Devil scolded me again

Selena sat in her room, flipping through the pages of her new leather-bound diary, scribbling every detail Clara had shared.

Julian’s absurdly regimented schedule filled pages, annotated with her thoughts and questions. Her fingers gripped the pen tightly as she underlined “10:00 a.m. – Black tea.”

The devil expects perfection, huh? Well, I’ll give it to him, she thought, her brows furrowing. She might not be able to control much in her life right now, but she wasn’t about to let Julian Mather call her incompetent.

She went to the kitchen, meticulously preparing his black tea, ensuring the temperature was just right and the presentation flawless. The rich aroma of the brew filled the air as she carefully placed the teacup on a tray. Satisfied, she carried it to his office.

Without knocking, Selena pushed open the heavy oak door, stepping into the room. Her confident stride faltered when she saw Julian wasn’t alone. Three men were seated in the room, their eyes instantly turning toward her.

Two of them were younger, likely in their late 30s, sharply dressed in tailored suits. One had dark, neatly combed hair and wore glasses that reflected the light, giving him a stern, calculating air. The other had lighter hair and a smirk that suggested he rarely took things seriously.

The third man, however, was older, probably in his late 50s. His graying hair was slicked back, and his tailored suit was paired with a gold watch that gleamed under the office lights. His eyes raked over Selena, a look that made her skin crawl.

Julian’s sharp voice cut through the silence. “What are you doing here?”

She blinked, suddenly realizing the weight of their stares. “I—I brought your tea,” she mumbled, holding up the tray.

Julian’s jaw tightened as his dark eyes bore into her. “Put it down and leave.”

Selena hurried to the desk, setting the tray down with trembling hands. But as she turned to leave, his cold voice stopped her in her tracks.

“Selena.”

She turned, her face heating under his gaze.

“Knock before entering next time,” Julian said harshly. “Your unprofessionalism is unacceptable, especially on your first day.”

Her cheeks burned with shame as the older man chuckled softly, his gaze still lingering on her.

“Oh come on. She’s still young,” the man said in a smooth, patronizing tone. “Mistakes are part of learning. With the right guidance, I’m sure she’ll do just fine.” His eyes glinted as he added, “But if I’m not mistaken, doesn’t she look familiar? Wasn’t she that actress… What’s her name again?”

Julian’s hand curled into a fist on his desk. “That’s enough, Mr. Hargrove,” he said through gritted teeth.

Hargrove smirked but didn’t press further. “Of course, of course. My apologies.”

Selena couldn’t leave the room fast enough. She practically ran out, her heart pounding in humiliation and anger.

As soon as the door shut behind her, Julian turned back to the men, his expression like ice.

“Hargrove, let’s get one thing straight,” he said, his voice low but filled with authority. “I will not be entertaining your proposal for the bar chain.”

Hargrove’s smirk faltered, replaced by a glower. “Come now, Julian. This partnership could be mutually beneficial. My network—”

“Isn’t worth compromising the integrity of my business,” Julian cut in sharply. “My answer is final.”

Hargrove leaned back in his chair, his expression dark. “I’ll give you time to reconsider. I’m sure you’ll come around.”

Julian’s glare didn’t waver. “Don’t count on it.”

Hargrove stood, straightening his suit. “Very well. I’ll be in touch.” He glanced at the younger men, who quickly followed his lead.

The door shut behind them, leaving Julian alone. His shoulders relaxed slightly, but his irritation remained.

Julian pressed the intercom button on his desk. “Selena. My office. Now.”

A few moments later, Selena stood outside Julian’s office door, her hands gripping the handle nervously. His voice over the intercom had been sharp, leaving no room for misinterpretation—he was furious. Steeling herself, she opened the door and stepped inside.

Julian stood by his desk, his suit jacket discarded, his sleeves rolled up, and his face a storm of barely restrained anger. His piercing gaze locked onto her the moment she walked in.

“Close the door,” he commanded coldly.

Selena obeyed, her heart pounding in her chest. “I—”

He cut her off, his voice like ice. “What the hell were you thinking?”

She blinked, confused. “I just brought you your tea—”

“Don’t,” he snapped, his voice rising. “Don’t act innocent. Walking into my office unannounced, in the middle of a meeting, in front of him of all people?”

Her brows furrowed in frustration. “How was I supposed to know—”

“Because you should’ve knocked!” he barked, slamming his hand on the desk, making her jump. “Do you have any idea what kind of man Hargrove is?”

Selena stayed silent, unsure where this was going.

Julian’s eyes darkened as he took a step closer to her making her feel unease, his voice lowering to a dangerous growl. “That man has a reputation for ruining women. There are countless rumors about him—molestation, harassment, abuse—and yet you waltz in like you’re serving tea at some goddamn charity gala?”

“How would I know that? I was just following your schedule,” Her stomach churned at his words. She hadn’t known, but his tone made her feel as if she had. “I didn’t mean—”

“Didn’t mean?” Julian cut her off again, his jaw clenching. “Or were you hoping he’d notice you? Hoping you could grab some opportunity to climb back into the limelight?”

Selena’s mouth fell open, disbelief and anger bubbling to the surface. “Are you serious right now? You think I’d—”

“I think,” Julian interrupted, his tone scathing, “that you’re desperate. And desperate people do stupid things. Is that what this was? A move to put yourself back on the map?”

Her chest heaved with indignation. “How dare you?” she hissed. “You have no idea what I’ve been through, what I’m trying to do!”

He leaned closer to her face, his voice dripping with contempt. “Oh, I know exactly what you’re trying to do. You want your fame back, don’t you? So much so that you’d risk walking into a snake pit like that without a second thought.”

Selena’s hands curled into fists. “You think everyone’s as manipulative and disgusting as you!”

Julian’s eyes narrowed, and for a moment, silence stretched between them. Then, he straightened, his expression unreadable.

“You will never pull a stunt like that again,” he said, his voice eerily calm. “Do you understand me?”

Her throat tightened as she bit back the urge to scream at him. “Fine.”

“Now get out,” he said, turning his back to her and walking toward his desk.

Selena stormed out of the office, her heels clicking loudly against the marble floors.

How dare he speak to me like that? she thought, her chest heaving with a mix of anger and humiliation.

She replayed his words over and over, each one hitting her like a slap. Julian didn’t just scold her; he accused her of being opportunistic, of deliberately putting herself in danger for the sake of fame.

“Asshole,” she muttered under her breath, wiping her eyes before the tears could fall.

She stared blankly at her diary, the pages that once felt like a roadmap to success now mocking her. Why am I even doing this? Why am I letting him treat me like this?

But deep down, she knew the answer. Her father’s words echoed in her mind: “Do whatever you can to save your career.”

Selena leaned back in her chair, exhaling shakily. “This is hell,” she whispered to herself.

Back in his office, Julian groaned, his fists clenched at his sides.

What the hell is wrong with me? he thought, running a hand through his hair.

He had lashed out at her, and not just because of the incident with Hargrove. There was something about her that unsettled him, that made him react irrationally.

“She’s not your concern,” he muttered to himself, but the words felt hollow.

When Hargrove’s lecherous gaze had lingered on Selena, something inside him had snapped. The thought of that man’s hands anywhere near her made his blood boil.

Julian exhaled deeply, shaking his head. She’s a liability, he told himself. That’s all.

But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t shake the image of her storming out, her eyes blazing with fury and pain.