Chapter 81
A R I A N A
The next day, I walked into Dante’s office looking like a zombie I had not slept at all I stayed up the whole night, drinking coffee and working.
My eyes were red and puffy, my whole body ached as I worked knowing very well that I had to finish and summarize every single contract.
I placed the thick report on his desk.
My hand was shaking.
“Mr. Russo,” I said, my voice hoarse from no sleep. “Here are the reports p>
He was on the phone, he did not even look at me instead he just gestured for me to put it down I stood there, waiting, feeling stupid.
Finally, he finished his call.
He picked up the report and did not open it but instead he looked at me his eyes were full of so much disdain, so much disgust, it made my stomach hurt.
He looked me up and down, taking in my tired face and my wrinkled clothes from the day before.
“You look terrible,” he said, his voice cold.
I did not say anything.
What could I say? Knowing very well what he said was true.
I fought the urge to roll my eyes as I turned to leave.
“Where do you think you are going?” his voice stopped me cold.
I froze, my back to him.
I slowly turned around. “I… I finished the report. What more is there to do p>
He leaned back in his big chair, a cruel smile on his lips. “I did not dismiss you. Did I tell you to leave p>
My heart sank. “No, sir p>
“Then you stand there until I tell you to leave.” He picked up a pen from his desk and started twirling it in his fingers.
He was not even looking at the report I had killed myself to finish almost like it meant nothing to him, my efforts.
He looked at me again, his eyes critical. “That outfit is completely inappropriate for a professional setting, It is wrinkled and cheap. Did you even look in a mirror this morning? Or were you too busy feeling sorry for yourself p>
Tears pricked at my eyes, but I refused to let them fall, I just stared at a spot on the wall behind him, trying to disappear.
“This is just the beginning, Ariana,” he said softly, his voice like a razor blade. “You have five years of betrayal to pay for, you think one sleepless night is enough? You have no idea what I have planned for you I will make sure you regret every action of yours p>
I stood in the middle of his office while he ignored me, answered emails, and took calls.
He was breaking my spirit, piece by piece and I hated the fact that I just stood there unable to do anything.
I stood there for what felt like hours my feet and back began to ache.
My eyes were heavy with exhaustion, I just needed a long peaceful sleep, and Dante continued to work, completely ignoring me.
He would talk on the phone, his voice smooth and powerful and type on his computer while he acted as if I was not even in the room.
I bit on my lower lips as something inside me snapped. I was too tired to keep standing, I wasn’t going to let him win on this one.
I had to stand up for myself or it’s only going to get worst.
I took a deep, shaky breath.
“Mr. Russo,” I said, my voice stronger than I expected.
He did not look up from his computer.
“I have other work to attend to for Mr. Davies,” I continued. “I am leaving now and I do not care wether you allow it or not I will leave! p>
For a second, there was complete silence.
The typing stopped.
Then, slowly, he lifted his head his eyes were dark with surprise and a new, hotter anger.
I had challenged him and I knew very well that no one challenged Dante Russo.
I did not wait for his response, I turned and walked quickly toward the door.
My heart was hammering against my ribs so hard I thought it would break.
I was almost there, my hand reached for the door handle.
Before I could twist the door handle open I feel a hand grabbed my arm, spinning me around the force was so strong I crashed into his hard chest.
He cursed a low furious sound. “You do not walk away from me,” he snarled.
He pinned me against the wall next to the door, his body pressing against mine, trapping me his face was inches from mine I could see the pure, raw fury in his eyes.
“Who do you think you are?” he growled, his breath hot on my face. “You think you can give me orders? You think you can just decide to leave? How dare you? You are in no position to dominate”
I was terrified my whole body was shaking but I forced myself to look into his eyes.
“I am not your slave Dante!” I whispered, my voice trembling but clear. “I did the work you gave me and I have other responsibilities to attend to, I don’t work for you, I may do now but I report to Mr Davies take it or leave it p>
He stared at me, his chest heaving.
The anger in his eyes was so intense it was like a physical force he was not used to anyone talking back to him.
I have always known that,
But I was not everyone.
For a long, dangerous moment, we were frozen there with him holding me against the wall Me.
He still doesn’t say anything,
“You may be my boss for now” I said, forcing the words out. “And I will do the work but you have to keep it professional. This… this bullying is not business. What I did… it was a terrible mistake but I had no choice, Dante. You have to believe p>
I didn’t get to finish.
A low, angry hiss escaped his lips as he cut off my words the only way he knew would silence me completely.
He kissed me.
It wasn’t a kiss of love, or even desire.
It felt like it was a punishment, It was hard and brutal, his lips crushing against mine, it felt like It was his anger, his betrayal, his five years of pain, all poured into that one, violent kiss.
I gasped against his mouth, but he didn’t let go, his hands moved from my arms to my face, holding me still, forcing me to take it.
I hated that my body betrayed me, a spark of the old heat, the old addiction, flickered, my lips remembered his.
I started to struggle, pushing weakly against his chest but who was I kidding he was too strong.
He was stealing my air, my thoughts, my fight.
He finally pulled back, his breathing ragged his eyes were still blazing, but now there was a dark, triumphant look in them.
He had silenced me and had proven he was still in control.
“Don’t you ever tell me what to do,” he whispered, his voice rough and dangerous. “You lost that right five years ago p>
He let me go and turned his back, walking to his desk as if I was nothing.