Chapter 9: Trouble in Paradise 2

Dalma and Anderson both turned to see Mr. Jaden striding towards them, his presence commanding attention as he approached with a steely determination. Dalma felt a rush of adrenaline coursing through her veins, her senses heightened as she braced herself for the confrontation that was about to unfold.

"Mr. Jaden," Dalma began, her voice trembling slightly as she felt the weight of his intense gaze upon her. She could feel the tension crackling in the air like static electricity, the atmosphere in the room growing increasingly frosty with each passing moment.

But Mr. Jaden cut her off with a dismissive wave of his hand, his eyes flashing with barely contained fury. "I don't want to hear it," he declared, his voice cold and unyielding. "You know the company policy, Anderson. Fraternizing with coworkers is strictly prohibited, and of all people, you chose this thing?”

Anderson and Jaden stood facing each other, with the ears of the employees firm to know what had caused a fight between both bosses. Tension crackling in the air like static electricity. The once jovial atmosphere in the room had turned frosty, as Anderson's expression darkened with anger.

"What did you just call her?" Anderson's voice was low, but each word dripped with venom, his eyes ablaze with fury as he confronted Jaden.

Jaden shrugged, a cocky smirk playing on his lips as he met Anderson's glare. "I called her a thing. What's the big deal?"

Anderson's fists clenched at his sides, his jaw set in a firm line. "She's not a thing, she's a person, with feelings and dignity," he retorted, his voice laced with indignation.

Jaden scoffed dismissively, waving off Anderson's words with a casual flick of his hand. "Oh, come on, Anderson. She's just the help, not some princess. You're making a big fuss over nothing."

Meanwhile, Dalma sat quietly at her desk, her eyes downcast as she listened to the heated exchange between her bosses. Despite the turmoil raging around her, she remained composed, her resolve unwavering as she silently observed the unfolding confrontation. With a heavy heart, she braced herself for whatever repercussions might come as Jaden dragged Anderson into his office.

As Jaden dragged Anderson into his office, the tension between them was palpable, the air crackling with animosity. Anderson's expression was stormy, his eyes flashing with anger, while Jaden's demeanor remained infuriatingly smug.

Anderson squared his shoulders, his voice low but firm. "What's your problem, Jaden? You can't just disrespect Dalma like that."

Jaden rolled his eyes, his tone dripping with condescension. "Oh, spare me the lecture, Anderson. She's just an employee, nothing more."

"She's a human being, I keep reminding you Jaden," Anderson shot back, his voice rising with frustration. "She deserves respect, regardless of her position in the company."

Jaden scoffed, his lips twisting into a disdainful smirk. "Respect? Please. You're acting like she's some kind of royalty. Get real, Anderson."

Jaden's gaze turned icy as he narrowed his eyes at Anderson. "Watch your tone, Anderson. You may be my brother, but I won't tolerate insubordination."

Anderson clenched his fists, his voice seething with frustration. "I won't stand by while you belittle and demean others, Jaden. It's not right."

With that, he slammed the door shut behind him, leaving Jaden seething with anger and frustration in the wake of their heated exchange.

THE NEXT DAY

As Dalma walked into her office, she noticed something unusual on her desk, a vibrant flower sitting elegantly in a small vase. Surprised, she approached it, marveling at its delicate petals and captivating fragrance.

"Where did this come from?" Dalma wondered aloud, glancing around the room for any clues.

Just then, her colleague Kira popped her head in through the doorway, a mischievous twinkle in her eye. "Looks like you've got yourself a secret admirer," she teased.

Dalma chuckled, rolling her eyes playfully. "Oh, please, Kay. Cut the jokes. Seriously, though, any idea who left this?"

Kira grinned, shrugging her shoulders. "Your guess is as good as mine. But it's a lovely surprise, isn't it?

Kira's smile widened, "you're asking like I spent the night here," she quipped, before winking and disappearing back into the hallway. "Anyway, enjoy your mysterious surprise, Dalma! Have a fantastic day!”

As Kira left, Dalma pretended to be engrossed in her work, hoping to avoid any unwanted attention. But before she could fully immerse herself, Anderson approached her desk, his presence impossible to ignore.

"Good morning, love," Anderson greeted with a charming smile.

Dalma's heart skipped a beat at his endearment, but she quickly composed herself. "Not today, please. I don't want Mr. Jaden coming after me again. I'm sure you sent this flower. Kindly take it back," she replied, her tone firm.

Anderson's expression shifted to confusion, but he remained resolute. "Oh, you got the flowers I sent. Let's talk things out at dinner today at 5. I'll pick you up," he said, his voice tinged with determination.

With that, Anderson slyly pocketed the note hidden within the bouquet and made his way to Jaden's office, leaving Dalma to ponder his unexpected invitation and the implications of their impending conversation.

Dalma's lips curled into a sneer as she tossed the flowers into the trash, a satisfying thud echoing through the office. She exchanged a knowing glance with Kira, their laughter ringing out as they shared a moment of camaraderie.

Meanwhile, in Jaden's office, Anderson's voice boomed with righteous fury as he confronted his brother.

"What the hell do you think you're doing, Jaden?" Anderson's words were sharp, laced with frustration and anger. "Sending flowers to Dalma? And a love note? Are you out of your mind, brother?"

Jaden reclined in his chair, his expression smug and unruffled. "Ah, Anderson, my dear brother," he replied nonchalantly, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "I simply thought Dalma could use a little something to brighten her day, you know."

Anderson's jaw tightened, his eyes flashing with disbelief at his brother's audacity.

"Looking at these flowers and admiring their beauty is what it feels like when I look at you," Jaden continued, his smirk widening. “Nice lines right” , he chuckled.

Anderson scoffed, his eyes flashing with indignation. "Brighten her day? You've been treating her like garbage for months, and now you decide to play the romantic gesture card? It's pathetic."

"I assure you, Anderson, my intentions were purely innocent," Jaden replied, his tone dripping with insincerity.

Anderson shook his head in disbelief, his frustration mounting with each passing second. "You know damn well that Dalma and I were to get married but you made sure to discontinue our wedding plans. You even went as far as making her life at work miserable. Sending her flowers and a love note is nothing short of sabotage, and I won't stand for it."

Jaden's smirk widened, his arrogance practically oozing from every pore. "Oh, come now, Anderson. Surely you're not threatened by a few flowers and a note? You can get any girl in Los Angeles and you decide to go for this thing?”

Anderson took a step forward, his jaw clenched with determination. "For the last time Jaden, don't call her a thing “ he yelled “I'm taking Dalma out tonight, and I won't let you ruin it. You stay away from her, do you understand? She deserves better than your games."

With one final glare at Jaden, Anderson turned on his heel and stormed out of the office, leaving Jaden to stew in his own arrogance.

As Dalma was engrossed in her work, meticulously organizing the documents on her desk, she felt a looming presence approach from behind. With a sinking feeling in her stomach, she turned to see Jaden, her boss, standing there with a stack of files in his arms.

"Good evening, Dalma," Jaden said with a falsely pleasant tone. "I have some urgent tasks that need your attention. I need these files sorted and organized by tomorrow morning."

Dalma's heart sank as she glanced at the towering pile of paperwork in Jaden's arms. She knew what this meant , a late night ahead, working tirelessly to meet his demands. Her plans for dinner with Anderson, was already threatened.

"Can't this wait until tomorrow, Mr. Jaden?" Dalma asked, her voice tinged with desperation. "I don't think I can work late tonight."

Jaden's expression remained cold and indifferent as he dropped the files onto her desk with a heavy thud. "I'm afraid not, Miss Millie. These need to be done as soon as possible. Consider it a test of your dedication to your work."