Chapter 5

I took a deep breath, straightened my blazer, and walked into the office with my head held high. No matter how Rhys treated me, I refused to let it get me down. I had a job to do.

The pristine marble floors clicked under my heels as I made my way to Rhys's expansive corner office. Expensive modern art lined the hallway walls in the building housing the company headquarters. Everything about this place exuded power and prestige.

And then there was Rhys. Strikingly handsome with chiseled features and piercing grey eyes that seemed to bore into your soul. He was intoxicating to look at. Until he opened his mouth.

I paused outside his office door, willing myself to go in and face him. I had to ask what he wanted for lunch and dinner, a trivial task but one that put me directly in his line of fire.

Knocking lightly, I entered. "Good morning, Mr.Murphy." I kept my tone clipped and professional despite the dread knotting my stomach.

He glanced up from his desk, pinning me with that intense gaze. "Elisa." Not a question, a statement. Dismissive.

"I'm here to take your meal orders for the day." I lifted my chin, determined not to cower under his penetrating stare.

"The usual." He turned back to his computer screen in clear dismissal.

I stood there a moment longer, anger and hurt swirling inside me. Why did he have to treat me this way? So cold and hateful, singling me out among all the employees. It made no sense.

Spinning on my heel, I fled his office before the tears could fall. In the safety of the hallway, I leaned against the wall and closed my eyes. Get it together, I told myself sternly. Don't let him get to you.

But he did get to me. For reasons I couldn't understand, Rhys Murphy had the power to slice me to the core, to make me question my worth with a single cutting remark or icy look.

I hated that he had this effect on me. Hated that someone so physically beautiful could be so ugly and cruel on the inside. It was like a twisted joke.

Summoning my composure, I headed to put in his predictable lunch order, burying my turbulent emotions deep. I had to survive working here.

My heart sank as I heard from Marta when I came back to my desk that Rhys had forgotten to tell me something. What could it be? I couldn't imagine anything good coming from him, but I couldn't refuse his request either. With a deep breath, I headed back to his office, my mind racing with possible scenarios. In all of these scenarios, I come back from his office crying.

Entering his office, I found Rhys leaning back in his leather chair, scrolling through his phone. He glanced up at me before gesturing for me to come closer.

"What do you need?…Sir" I asked, trying not to let the tremor in my voice betray my unease.

"I forgot to mention that I have a guest coming at 6.30 tonight" He looked at me expectantly,”No need to order dinner for me tonight. Okay?”

Damn, that means that I have to stay for him. I will be late for…

“Is there a problem?" he asked when I failed to answer.

“No Sir… but do I have to be present tonight for you and him? I finish at 5 p.m today and I have to go somewhere…”

“Well it seems that you’ll have to do some overtime work tonight. Where are you going tonight?

His tone was casual but his eyes were sending fire to me. He wanted to know.I'm not going to give him the pleasure of knowing where I was going tonight. Not him.

He hated me after all.

His whole body tensed waiting for my answer.

I'm not going to give him the stick to beat me.

“I am meeting my boyfriend,” I blurted out at random.

I do not have a boyfriend.

His gaze hardened on my face, as if I had killed his favorite dog.

I knew I shouldn’t have said that but maybe he will be nicer to me if I invent that I have a 6 feet 5 tall boyfriend who used to train as a kickboxer in his spare time.

Yes, I am definitely going to do that.

Rhys Murphy, it is time to pay back the tears I shed for you this past week.

“Your boyfriend?” he asked, his beautiful grey eyes narrowed on me as if he was a serpent and me, the mice that he is going to swallow.

Rhys Murphy, how can you be so handsome and be so hateful?

I wished he could give me an answer.

“Yes, my boyfriend,” I murmured innocently. I am going to see him at his kickboxing session, he is 6 feet 5 you know, a big muscular man,” I slipped these details about my fake, invented boyfriend to him.

He stands up from his desk, his gaze fixated on me as he approaches. His face is only inches away from mine. If he didn't hate me so much, I might even think he was about to kiss me. I feel my cheeks flush in shock; the idea of him kissing me doesn't repulse me like it should. Damn, why is my body betraying me like this? "You seriously think I'll let you leave work early just to sleep with your idiotic kickboxing boyfriend?" He snaps at me.

“Yes, Sir.”

“Well you don’t know me at all Miss Mart. I expect you to still be here at 6.30 tonight to welcome my guest or else I will cancel your $ 150000 university debt because you failed to obey orders.

I was shocked into silence. He went on, "Starting tomorrow, you will be on call for me during my office hours. If I leave at 8pm, you will also leave at 8pm. But don't worry, you'll still have weekends to see your boyfriend," he smiled, “ Be here when Tracy comes tonight?”

“Tracy?” I blurted out before I could catch myself.

“Yes, Tracy. Oh…it’s too bad but be happy for me, at least one of us will be getting lucky tonight," he chuckled as he saw my expression fall.

I wanted nothing more than to tell him no and walk out of the room. But I knew the consequences of defying him - and they were not worth it. Not at the moment.

"Of course," I replied through gritted teeth. "Will there be anything else?"

He waved a dismissive hand. "That's all for now."

Fuming silently, I retreated back to my desk.

I take my phone out of my bag and start canceling the appointment I had for tonight. This was the first time in three years that I'd had to cancel a visit. It took everything in me not to cry, but I refused to give Murphy the satisfaction of seeing me vulnerable.

I needed this job, I needed my asshole boss to pay my university debt.

Even if that means I will be the chaperon while he will probably dine and have sex with this Tracy girl in his office.

An uneasy feeling churned my stomach. If I was not level headed I will say that it is jealousy.

But I can’t be jealous of my boss right?

I hated him, after all.

Yep. I definitely hate him.