Chapter 2 BULLY TURNED BOSS

JADE AELYN ROSE'S POV

"A...alex"

I whispered, staring at those cold blue eyes dancing with mirth.

All the memories I had buried so deeply had begun resurfacing once again, it felt that the scars that littered my body were reopening once again.

It seemed that they recognised the person who made them.

His blue eyes made the painful past I swore I left behind rush in.

His name was ALEXANDER JAMES SANDOVAL . He was the epitome of the rich, popular jock in high school. With his charming smile and charismatic personality, he had a way of making everyone fall under his spell, even me despite being the bearer of his cruelty. I was the nerdy girl, the easy target for his cruel jokes and relentless bullying.

I still remember the day it all started. I had just moved to a new town, hoping for a fresh start. But Alex had other plans for me. From the moment he laid eyes on me, he made it his mission to make my life a living hell

"Miss rose"

Ms Lauren called trying to snap me out of my reverie, but her voice was blurred out by the powerful enigma who was making my body quake without doing anything.

"Aelyn "

I shook uncontrollably when he called my name, only he called me by my middle name. He made my name sound like a punishable sin.

I shook my head, his voice was exactly the same, but only deeper but it still held the menacing tone as always.

"Aelyn."

He called again and this time his voice was slightly raised, my knees gave out making me fall to the ground.

I could remember the times he passed through the halls and shoved me in the lockers.

The times he locked me into the janitor's closet when he realised how terrified I was of the dark.

Soon I began hyperventilating and hitting my ears trying to rid myself of those voices that haunted me.

"Aelyn, don't you want to play with us"

"Fattie jade"

'Look Alex, Fattie peed herself.'

Tears streamed down my eyes furiously, as Ms Lauren tried to stop me from continuously hitting myself. She was talking to me but it all just felt like a high pitched ring in my ear.

Black polished shoes were the last thing I saw before passing out.

I woke up on a leather couch, I blinked once and twice trying to make sense of where I was.

"How do you feel ?"

I almost got a whiplash from turning my head so fast at the sound of his voice.

"Ff..I.. ne, thank you"

I spoke hastily as I rushed to stand up from the couch but fell back down because I was lightheaded.

"Take it easy Jade"

His voice cooed and I gaped at him, why was he being so tender.

Why wasn't he making fun of my stutter ? He always made me feel so small and insignificant,

What has changed?

Why was he now nice to me ?

Tears welled in my eyes, so in fact he could be nice, but he chose to hurt me and make my life hell in high-school. He and his friends made me feel less than I actually was.

And now, here he was, sitting in front of me, as my new boss, his face void of the signature smirk always resting on his lips. But something had changed about him. There was a sharpness to his features, a darkness in his eyes that hadn't been there before. It was like looking at a different person, and I couldn't help but wonder what had happened to him since high school.

I continued to stare at him, and he looked ethereal, sitting behind that desk made him more powerful than he seemed.

His great physique made the three piece suit he was wearing seem better than it was.

His dark raven hair tied tightly into a man bun and his icy eyes raking my skin.

I got the hiccups as I continued staring at him.

He was a little too beautiful that sometimes I forgot to function as a human whenever he was close by.

As I snapped out of my daze, I forced myself to speak, despite the trembling in my voice.

"Alex"

I called him, trying to snap him out of his reverie, the way he stared at me unravelled me and made a wreck of nerves.

I managed to say without stuttering, my words barely audible.

"I would rather you address me with honorifics, I am your boss after all"

I swallowed thickly, staring into his eyes that seemed to have softened for a second, hardened again.

"Do you still remember me ?"

He asked, tilting his head slightly

I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat.

"How could I forget?"

I half-whispered, half-mumbled.

He leaned back in his chair, still studying me with those piercing eyes.

"Well, I'm glad to see you've grown up,"

he said, his menacing voice laced with an unsettling mix of mockery and curiosity.

I looked down at my trembling hands, trying to hide the fear that was threatening to consume me.

"I've learned a lot since then,"

I said, my voice is stronger now.

"I won't let you intimidate me anymore."

For a moment, there was silence in the room. The air felt heavy with tension, as if two worlds were colliding in that very moment. And as his gaze bore into mine, I couldn't help but wonder what game he was playing.

Finally, he let out a low chuckle, the sound sending chills down my spine.

"Oh, Jade,"

he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"I never expected you to be so feisty. This might actually be interesting."

My heart sank. It was as if he still saw me as that timid, scared girl from high school. But I was determined to prove him wrong. He stood up, taking one step after another, his eyes never leaving mine until he was standing right infront of me.

I took in a shaky breath, when he bent to my eye level.

"As much as I love you being feisty "

He said softly as he caressed my chin, I shut my eyes, relishing his touch.

His hand grabbed my neck harshly and I stared at him, my brown eyes shining with fear.

"I miss my obedient Aelyn."

He said with a wicked smirk that left a cold shiver down my spine, And made a new resolve steel within me. If working for my former tormentor was the price I had to pay for my dreams, then so be it. But one thing was certain, I would not let history repeat itself.

I would prove to myself and to Alex that I was no longer the girl he had known in high school. I was stronger, wiser, and ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.