Billionaire Bad Boy, Broken Underneath

Chapter 16

Ezra's POV

I place the mug down on the table and resume eating, or rather, picking at my food. Jason is seated next to me. He had arrived earlier so we're having breakfast together. It's been two days since Carissa turned me down and I haven't said a word to her. I just eat whatever she serves and that's it. I'm so embarrassed and angry. I just want her gone and at the same time, I don't. It's complicated. I should never have called her up to my room that day. I should never have opened my mouth to say the things I said to her, only to get rejected. I want her out of my sight but I don't want to come off as petty.

This is the first time in my entire life that I get rejected by a woman woman and I don't know how to handle that. It pains me even more that it's coming from her. The one woman I feel something for and I hate it. I hate it so much. I mean, she didn't even stop to consider. She had an answer waiting at the tip of her tongue. She wants nothing to do with me and this only confirms my fears about ruining her. I'm sure she has assessed me enough and concluded that I'm not good for her. I can't blame her though. I'm no saint. It's only fair that she would say no. It still hurts though.

“Thank you, Carissa” Jason says as she serves him his food.

“You're welcome, Jason. Let me know if you need anything” she says and turns to me. “Do you need anything else, Ezra?” she asks. I totally ignore her and focus on my food. She turns to leave and Jason gives me a questioning look.

“What was that about man?” he asks

“What was what about?” I reply without looking up at him.

“You clearly ignored her when she asked you a question. Did anything happen between you two?” he looks at me with questioning eyes.

“What could possibly happen between us? I have nothing to do with her. She's not even my type. She's just my chef. Her job here is to cook and serve my meals. Nothing more” I say in one breath, starting directly at Jason.

“Whoa man. I didn't ask for all that information. I just wanted to know what's up with you both. There seemed to be some tension there. You completely ignored her which says a lot. Something definitely happened” Jason smirks at me and I just want to smash his face into his plate if that would get him to shut up.

“Nothing happened. At least nothing that should concern you. Now focus on your food so we can get the hell out of here” I state

“Now you just confirmed something happened” Jason lets out a loud laugh and it aggravates me even more.

“Shut up man” I ignore him

Carissa comes in a few minutes later to clear the table. She loads the plates on one hand and attempts to carry the glass cups when one slips from her hand and crashes into pieces on the floor. She stares in shock and looks up at me.

“I'm so sorry. I'll clean it up immediately” she says as she drops the plates back on the table.

“Sorry for what? Sorry that you have a problem being careful? You can't even handle a simple glass cup? You've got broken pieces of glass on my floor and you're telling me you're sorry? Sorry for what exactly, miss chef?” I snap angrily.

“It was a mistake. I had my other hand full.” Carissa pleads remorsefully.

“And you were so dumb to think you could carry it all at once?” I shoot back

“You don't have to say that, you know. I'll clean it up nice, you wouldn't even know anything happened here. Just give me a few minutes” she says

“I take it that you don't like your job here and you probably want to leave. I'll have you know I'll be glad to grant your wish right away” I stare down at her.

“Hold on man. Don't you think you're taking this too far?” Jason interjects

“Not now Jason” I don't take my eyes off Carissa as I speak. She has her head down.

“C’mon man. It's just a glass cup. You want to fire her over a broken glass cup? That's ridiculous man” he says and if I'm being honest, it sounds really ridiculous. I try to rein in my anger. I don't what her to think I'm crashing out simply because I got rejected. Knowing Carissa, I wouldn't put it past her to think that way. As much as I would hate to admit, it's true. I'm still angry about the rejection and this just shows that. Escalating this would only prove she has some hold over me and I wouldn't want anyone thinking that way.

“I'm really sorry, Ezra. I love my job. I don't want to lose it. I'll replace the cup. I'm very sorry” she looks up at me with strained eyes and I almost melt at the spot. I'm still terribly smitten by her despite my anger. This woman has a strong hold on me that she doesn't even know she has. I know she's hurt by my words but I try not to care. She hurt me also. It's good she feels a tiny bit of what I felt that day. I let out a small smirk and move really close to her. She looks up at me until her breath fans my face.

“You had better be careful. I won't let you off easily if this repeats itself, miss chef” I say in a stern voice and take two steps back.

“I understand. It won't repeat itself again” she says in a calm voice. I catch Jason staring at me with a knowing look. Almost like he sees through my facade. I turn away from him and pick up my phone from the table.

“Be careful when cleaning up so you don't get hurt” I whisper to Carissa as I brush past her on my way out with Jason tailing me.

I enter into the back of the car with Jason on the other side. I take out my iPad to get some work done. But knowing Jason, he wouldn't keep quiet about what happened earlier. And he just goes ahead to prove me right.

“I can't believe you were going to fire her over a glass cup. That's really petty, Ezra” he says my name in a fake British accent to taunt me and I shake my head.

“I didn't fire her, did I?” I tap away on the screen.

“You were close to doing it though. I wonder what could have possibly happened between you two to get you this pissed at her” he says, looking everywhere in the car but me.

“I really don't know what you're talking about. Like I said earlier. Nothing of your concern happened”

“You like her, don't you?” he faces me.

I stare at him for a few seconds before returning my eyes to my screen. “Stop spewing rubbish, Jason. It's nothing like that”

“I know I'm right but we'll see” Jason laughs as he looks out the window. I continue scrolling on the device in my hand, not really paying attention to whatever the heck I'm doing.