In your Arms Again, Dear Ex

Chapter 5-The Hard Way

“Ahh, Mr. Miller! Thank goodness you’re here.” Her voice trembled with fake distress as she pointed an accusing finger at me. “I was only trying to make her understand that she was late, and she pushed me to the floor!”

My eyes widened. Was she serious? How dramatic could she be?

I turned to Adrian, panic rising in my chest. “T-That’s not true! I didn’t—”

“It’s fine.” His sharp tone cut through my words. Before I could process what was happening, his arm wrapped around my shoulders, his gaze snapping to Lucy. “Lucy, need I remind you? This is my company. If anyone should be questioning a worker about punctuality, it should be me.”

She opened her mouth. “I was only trying to—” She tried to speak–to defend herself, but he silenced her with a glare.

“Enough.” His voice was low, firm—dangerous. He took a slow step towards her, crouching slightly. “Drop the act. The next time this happens, trust me, I won’t hesitate to throw you out.”

His smirk deepened as he turned away, walking toward the door with bold, commanding steps. “Come with me.” He said to me and strode into the office ahead.

I barely had time to move before Lucy sprang to her feet, grabbing my wrist.

“This isn’t over,” she hissed, her glare sharp as ice.

I yanked my hand free and walked away without a word. She wasn’t worth a response.

Inside Adrian’s office, an intimidating silence hung in the air. He sat at his desk, his gaze distant, his fingers tapping against the armrest.

“What took you so long?” His voice was calm but laced with something unreadable.

“I… Lucy delayed me,” I stammered, but his lips curled into a small, almost amused smile—one I hadn’t seen in a long time.

He shook his head. “That’s not what I meant.” His voice dropped slightly. “Why were you late to work, especially on your first day?”

The question hit me like a punch to the gut. My breath caught, and before I knew it, my knees hit the floor. My mind scrambled for an excuse—anything. But nothing came.

“I… I was—”

“You’ve suddenly lost your tongue, huh?” He queried, his voice dripping with amusement. Before I could get a chance to explain myself further, he got on his feet and marched straight towards me.

He gripped my arms roughly, shoving my hair aside as he pinned me to the wall.

I whimpered, feeling my bones c***k as he held me firmly. “Let go of me, Adrian.” I said with a low voice, but instantly regretted my action.

He replaced one hand on my neck, his eyes filled with rage. “Did you just say I should let go of you? Have you forgotten that I am now your boss? You have to do whatever I say.” He said, still holding me in place.

I swallowed hard, ignoring the sharp sting in my throat. “I get that, boss,” I said, forcing my voice to stay even. “But I won’t be treated like a commodity. You’re hurting me, and I don’t appreciate it.”

His lips curled into a cold smirk. “Oh? Now I’m hurting you? And you actually want me to care about your feelings?”

His hands fell away, but the storm in his eyes didn’t fade. Instead, it only grew darker.

“Did you ever think of my feelings when you dumped me three years ago? Did you?!” He barked, his voice dead with rage.

At this point, I was tempted to let him know everything that happened which led to my action three years ago. But on second thought, I waved it off. He would only see me as an opportunistic parasite, and I doubt he would even believe me.

I lowered my head, guilt washing over me. I hated seeing him like this—hated that we had become enemies when we were supposed to be together.

“You won't understand, Adrian. I'm sorry for everything that happened, but can we at least not dwell in the past anymore? You now have all the wealth you ever wanted, I guess it's high time you moved on and let me be.”

“Are you kidding me?” His eyes flashed with disbelief, his jaw clenched. “You really think it's easy to move on, don't you? Do you even know what your stupidity cost me?”

He shot me a deadly glare, muscles flexing as he approached me. “If you ever think I'm going to let you off just like that, then you had better think twice.” He cupped my jaw, pulling his face close to mine. “You belong to me, Ariana, but for the fact that you decided to betray me that way in the past, I'm going to make you submit to me the hard way. I will go any length to make sure that no man comes close to you!”

My legs wobbled under the weight of his words, like I had just been hit with a club.

No, he has to be joking. He's certainly not serious.

The tension between us intensified, and it only left me cursing the moment Tracy introduced him to me as the solution to my problem.

It was as though our destinies were tied together, and now I have no choice but to succumb to his orders.

Before Adrian could say another word, a knock on the door interrupted, pulling him back into place.

He released his grip on me, adjusting his suit slightly. “Come in.” He muttered, and almost immediately, someone walked in–the same woman who had bullied me earlier.

She shot me a quick glance, filled with hatred and rage, before turning her gaze at Adrian.

“There's a man outside who has been insisting on seeing her. From the look of things, I think he's her husband.”

“Husband?” Adrian chorused, shock evident in his voice. “Lucy, are you sure about what you just said?”

“Of course, boss. He says his name is Domenick, and even after several attempts to make him understand that this is work hours, he still insists he wants to see her.”

Adrian's gaze snapped in my direction, and he turned to the door almost immediately. “I'll go see things for myself.”

He zoomed off without sparing any of us a second glance.

As soon as he had left, I became restless, Lucy's words echoing in my ears repeatedly.

Domenick had told me he would be returning anytime soon, but I didn't expect it to be today. And why does he have to visit me at work–during working hours?

I spun on my heels, about to leave when I felt a firm grasp on my hair.

“And where do you think you're going?” Lucy quizzed, her eyes boiling with rage.

From the way she looked—her stance, her mean face, I knew she was out for trouble. But I was clearly not prepared for any of that. I had enough s**t to sort already, and she's the least of them.

“Get out of my way!” I barked, managing to pull myself out of her grip.