Chapter 5

“You!” I yelled, and the man's head shot up.

Sitting comfortably behind the desk was the man from the restaurant almost two weeks ago who had knocked me down, and then gone on to tell me to “look after myself” as though I'd told him I was sick.

But today, there was no laughter or warmth in his eyes. He looked at me briefly, before asking, “Is anything the problem, Miss Colton?”

It was then that I realized it. He didn't recognize me! My God! I'd just almost thrown away an opportunity that I'd spent years hoping for because of a small thing that the man hadn't even remembered.

“Not at all, sir. I apologize.” I said, and he motioned me to sit.

Then the questions began. Unlike I'd expected, Mr Kingston didn't ask me questions about my academic qualifications or my experience (of which I had none), but he asked me practical questions instead. He asked what I would do in certain practical office situations and listened intently as I struggled to respond to them.

“Alright, then, Miss Colton. We'll reach out to let you know if you've been accepted.” He said, indicating that I could now leave.

As I reached for the doorknob, his rich voice stopped me, “Oh, and Miss Colton?”

I looked back at him.

“Do ensure that you look after yourself.” He said, and sent me a small wink, then turned back to his work with complete seriousness.

My mouth hung open. Oh, the nerve of this man! He remembered! Of course, he did! Ugh! Another typical egotistical male.

As I walked out of the building, I caught myself chuckling lightly at the man's twisted sense of humor.

I readjusted my purse on my shoulder and as I walked home on the sidewalk, my eyes collided with a familiar pair of eyes. Shit! Raymond. One of Anthony's closest friends, and every bit of an asshole.

His eyes lit up when they caught mine. “Well, well, Marie! Good to see you here!” He said with mock enthusiasm.

“Hello, Raymond.” I plastered a fake smile on my face and turned to leave, but he held me back with those wiry hands of his.

“So, I heard you left Anthony.”

I grit my teeth in annoyance. Why the hell was the asshole telling people I'd left him? Why wasn't he telling them that he'd thrown divorce papers in my face?

I pulled my hand out of Raymond's grip, and turned to leave without responding, but he suddenly burst into laughter as if he'd gone mad. 

“You've gotten quite tough, I see.” He said derogatorily. “But I'm willing to bet you'd come crawling back to him, begging him to take you back soon. Anthony's got you wrapped around his fingers, Marie, and there's nothing you can do about it.”

I felt blood shoot up to my ears. “My name is Marissa, you fucking pervert! And stop following me!” I yelled, causing several people to stop and stare at us before leaving him there, embarrassed.

This was what I meant when I said I'd let that asshole walk all over me. Even his psychotic friends thought it was okay to do the same.

I stalked home in annoyance.

*******************************

I resumed work as Mr Kingston's secretary the next Monday. When his assistant called to tell me that I'd landed the job, Chloe and I did a happy dance, and then went out for ice cream. 

With the settlement that the divorce from Anthony promised, I wasn't broke or in need of money. This, for me, was just proof of my freedom.

As Mr Kingston dictated the things that he expected of me, I jotted furiously. At that time, my phone rang and I looked at the screen. Anthony. He'd been calling me a lot lately.  The last time I answered his call, he'd been drunk, and begging me to come back to him. The bastard had some nerve.

I ignored the call and turned my screen down to avoid further distraction.

Later that afternoon, my phone rang again, earning me an arched eyebrow from Mr Kingston. 

“You've been ignoring your call all day. Is that a habit you have?”

I rolled my eyes discreetly. “No, sir. It's just….” I hesitated, too embarrassed to tell him who it was.

“Well?” He prompted. 

I didn't have to tell him. I knew that. But I suddenly felt the overwhelming urge to say something to someone other than Chloe.

“It's my ex-husband, sir. He's been giving me a lot of trouble. Calling me, and dropping by at my friend's house. I'm just so tired.” I stopped, feeling like I had said too much. I mean, I barely even knew the man.

He seemed to consider my words a little before looking up at me and asking, “Well, Marie, do you want any help with that?”

I grit my teeth. “It's Marissa, sir.” I said, with a look that showed him that I'd truly suddenly become upset.

He raised his hands in silent apology. “So what do you say, Marissa? Want me to help you with this guy?”

I looked at him incredulously. “How?”

At that moment, my phone rang again, and he raised an eyebrow at me. “Well?”

I nodded at him. 

He picked up the phone, and the next words that came out of his mouth shocked me to my marrow.

“You worthless son of a gun! Leave my girlfriend lthe hell alone! If you ever call her again, I'm going to find you and break every single bone in your body!” He said and hung up the call.

My eyes popped. My mouth hung wide open. My brain was hanging in the air. OH. MY. GOD. The man just got ten times hotter!