Chapter-13

Kara’s POV.

In the end, Derrick won because I just didn’t want to fight with him for the rest of the day. So, after he ordered me to cook for him, he demanded that I bring the food to his office before leaving. I’ve never done that before, so I didn’t really know what the procedure was.

So, even though my whole body hurt with exhaustion, and my leg wounds throbbed, I cooked, packed, and made my way to his company building right on time, determined not to give him the chance to find a fault.

I thought it would be quick, and I wouldn’t even have to see Derrick. I was going to leave the food bag with the receptionist, who would send it to Derrick.

Easy.

“I’m sorry, are you from Uber EATS or something?” the receptionist asked, looking at me suspiciously. “You’re not in any sort of delivery uniform.”

“I, uh,” I stammered, wondering what I was supposed to tell her. “Does it matter?”

“Yes, of course it matters," the receptionist said, looking at me like I was crazy for thinking otherwise. “Mr. Whitney is a very high-profile businessman, and we care very much about his personal security in this business. Nothing goes through us to him without being whetted, so I’m going to need your credentials if you want the food to be delivered to him.”

Oh, God, why was Derrick so paranoid? This was annoying.

“I’m going to need your name and the company you’re working for, miss,” the receptionist went on to say, staring at me expectantly.

“My name is Kara Hatchett, but I’m not working for anyone. Derrick asked me for this food, though, so if you can call him and tell him that Kara’s here with the food-”

“I’m afraid I can’t do that, miss,” the receptionist cut me off. “I can’t help you unless you tell me the truth. We don’t have time to entertain Mr. Whitney’s fangirls without putting him in danger, I hope you can understand.”

No matter what I said, the receptionist would not call, and she was getting agitated. Finally, when she threatened to call the security on me, I left the building, wondering what I was supposed to do. No one knew me at the company, so how was I supposed to get anyone to believe me?

Then I realized that I did know someone.

Taking out my phone, I called Theresa and asked the surprised PA if she could come downstairs to get Derrick’s lunch because the receptionist wouldn’t let me up or deliver the food to him.

Theresa said she’d be down in a jiffy, so I waited there, outside the building, feeling so low.

“Of course, you couldn’t do this one simple thing I asked of you,” Derrick’s voice came, making me flinch and whip my whole body towards him.

I did not expect him to come down by himself.

“What do you think I could’ve done?” I retorted. “I tried every possible way to get the food delivered to you, but the receptionist wouldn’t let me in because no one knows who I am, and it’s not like I can tell the truth. Who even knows who I am to you?”

Derrick rolled his eyes. “You always have an excuse on hand. Anyway, you should’ve called me instead of bothering my assistant about it. You do realize she got a job to do, right? Theresa works for me, if you’ve forgotten, not you.”

This time, it was my turn to roll my eyes. There was just no reasoning with the man.

“Look, just…here’s your food,” I muttered, shoving the bag at him and turning to leave. The sooner I get out of here, the better.

“Not so fast,” without allowing me to walk away, Derrick sprang forward and snatched my arm before dragging me towards his building.

“What, why?!”

“Stop asking so many questions,” was the only answer I received as I was towed through the ground floor of the building. It was so mortifying because everyone was giving me curious glances. Even the receptionist looked flabbergasted.

“Derrick, stop, everyone’s looking at us. I don’t need this attention!”

“Shut up,” Derrick replied, pulling me into the elevator and then pressing the button that led to the topmost floor, where his office was.

I threw up my hands in the air and sulked at the corner opposite him, wondering what was going on in his mind now. Something unfathomable, probably.

The elevator ride was so uncomfortable, and I was relieved when we finally reached his floor. Derrick dragged me to his office, which was as opulent as the rest of his property was, except for the villa.

“Don’t leave,” Derrick ordered me as we reached the little waiting area in front of his office. “Take a seat and stay put.”

With that, he entered his office, which was obscured from my sight via frosted glass, so I had no idea what he was doing in there. He did not come out afterward, and I didn’t know what I was supposed to do. Everyone could see the waiting room, because it was enclosed with clear glass, and the employees were all staring at me with curiosity as they passed by. I saw a bunch of people whispering amongst themselves, pointing at me, and I tried to sit in a way so that I didn’t have to look at them.

Minutes turned into hours, and I realized that I was going to spend the entire afternoon there.

It was so uncomfortable, and I was grateful for the few times that Theresa came over to pop into Derrick’s office every now and then.

“Why is he keeping me here like this?” I asked her after I’d finished reading all the magazines there were in the waiting room. “Is this some sort of public humiliation thing he’s cooked up?”

Theresa looked uncertain before she answered.

“Maybe he wants to spend more time with you? Mr. Whitney is extremely busy, and you’ve been having some marital problems lately. Who knows, maybe he’ll take you on a date later in the evening!”

I had to snort at that. That was the last thing Derrick would do with me, even if Jade wasn’t back in the picture. Derrick must be coming up with some ploy to get back at me for something he saw me do wrong.

It wasn’t always like this. I wouldn’t have fallen in love with a man who didn’t give me the time of day, or a man who was capable of hurting me in any way.

No, the reason I first fell in love with him…

God, the memory of that incident still felt unreal.