Chapter 14 Anything

• Anger instantly coiled in my stomach, and I snarled, “Why are you cursing at me?”
• “So what if I am? Look at you. Do you think that you're a match for Jul? Why don't you take a look at yourself in the mirror, huh?”
• Her rudeness was a stark contrast against the elegant image she had while she was hosting on television.
• “I don't know what you're talking about, and I don't know you, so please move aside.” Not wanting to keep arguing with her, I took a step to the side, about to walk around her to leave.
• However, she stopped me again and uttered, “You're not allowed to leave until you explain yourself.”
• “Just say what's on your mind,” I mumbled, exasperated.
• “How much will you take to leave Jul? Tell me your price, take the money, and disappear from my line of sight. I'm giving you a chance now. If you refuse to take it, then you'll have to lie on the bed you make,” she huffed.
• I then stared at her and began pondering her relationship with Julien. If she was really Julien's girlfriend, then I was indeed in the wrong.
• I should not be going after someone else's man, especially not when someone else had gone after mine.
• “Although I'm poor, I don't want your money. He's my employer, and I work for him to earn a living. That's all it is. If Mr. Starck asks me to leave, I will pack and go without hesitation.”
• What I said was the truth. Although I was his contractual lover, if Julien told me to leave, I would leave at once. I never wanted to ruin anyone's life, after all.
• Thinking that I was done with my explanation and that Shelby would not stop me again, I turned to leave. To my surprise, she suddenly threw herself at me and fell right in front of me. “How could you hit me? Ouch!”
• I was taken aback by her series of actions. We had been having a civil talk right until she abruptly jumped over and fell to the ground herself. She was a well-known celebrity in Jadeborough, and I was but an ordinary white-collared worker. Where would I ever find the courage to hit her?
• “What's going on?”
• When I heard Julien's voice from behind me, I suddenly realized what Shelby was trying to do.
• My back was to the main doors, so while I did not notice Julien walking out, Shelby did.
• “Jul, I came to look for you, and not only did she not let me in, but she even hit me! She's too absurd! Ouch, my leg...” Shelby had begun her act.
• I turned to give Julien a confused frown. “I didn't.”
• Julien then jabbed a finger at me with a solemn look. Dread twisted in my gut as I thought, Oh no. His girlfriend is setting me up, and there's no way I can clear things up!
• However, Julien's words surprised me. “Since you're done with work, why aren't you home to rest yet? Why are you still hanging around with childish people? Have you become someone childish as well?”
• For a moment, I stood transfixed. Then, in the next second, I nodded in confusion before turning to leave.
• Once again, Shelby stopped me. “Julien, she just hit me, but you're letting her go just like this? I'm going to call my brother and tell him to arrest her!”
• “That's enough, Shelby. You're a public figure. Is it that fun for you to throw a fit in public? Even though your second older brother is a police chief, your family doesn't own the station. Do you really think that the police will arrest anyone they want?” He then whipped his head around to look at me. “Why are you still standing here? Leave.”
• I started walking away. Shelby tried to stop me again, but Julien grabbed her before she could. “Shelby Eyres, I'm warning you now. It's best if you don't try to put my employee in a difficult spot.”
• When I heard how he described me as his employee, a sense of disappointment washed over me. I did not know why I was disappointed, for it was true that I was just his employee. What else do I want from him?
• The bus station I went to was crowded, for it was peak hour. The moment the bus arrived, a whole group of people swarmed over. Sometimes, several impatient passengers would end up blocking each other from boarding the bus.
• Not interested and not capable of barging my way up into the bus, I stayed behind and ended up not boarding the next two buses.
• Right then, a familiar Range Rover drove over. When the window wound down, I saw Julien, but he said nothing as he stared at me.
• The people at the station noticed that the car's driver was staring at me, so they turned to look at me too. I knew what Julien was trying to do. If I did not board the car, he was going to keep his car in front of the buses and block the traffic. Thus, I had no choice but to open the car door and get into it.
• The moment I entered the car, I said, “I didn't hit her.”
• He replied, “I know. If she does this again, just slap her.”
• My eyes went wide. Isn't that woman his girlfriend? Is he actually asking me to hit his girlfriend? Are men all like him? Do they toss their girlfriends out like trash once they get someone new?
• “The best way to deal with a bully is to attack them back instead of enduring their actions in silence. It'll only make it worse, do you get me?” Julien asked, turning around to look at me.
• I did not answer him.
• “Hey, I'm talking to you. Are you mute?” he impatiently questioned.
• Hence, I mumbled, “I'm listening.”
• “What do you want to eat?”
• His sudden question made me thrilled. Is he going to treat me to a meal?
• “Don't assume that I'm trying to appease you. I'm just too bored eating by myself every day. Keeping me company for a meal is part of your job,” he added.
• “Sure, I'm okay with anything,” I replied.
• “Alright. Anything will be your meal tonight.”