Chapter 17 - Too Much Arrogance

"Thanks for the ride! See you tomorrow." She fled out of the car and dashed into the elevator, leaving him with his hand raised. He was just about to give her something…

Never mind. She could get it later too.

While he drove out of the underground parking, his eyes darted around. So this was where she lived. He had only written her address when he wanted the phone delivered to her, but he had not actually visited the place. He was a bit curious… However, he knew that it was not a good idea to go to anyone's house for no reason, so he changed his mind.

He opened his hand and glanced at the key, which belonged to the BMW he had bought her. On second thought, he slid it into his pants pockets with a sly smile.

He was just about to leave when he realized what he had forgotten. He wanted to call her back but recalling what he had just thought about, he grinned and got off the car.

___

Zaria had just changed out of the troublesome high-heeled shoes and was about to rip off her bra when the doorbell rang. She frowned helplessly. Battling with her thoughts, she took it off in the end and shoved it into the small laundry basket before going to open the door.

"You?" She was surprised when she saw Desmond standing there, buried behind numerous shopping bags. She wanted to know just how he had managed to get here without bumping into walls.

"Aren't you going to let me in?" When he tried to peek at her, some of the bags went flying all over and she fought hard to stop herself from laughing.

"Come in. May I know why you are here and why you are carrying those?" She asked, referring to the bags he had just dumped on the couch as soon as he went in.

His expression was dark. "You forgot your things in the car. I had to bring them up, yet not only are you not thanking me, but you are also asking uncountable questions!"

She restrained her chuckle. "What things? I don't remember leaving anything in your car."

"These." He pointed at the bags on the couch, and she was confused. To prevent her from saying no to them, he gave her a serious look. "I will take you with me on many meetings, including negotiations for deal worth billions. I wouldn't want you to embarrass me and Preston and Fort Group. You are the face of the company, after all. You cannot be unkempt. I don't want you parading around in cheap clothes."

His comment pierced through her like a dagger. He thought she was unkempt? "I will not take them. You can keep them." She intended to use the advance payment that she would be given to buy herself new clothes for work, but that didn't mean he had the right to insult her in such a humiliating manner.

He clenched his fists. This was the second time she was rejecting his gifts even though they were things that she needed. What was wrong with her? "Don't get ahead of yourself. There is a limit to my patience!" He slapped the surface of the table.

"I…" He was about to apologize when he realized that he had shouted at her when she stood up and took up one of the bags.

"There is a limit to mine too." She then calmly shoved the bag right into the trash bin.

"What are you doing?!" He stood up and grabbed her hand furiously. Shrugging his hand off, she took another bag and it suffered the same fate.

"Mr. Fort, didn't you say that these are mine now? It should be up to me what I choose to do with them, right?"

Hearing her response, he clicked his tongue. To think he was starting to consider himself lucky for having an employee like her…

He exited the room silently, banging the door behind him with more force than was necessary.

She harrumphed. What an arrogant man. Who wants anything from him? She would rather work her butt off and buy herself a few affordable dresses than accept them from a self-righteous asshole who only knew how to look down on other people.