SAVING HER BOSS FROM THE PRESS

    ☠️ CHAPTER SEVEN ☠️

Holden was in his office, drinking and smoking when he started hearing noises from downstairs. It seems as though there was a fight going on. He stood up to go check what was happening but Jimmy rushed in just then.

" Boss we have a situation" He said panting heavily, like he just ran a quarter mile race.

" What's wrong?" Holden asked.

" The press are here" 

" What the fuck did they come here for?" Holden asked.

" They came for answers. It seem as though someone told them about what happened between you and Miss Raven. Now it's all over the internet"

" I tried shoving them away but they're persistent. They won't leave until they see you" Jimmy explained. Holden just grabbed his car keys.

" Boss where are you going?" Jimmy asked as Holden headed to the door.

" Home. I'm actually bored here" Holden answered wryly.

"But the press are downstairs and demanding for answers. You despise them more than anything I can think of, so going downstairs won't be a good idea" Jimmy implied.

" I don't owe some mother fucker's any form of explanation. What happened in here is none of their business. As for who told them... I'll deal with Raven later" Holden answered before leaving.

" Damn it! Why does he like putting himself in trouble?" Jimmy cursed.

Holden met all the workers trying to see what was going on.

" Everyone get back to work!" His cold voice sent shivers them all of them and they all complied. Walking past Raven's desk, he didn't see her.

Meanwhile Raven was in the restroom doing her business and she came out after she was done washing her hands. She headed back, humming a song on the way. She met with Jimmy, who pulled a brake on seeing her.

" Here you are. I've been looking for you" He panted trying to catch his breath.

" Is there a reason I should panic?" Raven asked.

" Yes, there's trouble right now" Jimmy's reply making Raven let out a slight cough, giving him a "go on" gesture.

" The press are downstairs, I don't know who told them about your encounter with Boss...

" The press are here?" Raven's eyes widened.

" Yes. But that's not important. The most important thing is that Boss is heading home and the press won't let him make a move. The worst part is the Boss loathes them more than anything I can think of. I tried stopping him but he won't just listen" Jimmy explained.

" Shit!" Raven cursed running off.

" Hey wait for me" Jimmy yelled going after her.

The press on seeing Holden stepping out of the company, rushed towards him. Heat of uncomfortableness went down Holden on seeing them. To worsen the matter, the were already taking pictures of him.

" Mr Smith, news came to us that you got your new assistant arrested after falsely accusing her of theft, thereby landing her in the hospital. Tell us, what do have to say about this?" They threw the question at Holden who ignored them . He made to walk pass them but the weren't giving him a chance.

" What do you have to say about this trending news online. Is it true or false that you accused your assistant?...

" Tell us Mr Smith...tell us. We want the truth from you..." Holden was already growing out of patience listening to the bugging questions from the reporters. He was becoming more and more uncomfortable and there's no way he could leave, because the reporters already blocked his way.

Just when all hope was gone, at least that's what he thought, a hand grabbed his wrist making him look up immediately only to see Raven.

" Come with me" She said, pulling him out from the reporters. Holden only complied like a lost puppy. One of the reporters caught him and Raven trying to sneak out.

" Hey, he's trying to run away" He alerted the other reporters and they all went after him. Raven started running and Holden didn't have a choice but joined her. There hands were still interlocked. 

They both increased their pace when they saw the reporters still after them. Raven stopped on seeing two car parked closely to each other other, creating a small space between it. She ran into the space pulling Holden along and forcing him to squat, the two of them facing each other.

They both stayed quiet, with only their heart racing fast due to running. 

"Are you ok?" Raven was the first to speak up.

" Am I suppose to be?" Holden asked back.

" Why did you call the press here, I thought we were even" He asked.

" I didn't call the press, I swear. Why will even do that despite the compensation you gave me yesterday?" Raven answered. Holden only frowned at her.

" If you didn't call the press, then who did?" Raven started hearing footsteps running towards them and she kept quiet.

" Didn't you hear what..." She shushed Holden, covering his mouth with her hand, much to his surprise. Just then they saw the press run past them.

" Thank goodness" Raven heaved. Holden let out a slight cough, glaring at Raven as her hand was still covering his mouth. Raven on realizing, quickly removed her hand.

" Sorry" She muttered. Holden was the first to stand, readjusting his jacket while Raven followed suit. 

They heard another footsteps approaching and Raven's eyes widened on realizing it might be the reporters coming back. Before Holden could fathom what was even going on, Raven wrapped her hands around his waist, hugging him with her face buried on his chest. Holden went stiff immediately. He was shocked.

" Bury your face on my shoulder" Raven whispered to him.

" Huh?"

" Just do it" He complied, burying his face on Raven's shoulder, thereby sniffing in her scent.

" She smells really nice" His inner self whispered to him. The reporters walked pass them and when they must have gone far, Raven broke from the hug, letting out another heave. 

She looked up and Holden's hot breath fanned her face and that was when she realized how close they both of were. Their eyes locked. 

" Wait a minute, why does Boss's eyes suddenly look familiar. Have we met before?" Raven thought, staring intently into Holden's eyes.

" His eyes do like look like someone I've met before...but who?"

Holden on the other hand was wondering why he was attracted to her green eyes.

" Why do I find them really beautiful?" He couldn't help but ask himself.

" Her green eyes is also the same as the mysterious lady but why is she pretending like we haven't met before? "

The beeping of a car horn passing by snapped the both of them out and Holden was the first to look away. He stepped out of their hiding place, heading back to the company with Raven trailing behind him.

×. ×. ×

" Should I call to thank her?" Holden asked himself, staring at the number on his phone. He was already home, seated on a sofa with a stick of lighted cigarette in-between his lips.

" She really saved me from the press, I'm supposed to thank her" He said and dialed the number. Just when the call was yet to ring, he ended it.

" No. What will she think of me? I should have thanked her then" He muttered and just then, the bell rang.

He stood up, heading to the door and on opening it, he saw Mr Smith standing before him. He felt like banging the door right to the old man's face but decided to ignored him, heading back to the sofa.

" What am I hearing Holden?" Mr Smith asked, stepping in.

" You falsely accused your assistant and almost got her arrested, now everything is out there in the internet, what is wrong with you?!" He half yelled at Holden who ignored him.

" I just left for 2 days...2 days and all you could give me on my return is trying to tarnish the reputation of the company. Who told you to go to the office at the first place, huh? Why didn't you sit your lazy ass here at home and wail away your miserable life?!" Mr Smith yelled angrily.

" All because of that stupid pendant..."

" Don't you ever get tired?" Holden cut him off with the question.

" Don't you ever get tired of coming to my house every single time to yell like a lunatic? I mean, I personally, I'm tired of you yelling and pointing out my mistake every... single... time, seriously"

" You've never for once pointed out a single good thing I've done. Everything I do is always about tarnishing the reputation of the company, blah...blah...blah" Holden drawled.

" That is because you've never done a single good thing I can think of. Tell me one good you've ever done since you were little, huh?" Mr Smith asked.

" I was the one who made the mistake of always saving you and not letting you face the consequences of your mistakes. Starting from when you ruined a little girl's life when you were just six and you killed your..."

" Enough" Holden cut him off immediately as he was already getting irritated. He stood up, facing him.

" Get out,now" He commanded.

" Why?" Mr Smith scoffed.

" Is it because you don't want me pointing out your mistake right to your fucking face? Is it because you know that I am right? Is it because you know that you're nothing else but a murderer and a..."

Holden grabbed Mr Smith by the neck, shutting him up. 

" I told you to leave, didn't I? But you're testing my patience" Holden said.

" You are aware that I am a murderer, there's nothing new about it. But surprisingly, you still have the guts to try and annoy me. Aren't you scared of what I might do to you. I can fucking kill you now, the same way I did to her" He said tightening his grip on Mr Smith's neck, puffing the cigarette directly to his face. His facial expression was void of emotions.

Mr Smith's eyes widened in horror as breathing became difficult for him. He tried pulling Holden's grip from his neck but it was tight. 

" You animal" Mr Smith tried gasping for breath.

" If I kill you now, it won't make a difference because you're totally worthless to me"

" But I won't" Holden added letting go of his neck. Mr Smith's face was already red. He was coughing uncontrollably and gasping for air.

" Now get lost before I change my mind" Mr Smith gave Holden a hateful glare.

" I can't believe I gave birth to a monster like you" He muttered before rushing out. Holden stared at his retreating figure, his heart arching in pain. He closed his eyes before snapping them back open.

He was angry...in rage, he was in pain but the worst part is that he can't even express it because he doesn't know how to.

" Try slapping a table or hitting your fist on a wall." The lady's words from yesterday rang in his brain. 

He slapped his hand hard on the table before him, knocking of the bottle of alcohol on it and it fell to the floor. He walked over to a wall and started punching it repeatedly.

" I'm not a murderer. I didn't kill her" He muttered still punching the wall. His hand started bleeding but he didn't care. Closing his eyes, the three pictures he loathed came popping in his mind again

He suddenly ran out of breath as his hands started trembling uncontrollably. Not only his hands but his whole body. 

He rushed upstairs to his room and headed straight to the bathroom. Opening the cabinet where his pill box was in, he was shocked to see that the bottle was empty.

" No" He mumbled and started ransacking the whole cabinet, throwing away anything that wasn't his medicine.

His ran his hands through his hair when he didn't see any. He walked over to the sink, turning on the tap and splashing some water to his face despite his trembling hands. But it wasn't working.

His legs suddenly became numb and he slumped to the floor. He was gasping for air and his eyes were already red. He felt like he was going to suffocate anytime soon.

With the little strength he had, he dragged himself on the floor out of the bathroom to his room. He rested his head on the edge of the bed before bringing out his phone.

With his hands trembling greatly, he dialed the first number he saw on his call log not knowing who it was. The person answered immediately.

" Please...come to my house. I need... your...hel... I need your help...please..."

He managed to say and the phone fell from his hand.

" Please..." He mumbled before...

BLACK OUT...