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.”
David laughed, and my shoulders sagged in defeat once I knew my plan wasn’t going to work. “I don’t care about my company. I care about being the best. Having you, apparently, will make that happen. Once we happen, I’ll be known all over the papers and Adrian will be known as the man who had his heart broken.”
I clenched my teeth at the thought of David having satisfaction over Adrian’s misery. “WE are only going to happen over my dead body.” I clenched my fists in frustration before making my move and exiting the kitchen in a sprint.
“ROBERT!” David called out angrily once he realised I had escaped the small area.
I let out a small whimper as the name registered in my mind and only managed to take two more steps before a bulky pair of arms trapped me in the position I was in.