|Jadesola|

<I got heels higher than your standards>

Monday, June 21, 2021

"NO." KIAN shook his head, dumping the file on his desk. Then he returned to poring through the Chicago Times.

"No?" I echoed in disbelief as swift anger flashed through me. Glaring daggers at the imbecile, I snatched the file off his desk and waved it in his face. "I've been working my ass off for the past two days and all you have got to give me is a no?! Did you even read it?"

He gazed up from the newspaper and ran me down with those piercing azure eyes of his. Sizing me up with acidic intent, face shuttered. "No. Besides, I didn't see the need to, not when my attention span couldn't even last a minute while trying to read the first word. It's bland, Miss Jadesola and I suggest you revise your work or better still, start a new one." Then he went back to reading. Yes, that was what he did all day while I slaved away.

"The nerve of you son of a b-" I started, mad enough to yearn to bash his stupid head in the wall.

When his brows cocked up in response, attention still glued to a section, I bit my lips down hard to prevent the ugly names that threatened to spill out of me. I was tempted, very much so, to say quite a million colorful descriptions about him.

Tapping my heels against the ground, I gritted out between clenched teeth, "This is about the other day isn't it? I made you lose your deal, now you want me to pay dearly for it, right? Because I don't see how in the hell the article I wrote is bland. I spent days, not a day, days to do that! I mean I deserve some "you tried"," I put quotation marks in the air, "from you at least."

Still unperturbed, Kian turned a page, voice as dry as ever. "You don't do well with corrections, I see and that won't get you far. Now if you're done, I presume you know your way out, yes?"

"Also," Raising his head up, he fixed me to a scathing perusal, one that made me itch to tear out his eyes. "No lunch for you till you're done."

Bastard. The way he talked, so unfeeling and cold, like he was a robot. Arghh. Pissed, I curled my fist in a ball and took the nearest exit- before I performed a damning action: punching Kian.

The report slammed on the desk the moment I made it inside. Still fuming, I kicked at the leg of the chair before me. The rage fizzing in my body, I needed to let it all out. On something. Or more preferably, someone.

These past few days, working with Kian has been pure hell. Krack! My left leg met the wooden object.

His office, a room of affliction. Thwack! The sound of my right foot on the shiny surface was music to my ears.

It was a torture to serve the asshat. Imagine, giving him coffee, keeping newspapers on his desk every morning, cleaning his office, like I was some slave. Thud. A final hit to the chair succeeded in draining my righteous anger.

I hunkered down, exhausted from all the kicking. Heaving out a tired sigh, I slumped on the seat.

But at least, he'd kept to his own side of the deal. Kian had signed the contract even though I was scared he wouldn't, not after I'd made him lose that Brazilian deal.

Cracking my fingers in satisfaction, I sat straighter. Now that half of the debt was paid, I could breathe freely. No more debt hounds on my neck. Just two more months with him and I would be done with the devil. It was only a small price to pay.

The report stared at me and I stared back, annoyance creeping forth in my blood. To be honest, the first sentence was boring. Perhaps, Kian was right but I would die before I admit it. So I got to work.

Three hours later, after much interruptions on Kian's part, I was nearly done. I only had to finish the last paragraph.

"You know, if you scowl continuously like that, your forehead will be wreathed in wrinkles, right before you even clock thirty," a manly voice said, a dry chuckle following, "If you're not already thirty."

Startled, I averted my strained eyes up to see a handsome young man across me, hands in his pocket. Tall frame tilted against the wall, his exact resemblance with a certain person blew me away and If I didn't know better I would say that this was Kian, well the friendly one with much better hair. "Uhm, sorry? And no, I'm not thirty."

He grinned, pure white teeth flashing at me. "Good to know. What made you frown like that?"

"My boss." I rolled my eyes, lips pursed in disdain as I allowed my fingers to fall away from the keyboard.

"Ah. Kian. One thing we have in common. I always frown that way whenever I see him too." Mystery guy winked at me. A very attractive wink, if I might add.

Lips curved in the ghost of a smile, I uttered in a wry tone, "Glad to know someone else is going through what I am. Jadesola Anyalewechi, Kian's personal assistant."

Mystery guy's brows pulled up in surprise, as he voiced out, "The Jadesola? So you're the girl that I saw in the pictures."

A dark frown etched a vee between my forehead. "Do I know you?"

"No but I saw your pictures in Kia- never mind." He advanced closer and leaned in, bringing his hand out for a shake. Even though I was curious, bothered about the sentence he'd been about to say, I took it.

"Ryan Donohue, nice to meet you." Ah, so he was Sarah's boss. As we shook hands, his tangy aftershave tingled my nostrils, a pleasant scent.

"Nice to meet you too. Donohue. So you're not Kian's brother?"

He leaned away, nose wrinkled in disgust as if the mere thought of being Kian's brother was revolting. "His brother?! Man, that would be the understatement of the century. I would rather be born with no eyes, than have him as my brother and that's saying a lot."

"Okay..." I watched him, puzzled, my attention on his striking person. He was drop dead gorgeous, no cap. Strong jawline, high cheekbones and a tint of a dark beard. Even their eyes matched, the same mesmerizing azure blue that always stole my breath away.

Ryan must have noticed the bewildered look on my face because he began laughing, a rumbling hoot that was slightly infectious. "I'm kidding. Kian's my cousin and as much as I want to strangle him most days, I still love him."

"Mhmm, not me though." I tapped a pen on a notebook before me just as the buzzer rang, alerting me to the sad fact that I had a job to complete. About to say goodbye to Ryan and conclude the report, my stomach growled. Talk about awkward.

I mumbled, a red haze on my cheeks, "Sorry about that."

Ryan chortled. "Don't be. Want to go have lunch? Actually I was about to, but decided to branch into Kian's office."

"Nah." I flicked a stray braid aside, persuaded to discard this work and feed my demanding belly. "No lunch for me till I'm done. Boss's orders."

"Come on!" He'd rounded the cubicle and was holding out a strong hand, a warm smile deepening a slight slash on his cheeks." I'm the second in command, so don't worry. Besides, it's a bonus. You get to be acquainted with me and I'll get to know more about this beautiful woman sitting before me." A wink followed his sentence, eyes glinting.

Man was a flirt. An unyielding one. I'd give him that.

"Since you say so," I piped up, shrugging. I was more than glad to dump my work. Not only was I hungry, I had the opportunity to dally with a fellow worker, thereby flaunting one of Kian's stupid rules. And as long as there was a motive to infuriate him, then count me in.

I allowed my palm to slide in his. "Lead the way, second in command."

***

Ryan was so amusing. His dirty humor was out of this world and I couldn't count how many times I'd choked on my drink because of him. Not only was he funny, sexy and attentive topped his charts and if I wasn't still reeling from Amir's betrayal, he'd be on my list of men I would love to bone. Totally.

Right now, he was mimicking Kian's shrouded/no-nonsense personality. To play the part, he'd even messed up his dark hair, unbuttoned his shirt and cufflinks, then retained his facial expression to one of displeasure.

"Alice, I give you five minutes to clean up this mess or you're done for," Ryan began in a gruff tone, lips pressed in a thin line yet eyes gleaming in humor. I snorted, the wall holding back the mirth in me, a mere second to breaking down.

His eyes fell on me and I pretended to shiver in fear, acting along. "Don't you dare laugh at me Miss Jadesola. I own you, mind, body a-"

"And a nice pile of paperwork to slog through." A menacing shadow fell across us. Speak of the devil.

Ryan dropped the charade and whirled around to face him. "Ah, cousin. Care to join in on the fun?"

"It's 2pm, Ryan. Working time." As he talked in a voice devoid of any emotion, he stared at me, a blank expression on his annoyingly gorgeous features. But I chose to ignore him and stabbed at my salad instead.

Ryan's eyes rounded in mock surprise. "Really?" Then he made a show of gaping at his watch. "Wow, it is 2pm. But, all work and no play makes Kian a dull man so sit, brother. Eat and be merry." He patted the chair next to him, beaming.

The guy was a damn clown. A snicker escaped my lips but I drowned it with my drink, enjoying the show.

"Ryan," Kian warned, tone pitched in a voice that screamed of pure vexation.

The said cousin in question raised his hands in surrender. "Fine, fine. I'm leaving. Jeez."

He angled forward and placed a kiss on my right cheek. "Bye Jadesola."

As he was about to shift back, he lingered by my ear, whispering, "Rile him as much as you can, Jade. Man fucking deserves it."

"You got it." I smiled coyly as I observed him pick up his black jacket and straighten his white shirt.

"See you later, beautiful."

"Same here. I'll get Sarah to give you my number." Nodding in response, Ryan was already retreating when I added the last part just to irk Mr. Grumpy here, the more, "Bye again, handsome."

Silence reigned then a voice infused with ice rang out, "You're not giving out any fucking number. Also, what happened to rule number six?"

I sipped on the cold cola, intent on not making eye contact with the arrogant piece of shit. "You mean rule number I-don't-give-a-ratass-about?"

Warm air encircled me and I finally lifted my lashes. He was across the table now, no longer in an upright position but bent, his palms spread on the table clothes and right eye twitching in exasperation. "I'll try again. What part of no eye-fucking or interacting with the male workers did you not understand?"

"The part where you're jealous I don't eye fuck you instead?" I regarded him through slitted eyes, antagonized as well.

A mirthless grin graced his stony face, his jaw ticking furiously, eyes blazing with unholy fire. "You wish. Now get to work, Miss Jadesola." Abruptly, he straightened, circled around and stormed off.

I stared at his broad back, my traitor self noting how the gray shirt fitted perfectly against his body, the trousers moulding his delectable ass and a wicked idea slowly took form in my head.

He was green, try as he may want to deny it. Even greener than the unwanted broccolis that decorated my plate. After all, the Kian I know never, ever, goes searching for his assistant. Ever. So, guess who was bothered? I hid a coy smile.

A/N: I am back after a month and some days, I know. Well, I've not been updating because I lost motivation to, tbh. Sorry, I left you guys hanging. *insert doe eyes emoji* Forgive me? Thank you. Also, I changed the title of my book- hehe. It's now Daredevil and I'm guessing we all know who's the devil and the one who dares the devil...

In the next chapter, there will be some steamy action between our faves, Ryan, I mean Kian and Jade. Okay okay, that was a joke... or not! Hehe.

Thanks again and who knows though, you might get another chapter today. Fingers crossed.

P.S: This book is a slow burn romance. Love, Nita.