The Erotic Artiste

CHAPTER 45

Imani knocked gently on the door of Mr. Galanis' office, her heart racing as she waited for his response.

"Come in."

After taking a deep breath to steady her nerves one last time, Imani pushed open the door and entered the office. She made her way directly to the desk where Andréas sat, his fingers flying over the keys of his computer as he typed away busily. However, he paused his work to glance up at her when she positioned herself in front of his desk.

"Miss Henshaw. Please, take a seat," he instructed with an air of authority.

'Oh my gosh, please don't keep me in suspense! Am I about to be fired?'

Imani fought to keep her exterior calm, doing her utmost to project confidence as she settled into the chair across from him, bracing herself to hear whatever news Mr. Galanis had to share with her. Before he could utter a single word, she broke the silence first, her curiosity getting the best of her.

"How did the trial go?"

Andréas locked his gaze onto hers, a faint smile playing on his lips. It was the first time she had witnessed such a gesture from him since she began her work under his supervision. "It went absolutely well, Miss Henshaw."

For a fleeting moment, Imani struggled to comprehend his words, sitting there in stunned silence as she processed what Andréas had just conveyed. But then, like a light bulb flickering to life, the realization dawned upon her, and a wide grin spread across her face as an immense weight was lifted from her shoulders, almost making her want to shout in delight.

"Can you say that again, sir?" she asked eagerly, hoping he would echo his previous statement, needing confirmation that she had indeed heard him correctly.

"You performed exceptionally well, Imani. We won this case far more swiftly than I had anticipated. The judge had no doubts about the evidence we presented. The opposing party was thoroughly defeated," he stated matter-of-factly before redirecting his attention back to the tasks at hand on his computer.

"Thank you so much, sir," she replied, her heart swelling with relief and pride.

"You know, it might seem a bit unfair, considering that you're still quite new here, but I had made the decision to assign you the most challenging case right from the start. Can you guess my reasoning behind that?" Andréas asked, shifting his gaze back to her, his eyes curious.

"Because you want me to rise to the level of excellence expected at this firm, sir. I completely understand, and I truly appreciate the opportunity," she responded, feeling a surge of gratitude.

"No," he replied, leaving Imani feeling both surprised and bewildered.

"Oh," she uttered, caught off-guard by his unexpected response.

"I did it because I wanted to show Mr. Johnson that his initial judgment of you was mistaken. After all, he had sung your praises so highly. Yet, it turns out it was I who was mistaken in my assumptions," he admitted, his tone almost indifferent as he returned his focus to the screen in front of him. "You are indeed quite capable."

For a moment, Imani's smile wavered, and her eyes narrowed slightly at his words. In that instant, she thought to herself, 'this bitch.' Andréas had become a persistent thorn in her side, yet she had managed to keep her composure remarkably well over the past few weeks. She resolved not to lose her cool until she had received at least eight salary checks, which she hoped would be sufficient to keep her financially secure while she searched for a new job. Why? Because if Mr. Galanis continued to test her patience in the manner he had so far, Imani—who had always prioritized her peace of mind—would undoubtedly resign and seek employment elsewhere, regardless of how lucrative the current position might be.