Reluctantly, I complied, lowering myself into the plush armchair and trying to maintain a veneer of composure despite the butterflies in my stomach.
As I settled in, Harry leaned back in his chair, his eyes taking in my every movement. There was a long beat of silence as he scrutinized me, the atmosphere in the room growing tense.
After what felt like an eternity, Harry broke the silence, fixing me with a steely gaze. "You wanted to see me?" he asked, his tone neutral yet commanding.
I swallowed hard, steeling myself. "Yes," I replied, my voice surprisingly steady. "I have something important to discuss with you."
Harry raised an eyebrow, a hint of irritation in his expression. "And what exactly is it that you want to discuss?" he asked, his tone growing slightly terse.
I took a deep breath, gathering my thoughts and trying to maintain a level head. "It's about what happened during our last meeting," I began, choosing my words carefully. "I believe there was a misunderstanding, and I want to clarify a few points."
Harry's gaze grew even more intense, and he steepled his fingers on the desk in front of him. "Go on," he prompted, his expression giving nothing away.
I steeled my nerves, determined to say what I needed to say. "To start, I'd like to address the issue of your behavior towards me during that meeting," I began. "I felt like you were dismissive and disrespectful."
Harry's expression remained stoic as I spoke. "Was I?" he asked, not denying or confirming my accusation. "Yes," I said firmly, holding his gaze. "Your tone and attitude were both demeaning, and it made me feel uncomfortable and disrespected."
After a long silence, Harry finally spoke, his voice steady and measured. "If you're unhappy with how I interacted with you, perhaps you'd be interested in a different arrangement," he proposed, his eyes never leaving mine.
My heart skipped a beat as I hung on his words, unsure of where he was going with this. "What kind of arrangement?" I asked, trying to keep my composure.
A hint of a smirk tugged at the corners of Harry's mouth as he leaned forward slightly. "I have a proposal that may be beneficial to both of us," he replied, his voice dropping a notch.
Harry leaned back in his chair, a sly smile playing at his lips. "Well, you know what?" he began, his voice a mocking echo of mine. "If you're so bothered by my behavior, I have a proposition for you. Why don't you come work for me?"
My eyes widened in surprise. "Work for you?" I repeated, stunned by the unexpected proposal. I frowned, taken aback by Harry's audacity. "Are you serious right now?" I retorted, my voice laced with annoyance. "You think you can just tell me to come work for you and expect me to jump at the chance?"
Harry smirked, his eyes gleaming with a mixture of arrogance and determination. "Oh, I'm deadly serious," he affirmed, leaning forward. "You do realize I have the power to make life difficult for you here, don't you?"
Harry's smirk widened at my reaction, and he responded with a nonchalant shrug. "Well, if you don't want to work for me, that's fine," he said, his tone taunting. "I can always have you escorted out of your dad mall, right this very moment."
I rolled my eyes, feeling my irritation mounting. "Oh please," I retorted, my voice dripping with sarcasm. "You really think I care? I have bigger things to worry about than some petty power play."
Harry's smirk faltered slightly at my dismissive tone, but he quickly regained his composure. "Careful," he warned, his voice growing colder. "You might find that I have more leverage than you realize."
