HIS RULES, HER RUIN

Chapter Three

Jaxon Hawthorne

My hand slammed the intercom button. "Get me Lydia here. Now."

A moment later, the door creaked open. "Good day, sir," a soft voice began. I looked up, ready to chew out my assistant, but froze. It was the delivery girl. Naomi. Her wide, brown eyes stared at me from behind those thick glasses, a perfect match for the stunned look on her face.

"Who the f*ck are you?" I demanded. "What are you doing here?"

"I-I am—" she stammered, shrinking under my gaze.

"Start talking now before I lose my patience."

Before she could form a full sentence, Lovie emerged from the private restroom, pulling the silk robe tighter around her body. "Jax, I heard you..." She stopped, her eyes falling on Naomi. A slow, cruel smirk spread across her face. "Oh, her. She's the new company messenger they hired." She moved to the couch, settling into the plush cushions.

"Oh," I replied, and the word felt hollow. I turned my attention back to the screen, already dismissing the girl. Her presence was a fleeting distraction, nothing more.

Just then, Lydia rushed in, her heels clicking a frantic rhythm on the marble floor. "I'm here, sir! I'm so sorry, I was arranging the files for our new investors."

Lovie's lips curled into a sneer. "So incompetent," she hissed from across the room.

I ignored her. "Can I have the files now?"

"Here, sir," Lydia said, placing a thick stack of folders on my desk.

"Hey, you!" Lovie's voice sliced through the silence, addressing Naomi. "Get me a coffee."

Lydia, about to leave, paused. "Miss Lovie, are you talking to me—"

"I wasn't talking to you, b***h," Lovie said, her eyes burning with contempt for my assistant. "Can't you walk faster?" she added, her gaze fixed on Naomi, who was already scurrying towards her.

*********

Naomi

Flashback

"Isn't that the nerd girl?"

The voice, dripping with disdain, made me jump. I turned to see Miss Lovie, standing in the lobby, her eyes raking over my delivery uniform.

"Good evening, Miss Lovie," I said, bowing my head. "I came here to deliver a takeout to the 12th floor."

"I never asked," she replied, her face a mask of indifference. "I see you looking around. Are you trying to steal something?"

"No! I wasn't trying to steal anything. I was just looking around the building," I stammered, my cheeks burning with embarrassment.

She smirked, eyeing me up and down. "It seems a company messenger role has opened up. A pauper like you would be perfect for it."

My eyes widened. A chance. An actual chance. "Thank you, Miss Lovie, for the great opportunity! I really appreciate it!"

"Be here by ten tomorrow," she said, already turning to leave. "Oh, you missed the great offer."

"No, ma'am! I won't!" I promised, watching her hips sway as she walked away.

End of Flashback

I couldn't believe I was finally working here. Holding Miss Lovie's coffee—less sugar, plenty of milk—I took in the breathtaking interior of the agency. I approached the private elevator and pressed the button. It didn't work. I pressed it harder. Again. Nothing.

My heart sank. There was no time to waste. I turned to the stairs, my eyes fixed on the twenty-fourth floor. I started climbing, and my legs were screaming by the fifth floor. "Ahh... ahh..." I panted, feeling my muscles turn to jelly. The stairs seemed to go on forever. "I can do this, Naomi," I told myself, clinging to the railing.

I finally reached the twenty-fourth floor, my legs so shaky I was sure I would collapse. Just then, I saw people exiting the other elevator.

"Excuse me," I called, rushing to a guy who had just stepped out. "Did you just come from the elevator?"

"As you can see, yes," he said, his eyes widening as he looked at my trembling form.

"I tried using it earlier, but it wasn't working, so I had to take the stairs to the twenty-fourth floor," I said, my voice barely a whisper.

"You mean you took the stairs all the way up?" he asked, a look of disbelief on his face.

"Yes," I replied, nodding.

"Oh, you must be new. You probably used the private elevator. It only works with a keycard," he explained.

I was about to ask another question when his phone rang. "I have to go," he said, walking away.

My legs were heavy as I continued to walk, each step a struggle. I got to the fourth door and swung it open.

I froze.

Miss Lovie was on her knees in front of Jaxon's desk. His pants were undone, and his hands were in her hair as she performed the act on him. "Yes, Jax," she moaned. "Yes!"

The blood rushed from my head. I instinctively clamped my thighs together, a wave of sickness washing over me as my mind flashed back to the night I'd been in her exact position. My eyes widened in horror, and the coffee cup slipped from my hand, clattering to the floor.

The sound made them stop.

"Don't you know how to knock?" Lovie snapped, pulling herself up and smoothing her dress. "What are you still doing there?" she shouted.

"I-I'm sorry, ma'am," I stammered, walking to her and handing her the cup of coffee.

"What is this?" she shrieked. "Why isn't it hot?"

I started to apologize, but before I could finish, she threw the cup at me. The lid flew off, and the coffee splashed against my top.

"Go and get me a new one, now! And make sure it's hot!" she screamed.

I nodded and turned to leave.

"Hey! Hey! Get back here!"

I stopped.

"Won't you clean up this mess?" she yelled, pointing at the stain on the floor.

"Uhm..."

"Get out of here now, you i***t!" she screamed.

I ran, but as I made my escape, I glanced back at Jaxon. He just sat there, looking unbothered, his eyes glued to his laptop. He didn't even acknowledge me as I left.