Chapter 8.

Am I Really Falling For My Insufferable Boss?

“You would leave my office now, or else, I would disregard the filial bond we share and have the security throw you out like every other person who comes to this building and acts in an uncouth manner.” He said in a calm voice that didn't go with someone that was just slapped.

“Oh, you would throw your father out of the office like a commoner just because I scolded you a little bit?” His Father asked.

I eyes him wearily because there was nothing about the slap he gave him, in front of his P.A nonetheless that showed me that this was a little scolding. For him to slap him in front of his P.A, showed him he had no regard for him except I turned into a breathing statue moments ago that he saw me as an inanimate object.

“We are not that close for your little scolding. Father, please leave, while I am still being nice. I was talking to my P.A before you stepped in.” Ryan said.

It was then his Father turned and finally acknowledged me, the breathing statute that was somehow a human being.

“Wow! She's 

your P.A?” He licked his lips and ran his eyes from the top of my hair down to the sole of my feet, before his eyes rested on my breasts. He looked at me like he wanted to gobble me up like a wolf.

I shifted uncomfortably on my feet and eyed him wearily to show I didn't appreciate his predatory glance at me one bit.

“Yes, Father. She is my P.A. Now, leave before,” Ryan was saying when his Father interrupted him mid-sentence.

“You know how to pick ‘em. She is hot son.” He spoke of me like I was some piece of meat. My eyes blazed in anger and if he wasn't my boss's Father, a shitty Father, but one nonetheless, I would have marched up to him and smacked him on the head with my journal so he knows not to sexualized any woman like that.

Ryan however beat me to it and grabbed his Father by the collar showing the first emotion I have seen him show ever– anger.

“You will not speak like that to my P.A again. She is not some piece of meat that one can select at the butcher's house. She is a human being and I detest someone, anyone even, demeaning someone else. Am I clear?” He shook him like a rag doll to signify if he got his point. His Father looked so frightened that I had to run to Ryan's side and beg him to let his Father go.

“Boss, you are suffocating him.” I said to him trying to get his attention, but his eyes were still blazing in anger. 

He has never gotten angry before. Not when he met his director in a compromising position, or when his Mother came here to yell at him, or even after his Father slapped him.

But he got angry because his Father spoke to me in a condescending manner. I wasn't worth this drama, honestly. His Father was a shitty person, but, he didn't need to let him ruin his mood. I preferred it when he acted calm like nothing fazed him. His anger felt destructive.

Ryan, you are suffocating him!” I yelled this time placing my hand on his arm and hitting it lightly to get his attention. I don't know what did the trick, but he finally heard me, and dropped his Father.

His Father gathered himself and smoothened his collar.

“You are sleeping with her right?” He asked him, hints of a smirk began forming on his face.

“What I do or don't do, is not your business Father. You seem to have been testing my patience this morning and you have gotten to the short end of it.” He rounded the table and picked up the company's landline and dialled it, “Security, come and whisk someone out of my office right now. He seems to have overstayed his welcome.” He said into the phone.

“You wouldn't dare.” His Father said to him.

“Oh, but I just did. You best leave before they come up and drag you through the halls. Best believe they would, because I have changed those lousy security you once had and I would have you know that these ones mean business and they would drag you out like a common thief irrespective of your prestige.” He said it with such a devilish smirk that I was so glad not to be at the receiving end of this threat.

“You want to do that to me because of that thing?” His Father pointed his wiry index finger at me. Honestly, this man is testing my patience and I have been told I am a patient person on a good day. Today was a good day, so that is saying a lot right now.

“Firstly, she is not a thing. Her name is Violet and also, it's not because of her. You just a terrible person and I can't stand things like you.” Ryan spat at him with venom laced on his tone.

“I would make you regret this. Mark my words. This CEO position that seems to be the one giving you the guts to treat me like trash, I would snatch it right out of your fingers.” He said and started backing out of the office like he was some sort of hero in a movie threatening to deal with his enemies.

“I would love to see you try. You know I love to live on the edge, it's thrilling.” Ryan said with a smirk.

“You are a psychopath and a taint to my family name. I curse the day you were birthed into this family." He spat angrily at him.

“You have been saying that since I was little and I was diagnosed, be more original. It's getting old and boring to keep hearing the same thing time and time again.” Ryan faked a yawn.

His Father didn't say anything and just walked out of the office.

Soon after, the Security rushed in but Ryan said they shouldn't bother because the person already left. Guess they didn't see his Father since they came in through the other elevator.

“That was intense.” I muttered under my breath as soon as the security left the office.

Ryan sighed and said, “I'm sorry about my Father. I think you need to know since you have been working here for close to two weeks, I don't have the best parents and once in a while they would come here and air their grievances. I am giving you a heads up now so you are not shocked by their brash behavior.” He warned me with a smirk on his face.

Suddenly, I felt sad for my boss. To have a father that detested your presence could mess up one's mental state and he was simply acting like it was okay, an everyday occurrence. My parents were dead, but when they were alive, they treated me like a princess so I have known nothing but love from their side. Then, when they died, Anna's mom stepped in and loved me like her own daughter so much that I stopped telling her if anything was wrong with me because she always became so worried if I told her I was struggling with something, even a little bit. But to see that my Boss didn't grow up with that made me feel sad.

“Are you okay?" I blurted out before I could stop myself.

He blinked severally at me like I just asked him if he was going to the moon.

“Of course I am fine. Why wouldn't I be?” He asked.

I gasped at him and thought, of course you shouldn't be fine when your Father just called you a blot to his lineage and even went as far as slapping you in front of your P.A. Those were the reasons you shouldn't be fine but I didn't say any of these things I thought.

Instead I said, “If you say so sir.”

He cleared his throat, “That being said, you can take the rest of the day off to do something for yourself. You seem traumatized by what happened today, so just go and chill out. Maybe go to the spa or one of those things you ladies like to do.” He said.

I looked at him like he has suddenly grown two extra heads, “I don't get it. I-I-I should take the day off?” I asked, stuttering a little bit because no part of what he said about the day off made sense to me.

“Yes, or did my words get mixed up mid-way?” He asked me sarcastically in that cool as ice tone of his.

I narrowed my eyes suspiciously at him, “Wait, is this just an excuse? Are you firing me?”

“And why would I do that Violet? You seem to watch a lot of movies in your free time because you assume a lot of things. No, Violet. I am simply telling you to take the day off. Besides, something just came up before my Father came in. So, I would need to fly out tomorrow morning. There is no need for you to be in today since I would be out all day to check on our Supermarket subsidiary.” He replied dryly to me.

“Are you sure you wouldn't be needing me there?” I asked him.

“Since when did you become so clingy enough to want to be around me all the time? I am giving you a once in a lifetime opportunity to be away from your antagonizing boss, and you are refusing? I don't understand you Violet." He looked at me like he was trying to understand the scientific component I was made of.

“You are not that bad.” I said to him, truly meaning it. Maybe because of what just happened, I felt a sort of kinship to him. I didn't want anyone else to hurt him, it made me feel sad. I don't know why. I really can't explain the mechanics of my heart when it came to Ryan. 

“I would take that with a grain of salt. What happened to you are not considerate of others feeling speech you gave me some days back?” He said. I gasped in surprise until I looked into his eyes and saw the mischief dancing there that I knew he was just teasing me.

“I thought we have moved past that? You really don't forgive and forget, do you? How long are you going to hold that over my head?" I whined at him.

“Forget? My amnesia is not that active. Something about that makes me laugh, so I doubt I would be forgetting that anytime soon,” He paused and then said, “On a more serious note, Violet take the day off. It's an order as your Boss.”

He turned his back at me and began looking out of the window to signify the conversation was over.

If you asked me now, I don't know what prompted my next action, but I would blame it on my stupid heart that somehow softened whenever it came to Ryan.

I ran and wrapped my hands around his waist and rested my head on his back.

“I know we had a rocky start, but, be assured that I am on your side. And if anyone makes you feel bad, you can tell me if you are too nice to fight back, don't worry about it, I would fight back for you. Don't let anyone treat you badly. Believe me, you are not the worst person I have ever met even though you are sometimes insufferable.” 

I would have sworn that moment didn't happen until Ryan placed his hands on mine. His hands were cold as ice, sort of like his heart and he said, “Violet, you are smart, and while this offer is nice of you, please, whatever you do, don't fall for me. I would ruin you. I have no heart, I have been told. I am incapable of feelings." He warned me, his tone heavy with concern. He quickly removed his hands from mine and mine hung limply around his waist.

When I finally came to my senses that my hands were wrapped around my Boss's waist, I hurriedly removed them. 

“I'm so sorry about that. That was so unlike me. I must have been falling sick or something. Guess that off day is necessary after all. Have a safe flight sir.” I babbled and scurried to my table to get my handbag.

One thing I couldn't admit to anyone, even my friends, is that crazy as it sounds, I was actually developing feelings for Ryan, my insufferable boss.

The world must be coming to an end.