Chapter 11 Creepy Neighbour and a stubborn Boss

Emily

Tim, that's the bastard who I had seen when I had exited my apartment. He was the one that made that horrific expression come over my face when I went back inside Adam's car. Was that bastard following me? I asked myself when I saw him.

“Emily?” his voice came out. “What are you doing here?”

“I live here with my mom and what might you be doing here?” I asked suspiciously.

“My house has burnt down and I am now living here. If you had still worked at the bookstore you would've known. You had left on such short notice that Zack is very furious with you.

“Oh, I am sorry to hear and I will talk to Zack soon,” I replied while faking a smile. I couldn't believe this. On the inside, I was experiencing a lot of mixed emotions.

Fear.

Disgust.

But fear is the most dominant of the two. The person whom I hate the most and am disgusted by, not to mention a bit creeped out by now lives in my apartment complex.

“So, what's your apartment number?” I asked, wanting to know how close to me he was.

“I'm at apartment two, I guess we will be neighbors.” He had a smile that had made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up and my body shudder. Bidding him goodbye, I quickly exited the building and went inside Adam's car.

“Emily is everything okay, why do you look like that?”

“It's nothing,” I lied. “My mom said I should thank you for the sandwich and the soup, you can drive no. We can go back to work.”

“Emily, are you sure everything is okay?”

“Yes, I am sure,” I lied again. I couldn't tell Adam the truth aside from the fact that he is my boss and that my personal life isn't his business. I couldn't tell him because I didn't want him to worry unnecessarily and do something to Tim––you know how those big moguls behave. They don't want any threat coming to their empire and if he found out that I was afraid of this person, even a little bit he might do something that might or might not be necessary. That or the fact that he might fire me because I am bringing trouble to him and his company or even both.

Truth to be told I think Tim is harmless––even though he creeps me out, he doesn’t seem like he would do me harm. The drive back was silent, not like it was something new. This always happens between Adam and me and seeing that he is now my boss it seemingly got worse. Arriving back at the company, he parked back in his spot in the underground garage and we got out and went back inside. Entering the elevator, we went back to the top floor and into our respective offices when we got off. The day went by faster than I expected, I didn't do much today. I guess it was because it was my first day Adam wanted me to get used to things rather than burden me with work. Packing up my stuff, I walked over to the adjoining door and knocked on it.

“Come in,” he called out. Entering, I saw that his head was buried in some files, files that I didn't fetch. Sitting down on the chair opposite him I cleared my throat. Looking up at me with eyebrows raised he asked, “Is something wrong, Ms. Martinez?”

“Yes, actually something is wrong. Where did you get those files?”

“From the files room,” he spoke in such a manner like he was talking to someone dense.

“I know that. But who got them for you?”

“I got them myself. Is there a problem?” he asked.

“Yes, there is a problem,” I retorted angrily. “You gave me this job to work and that's what I intend to do. I find it very offensive that you got themselves and I am your personal assistant. That was my job to do, not yours.” Looking at him, he had an amused expression on his face the entire time I was going off on him.

“Today was your first day, I wanted you to get acquainted with the things here.”

“That's not your decision to make,” I almost yelled at him. As soon as the words left my mouth I realized how stupid how I sound.

Getting up, he came so close to me that our lips were almost touching. Using my eyes to trace the pattern of them, I licked my lips and looked away before I did something stupid. “Then whose decision is it Ms. Martinez?” he asked with amusement in his voice and on his face.

“W-well I-it,” I stuttered, quite flustered by how close he was to me. Taking a deep breath, I could smell his cologne. It was intoxicating and it had the sense to draw someone in––well that was what it was doing to me. Pulling me into him like a magnet, so I could wrap my arms around him and kiss those lips of his. Damn it, I scowled myself. Not now, not here, not ever.

“That's what I thought. Go home Ms. Martinez your shift has ended. Get some rest and tell your mom I said hello.”

Huffing in annoyance, I got up and marched my way out but before I could touch the doorknob to turn it his voice came out and halted me, “Ms. Martinez whenever you need to see me you don't need to knock, just enter okay.”

Not bothering to answer I went back over to my office and grabbed my things and left. Going into the elevator, I was about to touch the button to bring me down to the first floor when I hesitated. How dare he! How dare he do this to me! I needed to go back and work, work for my money. I did nothing today other than scribble a few notes in a small book, fetch one file, eat food that was bought with his money then go to my mom’s house in his car. Then running into stupid Tim, coming back here and sitting on my ass staring into space.

Walking back into his office, I sat right down in front of him and began to stare.

“Didn't I tell you to go home?” He asked without even looking up.

“Yes, but I can't go home. I did not work and that's what I came here to do. So, either you give me something to do or I will re-arrange your office the entire time until I feel tired and think it's time to go home. You did give me this job to work, right? Or did you give me because you felt sorry for me?” I asked curiously.

“No, I did not give you this job because I felt sorry for you. Also, you can rearrange this office if you want to, not that there is anything to re-arrange. As you can see, the only thing in it is my desk, my chair, and a few paintings. So, go ahead and I am sure you can't move me in the chair, and I’m sure as hell not getting up so you could move it.

Annoyed by his logic, I just sat there and pouted while staring at a hole inside his head. A few minutes had passed before he spoke.

“Stop staring at me!” he said annoyingly. “It's distracting.”

“I won't stop until you give me something to do.”

Sighing, he ran his hand over his face before he rested his index and thumb on the bridge of his nose. I could see a couple of veins throbbing on both sides of his head and I couldn't help but be pleased with myself. He was getting frustrated now and that was exactly what I wanted. “Okay fine, there's an office on the second floor that needs to be fixed and since you are interested in redecorating, you can do it.” All smiles and happiness, I got up quickly and went to the second floor. Looking for the office, I finally found it.

The smile that was now on my face was replaced with anger. The room looked like it hasn’t been used in years––scratch that it hasn’t seen the light of day for years. It needed a thorough cleaning––you know the one a janitor would do and I was no janitor. Thinking that I should just cut my losses and go home as I felt so ungrateful now. He had given me the entire day to relax and get used to the things around the office and all I did was behave like a brat. Like who doesn't mind not working?

Embarrassed, I took the elevator back to the top floor. I was so ashamed of myself now but I had to do it, I deserve every ounce of humiliation that I was feeling. Entering his office, I opened my mouth to speak but before I could utter a word, he said, “I see you couldn't face the challenge. No worries, just go home and rest for your day tomorrow.”

Upset by his behavior, I quickly made up an excuse for why I was there. “I just wanted to know where the cleaning supplies were.”

“Is that so?” he asked, with a smirk making his way on his lips that looked delicious to taste. What was with me and his lips? Get it together Emily, I scolded myself.

“Well if you want the cleaning supplies they are located in the supplies office down on the first floor.” Closing his door, I took a deep breath and took back the elevator. I was honestly a stupid girl, first I wanted to work and when I did, I couldn't do the task. Shaking my head at my stupidity, I went into the room and took out the supplies that I needed before I went back to the office and cleaned like my life depended on it.