Chapter 3 - Not a Damsel
1377 Words
I wanted to disappear.
Like literally! Melt into the pavement or vanish into the air and never come back. Why did that have to happen in front of him? In front of my f*****g boss?!
I just stood there after Maximus walked away. I could still feel his words echoing in my head.
“Next time, Miss Valerio, choose a better company.”
God. He said it so… flat. Not even angry. Just cold, like I was a nuisance who just happened to block his way!
And Jared? That i***t. Showing up like that, making a scene, calling me names. I should’ve seen it coming. He’d been like that for months now. Moody. Possessive. Nasty.
Still, it hurt. Being talked to like that. In front of strangers. In front of Maximus Emerson.
I took a long breath before heading to the bus stop. I was too tired to cry. I just wanted a hot shower and silence.
The next morning, I forced myself to look okay. Hair brushed, light makeup, neutral lipstick. I wore my navy-blue blouse because it made me feel a little stronger, even if my insides still felt shaky.
On the way up to the 34th floor, I kept practicing what to say in case I ran into him.
‘Good morning, sir.’
No, that sounds forced.
‘Thank you for stepping in yesterday?’
No, that’s even worse.
Maybe I should just say nothing.
Yes. Nothing is safer.
When I arrived, Anna was already at her desk, tapping away at her keyboard. She looked up and gave me a tight smile.
“Is everything okay with you?” she asked.
I froze for a second. “Uh, yeah. Just a weird night.”
She nodded slowly. “I saw a bit of that… outside.”
My stomach dropped.
Oh God. So she saw. Or heard. Or maybe everyone did?
“I’m really sorry about that. It was personal—” I started.
She waved a hand. “Not my business. Just be careful. We’re not exactly in a company that likes drama.”
“Understood,” I said quietly and walked to my desk.
“But that guy’s a little toxic. You really keep it with him–” she stopped saying that after I looked at her. “Well, sorry. But I think you need to find a better guy."
I sighed. "Maybe he had some personal…I don't know. But yeah, he’s been…toxic.” I whispered.
I really don't like talking bad things towards Jared since again, he played an important part of my life. In fact, he’s the remaining person I considered as family. I lost my father years ago and my mom just…last year.
Everything has been difficult for me and Jared was there to stand up for me. I just don't know what happened to him but we talked about this already. However, he's back at it again.
I kept my head low the whole morning. My fingers flew across the keyboard, trying to look as busy as possible. I avoided glancing toward the executive hallway. If I didn’t look at him, maybe he’d forget I existed.
Just stay invisible, Atasha. Play it safe.
But of course, by 11 a.m., fate had other plans.
Anna’s voice called out, “Atasha, Mr. Emerson asked for this document to be hand-delivered to his office.”
Of course he did.
I took the file with both hands and tried to act normal. My palms were a little sweaty, and I hated that. I hated that he still had that kind of effect even though I kept telling myself he shouldn’t.
I walked to his door and knocked lightly.
“Come in.”
I opened the door slowly.
He was standing behind his desk, looking at something on his laptop. He didn’t even glance up.
I stepped in, stopped two steps away from his desk, and quietly placed the folder on the edge.
“Here’s the file you asked for, sir,” I said, keeping my voice steady.
He looked up.
Just for a second.
His eyes locked onto mine again.
That same unreadable look.
But there was something else too. Like he was trying to study me. Or waiting for me to say something.
I didn’t.
I stepped back, ready to turn and walk away.
But then he spoke.
“You didn’t come to work late today.”
Wait, what?
I blinked. “Um… no, sir. I always come on time.”
“You were early.”
Okay… Why is he saying this?
“Yes, sir,” I replied carefully. “Just wanted to prepare ahead.”
He nodded once. “Good.”
I turned again, about to leave.
“And Miss Valerio,” he added.
I paused, hand on the door.
His voice was quiet this time.
“I meant what I said. You deserve better company.”
I didn’t turn around.
But my fingers tightened slightly around the door handle.
“…Thank you, sir,” I said softly.
Then I walked out.
The rest of the day, I couldn’t stop thinking about that.
Why would he even say that?
Was it just because I looked pathetic outside the building yesterday? Or did he actually… care?
No. Of course not. CEOs don’t care about their workers on a personal level. Especially cold, robot-like CEOs who don’t even blink when they fire people.
Maybe he just didn’t like scenes happening in front of his building. Maybe that’s all it was.
At lunch, I ate with Anna in the break room. She talked about her son’s school project. I nodded, smiled where needed, and kept my thoughts to myself.
Then my phone buzzed again.
Jared:
So that’s it? You're not even gonna explain?
I stared at it. Then deleted the message.
No replies this time.
I’d had enough.
By the end of the day, I was calmer. Still confused. Still unsure where I stood with Mr. Emerson, or if he even remembered what he said by now. But calmer.
I stepped into the elevator again, ready to head home, when suddenly, a hand stopped the door from closing.
Maximus stepped in.
Of course.
He didn’t say a word. I didn’t either so I just bow a little.
We stood side by side in silence, the faint smell of his cologne filling the space. It wasn’t sweet, more like something manly and expensive. Like him.
But then… his phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen and sighed quietly, then slipped it back into his pocket.
The silence stretched.
And finally…. I spoke.
“…Thank you. For yesterday.”
He didn’t respond right away. Just a small tilt of his head, like he was waiting for more.
“I mean it,” I added. “You didn’t have to step in.”
He finally replied, voice flat. “I don’t tolerate scenes outside my building.”
I blinked. “Right.”
“It reflects poorly on the company,” he continued, still not looking at me. “I handled it because it was becoming a distraction.”
He’s cold and has no concern about any personal overthinking questions that I had in mind the whole day. He just did everything for just business.
“Still,” I said quietly, “I’m not a damsel. I can handle myself, sir.”
“I assumed you could,” he replied curtly.
I glanced at him but he wasn’t looking back.
The elevator dinged.
He stepped out without hesitation, but then paused.
“Miss Valerio.”
I turned. “Yes, sir?”
His tone didn’t change however I can see the indifference in his eyes.
“If anything like that happens again, inform security. I don’t expect public incidents from my staff. I expect you to manage your personal life outside of company grounds.”
Then he walked away.
Leaving me standing there. It felt like cold gushed into me.
Embarrassed. Annoyed. And yet… something about the way he said it stuck with me.
He wasn’t being kind.
He didn’t “look out” for me.
He looked out for the company.
I stepped out of the elevator and muttered under my breath.
What am I thinking? Dramas can cause business failures! That's it. Just it.
- Writer
