A vibration on my desk jolts me out of my depressing thoughts. It’s my phone buzzing beside my hand. Turning it over, I see my boss ringing me. I pick it up. “Hey, Radha.”
“Morning, Arya,” she replies. “Would you please come to my office?”
“Yeah, I’ll be there in a minute.” Hanging up, I stroll out of my office and take the elevator to her floor. Her door is halfway open when I get nearer. Knocking once, I inch it open. “Hey, Radha.”
Her face pops up over her laptop. “Come in. Have a seat.”
“What’s up?” I ask after sitting on the chair.
“I received a call from Nathan.”
My heartrate spikes at his name. I try not to fidget and keep my expression neutral. “What did he say?”
“He said he’s got everything he needed from you and would like to rescind the contract, effective immediately.”
“He fired me?” I stammer, dread filling up my stomach.
Radha sternly reminds, “It’s all part of the business, Arya. He no longer needs a publicist. You cannot take it personally. These billionaires rarely stick to one once their needs are met.”
If only that was the case with me. Nathan is severing ties with me for a completely different reason. Another way of protecting me? From what? The suspense of it is killing me. All the alarm bells and warning signals are going off in my brain.
He’s up to something dangerous.
Or going up againstsomeonedangerous.
“You did quite make an impression on him,” hums Radha impressively. “He’s left you a glowing review.”
My eyes widen at the revelation. Yet happiness is the last feeling I’m having.
Radha smiles. “Your chances of promotion are increasing.”
“Thank you,” I say automatically and fake a smile. “Was there anything else?”
“No, you can get back to work.”
Shoving to my feet, I escape her office and run straight to the restroom. Pushing inside a stall, I bend at the waist and gulp in air, trying to diffuse the bubbling panic.
Him firing me without a warning rings like a bad omen. Especially with his firm’s shareholders’ meeting fast approaching.
My instincts tell me to talk to him.
That I made a mistake in pushing him away.
What if he makes a reckless decision because of my ultimatum? He broke all the traffic signals in his need to reach me when I was sick. Who’s to say he wouldn’t do the same in this situation? The stakes are higher.
I’m going to see him tonight and I won’t leave until he gives me answers.
***
I drive over to his apartment straight from work after punching out for the day. Yesterday, I finally had my car back from the mechanic shop. I purposely don’t inform him beforehand that I’m coming, lest he find an excuse to ignore me. He’s known to do it in the past.
My feet tap nonstop on the shiny floor of the elevator as it rides to his penthouse. I watch the floor numbers go up. My nerves are climbing right alongside it. When the door slides open, I hurriedly get out and strut to the black door.
Ringing the doorbell, I anxiously wait.
Nobody answers.
I ring the doorbell again and knock on the wood for extra measure. With a sigh, I go for the last resort. Rifling through my purse, I pull out the extra key he gave me in case of emergencies after we began dating.
