The Assistant (40 page)

“This is just great. You’re not getting anything. Leave,” David snapped at the woman in annoyance.

She didn’t pay attention to him as her eyes began blinking in shock. “Emily-”

I shook my head rapidly, swallowing back the thick feeling in my throat as my eyes slowly built up tears. “No.”

“Emily, I can explain-” she began again.

“Leave, Rita,” David spoke up, giving her a stern look. “She doesn’t want to speak with you, and neither do I.”

I blinked back my tears as I looked at her once more. For once in my life, I didn’t protest against his words.

Chapter Twenty-eight

The next few days flew by in a blur.

David didn’t even bother interacting with me. I had only had 3 glasses of water and a chocolate bar and even then, I wanted to throw it all up.

Rita was the mole. David’s ‘little bird.’ The feeling of betrayal was still seething through my veins as I recalled all the times that I had spoken to her about David and what Adrian or I had in mind in order to eliminate him as soon as we could.

Guilt was another thing playing at my mental state as the constant silence in my room reminded me of how I had accused Anna of helping David, and as a result, got her fired.
I
personally knew how hard it was to find a job after leaving Kingston Corp., and that was because I quit – god only knew how hard it was for Anna since she was actually
fired
from her job.

I sighed before a loud grumble defeated the silence in my room, and I blushed to myself as the hunger finally caught up to my body. I quickly scanned my room in hopes that I would find another chocolate bar lying around and groaned in annoyance when the only thing remotely close to a bar was the wrapping from two days ago.

Deciding it was time to leave the comfortable four walls of the room I was staying in, I went in search of any type of snack that would be available in the kitchen. David didn’t even think to keep a small packet of chips in these cupboards for me to snack on when I got hungry.

I looked around in annoyance to search for the hotel room phone to call room service, when I remembered he had taken that phone away as well. Letting out a frustrated sigh, my eyes landed on the tall security guard standing at the entrance of the room.

I frowned in thought before clearing my throat slightly. “Excuse me.” I spoke up in an attempt to catch his attention.

He remained staring forward, not even flinching at the sound of my voice.

My frown increased as I began making my way towards him. “Hello, is it okay if I ask you for a favour?” I asked once I was standing directly in front of him.

The guard’s eyes slid down to meet my short frame, and he raised an eyebrow in response. “That depends what it is,” he replied.

I opened my mouth to respond but the loud growl of my stomach beat me to it, making my cheeks flush in embarrassment. “I’m kind of hungry,” I mumbled once the loud growl ended.

The guard chuckled and nodded in understanding before pulling out a phone from his pocket. He dialed a few numbers before putting the rectangular device to his ear. “Send up the chef. She’s hungry.”

I smiled slightly as he slid the phone back into his pocket. “Thank you.”

“He’ll be up here in 5 minutes,” he replied swiftly.

I nodded before making my way back to the kitchen in boredom while my previous thoughts came back to my mind. Why would Rita betray me like that? They had mentioned something about money in their conversation… if Rita needed money, why didn’t she just ask Adrian?

A puffed out voice pulled me out of my phase. “I got here as fast as I could.”

“She’s in the kitchen,” I heard the guard reply before a huffing chef joined me in the small space.

“Thank you so much for coming. I’m sorry to trouble you…” I trailed off, grimacing in guilt.

The chef placed the large bags he was holding onto the counter before waving me off. “It was nothing!” he reassured me with a wink. “I get paid to do this, and I love my job. So it’s a win-win situation. What would you like me to cook?”

I bit my lip in thought. “Uh… I’d really like a cheeseburger and some fries right now. Is that okay, chef…?”

“Just call me Victor.” He grinned, taking out a small bag of potatoes. “And of course I can do that. I can make that with my eyes closed!”

I smiled at his enthusiasm before taking a seat on the opposite side of the table. “Thank you so much.”

“So what’s your name again?” Victor asked as he began peeling the potatoes at lightning speed.

“Emily. Do you… Did you want me to help with anything?” I asked as I watched him throw the peeled potatoes into a steel bowl.

“Nope. I’m good! How long have you been here?”

I sighed before answering. “I’m not sure. I think it’s been about a week now.”

“Wow. The girls he usually keeps here would’ve broke and did what he wanted the night he brought them in. You’re a fighter. Admirable trait.” Victor nodded in approval.

My mind temporarily blanked. “What do you mean ‘other girls’?” I asked in disgust.

“Oh… Please don’t tell me you’re the jealous type.” Victor cringed, looking away from the potato in his hands to give me a look of panic.

I scoffed. “Not for David. I can’t stand the man.”

Victor let out a loud laugh before he finished cutting his last potato. “I knew I remembered your face! You were the one that pretended to be allergic to ravioli and glared at him the entire dinner! I like you.” He grinned while pointing the knife in my direction.

I laughed and blushed at the comment before looking down at the white table. “Would you know if… I mean… do you have a phone I could use?” I whispered, my eyes growing wide with desperation as I met his smiling expression.

Unfortunately, Victor’s grin instantly fell at the mention of the small technological device. “I… I’m sorry, Emily… I’m not allowed to give it to you to use. He… He tracks my calls because I’m the assigned chef for this room. I have to keep my mouth shut and that’s how he makes sure of it,” he explained with a sympathetic expression.

I swallowed in disappointment before nodding in understanding. “It’s okay… Thanks anyway.”

An uncomfortable silence settled between us as began to chop up the vegetables for the cheeseburger, and I decided to speak up again. “So… Are you seeing anyone at the moment?” I asked in an attempt to make conversation.

Victor grinned. “Why, are you interested?”

My cheeks flushed crimson as his reply registered in my mind. “No, I have a boyfriend. I was just asking.”

Victor laughed at my reply. “I know, the infamous Adrian Kingston. I was just trying to be funny. I have a wife and 3 children,” he answered, smiling as he mentioned his family.

“Oh that’s great! What are their names and how old are your children?” I asked with a grin.

“Katherine is my wife, and my children are Kelly, Seth, and James. Kelly is 4, Seth is 2 and James just turned 8 months three days ago.”

I let out a sigh of admiration and grinned in his direction. “They sound lovely.”

“Seth is Satan’s spawn; but I love them. Hey! Maybe you could come and have dinner at my place one day! Katherine would love to meet someone like you. Your burger is served madam,” Victor announced in a badly attempted French accent.

I laughed as he set the plate filled with fries and a fresh cheeseburger in front of me, and I dug into the fries immediately. “Is he starving you up here or something?” Victor laughed as he observed my eagerness to eat.

“She was starving herself, actually.” David’s cool voice sounded from behind me. “Victor, your services are always appreciated. You may leave now.”

I stopped chewing mid-fry as all the hunger in my body deflated and the burger suddenly seemed less appetizing than it was a few seconds ago.

Victor nodded as soon as David finished speaking, and instantly began to pack his things. “If you need anything else to eat, just tell them to give me a call,” Victor told me as he placed the last bowl into his bag.

I nodded stiffly, feeling uncomfortable under David’s cool gaze. “Thanks again,” I murmured quietly.

Victor only managed to give a brief smile before he quickly made his way out of the kitchen, leaving me alone with the man I loathed with every fibre of my being.

“So you’ve finally come out of hibernation,” David commented with an amused smile.

I didn’t bother to respond as I meekly put another fry into my mouth.

“So? Have you finally gotten over your little sulking stage?” David prompted mockingly.

I let out an annoyed groan. “Can you please just… I don’t know… not talk for 5 minutes?”

David chuckled as I took a large bite from the burger. “As you wish, princess. I’ll let you eat in peace, and you can return the favour once you’re done.”

“Whatever,” I mumbled childishly, shoving another two pieces of fries into my mouth and chomping on them miserably. David had killed my mood to the point where even the fries that tasted like crunchy pieces of heaven 5 minutes ago, tasted soggy and stale now.

I decided to take my time eating in an attempt to avoid him for as long as possible; to the point where the bread for my burger began to turn hard from how cold my food was getting.

“I doubt it takes you
that
long to finish a simple burger and fries,” David uttered in annoyance once he re-entered the small kitchen. ”I’ve seen you eat with Allen; you practically inhaled the serving in front of you in less than 5 minutes.”

“It does when I’m trying to avoid people.” I glared in response.

David chuckled at my comment before taking the plate from in front of me. “Get up,” he ordered in a serious tone.

“David, it’s been a week. I don’t know how much more obvious I can make it. Just let me go home.
Please,
” I begged, getting off my seat only to take a few steps away from him.

“Emily. You can make this easier for all of us and just have sex with me. I’m not asking for much-”

“Not asking for much?!” I interrupted hysterically. “You’re asking me to cheat on the man I am currently with and currently in love with, just so the man I loathe with every nerve in my body can have a good fuck!” My hands instantly flew to my mouth once I realised the words I used, and I looked back at him with wide eyes. “Sorry.”

David chuckled at my apology and indicated to where I was standing. “Do you see why I want you so bad, Emily?”

“Don’t start with this stupid ‘you’re so innocent yet so sexy’ speech again or I will literally throw this stool at you.” I growled in annoyance.

David let out an irritated sigh before running his hands through his thinning hair. “I’ve been so patient with you for the past week. I’ve let you sulk over a stupid friendship, not eat, I’ve let you stay in your room and I haven’t forced you into doing anything with me because I want you to be willing-”

“Which will never happen,” I reminded him.

“My patience has now run out with you, Emily. Come here,” David snapped, glaring at me angrily.

My tough expression instantly fell at the tone of his voice and his angry expression, and I stood frozen in the position I was currently in. “David, please don’t do this.”

“Come on, Sunshine. It really isn’t fair that Adrian gets to have the better company
and
the best girl on his arm. I need to do this – to make it even.”

“Then take his company!” I pleaded desperately, taking another step backwards as he took a step towards me.

“No. That won’t suffice,” David muttered angrily. ”You see, you are of much more value to him than his company. I ruin you? He’ll practically have nothing; and I’ll feel even with him for once.”

“This is what this is about? Being even with him? You’re in the business world, David; there will always be people who are better or worse than you are,” I tried calmly, hoping that my advice would distract him from his current intentions. “That’s just how it works! You want to change that? The only way that’s possible is if you try harder to get your business to be successful and more widely spoken about. This is not the way to do it.”