TANGLED BY THE BILLIONAIRE

Chapter 7 - Suffocating

I looked down at the coffee still in my hand, the surface now rippling from my trembling fingers.

I knocked lightly before entering his office.

He didn’t look up. He was typing, eyebrows furrowed. “Put it on the desk.”

I placed the mug carefully and hesitated before speaking. “Sir, about the woman earlier—”

He let out a sigh and finally looked up at me. “What about her?”

“I thought…she was your…girlfriend,” I said slowly.

He stared at me like I’d just asked the dumbest question in the world. “Why? Are you curious?”

I blushed. I’m not curious. I’m just wondering why…they’re even so sweet last time I saw them and…

“N-No, sir, I just thought—”

I blinked, unsure of how to respond.

He leaned back in his chair and gave me a cold, amused look.

“Let me give you a tip on your first day, Miss Valerio. I don’t like being questioned about who comes and goes from my life. You're here to work. Not to play detective or therapist.”

I felt the heat crawl up my neck. “Understood, sir.”

He looked at me for a moment longer, then turned back to his screen. “Good. Close the door.”

I did as told, my hands slightly shaking.

So that was it.

That confirmed everything.

Maximus Emerson didn’t do girlfriends.

He did fuckbuddies. One-night stands. Women he could toss aside once he got bored. And I just happened to get a front-row seat to all of it.

Good thing he was busy the whole morning. I only had to attend one of his meetings to take the minutes. The rest of his schedule was just one-on-one sessions with other people, so I basically got to chill at my desk.

My phone dinged. When I checked it, I saw Jared’s name on the screen. He sent a photo—a juicy steak with fries on the side.

My heart thumped. I smiled without even thinking.

But that smile quickly faded when I read his message right after.

From: Jared

It looks good. Cook this later, babe. Love you!

I pouted at the screen.

For a second, I thought he actually made that for me. He used to cook for me. I don’t even remember when the last time was.

I was still mindlessly scrolling when I felt someone standing beside me. I looked up and almost jumped.

“You’re using your phone during work hours?” he said, voice calm but sharp.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Emerson. I didn’t notice you. Do you need anything?”

“The staff brought me three lunch packs. You can get one.”

“Huh? It’s okay, sir. I’ll just eat at the cafeteria—”

“Are you declining my offer?”

He didn’t raise his voice, but there was something about the way he said it. I froze for a moment, then gave him an awkward smile as I reached for one of the food packs.

“Don’t feel special. I gave Nate one, too,” he added before walking off.

I looked over at Nate, the same guy who told me earlier that Mr. Emerson doesn’t do relationships. Sure enough, he had a packed lunch on his table, too.

Still, I could feel my cheeks burning.

Maximus didn’t even glance back as he headed into his office.

It’s already lunchtime?

I exhaled slowly and sat down, finally opening the food pack.

Inside was a generous portion of curry and fillet. It smelled amazing. I found myself smiling as I glanced at his office through the glass wall.

He was on a call, facing the wide view from his floor-to-ceiling windows.

He’s not as stone-hearted as people say he is.

Just like in his schedule, he had one meeting in the afternoon and I was there with him again to do the minutes. The meeting was actually long and it consumed over two hours. I thought after it, he wont be busy anymore but by 3 p.m., he stepped out of his office, handed me a thick folder.

“Summarize this, make a report, and cross-check it with the other files I sent to your email this morning. I want everything on my desk before you log out.”

“Yes, sir,” I said, trying not to show how overwhelmed I already was.

The pile on my desk looked like it would take hours. And just as I started reviewing the files, my phone started vibrating.

From: Jared

Where are you? You said you'd be home early today.

I bit my lip and ignored it. I went back to working. Five minutes later—

From: Jared

Seriously? I planned dinner for us. You could at least respect my time.

I bit the inside of my cheek and locked my screen.

Then it vibrated. Again.

I let out a shaky breath, already bracing myself. A few seconds later, my phone rang. I stared at the screen.

I hesitated before I answered.

“Where the f**k are you?”

“Jared, I’m still working on something—"

“ What? Like sucking him off under his desk now?”

“What the hell is wrong with you? I’m still at work, Jared.” I cant help but raise my voice.

“Work? At six? What the f**k are you even doing there this late? Filing reports or riding your boss’ d**k?”

“Stop it. I’m in the middle of something important—”

“Important? Oh, so now I’m unimportant? I waited here like a goddamn i***t while you probably let some wrinkled-ass CEO stare down your blouse all day,” he cut me off.

“Jared, that’s disgusting. I told you, I have deadlines—”

“No, what’s disgusting is how fast you’ve become a f*****g office slut. Acting all innocent while you’re probably on your knees every lunch break.”

My throat tightened. I couldn't believe he said that. My hand trembled slightly as I held the phone.

“You know what? I could’ve just gone out, found someone who actually wants to come home to me. Someone who doesn’t need to pretend they’re busy just to f**k around.”

“Jesus, Jared! I’m not doing any of that—”

“But you could, right? That’s the thing. I bet you’re just waiting for a chance. Maybe that old fart of a CEO can give you a promotion in exchange for some wet p***y. Is that the plan now?”

I closed my eyes, disgust rising in my throat. His voice wasn’t just cruel, it was too much for me.

“Just remember who stayed when no one else gave a fuck.”

“I’m done with this—I’m hanging up—”

He ended the call before I could. The silence that followed wasn’t comforting, it was suffocating. I held my phone in my lap, my fingers tightening around it. My chest was rising and falling too fast.

I heard someone faking a cough.

I immediately wiped my face, blinking away the lingering heat behind my eyes. I didn’t even notice that Mr. Maximus was there.

“Let me guess… the manchild strikes again?”

I stiffened in my seat. My lips parted, but no words came out yet. I was still disoriented from Jared’s verbal mess.

Maximus walked past me, unbothered, casually flipping through a folder on the table like he hadn’t just jabbed at something personal.

“You really should consider upgrading,” he added, tone as flat as ever. “Get yourself a man next time. Not a whining toddler with anger issues.”

My jaw clenched.

Wow. Thanks for the unsolicited relationship advice, Mr. Perfect. Who the hell did he think he was?

“I’m sorry for that, Mr. Emerson, it will not happen again.”

He shrugged one shoulder, barely glancing at me.

“Just an observation. Watching you cry on your first week like it’s an episode of a daytime soap wasn’t really on my agenda.”

His words were cruelly nonchalant. Like this was just another file he had to clean up.

I scoffed, unable to hold back the sarcasm bubbling up.

“Right. Because god forbid anything get in the way of your very noble routine of rotating through fuckbuddies like it’s cardio.”

The moment the words left my mouth, I froze.

Shit.

His head turned…slowly.

The casual arrogance in his eyes was gone, replaced by something colder.

For a second, he just stared at me. Not saying a word. Not even blinking.

Shit, Atasha… I shut my eyes because of the embarrassment I am feeling.

Then he walked forward, leaned one hand on the desk beside me with his presence too close.

“At least,” he said, voice low but pointed, “I’m not wasting years drowning in a suffocating relationship just to feel validated.”

My throat dried. I hated the way that hit. Not because he was wrong, but because he saw right through me.

He straightened, gave me one last unreadable look, and turned toward the window.

“Clock out when you’re done crying. The world doesn’t stop for your boyfriend’s tantrums.”

And just like that, he walked out.

Leaving me burning with embarrassment… and something else I couldn’t name.