Ruined By My Brother's Best Friend (by Silverwriter) novel Chapter 18

No Contact

ARABELLA’S POV

I didn’t do well under pressure. In fact, I avoided it, especially when every single thing I did had to be watched by someone. And when that someone was the problematic chief editor, Leah, it became an especially uncomfortable situation.

With a heavy stack of files clutched tightly to my chest, I walked through the lobby and headed straight for her office. Since our building had glass walls, I could already see she was inside. I pushed the door open, stepped in, and placed the files on her desk.

“These are the printed copies you asked for,” I informed her.

She looked up with a frown. “You can’t walk into my office without permission.”

I furrowed my brows. “Permission?” I snorted. “You asked me to bring these edits to you. You knew I’d be coming.“/

She leaned back in her chair and tipped her chin up. “Am I sensing a bit of an attitude?” she snapped. “Do you think you have the right to speak to me that way?”

I forced a smile. “I’m simply responding to you.”

She scoffed, looking me up and down with obvious disdain, before shaking her head. “That little bit of attention Christian gave you must be getting to your empty head. Don’t you dare speak to me like that again.”

I maintained a blank expression. “Like I said earlier, you spoke to me, and I simply replied.”

She looked me up and down again, and I resisted the urge to yank her hair and throw her to the ground. She was eyeing me as though I were a filthy rag, and it was getting on my nerves. I was properly dressed in black corporate pants, a red asymmetrical top, and black heels. There was nothing inappropriate about my outfit, so she needed to keep her judgmental eyes to herself.

With venom burning in her eyes, she stood and pointed at me. “You’re nothing but a silly little slut.”

I blinked, trying to process her words. This bitch did not just call me a slut. “Excuse me?”

She looked me straight in the eye. “I said you are nothing but a silly little slut.

I stared at her for a moment. Her words stung, but I didn’t care enough to let them get to me. What bothered me was the fact that I had to stay calm and remain professional. Otherwise, I knew several interesting ways to shut her up with my nails.

Instead, I laughed in her face and nodded innocently. “Oh, I get it now.”

She furrowed her brows. “Get what?”

I curled a finger around a strand of my hair. “Your problem.” I clicked my tongue. “He rejected you… so you decided to become a foolish bitch.”

Her eyes widened instantly, and her nostrils flared. “How dare you!” she spat. “Are you forgetting that I’m your boss?”

I patted my chest and shook my head. “Why, no! I could never forget that.” I turned around and walked toward the door. Just before opening it, I glanced over my shoulder. “Madam,” I added, then walked out.

Jude, one of the new interns, stopped me on my way back to my office. “Hey, wait!” he called as he ran toward me.

I watched him as he panted heavily, trying to catch his breath. “I’m sorry. I… I wanted to ask if you could spare some time to coach me on a few things before closing time.” His eyes were hopeful as he shifted awkwardly on his feet. He’d come to introduce himself to me just yesterday as in intern.

I was terribly tired and would’ve preferred to head straight home, but I’d once been an intern myself. I knew how frustrating it felt to be completely lost, especially in a company like ours, where the senior staff rarely bothered to guide you.

I nodded in response before heading back to my office. Sierra was typing at record speed as I walked past her desk and settled into mine. “What’s the rush?” I asked. “Haven’t you finished your edits?”

She shook her head. “No, it’s not that. I want to leave early today. I have a date with Dave.”

I rolled my eyes. “Of course you don’t.” I leaned back in my chair. “But I hear wedding bells.”

I nodded. “It’s fine. You’re welcome.”

At first, I was worried, so I casually asked Archie about his health. Archie said he hadn’t seen him either, but he was sure Alvise was fine since they’d been chatting online. When he didn’t pick me up on Monday, I assumed he was still sick. Then Tuesday came, I waited patiently for him, but he never showed up. And now, he still wasn’t here.

“Miss Whitmore?” I lifted my head to find Jude still standing beside me.

“You’re still here? I thought you’d already left.”

He shook his head. “Oh, no. I was asking if I could drop you off.”

I frowned. “You have a car?”

He chuckled and scratched the back of his head. “Umm… yeah, you could say that.”

I instantly felt bad for asking. He was an intern and looked young, almost my age, so I’d naturally assumed he’d just graduated from university. Then again, he could’ve come from a wealthy family or had another source of income.

I laughed awkwardly. “I… I’m sorry for asking that. It was a stupid question.”

Jude shook his head. “Never mind. It’s fine.”

He gestured toward the parking lot. “Shall we?”

I nodded and followed behind him. He stopped in front of a black Lamborghini, and I frowned. I found it strange that he was driving a Lamborghini. An actual Lamborghini. It didn’t make sense that someone who owned a car like that would choose to work as an intern. Then again, maybe I was just overthinking it. He unlocked the car and opened the passenger door for me.

Jus as I was about to get in, I spotted Alvise’s car pulling into the driveway.