The Truth

Ch.15: Argument

The air in Ryan's office was thick enough to cut with a knife. He was no longer fuming like he had been moments ago, but his expression was still set in that brooding, calm fury that made me want to run for the hills. I wasn't sure if I'd walked into a death sentence or just a very awkward conversation, but either way, I was on edge.

For damn sure, Alessia suspected something now, and that alone had my heart pounding. I had no clue why Ryan had called me here, and that uncertainty wasn't doing me any favors.

"Sir," I started, trying to sound as professional as possible.

"What?" His response was sharp, and thank God, he didn't add that infuriating hum this time.

"How may I help you? Ah, you called me." I corrected myself, my nerves making me stumble over my words.

Ryan gave me that same stoic look, his voice and gaze a perfect match for his cold demeanor. Then he stood up and began walking towards me, closing the distance with slow, deliberate steps. Seriously, did this man have no concept of personal space?

His face was right in front of mine, and I realized I was trapped between him and his desk. Great, just what I needed-Ryan Caesar looming over me like some dark, handsome storm cloud.

"You wanna know why?" he asked, his voice low, and I could've sworn there was a mocking edge to it.

"Alessia would definitely cut my head off," I blurted out without thinking. I immediately regretted it, but Ryan just scoffed. He stepped back slightly, slipping his hands into his pockets, but even then, we were still way too close.

"No, she won't," he claimed with a confidence that made my stomach twist.

"How?"

"Because she's not the boss of this house, is she? Or do you need a reminder?" His tone was laced with a challenge, and I couldn't help but roll my eyes as I looked away.

"Whatever. What am I even doing here?" I huffed, my patience wearing thin.

"You've made 35 mistakes in about two months," he stated matter-of-factly.

My mood soured further. I stared at his back as he turned away slightly. Handsome or not, he was still a jerk.

"And what?" I shot back, not caring at this point.

"And what?" he repeated, mocking me again. "I had 20 million dollars lost because of one of those mistakes. Wanna tell me how you plan on repaying that?"

My eyes widened in shock. What the hell? Was he serious? I felt like I was being led straight to the guillotine. The playful banter we'd been having seconds ago evaporated, leaving only a tense, suffocating atmosphere in its wake.

"You've got to be kidding me," I finally managed to say, my voice shaking slightly. "I-what? That can't be right."

"Oh, it is," Ryan said coolly, turning to face me again. His calm demeanor was almost more terrifying than if he'd been yelling. "I don't make jokes about money, Angelica."

I was at a loss for words, my mind racing as I tried to process the situation. Was I really closer to my own personal death row than I'd thought?

I gritted my teeth, my frustration bubbling up to the surface. Great, just great. I glared at him as he took another step closer. My hand instinctively went to the edge of his desk, trying to steady myself.

"And I don't joke about being treated like a dog," I shot back, my voice laced with defiance. "And if I made so many mistakes, why didn't you fire me?"

I knew I was playing with fire, but I couldn't back down now. I saw his jaw tighten, the muscles in his face clenching as he took yet another step forward. This time, he was close enough that I could feel the warmth of his breath against my skin, and it took everything in me not to flinch.

My heart pounded in my chest, the tension between us thick and heavy. I had to swallow hard to keep from losing my nerve. Have you ever faced someone so infuriatingly close, and you have no idea what to do? That was exactly my predicament.

"You think you can challenge me like that?" His voice was low, almost a growl, and it sent a shiver down my spine. His eyes locked onto mine, and I felt trapped, like a mouse caught in the gaze of a particularly predatory cat.

"I think," I said, my voice wavering slightly, "that you're just trying to scare me. It's not working."

He didn't respond right away, just stared at me, his expression unreadable. But then, a small, almost imperceptible smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Scare you? Is that what you think this is?"

His hand reached out, brushing a strand of hair away from my face, and I froze, caught between wanting to pull away and being too stunned to move. "I don't need to scare you, Angelica. You're already terrified."

His words were a taunt, and it pissed me off more than I cared to admit. I could feel the heat rising in my cheeks, a mixture of anger and something else I didn't want to acknowledge.

"I'm not terrified of you," I snapped, trying to sound convincing, even though my body was betraying me with every racing heartbeat.

"No?" His voice was soft now, almost coaxing, as he leaned in even closer. I could feel the warmth of his body, the scent of his cologne enveloping me. "Then why are you trembling?"

"I'm not trembling," I protested, even though we both knew I was lying. My body was practically vibrating with the tension between us.

Ryan's smirk grew, and his hand dropped to his side, giving me just enough space to breathe. "You're right," he said, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Maybe I should've fired you. But where's the fun in that?"

I opened my mouth to retort, but the words died in my throat as he took another step back, his gaze never leaving mine. The distance he put between us did nothing to ease the pounding in my chest.

"You're infuriating," I finally managed to say, my voice barely more than a breath.

"And you're stubborn," he replied smoothly. "But I suppose that's what makes this so interesting, doesn't it?"

I didn't have an answer to that, not one that wouldn't make me sound completely out of my depth. The truth was, I was out of my depth. Whatever this was between us, it was more than I'd bargained for, and I had no idea how to navigate it.

"Are we done here?" I asked, desperate to regain some semblance of control.

"Not quite," Ryan said, his tone still maddeningly calm. "But we're getting there."

I swallowed again, my throat dry. "So, what's next? More lectures? More taunts?"

He shrugged, the movement casual but his eyes were still locked onto mine with an intensity that made it hard to breathe. "Maybe. Or maybe you'll surprise me."

"Surprise you?" I echoed, confused.

"Who knows?" he said, his tone almost playful. "Maybe you'll prove you're not just some stubborn maid with a knack for trouble."

The way he said it made my stomach flip, and I hated that he could affect me like this. "And what if I do?"

"Then," he said, leaning in just enough to make my pulse quicken again, "we'll see what happens, won't we?"

With that, he stepped back fully, turning away and leaving me standing there, still reeling from the intensity of our exchange. Whatever had just happened between us, it wasn't over. Not by a long shot.