Chapter 5 Game of Power

Walking on her way to the office, Chloe felt the icy morning air on her face, which made her feel alive. When she closed her eyes for a moment, she felt the taste of that kiss.

The kiss that kept Chloe awake during all night.

She was not sure about his true intentions. After one year working for him, that was the first time Mr. Bailey crossed the line. Did he do that just to push Chloe to accept the deal?

How could she look at him from now on without thinking about those lips?

Already inside the elevator, Chloe made the to-do list on her mind, as always. She decided she wouldn’t think about what happened with Mr. Bailey last night.

That was a misunderstanding. He was out of his mind for sure.

“Good morning!” Chloe said when she passed through the Coffee Room’s door.

“What are you doing here?” Brianna asked with a surprised face.

“Lovely in the morning, huh?” the brunette mocked.

“No, you got it wrong! I’m sorry.” Brianna was working on the coffee machine. “I just thought you would not show up today. I was about to send a message to you.”

Chloe stopped with two mugs in her hands. She stared at Briana’s back.

“Why?” she asked suspiciously.

“Mr. Bailey called me earlier this morning. He asked me to do some duties that belongs to you. Therefore, I thought you got a free day after yesterday’s great performance.” Brianna simply said.

A red light came on in Chloe’s mind. What kind of game he was trying to play? Was he determined to fire her? He should be man enough to talk to her before he delegates her duties to someone else.

Chloe stepped out of the room with hard steps, furiously. Without saying a word.

Since when accept that kind of proposal was among her chores?

She didn’t deserve to be treated this way just because she refused to accept that unfair deal.

All those thoughts were driving her crazy. Chloe was too mad and she needed to think clearly before she confronted him.

She made her way to her desk trying to calm herself down. Chloe had a very hard temper. When she was furious, she used to lose her mind, spilling everything out without a filter.

Love? Of course he didn’t know what this word meant! He should have an iceberg instead of a heart.

Maybe his ex-fiancée was not that wrong when she dumped him.

Chloe was walking around the room, overthinking.

Suddenly, her phone rang.

“Hey mom! How are you? Is everything ok?” Chloe answered quickly.

“I’m good, baby. Hope I’m not bothering you.”

“It’s ok. You sound sad. What’s wrong?”

Her mother never called her during work hour.

“I have something to tell you… We closed the restaurant.” the woman said sadly.

“How come? What happened?” Chloe didn’t understand.

“We don’t have money to keep it open anymore, unfortunately. We are bankrupt.”

“Oh Gosh, I can’t believe it! How’s dad?”

“He’s devastated. That business was everything to him for 30 years, you know...”

“Mom, don’t be sad! We will figure a way out of this mess, ok?” Chloe paused to take a deep breath and hold the tears. “I need to go now. Take care of dad. I’ll call you back.”

“ We miss you, Chloe. Take care! Love you.”

“Me too, mom.”

Chloe hung up the phone feeling her chest tight.

How come she didn’t know her parents were in trouble? Maybe she was busy working for a rude CEO whom only thought about himself.

That statement made her angrier. She needed to take her job back once and for all.

Chloe made her way towards Mr. Bailey’s office.

“Mr. Bailey.” she caught his attention.

Chloe was standing in front of his desk. Her anger was making her tremble.

Mr. Bailey was reviewing some papers and when he heard her voice he lifted his head and looked quickly at her. His eyes were two ice rocks.

“What are you doing here? I didn’t call you.” he stated.

She took a deep breath to control herself and said:

“You didn’t call me but you know why I am here.”

“Make yourself clear, Ms. Rodriguez.” he paused, crossing his arms in front of his chest. “And be quick, I don’t have time for little talks.”

“Why did you ask Briana to do what I am here to do?” Chloe simply asked.

“I just can’t believe you are in my office to ask me something like this.” Mr. Bailey got up on his feet while his hands were closed in fists on the table. “Do I need to remind you who you are in this company?”

That question made her shiver.

Mr. Bailey was staring straight into her eyes.

Chloe couldn't look away from him. That question took her by surprise and it was quite intimidating.

The air was heavy with tension. She gulped as she realized his eyes were full of… anger?

Many questions were around her mind at that moment so she couldn’t formulate a sentence.

And there were those lips.

Her hands were sweating. Chloe could feel the heat rising through her body.

She just couldn't tell if it was anger or excitement.

“Ms Rodriguez?” after a few minutes he asked again.

She shook her head to make those thoughts go away and said:

“I know exactly where I belong, Mr. Bailey.”

That statement had two meanings. If he was clever, he would understand that.

Chloe lifted her chin and straightened her pose to show that she was convinced before she added:

“I’m here just to let you know that I’m available to work and I don’t need help to execute my duties.”

Mr. Bailey made his way towards her.

He removed the hair from her neck and with the other hand he held her hip.

Chloe held her breath when Mr Bailey spoke in her ear softly:

“Are you sure you don’t need help, Ms. Rodriguez?”

All her body was contracted. She was about to explode with excitement.

But that was her work place. And he was her boss.

“Mr. Bailey…” she whispered.

“You can call me Evan if you want.” He said while he bit her earlobe.

Chloe was confused by her thoughts and she didn’t know how to deal with that situation.

“No, don’t touch me!” she regained consciousness and walked away from him.

“Ok.” Mr. Bailey said while he returned to sit. “You can leave now.”

Chloe gave up on arguing and made her way towards the door.

“Ms. Rodriguez!” he said rudely.

She turned around to look at him.

“Nothing has changed. You won’t be fired this time.” he paused for a second. “But I must say you need to think twice before coming to my office.”

Then he came back to his business.

She left the room feeling frustrated and humiliated.

When she thought she couldn't be surprised by this man's arrogance anymore, he outdid himself.

“Chloe?” Brianna found her friend stagnant standing in front of Mr. Bailey’s door. “What’s wrong?”

“He has no limits, Bri.” she said dropping a tear.

Why did Chloe have the impression that everything had changed after that dinner?