Billionaire’s One-Night-Stand Bride

DEMEANING BOSS

I just started, and I was already tired of working here. Mr. Smith was annoying. How can someone be angry twenty-four hours every day? It was tiring.

I had to work on eggshells at work. Being overly careful to avoid being yelled at. Bonus points: he fired people very easily. Once he noticed that you were slacking, you'd be let go. And since I needed this job to settle my bills, I tried my best to remain employed here.

I randomly remembered that I had to call my mom; I had missed her calls earlier because I was very busy sorting out Mr. Smith's schedule. I couldn't wait for lunch hour.

***

Work today was characterised as usual by my boss shouting and being angry.

“I would not take that! Who says Grace can take decisions without me? No! It’s not done! Now the contract has been ruined; we lost it!

I never supported this narrative that you, Dad, have been pushing! I’m of the opinion that Grace isn’t grown up enough. Mature is the word. Dad, she’s not mature! She behaves like a kid and is very impulsive!

Look what has happened! We’ve lost this deal. And worse? To a small group of companies that we can buy over in less than 24 hours? I don’t like this one bit.” He shouts.

I look at the open door beside my table from where he has been shouting for the past hour; someone was in there with him, and this person had purposely left the door open as if he wanted it as an escape in case things got physical. I chuckled a little.

“Liana!!!” “Liana!!!”

I wondered who my boss was calling. I went on with my work just as the telephone rang; I picked up. “You can’t hear me calling you?!!” thundered through the phone. I immediately jerked up and ran to the door, wondering why he got my name wrong when I just told him a week ago.

I stood by the door and answered, “Yes, sir, you called for me.” He didn’t even turn my way. He rattled off heavily on the phone, shouting at intervals. Oh! He must be so angry today; I wondered what had his knickers in a bunch. After some minutes, he handed the phone over to the other man, who then began talking slowly.

My attention fell to the man; his demeanour was warm and calm, not cold as opposed to my boss’s. He was speaking normally to the other person on the phone, and I noticed he was very handsome.

Just as I was assessing him I realized he was staring at me, he had caught me. I immediately jerked my head down as my cheeks flushed. He gets up and bids my boss goodbye, “See you later, Jason,” as he leaves; he approaches me but doesn’t stop looking at me from head to toe.

He stops in front of me, slowly and elegantly stretches forth his hands for a shake, and introduces himself as Nathan Williams. His grip was firm. He raised my hands up and kissed the back of my palm. He then winked at me and proceeded to leave; I blushed hard. He was a natural charmer.

I remained at the door, and when I noticed my boss had forgotten I was there, I cleared my throat. He jerked, “What the hell are you doing there standing like some i***t?” He asked.

“You called for me, sir,” I said sheepishly.

“And you do not know when you’re not needed?” He asked. I immediately retreated to my desk. I felt stupid that I had tears running down my eyes. Today needs to end quickly, please.

***

It was a Friday night, and I was here to calm myself down from the hectic week.

The music was loud; I disliked loud places. I watched my friend Jessica flirt with some guy. This bar was her favourite, and she managed to drag me to it today.

I felt eyes on me. Someone was staring at me; he was in a dark place, shaded. I couldn't really see his face. I face my drink just as a man slid into the chair next to me. “What are you doing in a place like this?” A deep, calm voice asked me.

I turned because I recognised that voice. “Sir… Good evening… Are you good, I hope?” I stuttered through the sentence, I curse that alcohol couldn’t help my shyness today.

He sips his drink calmly, looks at his watch, and says, “It’s 10:56pm on a Friday evening; a young woman shouldn’t be in this part of town,” he says.

“I’m here with my friend, sir.” I replied, and he nodded.

“The brunette in the tight, short dress?” He asked, using his hand to point at Jessica, and I nodded.

“My friend is definitely going to take her home tonight. Get down; let me take you home.” He orders.

“Umm…I’m sorry, sir, I can’t just leave my friend behind,” I tell him. He sits still for some time, sipping his drink. After he was done, he got down from the bar stool. I breathed a sigh of relief; at least he was going to let me be. Imagine bossing me around at work and coming to do so too outside of work.

“We can go now.” I almost fell off the barstool because of how close the voice was to the back of my neck.

I breathed in to regain my balance. “My friend’s still here,” I told him. He tells me she’s given him approval to take me home, and sure enough, I see my friend nodding and urging me to go with him. So much for being my best friend. I sighed resignedly and hopped down from the bar stool, ready to be taken home by this arrogant boss of mine.