"

I let out a ragged sigh. "He wants me home. Right now. He says it's urgent."

"You are not going anywhere," Selena says, her voice firm. "Look at you, you're shaking."

"But I have to go," I argue, my voice rising in panic. "You know what happens if I don't. It only makes things ten times worse."

"Can't you just skip it for once?" she asks. "Just tell him you had extra work."

"Am I going to run away forever, Selena? I have to face him eventually."

Selena sighs, her shoulders slumping. "I hate this. I hate that he has this kind of power over you."

"I hate it too," I whisper, "but I can't go against him."

"Fuck it," Selena says suddenly. "I am coming with you."

"No, you can't!" I protest. "That would only make him more angry."

"What's going on here?" a voice asks. "Weren't you supposed to be working?"

The sharp, commanding voice behind us makes us both freeze. We pause and slowly turn around. Adrian is standing right there, his arms crossed over his chest, glaring at us both. He looks like a storm cloud ready to burst.

Crap, he is angry. Very angry.

I take a deep breath and walk up to him, trying to look professional despite the fact that I’m trembling. "I am sorry, but can I go home now, sir? My husband just requested my presence, and he said it's urgent."

Adrian scrutinizes me deeply, his blue eyes searching mine. The silence stretches on for a long while, making the air feel thick and heavy. He looks at me, then at the phone still clutched in my hand, then back to my eyes. Finally, he lets out a slow, deliberate sigh.

"No," he says.

I blink, sure I misheard him. "What?"