Page 125 of Stanton Adore

“Thank you, Tanya, you have been very helpful.”

The thing about being so angry that you can’t see straight is that you become unpredictable and embarrassing. I storm through the foyer of Joshua’s office and straight to his door. One of the dumb and dumber receptionists speaks.

“Excuse me, you can’t go in there.”

“Fuck off,” I snap. “Try and stop me.” She frowns at the other secretary and I see her push the security alarm button under her desk. This is going well already. I push through the doors and head straight to Adrian’s office. No one is in there. I then push through to Joshua’s office and my eyes narrow as I lay eyes on Adrian sitting at the desk and Joshua standing looking out the window with his hands in his pockets, his back to me. I storm in and Adrian jumps up, obviously shocked at my arrival.

“Natasha,” he gasps.

“Get the fuck out, Adrian, before you witness a murder,” I scream. OK, donkey on the edge here. I’m getting embarrassing but I am way beyond caring. Joshua turns, deadpan, as if he has been expecting my visit.

“Adrian, don’t go anywhere. It is Natasha who’s leaving.”

That’s it. I explode and walk over and slap his face as hard as I can. The crack echoes around the room and Adrian’s face is full of fear—for me. I don’t think he witnesses furious women every day. I know Joshua is going to lose it at my anger, but he can bring it the fuck on. He was looking for a fight and guess what, he found it. Who in the hell does this conceited prick think he is? I go to slap him again when I get no reaction and he grabs my hand midair.

“If you hit me again, expect a return,” he growls. I step back and the bile rises in my throat. I have never been so angry, angry at him, angry at myself for letting him get to me so badly.

“Do you think I’m stupid?” I scream.

He runs his tongue along his front top teeth under his lip as he puts his hands back into his pockets. “Natasha, I’m sorry it had to end like this but the whole relationship thing is…boring for me and it was time to end it.” His ice-cold stare bores into me. “Sorry, if I hurt you; it was unintentional.” I shake my head as I hear Adrian’s audible gasp at what Josh has just said.

“You dumbass, who do you think you are talking to?” I scream. He turns his back to me again and I know it’s to hide his face from me. “You can cut the act, Joshua. Don’t try and fuck with me; I’m a psychologist, remember. I know how your brain works better than you do.”

He turns and glares at me. “I don’t know what you are talking about,” he snaps.

“Oh really, you haven’t just tried to pull the ultimate deceit on me?”

He narrows his eyes. “I couldn’t help myself. She was attractive.”

OK, it’s official, I am going crazy. I burst into laughter. “You think this is about the other girl?” I laugh. He frowns at me but doesn’t speak. I walk over to him and go up close to his face.

“I know about the premeditated inception, you dumb fuck!” I scream.

He steps back in shock that I am onto him. “Inception?” He frowns.

“Inception means to plant an idea in another’s mind. What are you trying to plant in my mind, Joshua?” I angrily tap on the side of my head.

“Stop it,” he yells. “You don’t know what you are talking about!” he screams. I walk around him with my arms crossed in front of me, sizing him up. He looks like he’s about to run.

“You see, Joshua, you insult my intelligence if you think I don’t know what you have done.” He glares at me but doesn’t speak. “What are you trying to plant in my mind, Joshua? Hmm, let me think.” I run my pointer finger over my lip…. OK, I’m going for an Oscar…I frigging deserve one that’s for sure. “You’re unworthy of my love or you’re a sleazebag or maybe that you are just not good enough for me, huh, what is it?” He looks at me, mortified, as my words sink in.

“Speak,” I yell. “Are you really that much of a coward that you can’t face the truth and you would rather force me to leave you?”

He frowns and Adrian smiles and winks at me from where he stands behind Joshua. I bite my lip to stifle my smile. OK, I’m on the right track. Adrian just confirmed it.

“What are you afraid of, Joshua? That I will leave you? That your stalker is going to kill me?” He frowns and I know hearing that point has made him unsettled. “You gutless prick. Even when I call you out you can’t tell the truth.” He glares at me and I know he wants to fight but is holding it in. If I can just push him that bit further. I smile a knowing smile.

“Actually, I know what happened, Mummy dearest got to you, didn’t she?”

“Shut up!” he yells. “Leave her out of this.”

I smile a conceited smile. “Yes, that’s exactly how it went, Margaret rang you and you run to make her happy. Once a mummy’s boy always a mummy’s boy. You make me sick. Did she pay for the photos?”

“Get the fuck out, Natasha!” he yells.

I smile a sad smile. “And to think I actually thought you would protect me from her. What a joke. Come on, we are going home.”

He frowns and looks at Adrian.