Chris The Hard Guy – Chapter XI ( 11 )

“Where sir?” Sam asks once we get into the car.

“Back to the house Sam.”
“I’m not going back there. Take me to my place Sam.”

Chris glares at me but I’m not going to give him the pressure to intimidate me. I need my space and it will be better if I go back to my apartment. I know I like him but I don’t want to rush to decisions I might regret later.

More so with some arrogant man who is like a stranger to me. I know nothing about him. Except for the fact that he is f**king rich and is an azzhole. I don’t want
to be bossed around. All that bossing was enough. I’m not his wife. I like men who I can control.

“Do as I say Sam!” he bellows and glares at me.
“No Sam. Take me home. You don’t want to be sued for some abduction.” I can see how confused Sam is but I don’t care. That’s what he gets for having an asshole for a boss.

“You don’t get to threaten him Amelia. You know you won’t win.” He is so angry.
“Then tell him to take me to my place.”
“I don’t want to argue with you Amelia. I’m not in the mood for your stubbornness!”
“I just want to go to my place Chris. I’m not your wife! Damn it!”

“Take a cab and go home Sam. I will deal with this.” Sam quickly gets out of the car without saying anything. He knows it better not to argue with his boss.

He is always submissive and I like him. I feel sorry for threatening him but hell no! He should have taken me home and it wouldn’t have gotten to that.

But who am I kidding? He takes orders from only Chris. I look at Chris and I can see anger in his eyes. I feel like I have gone overboard but hell no! Screw him for thinking he can control me.

“What did you just say?”
“I said I want to go to my place. I’m not your wife. I’m not Tina. She is the one you should be controlling and not me.”

“So where has all this come from?”
“Don’t you get it? I feel suffocated by all this Chris. I just need my space. I can’t follow you everywhere you go and everything you request. It’s all weird. We are nothing to each other. We are like total strangers and this is all strange and suffocating for me.”

I don’t want to live under the illusion that something is going on between us. We might have kissed but we are not dating. He has a girlfriend. Well, he might not like her but the fact remains that he is dating.

“Is that what you really want?”
“Yes Chris. Take me home please.”
“I will.” He gets out of the car and bangs the door. He is so pissed off. He opens the front door and settles behind the wheel. He turns to look at me.
“Sit in the front Amelia. I need to talk to you and I can’t keep on turning to look at you. I have to focus on the road.”

I oblige and settle on the front seat. Within a few minutes we are in the highway. I can see him stealing side glances at me and I ignore that and decide to look at nothing in particular outside the window. I’m so lost in thought. All I think about is our kiss and what it really meant.

Was he just trying to prove to me I was wrong when I said he was not my type? If that’s the case, why was he so passionate about it? Is there something more to that kiss?

“Waiting for you to apologize.” He says snapping me out of my reverie.
“Apologize? For what?”
“For being rude on me and Sam.”
“Oooh! I didn’t know I was supposed to apologize.”
“You were.”
“Saying I needed to go home was not being rude. I was just stating facts.”
“And you had to do it in such a way! You would have done it better.”
“Are you lecturing me Chris? There is nothing going on between us and it doesn’t give you the right to.”

“Why are you so pissed off all of a sudden?”
“I’m just wondering. Why should you control me and we are not dating? And if we were, I would still not let you control me.”
“What if I want to do it?”
“To do what?”
“We are talking about dating here Amelia. What if I want us to date?” my heart skips a beat.

Did he just say dating? Calm down Amelia! It’s just a suggestion. He didn’t mean it. I look at him but he is focused on the road. I don’t know what I’m supposed to say about that so I choose to remain silent and assume I didn’t hear his question.

“I’m waiting for the answer Amelia. Would you be ready to date me?”
I think for a moment but I don’t know what to say.
“Can we talk about this some other day?”
“Why not now?” aaargh! He is so nagging.
“Can’t think straight for now.”
“If you say so.” He shrugs and gives me a long look. Things are getting more complicated than I thought.

What am I even supposed to say to him? I’m tempted to say yes to him and haul myself at him but I can’t. I don’t know him that well and it’s so soon.

I have a lot of revenging to do and I can’t do it when we are dating. He will obviously get in my way. I stare at him and our eyes meet. I quickly look outside the window to avoid his intense eyes. We reach my place and he pulls over. He takes my hand and squeeze it reassuringly. He of course know that the environment between us is tense and wants me to feel better.

“Stay here. I will open your door.” I don’t want to disappoint him any further and so I oblige. He walks to my side and opens my door. He takes my hand and leads me to the door. We stand there saying nothing to each other. He takes my face on his hands and crushes his lips on mine. I quickly disentangle myself from him and clear my throat.

“Thanks for dropping me home. I will see you around.”
I’m barely inside my house when my phone vibrates in my bag. I glance at my wrist watch; it’s a quarter past one in the morning. Who can possibly be calling so late?

I turn to look at Chris and he’s opening his car door. At least I’m sure he’s not the one who’s calling.
I fumble in my bag for my phone then I glance at the flickering screen. It’s a new number. I’m not picking a random call at one in the morning.

I walk in and throw my bag on the couch. I sit down to tug off my heels and the phone vibrates again. It’s getting on my nerves so I decide to answer it and be done with it.
The moment I press the answer icon, an angry high pitched female voice fills my ear.

I frown as I push my phone from my ear and hold it at a distance until the cursing is over.
She finally pauses when she realizes that I’m not talking. She sighs from the other end before speaking.

“Hello?” Her voice is vaguely familiar.
“Hi,” I reply simply while stalking to my bedroom. I want to lie down so bad. It’s been a long day.
“Why didn’t you talk when you answered the call?”

I don’t like that bossy azz tone.
“Well, you sounded like you had a lot to say so I was letting you monopolize the conversation. It’s your airtime, you know?”
I’m starting to get really agitated.

“Yeah we both know I can afford it. I’m not jobless like some b***ch I know.”
It hits me then.. That’s Tina. No doubt about that.
“Did you have something particular to say to me?”
“Actually yes. I want you to leave my man alone.”
“First, I have no idea which man we are talking about and second, you shouldn’t be calling me at one in the morning. I don’t have your kidney.”
“You have my man you stupid hoe”
“You don’t have to be rude. Trust me you don’t want to do this with me right now.”
“I’ve said this before and I’m saying it again Amelia or whatever the f**k you call yourself. Stay away from Chris, period.”
“Or what?”

“Or I’m going to have that ugly face of yours mashed to pulp.”
“You really think I’m ugly Tina?”
“No, I really know you are ugly.”
“Well, I bet Chris would beg to differ on that.” I say wistfully.
“And what is that supposed to mean?”
“Apparently I was beautiful enough to steal him from you.”
She stills for a moment and I know that I got her by the balls or whatever that ladies have.

When her voice flows into my ears again, it’s low and almost inaudible.
“Why are you hanging around him Amelia?”
“Because he’s sweet enough but mostly because I’m horny.”
“What?! Have you two slept together?”
“Define sleeping together.”
“You know what? Talking to you is just pointless. I hate you and just so you know, I’m going to hurt you if you don’t stay the f**k away from my man.”

“I’m so scared right now.” I reply sarcastically. ” And if we are done with this conversation, you should hang up already. I have a man to go back to.”

“I’m going to kill you.” She says between her teeth.
“You know where to find me.”
I hang up hastily. I don’t have time for such bullshit.

*************
I walk into Kelvin’s office on my Monday morning to occupy my new office. I’m in high spirits. Working with my best friend’s brother ought to be fun.

The receptionist smiles at me.
“Good morning. How can I help you?”
“I’m here to see the CEO. I’m the new project manager.”
“Miss Amelia, right? Mr Brown told me to expect you. Just come with me and I’ll show you your new office. “

I follow her down the hallway past the partitioned office to a corner office. My name is engraved on top of the door and I smile inwardly.
I owe Kelvin a drink.

I push the door open and the surprise awaiting makes my heart thud.
At least three dozen white roses are placed neatly on my desk.