Chapter 39

Lillian

I was jolted up by a loud bang. I put down my phone which I was using to watch a movie.

Another one of the advantages of marrying your boss. You'll get to do next to nothing while his jealous bitch of a receptionist does all the work.

I took pride in it, my ordering Helena around was satisfying, especially the look on her face.

" Zayden?" I called, walking over to his desk.

He was standing in front of the polished table, his hands clutching the desk tightly. He had his head bowed, so I could not see his face but I could see how he breathed heavily.

How sweat tossed down his dark hair. How the muscles in his biceps flexed and how his jaw ticked.

" Zayden, are you okay?” I stepped closer, adamant to know why he banged the door roughly like that.

He raised his head, his gaze pinning me in place. His eyes had darkened and he stared at me with that same look he had when we first met.

I suddenly tensed, the temperature dropping drastically. I sensed fury, I know an enraged man when I see one.

He took a slow, electrifying step towards me.

" I lost the contract, Lillian." His voice was low but I could feel the venom in his deep voice.

I didn't step back even as every nerve in my body told me to.

" I fucking lost the contract!" His voice was louder this time.

I flinched and instinctively took a step back.

" Do you know who's fault that is?" His voice thundered through the walls.

I swallowed." It's not possible, everything was perfect."

His face turned beet red with rage as he towered over me." I shouldn't have let you rewrite the presentation, I shouldn't have let you meddle."

I could no longer meet his gaze." Maybe there was a mistake or...."

" Shut the fuck up!" He yelled, his voice laced with hostility.

I closed my eyes, taking slow breaths." Zayden, walk away."

My hands were shaking. I don't know why, maybe because of the immense rage I sensed emanating from him.

He scoffed, running his hands violently through his hair as he paced.

" I just lost millions of dollars!" He snarled, slamming his hands on the desk.

" I just lost a partnership that I have been working on for more than six months." He slammed his hands on the desk again, sending everything on it to the floor including his laptop.

" And it's your fucking fault. How are you going to fix it, huh?" He was towering over me again.

He clutched my shoulders and shook me violently. His grip was so damn strong.

" Zayden please walk away. We'll talk about this when you're calmer." I breathed, not meeting his gaze.

"Talk? You want to talk?" He grabbed my arm and pulled me forcefully towards his desk.

I started panicking." Zayden, calm down. We can sort this out."

He threw me roughly on his chair, I missed my footing and almost landed on my butt.

" Now let's talk!" He snarled.

" It was your stupid idea to change the whole presentation. Why did I even think you had any idea about business? you're just Another Mendicant looking for a high-paying job." He yelled at me.

I clenched my fists." Don't you dare insult me?"

Whether it was my fault or not, he lost the contract; he had no right to insult me. I would not sit and watch him belittle me. I'm no longer that Lillian that would cower before some rich bastards.

He laughed. It was dry and emotionless." You're not qualified and will never be. You only got this job because I needed an extra hand at that moment. I checked your CV, you barely went to college."

I gritted my teeth." Zayden, do not insult me. Walk away and we'll talk about this later.”

" I'm not fucking walking away!" He yelled, his tone louder and harsher.

I stood calmly." Then I'll leave. When you're back to your senses, we'll find a solution together."

I had only taken two steps when he grabbed me by the shirt and slammed my back roughly on the desk.

Pain shot through my back, and a painstaking scream escaped my lips. The immense pain I felt in my lower back made my eyes water.

He pressed his body against mine, his eyes boring into mine like he didn't just slam me against the desk.

" I so much want to strangle you right now." His breaths were rough, eyes blazing with veins appearing on his neck.

I stared back at him in horror." Walk away....walk away, please." My lower back hurt from the impact and I feared he might do more if I don't get out of his hold.

"I lost millions of dollars, you just gave the board members more reason to see me as incapable. You just gave Aiden the upper hand."

His hands found my slender neck. I didn't have time to protest when he grabbed my neck, adding pressure as his fingers encircled my neck

I gagged, hitting on his hands." Let.....let go. Ple... please."

My eyes were beginning to water; air was getting stuck in my lungs, making it difficult for me to breathe. I had known Zayden was temperamental, but not to this extent.

The man strangling me wasn't Zayden. His eyes were a different shade and it felt like the zayden I knew was caged somewhere deep inside his being.

"I'll make you pay, Firing you would be too easy." He spoke, his hands adding more pressure.

I kicked and bucked, tears rolling down my cheeks. I couldn't breathe and my vision was getting blurred.

I think I was starting to lose consciousness. My survival instinct kicked in immediately.

I stretched my hands, trying to grab something. Anything I could use to defend myself. Anything I could use to free myself from this monster.

I grabbed the first thing my hand could reach.

I grabbed his dick.