2| Scared

FELIX

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It had been a week since Paris, Rafael and I had that encounter outside the library. I was so quick to assume Paris was late that I didn’t even try to listen to her. The security guard had to tell me that she was actually an hour and half earlier than I was, I didn’t even notice the clean office, arranged files and the coffee in her hand. I was too busy trying to be rude to her. Later on, I was told there was a camera and a recorder in my office other than the ones we install.

Only one person could do something like this, as soon as I realized this I rushed to see if Paris was okay. If there was one person, she feared, it was him. I was right, he was standing in front of her using my name to hurt her.

Rafael was asked to scare Paris but then I found out he traumatized her, so I fired him. I wanted Paris to believe I absolutely loathe her, if I don’t then. . . Well, she could die.

I haven’t seen or heard from Paris since then. No one has. Alex thinks she is just taking a small break, trying to process how bad her first day was but I don’t know. Paris isn’t insane. She can’t be.

She is strong and makes it out alive.

Being my ignorant self, I walked into the company. Everyone raised from their seat and greeted me. People feared me enough to respect me. I continued to walk towards my personal elevator.

"It's already 7am, where is Ms. Martin? Is she still not coming to office?" I opened the door to my office, exhausted and tired. Another sleepless night. I was taken aback from the scene in front of me. Paris, was randomly dancing with her headphones on. Singing loudly to the lyrics to what seems like a Korean song. She was always interested in the Korean industry. Be it music or shows, she wouldn’t stop. It was the only thing making her happy.

"Hello Mr. Hernandez, Go on, tell me I'm late now. Bloody bastard, I went out to get your coffee so you didn't have to drink it cold but I won't do that today because you'd rather your stupid coffee cold than your assistant being a considerate person. RIGHT?" The words left her mouth as she spoke to my portrait behind my desk.

"Glad to hear your thoughts towards me. Ms. Martin." I tapped her shoulder and saw her horrified face when she realized, I heard and saw it all. She pulled herself together and smiled, she smiled at me and greeted me a good morning and walked out on me.

Whatever happened to her in the past week, gave her enough strength to stand up to me.

There was no reason for Paris to ignore me but she had all the reasons to hate and fear me. I had traumatized her more than anyone else. It’s after the incident a week ago that I realized that I had over done it. I had broken her. I was breaking her. If Paris Martin somehow loses her sanity, it would be because of me. And only me.

The rest of the day she didn’t smile or look upset or look like anything. She had an emotionless face. Her eyes didn’t have a spark nor did her face. She looked numb. Her body didn’t have her usual energy and her charm was now replaced by darkness. Her aura was changed. She, changed.

She only ever talked to me about business. She didn’t make a single mistake. Although she was clumsy here and there, hurting herself. Nor did she wince nor look at the wound. She didn’t hurt me or make a mistake that could affect me. This version of her, scared me. For the first time in my life, I was scared of Paris Martin.

For all the 20 years I have known Paris. I have never seen her this dull. Sure, I have seen her cry because of me and I have seen her begging for mercy. But I have never seen her numb. Seeing her like this is not only scary it is also concerning. It’s weird how people you have known all your life change to someone you don’t recognize. It’s way worse when it is because of you and you know it.

She entered my cabin with a few files in her hand. “Sir, these are the files for the German Dealers for the next meeting. They have asked for some unusual conditions that I believe aren’t falling into our favor, please check it out.”

“Alright. Ms. Martin?”

“Yes Sir?”

“Are you alright?”

She didn’t speak for a moment there but then she shook her head and smiled, “Of course!”

“Alright. When is the meeting with the German dealers?”

“In an hour, sir.”

“Ms. Martin, how am I supposed to go through this whole file within an hour and come up with solutions?”

“Sir, I understand your worry but you asked m to give it to you an hour before the meeting and if you check the highlighted parts, I already have come up with the problem and the solution. All you have to do is cross check it, in case I made a mistake in the work you, yourself, asked me to do.”

“You may go now.”

She bowed her head and walked out of the office. I wanted to hold her hand and pull her back, pin her to the wall and force her problems out of her mouth but I already know what the problem is, it’s me. I don’t know how I can fix things with her because I never apologized or made up to anyone for anything. Also, the fact that I hate women. I despise them. Paris is the only female working in my office, on such a big post. Most women work as employees or HRs but never directly talk to me. They talk to Mr. Gray and he passes the message on.

“She’s driving me crazy.” I mumbled under my breath and looked into the file trying to focus on work. The way she organized the file was fabulous. There were sticky notes under each condition, listing the pros and cons. The unusual conditions were highlighted and the problem and the solution were written under it.

I had nothing to do except for checking it out.

She was perfect at her job.

She is perfect.

And I swear to the love of god if her brother wasn’t my best friend, she would be mine. But for now, if she can't be mine, she can't be anyone else's either.