2. Quit over getting fired

I blink once, twice, repeatedly just to make sure I am seeing right. I am. I lift my head and when I do, I lock eyes with the one person I simultaneously want to see the most and not see at all. My boss.

I'm a hundred percent sure my face portrays my disbelief as I push open the doors and walk into the building. Does he despise me that much? Firing me when he could see that I was only outside the glass doors.

I'm pretty sure he did it just because he's trying to get rid of me. That, or it was just a power play. I can't tell with him.

Shawn, my boss—ex-boss actually, what a fucking joke—expels a sigh at my arrival and speaks before I even get the chance to get a word out. "You got my text, didn't you? Why are you in here?"

I don't know whether to scream at him or plead with him, but then I think about Lucas and how hard it'll be to find a new job in record time. It's not like we'll suddenly go broke if I don't get my paycheck this month, but I don't want to have to start chirping at my savings bit by bit. It's stored away for Lucas' education.

"I'm sorry. Please, let me explain." I plead, even if I don't like that idea. He spares me a glance, hands over a file to the receptionist, and starts walking away. I grit my teeth in annoyance, but shake off my pride and follow after him. I still need my job after all. "Mr. Landon, one more chance."

He doesn't stop walking as he answers me. "You'll still be late tomorrow, as well as the rest of the weekdays. What exactly is the chance for?"

I won't admit it, but he gets me there. Lucas is a handful in the mornings because he is not a morning person, so it usually takes me a while to wake him up and get him ready. And then, there's also the fact that he gets distracted easily, which means dressing up takes more time than it should, as well as other morning rituals.

"I told you the other day, Ms. Jennings," he continued, acting formally for the public eye, "one more time and you're fired, but it seems like you want to be fired."

"I was barely five minutes late!"

"Five useful minutes wasted." He inputs nonchalantly as he adjusts his tie. When we get to the elevator, he nods towards it and I press the button for it. "It was a fair deal. Come late, get fired. I don't why you're pestering me. Other people that actually need your job and will do it better are out there!"

"I try my best to get here early!" I snap when we enter the elevator and it closes, leaving both of us alone and away from the eavesdropping ears and prying eyes.

"Not hard enough apparently."

"You know my situation!"

"While I know of your situation, I am not responsible for it and I can't be partial in a place of work. I'm not the one that knocked you up, Aria."

'You want to though, don't you?' I say in my head. I take a few deep breaths and remind myself that he is still my boss and only he has the power to give me back my job. When I started working here, I was meant to start by 8:30. Suddenly, Mr. Landon changed my time. I don't know if it was important for him to do so or because of a personal vendetta against me.

"You made your bed. Now, lie on it and stop pestering me."

My tongue pokes the inside of my cheek. Does he really want to get rid of me? I'm one of the best at what I do. "So you're not going to reconsider?"

He glances at me, noticing my voice has softened, and sighs. "Let's get to my office and I'll make my final decision."

Hope blossoms in my chest. I won't have to go searching for a new job. I probably should, but at least, it isn't urgent anymore. I don't have to worry about not getting as much as I get here and I don't have to worry about money for Lucas' education.

The rest of the elevator ride is silent but it isn't anything awkward. It's more of me tapping my feet in impatience and him struggling to keep a smirk off his face at my situation. Dick.

When we finally reach the last floor that makes up our workplace, I'm the first to exit the elevator. I can hear his scoff behind me, but I'm not deterred as I take longer strides toward his office.

I'm the first to reach the door and I don't waste any time opening it and sitting on the chair opposite his. He, on the other hand, takes his sweet time in coming in, locking the door behind him, before sitting down across from me.

"You want your job back, you say?" I nod and he smiles smugly. "And why should I give it back to you?"

I want to slap that smile out of his face. I really want to, but then I think of Lucas, and I find myself becoming humble. Being humble doesn't mean I'll be modest though. "I need the job and I'm probably the best advertiser you've got here. Firing me will be two losses on our parts."

My boss shakes his head in amusement, and I can tell he enjoys this way too much. I bet he'll enjoy it when I snap his neck. "Why don't you prove it to me?"

'What? Hasn't my work proved that I'm the best already?'

I don't understand what he's talking about until I see him glance down at his pants before looking up at me again. "Prove to me how much you need this job and I'll think about it."

I stand up with immediacy, disgust was written all over my face when I see the erection he's spotting. The bastard is getting turned on seeing me beg. "You're sick," I spit venomously.

He only laughs, standing up as well, the bulge in his pants even more visible. "Come on, it's just a blow, nothing serious."

He comes around and tries to hold my hand, but I rip it away before his fingers can brush me. "You're sick," I repeat.

"Okay, fine. Blow me and your job is guaranteed."

I look at him in shock. How does he feel letting those words escape his mouth? And just because I need to ask, I do. "Don't you feel stupid? Are you that desperate that you're exchanging a job opportunity with a blow job? Does no one want you that bad?"

Shawn's face contorts in rage and that should give me a sign to back off, but I don't. His movements are so fast, that I don't know what is happening until he grabs my neck in one fluid movement, attacking my lips with his.

I try to push him away, but he doesn't budge. Instead, he presses his hard bulge against me. It's like he gets turned on seeing me struggle. He's a sick piece of shit.

With a strength I don't know I possess, I shove his chest and he breaks away, but he still looks lust-crazed and I know he'll do worse if I don't act fast. In a panic, I raise my knee, connecting it with his sick-ass erection.

He backs away with a curse, clutching his jewels and looking like he's in the worst pain ever. Clenching his teeth, he looks at me with hatred in his eyes. I scoff. I should be the one looking at him like that. He just tried to assault me. "You bitch!"

I laugh. Classic. I don't give in to him and he calls me a bitch. At this point, I don't care if I lose my job or not. Even if I don't lose it, I can't see myself working for Shawn anymore. "Word of advice, Shawn, do not try this with another employee."

His expression hardens at me addressing him by his first name. He hates it when he's addressed that way in the office. He loves being called boss or Mr. Landon. "Security!" He roars and I raise an eyebrow. There aren't any standby security officers on each floor, so he's wasting his time.

"Let me save you the trouble, Shawn, I quit," I inform him, still irritated at what almost happened. If I didn't hit him in his balls, I wonder what would've happened. "I'll send in my resignation by tomorrow." And probably start sending out resumes as well.

Shawn straightens up, the pain a little more bearable for him. "I already fired you."

I stand my ground. It's harder to get a job if other companies know you got fired from your last job. "I'll send in my resignation by tomorrow," I repeat, watching as his eye twitches.

"Get out!" He orders, coming closer to me. I step back, not wanting to get caught in another situation with him.

"With pleasure."

I turn on my heel and exit his office, making sure to bang the door as hard as possible. I ride the elevator to the floor right underneath Shawn's floor, stopping at my office to pick up a few essentials. I'll clean it out tomorrow.

When I get to the ground floor, I run into Heather, whose eyes go wide when she sees me with a packing box. "What happened?"

I smile bitterly. "I got fired." I start to walk away, but I stop and dip my hand into my bag. "Oh, and here's your dress."

She doesn't know what to say as she watches me walk away from her. I know Shawn isn't getting an award for the boss of the year anytime soon, but that doesn't mean I fancy losing my job. It's heartbreaking and nerve-racking that I'll have to start searching for new jobs, but there's no chance in hell I'm stepping my foot in Landon and co ever again.