Her Arrogant Demon Next Door

Chapter 5 Chelsea POV

When I got to work, I tried to make myself as invisible as possible. I felt like people were looking at me differently, like they knew about frank being in my house this morning. Nothing had happened, I knew that, but it all just felt so wrong, railroaded, that’s what I felt. I didn’t believe he had even been called into court the more I thought about it. Why though, is what I kept asking myself. Why would he go from just being over keen with his eyes and getting too close to amp it up to making stuff up to turn up at my house ?

The more I thought about it, the more I thought I was being completely delusional. I mean he was a successful man with a beautiful wife. Why would he go to all that length of making something up and lying to me? He wouldn’t. I’m definitely nothing special. So when noon came around, I felt better about going to his office. I’d convinced myself it was all in my head.

He must just see potential in me for work, so when I knock, and he shouts to enter, I walk in, and I’m back to smiling. Yea, he looked a bit too much sometimes, but most men do and vice versa when we see something we like. He’s sitting at his desk typing away on his computer. He looks up. His eyes were taking in my face. He doesn’t smile or even greet me, he cuts his eyes on a bag on the counter and nods his head at it. “ The foods in there I ordered something nice and healthy for you. Serve it up I have this email to write “.

He looks back away, dismissive and carries on typing. My smile slips off of my face I stand lost for a minute wondering what was wrong. But remembering the mental talking down I did to myself earlier, I choose to not read into it and go open the bag of food.

It smelled absolutely wonderful. One by one, I pulled out cartons and at the bottom of the bag there were plates and cutlery.

Opening them up, I saw one loaded with vegetables and pasta in a sauce. I had no idea what it was, so I opened up the rest and saw garlic bread in one and a meaty pasta and then some sort of sauce over it. In another was salad, not knowing what anything was and seeing as everything was different, I got stuck. I’d never eaten at fancy restaurants. The most Italian I’d had was what I cooked myself. Carbonara , meatballs, that’s sort of stuff.

Chewing my lip, I glanced up to see him observing me. His face blank. “ I’m not sure who’s is who’s “ I laugh nervously. I expect him to give a smile the ones he normally does when he comes for coffee, but instead he sighs as he stands up, rolling his chair back. He grabs hold of the cartons and loads the salad onto one plate and then places a small amount of the vegetable pasta on it. The other plate he loads up with the meaty pasta, some vegetable pasta and adds a garlic bread.

He takes the big plate with all the mouthwatering food on it and sits back down, leaving the salad and vegetable plate in front of me. Leaning forward, I looked into the garlic bread container. My stomach growled. “Can I have this piece ?” I asked him. He looks at me a little disapprovingly. “ Sure, but to eat stuff like that you need to do regular work-outs. I work out daily. Do you ?” .

My heart lurches. Did he just insinuate what I thought he did ? The food he picked for me compared to his as well. Suddenly, feeling self-conscious, I took the plate without the garlic bread and took a seat trying to clear the lump that developed in my throat. “ I try to, but I’m on my feet all day, so sometimes I’m too tired “ I answered him. He nods, taking a bite of his garlic bread, almost taunting “ exercise brings you more energy. Now you won’t be the office help anymore, and you'll be doing more sitting down jobs for me as my assistant. In this case, maybe you’ll create more time” he says, casually.

But I can’t help feeling it’s a sting. I mean women were known for taking anything anyone said about weight to heart. Maybe that’s what I was doing, and he was just being nice. The rest of the meal was ate in silence. The food he picked was delicious even if I would have probably chosen what he had for myself. When he’s done, he slides his plate to the side of his desk and continues to type.

So I hop up, clean up all the rubbish and put it in the bin. When I sit back down, he hands me a bunch of notes that need typing correctly. He handed me a laptop. “ This will be your laptop while you're my assistant. I’ve ordered you a desk to be put over there “ he points at a cleared space near the window in his office, and it makes me confused. Assistants didn’t normally share an office with who they were working with, they’d normally take a cubicle out on the main floor and come into the seniors' office when needed.

“A problem ?” He asked. I jumped, realizing I was scowling at the spot he pointed to. “Oh no, no problem. I was just confused. The assistants usually sit out there, and I am here full-time. What about my duties out there ?” . He rubs his chin and then pushes a hand back through his already slicked-back hair.

“ I’ve spoken to the partners. I’ll use you as and when I need you here, if there is no work for you, you’ll go out there . But I prefer to work closely with my assistant. I don’t want to have to come traipsing to find you that’s why your desk will be there “ he nods at the space.

I grin and nod my head, all the while the food I just ate threatens to come back up. What had I agreed to do ? How had everything changed so fast? He goes back to typing and I open the laptop, sharing his desk for now. I start typing out his observations and notes on different factors of the case, from evidence to statements. Soon I was enthralled with his opinions. You could really see why he was where he was.

He’d pulled things apart that I never would have thought of, who ever knows how long later he says my name. Looking up, I see him looking at me intensely, his hand tapping the desk. “ Who was that man at your house this morning ?” He asks randomly. So randomly it takes me a second to answer. I scowl at him“ my neighbor “ I tell him. It was a random question to ask, and I didn’t really care about it, it wasn’t really any of his business.

“ Are you involved? ” He carried on asking, ignoring how I was scowling at him. “ No we are not. I just met him when I moved in. In all due respect, I’d rather not talk about my personal life, Frank. I don’t really see what business that is of yours “, I said sternly. I may be blinded by the position he’s offered and have to be a bit more friendly or bite my tongue more.

But I could still draw a line with him. He raises his hands in a surrender sign and sits back for the first time this afternoon smiling. “ I just wondered if he would have a problem with you working closely with me, that is all. Strictly professional because he seemed to be jealous, I was just hoping that wouldn’t become drama at work “. I felt my cheeks shoot bright red with embarrassment. Of course, he was being professional.

Didn’t colleagues talk about home life all the time, but I don’t know Frank speaking of Adam just made something not sit well. Clearing my throat, I shook my head. “No definitely not. He’s just my neighbor. He saw my mower was broken. I think stroppy is just his personality “ I say, feeling guilty. I didn’t know Adam to label him as stroppy. He was getting me a mower today, saving me a job. He made me feel like jackal and Hyde.

One minute I was furious at him about throwing a party and keeping me awake. Next, I felt the need to defend him and take back my words to Frank. I don’t. Instead, I went back to typing , frank smiles the rest of the day. The atmosphere is completely different in the office. Still, when home time came I couldn’t wait to leave and get distance. Tomorrow I’d stop acting so docile, I’d make the best out of an uncomfortable situation and do a fantastic job as an assistant on the case.

If that meant having a battle of wills with Frank on boundaries, I would. I also had to stop over thinking about stuff he does or says. When I get home, I hear something in my back garden. Rushing through the house wondering what the hell is happening, I see Adam shirtless again in my garden mowing my lawn. His muscles flex and he stops mowing to rake, his tattooed arms flexing and near making me drool.

I should be running out asking what he’s doing, but instead I keep watching for a while. I felt deflated after such a rollercoaster of emotions that’s happened today. Watching him just makes me feel relaxed in a way, until his gaze clashes with mine, my breath hitches and when he grins at me, I can’t help the small smile I give him back. Until I snap out of it. That is then I stomp outside and ask him what he’s bloody doing.