SHARING EMMA [18+]

40. Cross of Anger

Note: Follow me for more frequent updates

|CARLOS|

This isn't the way to the mansion, Tomas," I remarked, frowning as I observed the unfamiliar route he had chosen instead of the usual one. "You've taken the wrong turn."

"No, I know this one," he replied with confidence. "It's a shortcut."

One thing that I have never trusted in my life was shortcuts. They always came with a price. Always. And that's why I didn't trust this one either. "Did I tell you to take one? No. I didn't. Don't overthink things that aren't necessary. Just turn around and take us back to the main road."

I waited for him to slam the brakes and take a U-turn.

But he didn't.

Tomas just kept driving, his face expressionless, as if my words had vanished into the air.

I could feel my patience stretching thin, like a wire ready to snap. "Are you even listening to me?"

"Honestly, Mr. Kingston, we'll get there faster this way. Besides, aren't you worried about Ms. Wilson? She might be counting on your arrival soon."

The way he mentioned Emma was like a pebble in my shoe, causing irritation to course through me. It was his tone, maybe. Or the subtle implication that he was more acquainted with Emma than I was.

I unfastened my seatbelt with a sharp movement. "Pull over."

Tomas glanced at me, taken aback. "What?"

"I said stop the damn car. Are you deaf?"

He stared at me for a moment, his expression caught between surprise and something else. Then, he turned his attention back to the road, shaking his head. "God, you two are the same. But why wouldn't you be? Birds of a feather flock together, right?"

I was utterly fed up with his backchat and his nerve to disobey me. "Spare me your nonsense. Pull over the car and get out."

He kept driving, as if my words had no effect on him whatsoever.

Frustration boiling over, I lunged and grabbed him by the collar of his shirt, unintentionally causing the jeep to swerve.

"What the hell?"

The sudden movement jolted us both, and the jeep swerved dangerously close to hitting a tree. Adrenaline surged through me as I tightened my grip on Tomas' collar, my knuckles white.

"Stop the damn car right now!" I roared, my voice laced with fury.

He wrestled to regain control of the jeep, his hands gripping the steering wheel tightly. The vehicle finally screeched to a halt, and he shot me a furious glare, his face flushed with anger and frustration.

"What the hell is your problem?" he spat out, his chest heaving.

I released his collar and took a deep breath, trying to calm myself down before I responded. "My problem is that you're not listening to me. I told you to pull over, and you ignored my order. I don't have the patience for your insubordination right now."

He shot me a defiant look. "You're not the boss of me, Mr. Kingston."

I leaned in close, my voice dangerously low. "I am your employer, and you will damn well do as I say. Now, get out of the car."

I watched as he clenched his jaw and glared at me with defiance and something else that I hadn't seen in him before. "You shouldn't have done that. I was trying to be gentle with you, considering your age and all. But it seems like you're begging to do this the hard way."