"You've got to be kidding me," we say in unison.
I stand there, utterly dumbfounded by the insane situation I've landed in.
Karma really is a bitch.
Here I was, standing in front of the guy Sarah and I publicly humiliated, expecting a job. He's got bags under his eyes, a wrinkled shirt, a loose tie, bedhead, and mismatched socks.
He looks exhausted.
But in a hot way—the kind that makes you want to run your fingers through his shaggy hair and drag him in by that loose tie while passionately eating—I mean kissing—him. Tongue and all.
I swallow hard. I shouldn't be thinking about this. This guy would rather throw me off a cliff—or throw himself—than kiss me.
"You've got nerve," he finally says, voice low.
I snap out of it, my head jerking up before I even realized I'd dropped it.
"I—" I start, but he cuts me off.
"My goal today was to hire someone who's studied business and might actually help me out of the dumpster fire my company's become. Not the woman who lit the match and handed out gasoline."
"To be fair, I didn't really do anything—"
He looks me dead in the eye, disbelief written all over his face.
"Yeah, that's the problem."
"You did nothing. You knew what she said wasn't true, and you stood there and let her say it."
"You watched her lie and humiliate me—and you did nothing."
And suddenly, the air turned cold. Like the heat had been yanked out of the room.
I stood there, silent. I had nothing to defend myself with. I should have said something. I should've spoken up and told everyone Sarah was lying.
But I didn't.
Because I chose my so-called best friend over an innocent man who didn't deserve it.
He let out a short, bitter laugh. Not amused—more like he was choking on the irony.
Then he said it, calm as anything:
"I wouldn't hire you even if your résumé outshined the entire Fortune 500. My answer would still be no."
He said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world. Then turned, done with the conversation.
I grabbed his hand.
"Please, I..."
"I'm really, really sorry."
He gritted his teeth, slapped my hand away, and glared at me. If looks could kill, I'd be a chalk outline on the floor.
"You're sorry?" he said, voice dripping with disgust.
"You're sorry?" he shouted, his voice bouncing off the walls.
"Look around you! My company is circling the drain—because of you. You think sorry fixes that?"
"Do you have any idea how much you and your friend cost me?" he snapped, rage pouring off him in waves.
Then, a cruel smirk twisted on his face.
"Well... I guess you're learning your lesson now, aren't you?"
"You know?" I asked, biting my lip.
"Of course I know. Why else would the Regina Vale be standing in my office begging me for a job? It's all over the news anyway."
I looked up, done playing quiet.
"If you really know that much, then you know I need this job more than anything right now."
"I'm not asking for your forgiveness. I'm offering a deal."
"You hire me, and I pay back every cent of the damage I owe you. However I can. If it's doable."
He paused, considering. Then that same sinister smirk returned.
"Deal."
He said it like a man who'd just won something.
"Congratulations, you're hired."
I didn't celebrate. I wasn't stupid. I was waiting for the part where he said I'd be working unpaid for the rest of my life.
But no—what he said next was way worse.
"Congratulations," he said again, grinning.
"You've been hired... as the company's one and only cleaner."
Hey guys what do you think of the new chapter
I can not believe he did that 😭😭
I know guys this is a short chapter i promise the next one will be longer 😅
Anyway guys see you on the next one