Chapter 12
Lola’s eyes dropped to the floor, her confidence evaporating under my steady gaze. She fidgeted with her hands, suddenly unable to meet my eyes.
*I… I didn’t mean…” Her voice cracked. “You don’t understand what I’ve been through, Monica You’ve always had everything handed to you. Your perfect life, your perfect family…”
She looked up, tears welling in her eyes–crocodile tears I’d seen too many times before. “It’s not fair that you get to waltz back in here and take everything from me again.”
I clicked my tongue against my teeth, shaking my head slowly. “Tch, tch, tch. So sad.” The sarcasm dripped from my voice. “Always the victim, aren’t you, Lola?”
I leaned back in the chair–my chair now–and studied her. “The only reason I’m not firing you right now is because your father has been a really kind man to me. I feel disgusted knowing that you are his daughter.”
Her face flushed red, jaw clenching so tight I could almost hear her teeth grinding. The visible anger only fueled my confidence.
*Such a competent man ended up having such an incompetent spawn like you,” I continued, savoring each word. “Makes me want to pity him.”
Lola’s hands balled into fists at her sides, her body trembling with rage. I could see she was about to explode, and I decided to push her over the edge.
“You are demoted,” I announced, my voice crisp and businesslike. “From now on, you are not the Assistant, but the Janitor. I need you to clean all the floors by tomorrow and report back to me.” I smiled sweetly. “Keep doing good and I’ll think about a promotion.”
That was her breaking point.
“You bitch!” she screamed, her face contorted with fury. “Who do you think you are, you gold–digging bastard? Just because your man is a big shot doesn’t make you one. You are nothing, you’re garbage!”
I laughed, genuinely amused by her outburst. “Yeah, maybe that’s why I’m your boss.”
‘Fuck you!” Lola snatched a heavy crystal paperweight from the desk and hurled it directly at my face.
barely had time to flinch before it struck, grazing the edge of my forehead. Sharp pain bloomed across my temple, and I felt warm blood trickle down my skin.
In my peripheral vision, I saw Jules move with terrifying speed, his hand already pulling a gun from inside his jacket.
‘Stop!” I shouted, not at Lola but at Jules. I pulled out my kerchief and pressed it against the wound, stemming the blood flow.
Jules stood frozen, his expression murderous, gun aimed directly at Lola’s head. “How dare you hurt her,” he growled, his voice dropping to a dangerous register that made the air in the room feel heavy.
Lola cowered, her bravado instantly evaporating. Her face went ashen, and for a moment I thought she might actually wet herself.
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“You are dismissed,” I said calmly.
She didn’t need to be told twice. Lola scrambled toward the door, nearly tripping over herself ir
her haste to escape.
The moment she was gone, Jules was at my side, holstering his weapon and dropping to one knee beside my chair. His fingers gently tilted my face toward the light, examining the wound with an intensity that made my breath catch.
“Are you okay? Should I call an ambulance?” His voice was soft but urgent, his eyes scanning my face with genuine concern.
I smiled despite the throbbing pain. “It’s not that big of an issue.”
Jules’s hand moved to cradle my chin, his touch firm but tender. “It is,” he insisted. “My womar must not be hurt in any way. A single graze on your body and I’ll bring hell upon the one who caused it.”
Something warm unfurled in my chest at his words. I believed him completely. This wasn’t empty posturing or masculine bravado–Jules Prime was a man of his word. He’d already proven that he would kill to protect me without hesitation.
The paperwork for my new position was completed with remarkable speed. By early afternoon, I was officially the CEO of the company. As we left the building, I couldn’t help but feel a surreal sense of satisfaction. Twenty–four hours ago, I’d been a heartbroken, unemployed woman with stitches in my abdomen. Now I was the head of a major corporation, with a dangerous, powerful man by my side.
In the lobby, Jules’s phone rang. He glanced at the screen and frowned slightly.
“I need to take this,” he said apologetically. “Wait here. I won’t be long.”
As he stepped away to answer the call, I wandered toward the entrance, enjoying the feel of employees nodding respectfully as I passed. I was so lost in the novelty of it all that I didn’t notice the two figures approaching until they were right in front of me.
My stomach churned at the sight of them. Hank and Lola stood before me–Lola with mascara streaking down her face from crying, Hank with rage etched into every line of his face.
“What are you doing, Monica?” Hank shouted, not caring who heard. “This is extreme! What has Lola ever done to you? Why do you want to ruin her life?”
I smiled coldly, looking directly at Lola. “Guess you ran to your caretaker like a wounded puppy when you saw nothing was going your way, huh?”
“Shut up!” Hank snapped. “You are coming back with me. Enough of your drama.” He thrust his hand toward me. “And your phone–give it to me. How dare you block me?”
The audacity of this man was breathtaking. I spat on the ground at his feet, not caring about the shocked gasps from passersby.
“Ruined her life? Me? I did that?” I laughed bitterly. “I still have the stitches on me from that night.” I stepped closer, my voice low and venomous. “And how dare you try to control me like I’m your plaything. She might be that to you-” I pointed at Lola “–but I’m not. I’m mine and my man’s. You are dead to me. You are nothing, you understand? Nothing. Take your barking
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somewhere else.”
Hank’s face contorted with fury. He raised his hand, palm open. “How dare you disobey me!”
His arm swung toward my face, but before it could connect, a strong hand caught his wrist
mid–air.
It was Jules.