TANGLED BY THE BILLIONAIRE

Chapter 5 - Shifted

I should be happy, right?

I mean…yes, I should be right now, because despite me being just staying for a week in her, our CEO noticed my efforts. Not just the manager or other higher ups but our CEO!

But…

The moment I shut my eyes, my brain kicked into overdrive, feeding me every possible reason why Mr. Emerson would suddenly personally request me as his assistant.

Was this a punishment?

Shit! Yes, I saw him doing something lewd with someone! Maybe he wanted to make sure that I will keep it as a secret eventhough I told him I saw nothing. He knew I saw something! He knew that I saw the woman touching his arms, maybe in a middle of foreplay or I don’t know…

I am not that innocent. Yes, I am reserved. Despite being with Jared for a long time, I am still a virgin, but being a virgin doesn’t mean I am innocent or clueless to those kind of things!

But maybe, I am just overthinking?

Maybe it was really just a reward because I’ve been hardworking?

But really? Who am I fooling? Especially there are more people that are more tenured than the newbie like me.

Is this some kind of test?

I didn’t know.

Since the moment I got home earlier, I’ve been thinking about it. Even now that I am watching some dramas on TV, I cant help but gather my thoughts from the memo I received. He personally requested it. I don’t know if I will be scared or something.

For sure, Mr. Emerson doesn’t have a good impression of me. In just a week of working there, I already showed a lot! Not positive but more into negatives!

I was focusing on my thoughts when the doorbell rings. I snapped and walks towards the door. I cant help but roll my eyes when I saw Jared on the front door camera.

“Jared, why are you here?” I put my hand on my waist, not fully opening the door.

He looked up with a slow, almost guilty smile. “Hey, babe.”

He held out the flowers like a peace offering. It’s a cheap one, wrapped in plastic and convenience store scent. But at least he brought something. I don’t know how many times did this ever occur.

“I figured you’re so mad,” Jared said, stepping just a little closer. “But I wanted to see you. I couldn’t sleep these past few nights.”

I didn’t open the door all the way. “You should’ve waited for me to message you back.”

“I did wait,” he said, his voice low and tender, as if the weight of the world was behind it. “But I didn’t know how long you’d stay mad, and honestly… you ignoring me? That hurt.”

I hesitated. My hand loosened on the doorknob.

“I wasn’t ignoring you to hurt you, Jared. I just…needed time. Space. I told you that many times…”

“To think?” he asked, eyes sharp despite the softness in his tone. “To decide if you still love me?”

My heart hurt at that.

“I never said that,” I whispered.

“But you acted like it.” He shook his head, stepping into the doorway now. “Do you know what it felt like? Being completely shut out by the person who swore she’d never leave me?”

Jared has been the love of my life for such a long time. I feel like he’s the only man that can love me since he’s the last person who stayed. I lost my dad. My mom. Even my friends.

No one stayed with me, only him.

That’s why I am always thankful for him.

I bit my lip. “You yelled at me. You said some really unfair things. You embarrassed me in front of my company building—”

“And I apologized.” He gently placed the flowers on my small entry table and turned back to face me. “I shouldn’t have said those things. I was frustrated. Scared. I saw you slipping away and I panicked. Can’t you understand that?”

I looked down.

“I know I’m not perfect, Atasha. But I’ve always been there for you. When your mom was in and out of the hospital, when you didn’t have money for rent, when everyone else turned their backs—who stayed? Me. I stayed.”

I nodded slowly. “You did…”

He stepped closer, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. “So why does it feel like you’re punishing me now for loving you too much?”

My breath hitched. “I’m not punishing you.”

“You think I don’t see the way you look at your phone and choose not to answer? The way you’re trying to outgrow me, like this new job suddenly made me the past.”

“That’s not true,” I said, voice trembling. “You’re not the past. You know this is my dream, Jared. You know I really wanted to be in this company.”

“Then prove it,” he said softly. “Tell me I’m still the only one. That I’m the only one who knows you. Who’s seen you at your worst and didn’t run.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat. “You are the only one.”

“Then stop making me feel like I’m the enemy just because I’m scared of losing you.”

I looked up at him, heart pulled in two directions. Maybe… maybe I was being harsh. Maybe I did shut him out too much. I thought I was protecting my peace, but what if I’d only made him feel abandoned?

“I’m sorry,” I whispered. “I didn’t mean to make you feel that way.”

His smile returned, soft, sweet, victorious. “I know. I know, babe.”

He leaned in, wrapping his arms around me like nothing had happened. Like he hadn’t cursed at me just days ago. Like this was love. And maybe it was.

But I couldn't tell anymore if what I was feeling was love… Or just the memory of it.

“I just don’t like it when you’re around with those kind of people. They changed you…” he whispered.

“You don’t have to be scared of me being around other people,” I murmured against his chest. “You’re the only one I want. The only one I’ve ever—”

“I know,” he whispered, cutting me off. “But just… next time, don’t shut me out like that, okay? I don’t like how it makes me feel. It’s not fair.”

I nodded against his shirt.

“We can even start our own business, just the two of us,” Jared said softly, brushing his knuckles along my arm. “We can use the trust fund your father left you. We could get married, Atasha. Build a life without all the noise… just us.”

This wasn’t the first time he brought it up.

My father had given me that fund before his accident. It was supposed to be for my future, something he wanted me to have when he was no longer around. I even tried to use it for my mom’s hospital bills, but she refused. Jared, though… Jared had a different view. He’d been planting the same idea in my head for months—that we didn’t need to live like this, that I didn’t have to work under anyone else if I just said yes.

“You know we can’t use it yet, Jared,” I said, voice low. “It’s not for that. I can still work… you can work, too.”

He pulled away from the hug. The softness in his eyes vanished for a second, replaced by something colder.

He sighed, shaking his head slowly, like I had just disappointed him.

“I’m just saying… maybe if you really wanted to make this work with me, you’d stop pushing everything away. Including the one thing that could make our lives easier.”

His words sank heavy in my chest. I felt hesitant. That’s the last inheritance that I had from my dad. I will only use if I need it so much..

And just like that, the blame had shifted.

Not to him.

To me.