05~ A Tiger and Its Prey

Hailee’s POV

I knew I most definitely must have read his lips wrong, there was no way he’d have remembered I’d said that, back at the club. But he did anyway. I tried to smile but it came out as a grimace as I turned to leave, acknowledging my name as I stepped out of the car.

“Hailee is the name, Sir,” I said and then had the door to his door shut immediately walking away. And I could tell from the silence he gave, he was probably staring back at me as well.

A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER

“MARCO!” He screamed as he held the phone from his ear, holding it up to his mouth, looking more pissed than ever.

“I don’t give a fuck what you have to do, dipshit, just FIX IT!,” Antonio continued and then had his fist to the table immediately. He had it against the desk so hard that every book fell off to the floor making a loud noise.

His straight, styled, jet black hair came into sight as I perked up to my feet staring at him. His perfectly sculpted face with light pink lips, a straight nose, and an incredibly well-defined jaw with high proud cheekbones accentuated the plains of his face.

Antonio perks up to his feet, pacing his office. Running both hands through his hair like he was slowly going nuts. Unfortunately, the firm had lost a battle to another firm to win a client and all of that was obviously what had gotten him this upset.

I stood there with my arms wrapped around the documents to the firm, not knowing what to do or say to him.

“Don’t just stand there Hailee, if you’ve got something to say fucking say it!” He shot at me, causing the hairs on my skin to flare up at the harsh tone of his voice.

My eyes darted back to his face, as I stared at him In silence wondering how he’d managed to still keep fit even in the little crisis happening at the firm. And from where I stood staring back at him, I could tell he worked out how his suit fit perfectly against his torso, hugging every inch of him. Also, from the way he walks and Carries himself, you can tell he exudes power, even his impeccably blue eyes exude a sense of righteousness yet dangerous.

Or maybe it’s something else?

“You’re just going to stand there and do nothing, just like the others right?!” He scowled and just when he did, I flinched with my head lowered, unable to meet his eyes.

He took further steps away from his desk, walking over to my end. And when he stands up close to me. I was hit by the intensity of his stare and resisted firmly the urge to look up just to be sure I wasn’t crossing boundaries being in the room of a man I’d fucked a few weeks back.

“I…” I stuttered trying to break the silence in the room.

“What do you suggest we do?” He cuts in through gritted teeth as he backs away from me, taking his gaze completely off me.

I sucked in a deep breath, looking away as well, wondering what we were to do exactly in having all of what was happening fixed.

“What I feel is wrong here, is the fact that we’re sort of lacking this uniqueness in production,” I continued, but with my eyes locked to the tiles of his office still unable to meet his eyes.

I heard him walk towards me, the minute I’d said that, and then he cupped me by the cheeks, frowning like he’d been offended by my words.

“Did you just say we’re lacking a thing?” He asked.

“What’s going on!” A voice cut through the tension in the air as the door swung open causing Antonio to be a bit distracted thereby letting me go.

I exhaled knowing I was this close to getting fired, over the silly suggestion I’d made. But for some reason, he looked so interested in what I had to say about the uniqueness and at the same time sounded so unbothered.

“Nothing, Hailee was just about to leave!” He growled.

“I was?” I thought to myself. And then in seconds, I hurried out through the door of his office and headed for the hallway that led to the staff quarters of the company.

I’d been so engrossed in the pictures sent by Brenda, that I didn’t see another figure coming. “Hey, watch it!” A deep baritone groaned as our bodies came in contact.

The very minute I got my balance, I realized who it was. Richard.

“The nerve of you to even be here!” He began, yelling at the top of his voice.

“Wait—are you stalking me?” Richard asked, leaning forward. But then I backed away, with memories of what had happened on the night we’d broken as I tried holding back my tears.

“I guess you figured I’d be here today right?” He scowled. I said nothing and instead sprung up to my feet picking up the littered files and ignoring the figure in front of me. Most especially because I hated the fact that he was starting to cause a scene at my workplace.

But then again, what the hell is he doing here?

“Personal assistant?” He spelled out loud the tag on my shirt and then chuckled like he found it funny.

“Who the fuck had you employed here in the first place?!” Richard yelled. And just when he did, I realized the other staff were starting to notice as they gathered around to watch what was happening.

“Answer me!” He groaned, grabbing me by the arm as he pulled me closer to his chest, tightening his grip around my arm. I cried out in pain when I realized the other staff members just stood there watching a stranger ride on another staff.

“Look at me!” Richard yelled but then I couldn’t, I was too embarrassed to have the others see that I was drowning in my tears.

The next minute, a fist collided with Richard’s face, and his blood splattered across the floor, saliva dribbling out of the corners of his mouth. I looked up, holding onto my bruised arm, whimpering in pain.

“How many goddamn times do I have to tell you never to come here, and have my staff bullied?” Antonio growled as he grabbed Richard by the collar.

“I fucking was bullying her Uncle!” Richard yelled.

The hairs on my neck stood when I heard Richard call Antonio, uncle.

“Wait—what?”

“Uncle?” I mumbled, staring at the scene before me.