Lemon Tree

Chapter three: party

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The drive back home to my apartment was quiet; the words of my new boss rang in my head. Thinking about what happened made my blood run cold, and get chills. But at the same time, the way his body oozed dominance and authoritarianism somehow made my body curl.

Once back at my apartment, I walked into my bed and walked to make it to my all-white bathroom, I stripped out of my clothes, turned on the shower, and stepped into it.

After showering, I grabbed a towel from a nearby cabinet, wrapping the towel around my body. Returning to the bedroom, I opened the closet and pulled out a royal blue vintage 1950 V-neck off-the-shoulder tea-length ball gown. After slipping it on and zipping it up. I tied my long hair back into a low bun; after fixing my hair. I decided to apply a bit of makeup and lip gloss to my lips, then I sat on my bed, slipping on a pair of classic minimalist chunky white heels.

I checked my appearance one last time before grabbing my purse. Then my thoughts went to the other employees at the office. Does he act the same way with his other employees? And I felt goosebumps at what could happen if I declined his offer. But there's no way my boss was ruthless and evil.

I grabbed my jacket, then walked out of my apartment, heading back to the office for the cocktail party.

As I was leaving the apartment, I bumped into someone. I looked up and noticed it was my boss, Taehyung.

I felt my cheeks flush at his look. He looked like a Prince straight out of a fairy tale; the energy he gave off was the same one he had from earlier.

"Oh Esmeralda, don't you look lovely?" Taehyung said with a smile.

"Oh, Thank you Mr. Kim I-

"Please, Taehyung will do just fine."

"But isn't that a bit unprofessional, Sir?"

"I believe we had a conversation earlier about you doing as I say, did we not?"

"You will call me Mr. Kim when others are present; however, when we are alone, you will call me Taehyung. Is that clear?"

I nodded, knowing disagreeing with him would only make things worse.

"Now, let me give you a ride to the office party. A lady like yourself shouldn't drive at night. Who knows what could happen to you out there" He said kindly.

"With all due respects, Taehyung, I can handle myself. So no, thank you" I said in a calm tone. Taehyung clenched his jaw, then he sighed, looking at me.

The look of dominance and authority was present again as he gripped my chin.

"Esmeralda, I insist you let me give you a ride. It's not safe. I don't want a precious little rose like you to get harmed." He said, stroking my cheek. I felt my cheeks rise in temperature at his words.

"O..O.Okay," I said. He smiled and patted my head like a puppy.

"Good Girl, now let's go."

I followed Taehyung outside the building and downstairs to his car. I stopped, and I felt my mouth drop open.

It was a 2020 Royal Blue Roll Royce. Taehyung opened the door, and I just stood there, starstruck.

I shook my head and then climbed into the car. After Taehyung closed the door, walked over to the driver's side, climbed in, and started the car. The whole ride to the office was dead silent as I glanced out of the window. I gasped as I felt his hand on my thigh.

"Relax Esmeralda. I don't bite, just trust me." He said calmly.

I felt a chill run down my spine as he spoke those words. After our conversation in the office, I felt a tad bit uneasy around him.

I gently moved my thigh from his hand and turned to the window, not attempting to have a conversation with him.

"So tell me, Esmeralda, where are you from?"

No response.

"Esmeralda, that's a pretty name; where does it originate?"

No response. I bit my lip as I remained silent during his question.

I glanced at him, and I could tell he was annoyed as his knuckles turned white; I could see the veins on his neck bulge from how tightly he was clenching his jaw.

Once arriving at the office, I got out of the car and bolted straight inside without waiting for Taehyung. Once on the elevator, I took a deep sigh of relief.

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I sat on the couch as everyone was chatting and laughing amongst themselves. I had a glass of water in my hand and just started as this wasn't really my thing. Then I heard a pencil tap against a glass. I turned and it was Taehyung.

He was standing in front of the room, holding up a glass of wine.

"Thank you so much for joining us tonight; tonight is a special night not just to welcome Esmeralda to the office but to welcome her to the city of Sioux Falls." Taehyung spoke.

Hearing those words made me think of the day I left Miami for Sioux Falls. I remember the tears that were shed, my mother sobbing as she was so proud of the strong, beautiful, and independent woman I had become. I remember my father saying how he knew that I would become successful in my own way. And lastly my little brother Santiago he told me to keep in touch with him and come back home to visit.

My mind began to remember the day I was leaving for Sioux Falls. I smiled down at my baby brother as he had a worried expression. I knew he was sad to see me go because I wouldn't be around to help him with his homework or see him practice basketball and baseball. I watched as my father placed my stuff inside my trunk, my mother walked out of the house and stood beside my brother.

Her silky black hair had become lighter and coarse with age. The freckles on her face had begun to faint as she had wrinkles under her eyes and around her cheeks. Her hair was tied back into a bun, so I could see a few silver strands near the edges of her hair. She smiled at me handing me a tray wrapped in foil, pulling back the foil I smiled.

It was my favorite childhood pastry dish from when I was a child, Alfajores. No one made better Peruvian cookies then my mother, My sister and I would eat them all the time as children.

I stared down at my glass, smiling, remembering the promise I made to him and the smile on his face.

"Excuse me may I sit here?"

I looked up see a young woman roughly around my age but slightly younger. She had a sculpted figure which was twine-thin. Her waist was tapered and she had a burnished complexion. A pair of arched eyebrows looked down on sweeping eyelashes. Her delicate ears framed a button nose. A set of dazzling, angel-white teeth gleamed as she smiled at me. She had soft flowing, glowing chestnut brown hair reaching below her ears. She had soft jade green eyes. She wore a simple black cocktail.

"Sure,"

The young woman sat down next to me and turned to me.

"Hi, so you must be the new employee Mr. Kim was talking about. I'm Cecilia Hanes," Cecilia introduced.

"Esmeralda Alonso-Lopez, nice to meet you"

"So, Esmeralda, where are you from?" Cecilia asked.

"Oh I am from Miami, what about you?" I answered by starting a conversation with her.