Chapter 5

As Zafirah entered her ex-office. She was greeted by an unfamiliar husky voice standing in familiar surroundings. He stood facing away from her. Looking out the full-length glass windows that she had had installed in her office because the view was simply magnificent.

"Good morning. How are you doing?" Said the same husky voice in a firm tone. She didn’t know what she was expecting but she for sure hadn’t expected him to be this welcoming. She studied his demeanour, accessing him. One must know one’s opponent in order to win the game, she told herself.

He had a strong built, probably a remainder from his star quarterback player days from college, she mused. His aura screamed authority and power much like his voice.

"Excuse me?" There was something off about his tone, it was like he was challenging her to speak up.

Still facing away from her. What an odd man, who even speaks to people without looking at them? And how dare he give her an attitude when he wasn’t even looking at her! She was already starting to dislike him even more.

She hated it when people didn't make eye contact. It was basic curtsy. She huffed in annoyance as she remembered that he had asked her something and she was to reply.

"I am doing well, thank you. I’d feel better if we’d talk face to face, though." She replied politely deciding to be the bigger person in the situation.

"How dare you speak to me like that!" He all but shouted.

"I'm sorry?" Zafirah asked in utter confusion. What was wrong with him?

"You better be. And we better not have another asinine conversation such as this one in the future, or else-" He left the sentence hanging. The malice oozed off of his words sent a chill down Zafirah’s spine.

"Excuse me! What on Earth is wrong with you." Zafirah was livid.

How dare he talk like that to her. That stupid, pompous ass. She was just about ready to pounce on him and lay a punch or two, maybe that would knock some sense into him.

"What? Hold on a minute." With that he finally turned around to face her.

The first thing she noticed about his face were his piercing grey eyes. If she weren't so angry at his impish behaviour, her heart would have definitely skipped a beat. He was a good-looking man; she’d give him that. Why do the hot ones always turn out to be jerks? She cursed in her head.

His sharp, slightly crooked nose, distinct jaw line, a face that could make Angels cry out of jealousy and those piercing grey eyes, made him seem like a dream come true but too bad, his tongue seemed to be controlled by the devil. He was too handsome to be real. She quickly reminded herself of the way he had spoken to her to break the spell she was under.

"What-" Zafirah was armed and ready to give him a piece of her mind when he gestured for her to stop talking. Does he want to get hit or something! Because she was just about ready to throw something at him.

He then proceeded to point towards the tiny device in his ear implying that he was on a call. Zafirah almost died out of embarrassment at that moment. Oh God, kill me now. She thought.

She closed her eyes briefly, hoping to fight the blush that threatened to spread across her face. What a wonderful first impression she must have made. If the news were to reach her father, she’d never be allowed to go back to office.

She prayed to God that her impulsive self-had not gone and messed up the once chance that she was given to redeem herself. As she opened her eyes again, she saw him studying her. No, he was accessing her.

She could feel his cold, judgemental stare almost criticizing her choice of clothing, her hair, her posture, everything. If she wasn’t so sure of herself, she would’ve buckled under the intensity of dislike for her that seemed to roll off of him. Almost too soon he seemed to have made up his mind about her. She was a hundred percent sure that it wasn't in her favour.

"I'll call you back." He said and cut the call without waiting for a reply. So, he was rude, she confirmed. She had all the rights to notice his shortcomings since he seemed to be doing just the same.

"Ms Rodriguez, I presume?" He gestured for her to sit on one of the sofas that she herself had picked out for this office.

"My apologies, I thought that you were talking to me." She apologized, unwillingly though. It was her fault and her parents had raised her to admit it when it was her fault. But that doesn’t mean that she wanted to apologize to him. From the looks of it, he didn’t seem to be the humble and warm kind.

"It's alright, Ms Rodriguez. I should have clarified it as soon as you had entered. Mr Rodriguez told me that his 'Princess' was going to drop by the office. My apologies for not being a doting host." He said the word 'Princess' with barely concealed contempt.

Zafirah, though angered by his mockery and lack of manners, yet again chose to be the bigger person and dismissed the statement. They had started off on the wrong foot but she had to make an effort to make things better for her own good.

"Let's start over again, shall we? My name is Zafirah Rodriguez. It's nice to meet you." She stuck her hand out for a handshake and tried to put on the most convincing smile that she could muster.

"The pleasure is all mine. I am the man whose name is on the door so, why don't you just do us both a favour and go back to where you came from? It doesn't look like you fit in here anyway." He stated bluntly. So much for being curt and professional, she thought.

"Okay. Listen here, Mr Hot-Shot. I have had it being polite to you. Do you see the name 'Rodriguez' on the big board on the building? It's hard to miss, isn't it? Well, I am a Rodriguez and this whole building belongs to my family." She narrowed her eyes as she pointed to herself and continued.

"This office was mine, long before you even set a foot in this city. So, why don't you quit being a judgmental ass and sit down so we can have a decent conversation because I am going nowhere until this situation is sorted." She was satisfied to see surprise in his eyes as she challenged him to do otherwise.