CHAPTER 5—First punishment in office

I can’t help but stand up and look around. I see Benjamin’s face everywhere, no matter where I am in the office.

“I will kill you!”

I covered my ears when I heard that in my mind.

“You’re letting your stupidity prevail! You’re worthless!”

A memory of him hitting me is the reason why I’m now sobbing uncontrollably.

I saw Rome stand up from his chair and approach me, but I stopped him.

“Please, don’t hurt me,” I pleaded while crying. “You just hurt me earlier. My body is in so much pain. I don’t know where to go anymore! Please, stop, I don’t want to get hurt anymore!”

“What the heck is happening to you? And what are you talking about? I will not hurt you and I didn’t hurt you. People might think I really hurt you if they hear you. My goodness. You’re putting me in danger!”

“I need to be alone,” I said finally and ran out of his office. I didn’t know the layout of this building, but all I knew was that I ended up in an unfamiliar hall where I was all alone.

I could see the whole place clearly. I sat down and hugged my knees.

I don’t want to be mistreated by others again. It’s difficult, especially when I remember and especially when I have no one to ask for help. When I feel like this, I need Francis.

I’m comfortable with Francis and I can’t bear to be without him when I’m feeling down.

“It is not rude to run away while I am interviewing you?” I heard Rome’s voice behind me. “Are you crazy? You know, you’re not even an employee yet and I’m already having problems with you.” He held his temples and placed his left hand on his waist.

I bowed my head, “Sorry, sir. I had an anxiety attack earlier,” I apologized. “I didn’t mean to. I couldn’t control it. I felt like I was being chased and I wanted to escape from whoever was chasing me, so I couldn’t stop myself from running until I ended up here.”

“Tch. Never mind, follow me and I will explain your job,” he said coldly and turned his back on me.

I followed him to the elevator. I was positioned behind him, so I felt nervous.

“Click the 8th floor button,” he ordered, so I reached for the elevator button. My eyes widened when I pressed the number nine. “Don’t you know the number eight?!” he asked irritably and pushed me slightly, causing me to move away from the elevator button.

He pressed the number himself and glared at me before turning his gaze to the elevator door.

“Sorry, I pressed the wrong button,” I sniffled.

“When did you ever do something right?” He smirked, so I bowed my head while swallowing hard. “I don’t like it when you lose yourself in your own job. That’s one of my pet peeves. It’s just irritating. When I get irritated, I fire employees, so I hope that’s clear to you.”

I didn’t realize that tears were streaming down my face. I closed my mouth tightly so he wouldn’t notice that I was crying. I’m only crying because of the drastic change in my husband.

“Move!” he shouted when the elevator signaled that we had arrived.

I followed him carefully and observed his back and his movements.

His veins suddenly appeared on his hands when he opened the office door. I felt cold because of the air conditioning, so I hugged myself.

He was holding a paper when I looked at him after closing the door.

“This is the contract that you need to sign. What is this? I will just summarize it, maybe you’re just signing for the money,” he grumbled before letting go of the paper.

“What am I supposed to do?” I approached him near his position.

“Just wait and I will tell you!” he growled, which made my mouth shut. “You will be my temporary secretary here since I am looking for a qualified, smart, beautiful, sexy, and one hundred percent confident secretary,” he emphasized, his gaze never leaving me as if he was saying that I am the opposite of what he wants in a secretary. “It is not only your job but to be a maid in my mansion, it is actually your real job,” he added. I didn’t know how to react to what he said.

His maid?

He used to be my husband…

It would look ugly if his former wife became his maid.

“That word ‘maid’ suits you better, right?” he smirked.

“It doesn’t suit me,” I replied with courage. He rolled his eyes.

“Damn, whatever.”

ROME

I knew what was up with this woman, the way she reacted a while back made me puzzled. She was in shock, afraid that people might hurt her, and she even shielded herself.

My wonders increased about how she acted, but I ended up, I didn’t care. Who is she, anyway, to worry for her?

It seemed like she wasn’t pretending about what happened to her earlier, so I just let her be even though she was screaming and running around here.

Whatever happens to her, I’m out. I have my plan here to accomplish, which is to punish her. I won’t stop until she does not feel the taste of my revenge. I won’t stop until she doesn’t experience what I have been through. Worse than the worn-out tire on the road.

I haven’t started yet. I let her first know the details about the Wilson Incorporation, my company, and the job of secretary, but I am planning another job that suits her. Secretary is a high standard job for me, she doesn’t belong there.

A lower position suits her. She was now sitting at the left side where the table of the secretary was placed. I can see her focused on knowing the information of the company. I just raised my left eyebrow.

I can feel that she was amazed. She tried to throw her gaze at me but I suddenly glared at her. No matter how many times she tried to look in my direction, I didn’t even flinch.

I know those looks of hers. I know exactly what she wants, attention, that’s why she’s trying.

I want to make her feel my intense anger. I know it was unbelievable for her to know that I am a successful businessman now.

Her regret in her eyes was invisible, one of the things I really want to see, her regret for what she did. But it will just end in regret, nothing more will happen.

“Wow! So you finished business management?” She asked, smiling like she didn’t do anything.

When she noticed my sharp gaze, she fell silent and looked down. I was irritated by her voice. If only I didn’t have the desire to punish her, I would rather kick her here.

“Wow! Twenty million…a day?” She covered her mouth.

This company earns twenty million, and I have other properties aside.

I just shook my head and let her be for now. I don’t want to push my mood right now. I played with one of my favorite pens while looking at the new innovative product suggestions from my presenters.

I stopped when I heard a growl from her spot. As I glimpse her, she is holding her stomach. She feels uneasy and side-eyeing me, seems like she is embarrassed. I scoffed.

I continue to work, letting her starve. That’s her life, after all. When we were still married, even though life was very difficult, I never let her starve like that. I served her as my queen.

Wait! It seems like I want to play a prank.

I texted Regina to deliver me food so that I could eat. I requested various kinds of food. 10 minutes later, Arlo entered with a paper bag in his hand. The smell of the food he brought was so enticing that Faye’s head turned towards Arlo. I smiled mischievously.

“Here’s your food, sir! Enjoy!” I nodded at Arlo and opened the paper bag. There were 2 containers. I opened both and started to scoop some food.

Lasagna and Carbonara with Cordon Bleu. Before I ate, I looked at Faye. She was looking at me, especially at the food container. I could see her swallowing.

I slowly eat the food in the teaspoon, looking at her, teasingly smirking. She was still gaping. I wanted to burst out laughing but I wanted to tease her more.

I took another bite and drank some juice. She was swallowing nonstop then after that, she looked away but gazed again at my food.

Does she think I will give her some? In the past, we were content with eating very little in a day, but now that won’t happen. I don’t care if she becomes full of envy in her mind.

“Do you want some?” I asked with a grin.

“N-No, thank you.” Her response seemed hesitant as she went back to reading. Her hands were still trembling.

I picked up the lasagna container and threw it on the floor, surprising her. “If you want it, get it and eat it.”

“W-Why did you throw it? What a waste!” I raised my left eyebrow when she knelt to get the food lying on the ground. She slowly tasted it.

“Yuck.” I couldn’t help but chuckle softly. “Hungry, huh.” I shook my head sarcastically and sat down in my rotating chair.

Now I feel repulsed. The way she was eating gave the impression that she hadn’t eaten in years. I sent Regina another email asking her to bring more food and coffee for me.

What I tasted of the pasta was not to my taste. Yet, the carbonara and Cordon Bleu remain here, and the lasagna that Faye eats on the floor.

“Hmm…” I groaned as I got up and picked up her resume. I tore it apart loudly. What I did astounded her. I stopped to clean up the lasagna mess on the floor using her résumé.

“Rome?!” her surprised reaction, “why did you do that? Printing is expensive!”

I raised it for her to reach. I kept looking at her every time she gaped when she tried to reach for her torn résumé.

“You’re hungry, right? I’m just helping you pick up the food on the floor. Oh, eat it,” I grinned and offered her the résumé full of lasagna.

My beaming face faded as she started crying out of the blue. I got up and tossed the paper in front of her.

I muttered sourly, “Clean it up,” and clomped back to my swivel chair.

Every time she cries out, I become irritated. She is not someone who should be pitied. If she thinks I will easily feel sorry for her and be weak like before, then she is mistaken. Since she left me, my heart has become as hard as steel that is not easily broken.

I was watching her cleaning the floor while scrolling through the trending advertisement of one of my competitors. I blocked him so that I couldn’t see him. He’s one of the many useless people on my social media.

But her presence bothered me so much. I’ve been looking at her and she was crying painfully.

I just realized what I did, throwing food is not a good idea and I didn’t mean to do that. I was just mad and hurt.

The moment I saw the new posts of Xino, I almost punched the laptop. He just posted my wacky picture!

Damn. That’s why I don’t want to be around drinkers. You’re in trouble with me.