Chapter 16

Emily’s Pov

Ava was right.

 Dinner was literally to die for. 

Whoever the magnificent chef was, he deserved what Mr Dark Heart was paying.

  After the death glare, he  returned back to pouring his attention on his sister while Ezra and I continued to make small talks.

     I was grateful when dinner came to and. At least it meant I would be leaving the dark and gloomy mansion too.

   Like the weirdo he was, Alex stood up and walked out without another word.

  Ava and Ezra began to clear the table and when I tried to join in, they immediately stopped me.

 “You're a guest, Emily. Don't worry we've got this.” Said Ezra with a slight wink.

  I tried to protest but Ava stopped me.

  “C’mon Em, we've got this. Why don't you take a tour of the house! We’ll be back as soon as we run this by the washer.” 

  Defeated, I muttered “Okay.” 

     After they were gone, I decided to take Ava's advice and take a little tour of the house.

  Like the tables, plates and cutleries were, everything in the house was black.

   The curtains, artworks, doors. Every single item was black.

    It was nothing but the reflection of his black soul..

  

  I went into a room that was filled with artworks and collections.

  My eyes first settled on a sculpture.  Then to the rows of beautiful paintings. 

    Some of them were paintings of Ava and Alex from when they were kids.

   At the center hung a huge portrait of a family of four.

 

  The man and woman intimately stared at each other while the kids clung to them with big smiles. 

 The man was wearing an antique ring with an inscription while the woman wore a necklace with a similar inscription.

  I inched closer to see for myself.

  Then suddenly, 

  “What the hell are you doing there?”Alex’s thunderous voice rang from behind me.

  I jerked away in fright.

   “I was just taking a look.” I murmured in a soft reply.

  He stormed towards me with a deep scowl.

  “Why are you here? I don't care if you're Ava’s friend, you don't have the right to roam about my house.” 

   “I'm sorry, I was just leaving.” I said and began to exit the room.

   “Piece of filth.” he muttered in a low tone but not low enough for me to miss.

  I paused and turned around to face him.

  “Do you always have to be a jerk?” 

  His eyes seemed to twinkle with a hint of surprise.

  I continued.

  “You're a grown man but you're always yelling and throwing insults at people like a teenage high school boy.” 

  Where the sudden confidence came from I didn't know but I pressed on.

  “Can't you have one proper conversation without hurling insults? I'm not a piece of filth and I won't tolerate you hurling more insults at me. Not anymore.” 

  His body looked like it was trembling with anger.

  He marched towards me–coming to an intimidating stop right Infront of me. 

  I maintained my stand, refusing to show the slightest hint of fear.

 

   He smirked,“What are you going to do about it?” his tone was mocking.  

   I could smell his perfume, subtle and masculine.

     Looking straight into his eyes with a fierce face, I said. 

  “Tit for Tat.” 

   Again, surprise flashed through his eyes. “What?” 

  I nodded– a sign that I meant it.

  “Yes, I'll reciprocate whatever you do to me. Embarrass me in public, I’ll do the same.” 

 “Hurl insults at me like a child” I waved my hands in demonstration. “And I'll be certain to return the favor.” 

  

 His frown deepened. “Have you gone insane?” 

  “I don't know. Are you insane?” 

  Alex looked like he was about to smash my head to the ground.

  He scoffed, “I’ll pretend the wine has gotten to you a bit. That's the last time your foolish self will ever speak to me that way, do you understand?

    

I should have cowered and taken his act of mercy but new found confidence took the better of my brain.

  I closed the gap between us, pointing directly to his face.

“And that's the last time you foolish self will ever speak to me that way. Comprende?” 

 If steam could come out of humans, they would have sipped out of him.

  He was mad– really mad to the point that I should have been trembling but I wasn't.

  At that moment I believed his words.

  

  The wine had gotten to me!

  We both glared at each other, neither backing down till Ava’s footsteps and loud voice rang through the house.

   “Emily, where are you?” 

  I broke our face off— gave one glance at his boiling self before rushing away to Ava’s call.

   

  The consequences of my actions came on Monday morning.

   “Emily Bryce.” I looked up from the stack of documents to the source.

  I squinted my eyes at the stranger, wondering if I knew him from anywhere.

  He dropped a manuscript on my table.  “Your new assignment.” 

  “What?” My face showed my astonishment.

  Ava never mentioned a new assignment.

 The man shrugged. “It's the boss’s order.” 

  “Ava?” 

  “No, Mr Hasting.” He walked away,  leaving me with the effect of his words.

     “Damn Emily!! Mr Hasting personally gave you a manuscript to review? Who is it ?” Sean hastily asked from his cubicle.

 With a sense of dread, I reached for the manuscript.

 Then I saw his name….

  Sean gasped. “Wesley Sterling. Emily, you're so lucky. Gosh, I wish I was bff with the CEO’s sister.” 

  I could barely hear his ramblings.

  In a swift movement I jumped out of my seat and picked up the manuscript.

  “Hey, where are you going?” Sean yelled from behind.

  I didn't reply nor pause until I was at Ava’s office.

  “Em….” my name froze in her lips as I slammed the manuscript on her table.

  “What's this?” She asked, reaching for it.

  “Your brother sent that to me.” 

  Her face fell into a deep frown as her eyes laid upon the title.

  Without another word, she rang Alex.

  His deep voice boomed out of the phone. “Ava”

  She cut to the chase. “Did you assign Wesley's manuscript to Emily?” 

  There was silence for a minute. I could imagine him smirking with victory.

  

  “You called because of such a trifle matter?” he replied with a bored tone.

  “Why Alex? You know he's her ex-husband.” 

  “Personal grievances are not our concern. If she can't do her job, resignation is a good option.” 

  

  The line went dead. Assshole!!

  

  Ava relaxed on her seat with a mix of confusion and regret.

  “I'm sorry Emily, there's nothing I can do.” 

  

  I sighed, accepting my fate. This is the consequence of standing up to him.

 “I don't understand. Why would he do this?” 

I wanted to say something about last friday but instead found myself saying,

  “Don't worry, I guess I’ll have to suck it up. I've got this.” 

  

  “Are you sure?” She asked with sincere concern.

 “Yeah” Even I didn't believe it.

   I cursed Alex for being so petty and continued to do so till the day was over.

  While Ava grabbed her car from the underground car pack. I lingered outside the company, waiting for her.

  And then, I caught sight of….