Chapter 114:
Olivia’s Point of View
I threw the bomb in Mr. Robert’s face and stood watching his features; I imagined him erupting, smashing the desk, or running right now to tear Julie to pieces.
But he didn’t. He remained still as a marble statue, glancing at me with a cold look devoid of any expression.
I didn’t give up; instead, I stepped closer and delved into the details, watching for the slightest movement in his facial muscles:
"That time I found him cornering her in the meeting room... and yesterday, someone saw him sneaking out of her room at dinner time."
Not a single hair on his face moved; he remained maintaining that indifferent look that kills any attempt to provoke him. He took a calm breath and said in a dry tone:
"And what is my business with my personal assistant’s relationships, Olivia?"
I felt as if I had fallen from a great height; my body recoiled slightly and the smile froze on my lips.
His reaction, which was not taken into account, shocked me.
My fingers toyed nervously with the collar of my shirt and I muttered:
"I... I just thought..."
He interrupted me with a voice as sharp as a blade that made me jump in my place:
"Mind your business, and do not interfere in affairs that do not concern you!"
I bowed my head immediately, feeling the heat of shame attacking my cheeks:
"Yes, sir... I apologize."
He returned to his files and added coldly:
"Go with Ron, bring the missing dresses and shoes."
I straightened my posture and said quickly:
"Alright, Mr. Robert, I will go at once."
I walked out of the office, and despite the sting of his reprimand that still burned my ears, I felt an overwhelming urge to dance.
I leaned against the outer wall and released a long exhale filled with relief; this means he doesn’t care about that girl! If she had a place in his heart, his anger would have burned everything in its path by now.
I muttered to myself with a wide smile:
"Thank God... my Robert is still the ice man I knew; that insect didn’t dare to melt his ice."
I headed toward the club’s exit to join Ron, with joy filling my chest.
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Julie’s Point of View
I stepped out of the bathroom after a grueling training session with Max, my body still trembling from the excessive effort and the lurking terror deep within me.
I dried my hair randomly and put on a red dress that reached mid-calf. I didn’t know how I would be able to face that monster; for last night was nothing but a series of torn nightmares, and the image of the pliers crushing the man’s finger bones hadn’t left my imagination.
My heart squeezed with pain and disgust as I thought:
"I can’t believe that bastard is the one who took my first kiss."
I walked with heavy steps toward the office, knocked lightly on the door, and entered.
Robert was leaning back in his massive chair, wearing a dark blue suit that highlighted his sternness, holding a glass of "whiskey" and sipping it slowly.
I said to myself in wonder:
"Whiskey in the morning? This isn’t normal."
I stood before his desk and tried to fold my fingers behind my back to hide their trembling, and asked:
"Do you need my help with anything?"
He raised his cold eyes toward me and said in a commanding tone:
"Come closer, Julie."
I moved a few steps and sat on the chair opposite him, seeking some stability, but his sharp voice pierced the silence:
"Did I tell you to sit?"
I bolted upright as if the chair had turned into embers, feeling the insult sting my face.
I cursed him in my mind while shooting him a defiant look despite the fear, and said:
"What do you want?"
A cold, malicious smile appeared on his lips, and he adjusted his stance while putting his hands in his trouser pockets, saying with disdain:
"Do you think that ridiculous kiss gives you the right to exceed your limits?"
I felt a sudden heat invade my cheeks; was he implying that I gave that moment more value than it deserved? He continued while looking at me with a demeaning look that made me feel small:
"I forgot that your lack of experience might make you weave illusions in your head... like a little Cinderella waiting for a miracle."
I felt the sting of the word pierce my skin; did he just call me "Cinderella"? Does he really think I’m that stupid girl sitting in the corner waiting impatiently for him to pity her with his love?
I took a deep breath, pressing my hands on the edge of the desk behind me until my knuckles turned white, trying to extinguish the volcano boiling in my chest.
I painted cold features on my face and said in a calm tone, gathering all my pride so he wouldn’t see the effect of his provocation in my eyes:
"Cinderella loved a prince, Mr. Robert... she didn’t love a monster."
I raised my head further, and our gazes met in a silent challenge before I continued:
"And even the Beauty who loved the Beast... he was originally a prince struck by a curse."
He didn’t flinch; instead, his facial muscles relaxed into a mocking smile, and he put his hands in his trouser pockets, tilting his head slightly, and said in a sarcastic tone:
"Hmm... it seems you know all the children’s stories very well... little child."
I cursed him in my mind with all the anger I possessed; that damn bastard never stops trying to belittle me. I took one step closer to him, until I almost touched his chest with my shoulder, and said with a poisoned sharpness:
"And unfortunately... there is a pervert who likes to buy children."
Robert’s body stiffened suddenly, and his jaw clenched with a force that made the veins in his neck bulge clearly.
A heavy silence prevailed in the room, and I felt his breath falter slightly from the impact of my words which hit his pride mortally.
I didn’t back down an inch; instead, I straightened my posture before his towering height, feeling my heart as if it wanted to leave its place.
I threw my final words in his face as if they were gunshots:
"And you have no right to prevent me from anything... especially since you kissed me yesterday! I cannot stand that taste... I want someone else to delete it quickly before I suffocate."
His eyes ignited with a flash of sweeping rage that made me feel the heat of his breath becoming more troubled.
But I didn’t give him a chance to respond; I turned my back and said curtly:
"Since you don’t need me now... excuse me, Mr. Robert."

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