The Stare

Chapter 16 : When Patience Runs Out

~Kiara~

I embarked on a journey through the office's labyrinthine corridors, each step echoing my determination to confront the goblin of the corporate realm. Yes, our esteemed CEO, Ethan Millon, was in my sights. This was a meeting I couldn't evade.

A confident knock on the imposing door of the goblin's den, and I found myself standing in the lair of the mighty goblin herself.

Ethan Millon was hunched over his desk, his piercing eyes scrutinizing a small forest's worth of papers. He gestured towards the chair with a grunt. I took a seat, and there was a pause – a moment when I felt like I was in the waiting room for a job interview I didn't even apply for.

"Kiara," Ethan began, his voice devoid of its usualness. "We need to discuss the Killian's project."

"Sure, Ethan. Let's dive into this ocean of paperwork," I replied, a smile on my face as I cracked my knuckles. I was ready for a deep-sea dive in the paperwork abyss.

But as Ethan began speaking, I sensed an odd shift in the atmosphere. The goblin's words cut like the sharpest daggers.

"Your proposal here," he began, "it's, well, a bit like suggesting we use paper boats in a tsunami."

I blinked, feeling like I'd been doused with cold water. Paper boats in a tsunami? Not a bad idea for a YouTube challenge, actually.

I fought the urge to quip back sarcastically and decided to defend my ideas. "Ethan, my ideas might not be grand battleships, but they're like reliable canoes. They might not be the biggest, but they'll get us through the rough waters."

Ethan countered, raising an eyebrow and adopted a superiority, that could make anyone feel like they were explaining knitting to someone who'd just discovered fire. "Kiara, canoes are fine for a calm lake, not for this typhoon of a project."

I felt my patience slipping away as Ethan continued with his condescension. "Kiara, your ideas lack practicality. Perhaps you should rethink your approach."

The floodgates of my restraint had been breached. I pushed my chair back, the shriek of the wheels underscoring my exasperation.

"Mr. Millon," I said with a steely resolve, "I have dedicated a considerable amount of time to perfect these plans. I believe they are meticulously thought out and entirely feasible. If you don't mind, it would be appreciated if you would consider my proposal."

Ethan leaned back, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Kiara, I applaud your enthusiasm, but enthusiasm alone can't substitute for a sound strategy. Maybe it's time for a lesson in pragmatism."

My anger surged, and I couldn't hold it back any longer. I stood up, my chair shrieking in protest.

I couldn't suppress a resigned shake of my head. My voice held a firm resolve as I responded, "Mr. Millon, it's evident that any meaningful progress is unattainable today. You're clearly in no mood to entertain constructive discussions or listen, perhaps, and are, frankly, more annoyed than receptive." My frustration was unmistakable. "I won't subject myself to this level of disrespect."

Nevertheless, the goblin remained undeterred. With a smirk that had me boiling with irritation, Ethan leaned forward. "Kiara, perhaps your skin is a little too thin for this industry, and you should spend your time at a café, giggling away."

I took a deep breath, choosing not to engage in a war of words. Instead, I chose the high road. "I'm leaving now. When you're prepared for a productive and respectful discussion about ideas, I'll be available. And it's known as socializing, a skill you seem to be lacking. Maybe you should devote some time to it rather than stalking."

With that, I turned on my heels and made my exit from the goblin's lair. The door closed behind me, muffling any further remarks from Ethan. I couldn't help but feel a mixture of anger and exasperation as I walked back to my workspace. Dealing with Ethan was like trying to douse a fire with gasoline – it only made things worse.

A/N - Drop your thoughts-