Chapter 6 SIX

Liam wanted to tell the man right to his face that he only answered to his boss and he was no boss of his, but he remained quiet, making sure to glare at the man to relay his untold message.

The man's jaw dropped at the sight of that but before he could speak, Anastacia was already talking.

"I need to know of your every moment, 'boy'!" She stressed, gaining satisfaction from his flinching at the sound of being called a boy. It was like her own revenge for him breaking one of her rules. "How can't I know of my secretary's whereabouts?" She continued and Liam frowned.

"You should know I had gone to - "

"Do not tell me what I should or shouldn't know." She yelled at him and her fiance smirked, making Liam's anger aggravate. "You're dismissed. Now hand over the documents!"

"Okay." He nodded, handing over the documents and walking away without another word. He was already feeling suffocated staying in the same room with those narcissistic and proud individuals so it was a relief to finally leave. He closely shut the door and walked to his desk silently.

Meanwhile, Anastacia's eyes lingered on the closed door even when there was nothing interesting going on there. She was quite shocked at the unexpected behaviour of her secretary. She had expected all manner of reactions from him but definitely not this. He had simply walked out without a word which was quite unlike him. Perhaps, he was beginning to know his place and how best it was for him to simply obey rather than talk smart with her. She smiled at that.

"Why are you smiling?" Robert asked with a small smile on his face and her smile vanished completely.

"Well. . ." She brought her glass to her lips, fully aware of his eyes on her even when she was not looking at him.

"I like how you put that rude secretary in his place. Mr. Blaise was always so lenient with him, that's why he thinks he is just like us."

"Well, having to walk with people of our class can be deceiving sometimes." She lowered her glass. "He thinks he is one because he walks with us." She shrugged and watched as Robert laughed heartily. She was fully aware of how he likes jokes as this. She smiled softly.

"So I was thinking," he leaned closer to her, so close that she could feel his breath on her face. She stiffened but didn't move away, knowing how he could be if she did. The last experience was still fresh in her head and she would not like a repeat.

"We should have dinner together. I haven't taken you out ever since your return and I kinda feel bad."

"You don't have to." She tried not to feel disgusted at his heavy breathing on her lips.

"But I do," he leaned in to peck her on the lips and she gripped the side of her dress tightly before releasing it.

"So here is the thing," he finally pulled away. "There is this new restaurant that opened recently. I heard they have the best food. So why don't we try it out?" He beamed and she slowly nodded, even when she didn't like the idea.

"That is a good idea." She approved and he held her hand, trying to pull her to her feet as he got up.

"Let's get going then."

"Wait, now?" She held him back and he turned to look at her.

"Yea, why not?"

"I still have to go through this." She raised the documents she had just received from Liam in the air and Robert groaned.

"Can't that wait?"

"No, it can't." She forced a smile and walked to her desk chair so she could start working.

"Alright! I'll wait." Robert shrugged and plopped down on the sofa to her surprise.

"Wait, what?" She gasped. "Aren't you supposed to be at work?"

"I'm the boss. I don't have to be there every time. You should really learn from me. The company works with or without you. You just need to appear once in a while to keep some fools in their place, but not every day."

"My dad appeared every day." She muttered, sorting through her drawers for her pen. "But do as you wish." She added and Robert's smile widened.

A few hours gone and Robert was still waiting patiently. He had now fallen asleep on her sofa his head hanging low. Anastacia sighed heavily as she put away all the documents before her and stood to her feet. She had thought he would get tired of waiting and would shift their date to some other day but she had been wrong.

She grabbed her jacket which she had hung on her chair and took her bag.

"Let's go." She nudged him by the shoulder and he jumped to his feet, straightening and adjusting his shirt, before leading the way out.

Her secretary was typing furiously on the pads of the keyboard and she rolled her eyes even when he could not see her.

"I'm stepping out with Robert." She informed him and he finally looked up, his green eyes locking with hers for a moment before he looked away.

"Alright." He muttered. From the tone of his voice, she could tell he was still angry with her and she frowned but walked away without saying anything.

The restaurant Robert took her to was very classy and beautiful. She admired the interior designs of the room as she walked alongside her fiance who was now leading her to a table by the window. He drew the seat backward for her and she sat, thanking him softly and placing her handbag on the table.

"This is really nice." She complimented and a big smile spread on his face.

"I knew you will like it." He grinned and she nodded.

A waiter immediately walked up to their table and after welcoming them, requested for their order.

"We will have a plate of chicken pepperoni each." Robert quickly said and she frowned. It was true she enjoyed eating chicken pepperoni but she was in no mood to eat that now.

"Mmm, I will rather have chips and dip," she told the waiter and the young man looked at Robert for confirmation but Robert had a scowl on his face. Anastacia frowned at the waiter's behaviour but chose to remain quiet and immediately the waiter left, Robert snapped at her.

"I thought you liked chicken pepperoni!"

"Yes, I do but that does not mean I will like to eat them every day." She bit back and his face reddened at that.

"Don't talk smart!" He warned and she locked her gaze with his, wanting to talk back but choosing not to. From how hard he was gripping the table before him, she could tell he was already very angry and she knew the things he could do when he was angry.

They remained in uncomfortable silence until the waiter returned with their orders and as Anastacia stared at the dish before her, she suddenly felt full.

It seemed the small fight she had with Robert had ruined her appetite. She glanced at Robert who was already digging into his food and she sighed heavily. That got Robert's attention and he looked at her.

"What is the matter?" He asked tightly; still angry at her for embarrassing him the way she did. He was sure the waiter was thinking he didn't know his girlfriend that much and that thought alone was demeaning for him.

"Mmm," Anastacia thought of what to say. Apparently, Robert would wreak havoc on her if she told him she had suddenly lost her appetite. "I don't feel well." She said at last and he grimaced.

"You seemed perfectly fine to me when you argued with me a few minutes ago."

"Well, I don't feel fine now." She muttered and he slowly dropped his fork, folding his arms and staring at her intently.

"Why do I feel you are intentionally trying to ruin our date, Stacia?" He asked at last and she gasped.

"What?"

"You do this every time." He slammed his palms on the table, making quite a resounding noise that made people turn their heads. Anastacia felt her cheeks reddening in embarrassment and she glared at him. "Every time I try to do something for you, you always end up ruining it. You always wanna ruin it. I ordered something for you but you refused it just to be stubborn and now that you've ordered what you wanted, you say you feel sick?"

"Are you worried because you have to pay for something I didn't get to eat? You don't have to bother. I will pay." She said, waving to the waiter that had taken their order and bringing out her purse.

"You know that's not it, Anastacia!"

"Then what is it?" The waiter had already gotten to their table and she turned to him. "How much is our meal?"

The man opened his mouth to speak but Robert was already on his feet.

"Stop it, Stacia!" He yelled, slamming his palms on the table once again, violently this time and the glasses on the table fell, spilling the liquid content. Anastacia flinched, same with the waiter but Robert was already pulling some wad of cash from his wallet and he flung them at the waiter.

Before she could speak, he walked to her and gripped her by the wrist, dragging her out of the building.

"Let go!" Anastacia tried to her pull herself from his grip but he held on tighter till they got to where his car was parked. He opened the door for her and she slid in, fuming.

He got into the driver's seat and they began their journey home.

"You ruined it!" He yelled, hitting the steering but she remained quiet, panicking and angry at the same time.

"You are very ungrateful and nothing I do pleases you." He continued his rants but she chose to remain silent throughout the drive home even when he kept rambling about how she kept running everything.

They finally got to her house and Anastacia was more than glad. She quietly slid out of the car.

"Thanks for the ride and date." She muttered and he glared at her.

"Thanks for ruining it!" He snapped and pulled out of the driveway.