Hours later, when the jet landed and the foreign air greeted us, my nervousness had not cooled. If anything, it had raged more, because now I am in an unfamiliar country and still at his beck and call.
The car waiting outside was sleek and black, the kind that screamed money. Xavier slid in first, and I follow saying a little thanks to the chauffeur keeping the door open.
The car door clicks shut behind me, sealing me inside with him.
Oh my goodness!
I have never entered anything like this vehicle before with its polished black leather, wood panels that gleam, the faint scent of cologne that probably costs more than my rent.
It is the kind of beauty I gawk openly at on the Tv.
My hand brushes the smooth stitching, and I swallow hard. Xavier doesn't even glance at me. He's already leaning back, scrolling on his phone and I'm grateful that I'm an afterthought to him.
This means I can look at whatever I want to in the car and he won't notice me, right?
Wrong.
"You're gawking," coffee bastard says without looking up. His voice is flat, edged with disdain.
"Try not to leave fingerprints. This isn't the bus you're used to."
My cheeks burn instantly. "I wasn't gawking. Just looking." I retort.
"Curiously." I add to soften the blow.
"Exactly," he replies, finally lifting his gaze to pin me with it.
His eyes are dark, sharp, assessing and his mouth opens to speak, "Looking like a stray who wandered somewhere it shouldn't."
I clench my fists in my lap tensing up.
Xavier's my boss and I'm supposed to stay professional even when he's not.
"I didn't ask to be here."
"No, you didn't. And yet here you are, dragged into a world you'll never fit into, pretending that typing meeting minutes and fetching coffee makes you indispensable."
The insult slices through me. "I do more than that," I manage, though my voice cracks.
"Do you?" His gaze slides over me, deliberate, like he's cataloguing every flaw.
"Maybe, however, I bring you because you're convenient. Replaceable. Secretaries are like umbrellas—I keep one until it breaks."
My throat catches and I find it hard to swallow properly, hot and painful. I turn toward the tinted window, hoping he won't see the sting in my eyes.
The streets blur past.
He opens his mouth again, "Here's some advice, Hazel as your unaffordable therapist" he murmurs, his voice low.
"Learn to stay invisible. Speak when spoken to. Don't embarrass me, and you'll still have a job when we fly back."
I want to scream at him. I want to tell him I'm not invisible, that I matter. But I know that I don't matter, at least not to the Nepo baby who built his first successful company at the age of 17 and has managed to build several successful companies in way that makes him one of the youngest billionaires.
I just whisper, "You're cruel."
His smile widens slightly. "Did I break you so soon? Keep your strength, you're going to need it for the journey ahead."
My retort dies in my throat, partly because she didn't have one and partly because I couldn't counter his words.
I turn back sharply to the window, vowing to ignore him for the rest of the ride.
That vow lasted only five minutes.
********
Our arrival at the hotel was nothing short of a miracle, because now I understand and can now easily relate with disney villains.
I think this is the beginning of my villain arc, but the sight of the hotel itself seems to be worth the trouble with Mr. Coffee bastard.
I'm cheap. Yes, I know.
But if I'm either going to get fired or resign, I might as well take things in stride and enjoy the beautiful scenery.
A sprawling luxury establishment with chandeliers dripping like frozen waterfalls with a mini waterfall right in the foyer.
I march straight to the front desk, determined to claim my room key and get a much needed rest before Xavier can manage to fit it another barrage of terrorism.
But with my short legs of course, Xavier manages to get there first.
"Reservation under Steele," he says smoothly, sliding a card across the desk.
The receptionist beams, efficient and polite. "Yes, of course. The presidential suite, as requested. With an extra queen size bed."
I freeze, "I'm sorry—what?"
"The presidential suite," the receptionist repeats cheerfully. "Overlooking the flower maze gardens. It's quite beautiful."
My head whips toward Xavier. "You said you've taken care of the accommodation. Tell me this is a mistake." I whisper yell.
"It's not," Xavier says, already pocketing the keys and walking toward the elevators.
"We're here for three days, Hazel. It's more practical this way."
"Practical?" I cough trying to retain my voice beyond the yelling I feel compelled to do.
"I offered to make the reservations, but you said they were covered. I trusted you."
"Stop being so emotional." Xavier says dismissively and I catch a twitch of his mouth—the hint of a suppressed grin.
He's enjoying this.
"You are insufferable. You deliberately booked one room just to torture me." I say.
He shrugs, "Maybe. Or maybe I wanted to see how well you behave under pressure. If you would throw my phone away again."
I nearly fold at that statement but I wasn't going to back down now.
After all, I'm resigning soon right?
The elevator doesn't wait for us to finish our quarrel. Why would it?
It spits us out at our floor and the bellboy goes ahead of us to stand in front of impressive double glass doors.
I run in front and stand with open arms in front of Xavier, the way I did for Mr. Newcomer.
Xavier looks at me with a weird look on his face, "Is this supposed to stop me? Your 5 foot height?"
What!
"I am not 5 foot!. I'll have you know that I reach 5'6 in heels!"
"You don't even reach my chest." Xavier looks down at me.
"I am taller past your stomach." I say.
"Right." He nods with a hint of amused smile on his face.
"About the room, did you really think I'd have you stay with me?"
A confused expression settles onto my face, "But you said --- she said -- two beds ----"
Coffee bastard puts my hand down gently and comes to stand beside me addressing the bellboy, "Can you have them remove the queen size bed in my suite? I have no need for it."
What about me?!
Then he turns to me, "Hazel, you'll be responsible for taking care of your lodgings. That's none of my business."
My mouth flaps open and closed like a confused fish out of water.
" You might want to hurry. Excellente Repos has very few available
rooms as most of them are reservation based." he says.
The door shuts loudly behind him.
Fuck!
This is going to be a very long 3 days.