Just Neighbors (BWWM)

Chapter 3

"You again." Cumquat AKA Mr. Pierce scoffed with a smirk.

"I'd be happy to refer you to another accountant but I re-fuse to work for you." I bit out angrily, trying to remain as professional as possible.

This cannot be happening...

"Well from what I hear you're obligated to assist me otherwise you'll be out of a job, isn't that right?"

"You and these empty threats." I growled and balled up my fists to keep from slapping the smirk off of this guy's smug face.

"I wasn't joking last night." Mr. Pierce replied sternly. "I suggest you stop by Lowe's or Home Depot on the way home to pick up a new lightbulb, 300 watts I believe it was?" He added with a grin.

"You didn't." I gasped in disbelief and took a half step back.

"I gave you five minutes." Mr. Pierce said nonchalantly with a shrug and took a seat in his swivel chair. "I do believe that was ample enough time."

"You bastard." I growled and slammed my hands down on his desk.

"Ah, I see you've upped the ante with your name-calling." Mr. Pierce mocked and sat back in his chair with a smug look on his face. "Bravo." He added with a smirk.

"I will not work under such hostile conditions." I spat icily and threw the documents onto Mr. Pierce's desk. "Good day, Mr. Pierce." I added and turned to leave.

"Please, call me Jonathan." He called after me.

"Whatever." I growled and walked out the door, slamming it for emphasis.

*****

"You didn't." Chelsie gasped in disbelief after I told her about my encounter with the so called "hotty" Mr. Pierce.

"I did." I replied curtly and sat back in my chair with my arms crossed tightly over my chest. "Felt pretty damn good too."

"Girl. You 'bouta get fired." Chelsie replied in her random ghetto voice.

I rolled my eyes and shrugged.

"Better than working under that loser." I scoffed. "He's such a prick. How can anyone think he's hot? Looks aren't everything ya know."

"Um, yes. Yes they are." Chelsie replied vainly.

"Really, Chels? Can you be that shallow?" I asked with a laugh.

"Miss Brown!" Mr. Thompson suddenly bellowed, flinging my door open.

Chelsie and I jumped in our seats and I wasn't sure about her but I'm almost positive I felt a little pee come out too.

"Yes, sir?" I replied hastily and stood up abruptly.

I begged Chelsie not to leave me alone with our clearly angry boss using my pleading eyes but she averted her gaze towards her only exit and fled the scene in the blink of an eye.

Well bump her too then.

After I watched Chelsie leave I quickly averted my gaze back to my boss. If this were a cartoon there'd literally be smoke fuming from the top of his bald head right now.

"Who the hell do you think you are?" Mr. Thompson yelled frustratedly.

I felt my eyes start to sting with tears so I began to look at everything but my boss and nearly groaned aloud when I noticed who was standing behind him with that big ole annoying smirk on his face.

It was no one other than Jonathan Pierce himself - the one who started this interpersonal feud and probably the one who told Mr. Thompson about the outcome of our little encounter earlier.

Freaking tattletale...

"An accountant, sir." I replied quietly and dipped my head to hide the tears welling up in my eyes.

"And who the hell hired you?" Mr. Thompson asked.

"You, sir."

"And who the hell can fire you?"

I snapped my head up with wide eyes and nearly burst into tears just from the look on his face.

He wasn't joking.

"You, sir." I choked out and began to fidget with my skirt in embarrassment.

"Now apologize to the man." Mr. Thompson ordered, pulling Jonathan forward by his sleeve.

I quickly looked over at Jonathan whose smirk was now gone and had been replaced by something else that was almost unrecognizable on his typically smug face. Was that...regret I saw?

I audibly gulped, literally swallowing my pride, and hesitated to apologize.

"Did I stutter?" Mr. Thompson growled. "Apologize!"

I jumped a little and closed my eyes tightly. I couldn't apologize to this bastard. Not while staring at him face-to-face.

"I'm sorry." I finally murmured and let out the breath I'd been holding for the passed few minutes.

"Good. You're fired." Mr. Thompson said abruptly. "Pack up your shit and get the hell out of my building."

And that folks, waaaas my breaking point.

"Wait, Mr. Thompson, please!" I shouted after him as I burst into tears but he didn't even falter in his step - didn't even glance back.

I began to run after him until someone suddenly caught my arm and pulled me back.

"Michelle, I'm so-"

Slap!

"Shut the hell up! You did this!" I shouted angrily and yanked my arm from Jonathan's grasp.

I watched as he held his cheek in pain and looked down at me in disbelief.

"You stay the hell away from me!" I yelled, pointing a finger in his face.

"But I-" Jonathan began to reply until I held up a hand to silence him.

"Get the fuck out of my office." I spat bitterly, pointing a finger at the door, and glared at Jonathan's retreating figure in utter disgust.

Not even a second later Chelsie came knocking on my door before cautiously making her way inside the room.

"Everyone in the office heard what happened. You okay, sweetie?" She asked concernedly and hesitantly placed a comforting hand on my shoulder.

"What am I gonna do?" I whispered aloud and turned into Chelsie's awaiting arms as I began to cry.

Again.