My Sweet Punishment by Amelia Brooks (best book club books of all time .TXT) 📕

     “Mia! And I think it’s you or not.” My living nightmare was delighted.

     “What are you doing here? Are you stalking me again? I looked at Mike as severely as I could.

      “Oh no, babe. I came here quite by accident. I popped in on the business, but I didn’t have time for lunch.” The guy explained. “But I guess it’s a fate that I met you.”

      “Uh-huh,” I grumbled, indicating that I wasn’t interested in the details of his day if they didn’t concern me.

      The guy went back to his table, where two men and a young woman were sitting, and picked up his tray with the order, and headed in my direction. Heck! Where should I put this empty chair? He shouldn’t take it! Not in this life!

      “Do you mind if I join you?” This… got a cheek.  

      “Yes, I do,” I said honestly.

      “Come on, Mia, don’t be so mean. I thought we’d forgotten what happened.”

     The button on my table turned red, and I got up from the table to go pick up my order and avoid the unpleasant company. I hope, when I get back, the guy will finally realize that he’s not welcome here and disappear.

      I picked up my lunch and turned around, about to go back to my table, but stopped. Not a welcome guest, still sitting in the same place, and his all 32 perfectly white teeth smiled at me. What’s wrong with this man?!

      I looked around the room, but unfortunately, there wasn’t a single table available. I sighed and headed for my dastardly captured place. I’ll just ignore him. He’ll get tired of it at some point and leave.

     “Well, Mia, and what are you doing here?”

      I ignored the guy’s question, continuing to chew on my salad and flip through the news on my phone.

     “Mia, I can easily find it out, you know?” Mike does not give up.

      I still didn’t look at him. A little more time and he’ll be gone, I feel it. Guys like Mike need constant female attention, which he won’t get from me.

      “Mia, I don’t like you ignoring me.” He dared to show his discontent?!

     And I don’t like you sitting here, I thought. But I didn’t say anything again. He’s nothing to me. Just an empty space.

       Suddenly the guy reached out to me and abruptly spilled the glass with his orange juice on the table right in front of me. The liquid immediately spattered my white blouse.

     “What the hell are you doing? Are you out of your mind? Idiot!” I yelled at the whole café, without even noticing other people.

     “Mia, babe, I didn’t mean to,” the bastard said. “Come on, I’ve got some napkins in the car. We’ll fix it quickly.” What is this, a boomerang from a German came to me?!

     Oh! I’m going to take that nasty grin off his face. I picked up my already warm latte and threw the contents in his face. I wish it was hotter. The guy clearly didn’t expect this reaction from me. He better not play me.

      I quickly got up from the table and ran out of the cafe. Yeah, I didn’t want to be that popular. I hope that my future colleagues were not in the cafe at that time.

      I need to order a stun gun one of these days, so that next time I’ll be sure to discourage the guy from approaching me.

      I went to the bathroom and looked at myself in the mirror. This is a nightmare. A huge orange spot was in the center of the blouse and small drops were all over it. What should I do? There’s no point in washing it now, and I won’t have time to buy a new one. I have to be in the boss’s office in five minutes. I’m afraid he won't appreciate my tardiness. And today, I’ve already “stood out”.

       Screw it! I sighed heavily and pulled off my blouse, leaving only my beige bra. Then I put on the jacket on the practically naked body and buttoned it up. Well, it seems to be not so bad. The main thing is not to bend too much.

       Exactly five minutes later, I was standing in front of the boss’s office. Amanda glared at me but didn’t say anything. I knocked three times and after a short but powerful “Come in!” went into the office.

       I came into the spacious, bright office with high picture windows. Mr. Collins was sitting at a large dark-brown desk, studying some documents without paying any attention to me.

      I noticed that now he was wearing a pair of neat black-rimmed eyeglasses. They really suit him and added some seriousness to his masculine look. It seemed that there’s nothing in the world that could spoil this man. I also saw a small scar on his temple. I wonder what it’s from?

      I was deep in thought and didn’t notice that my boss had already looked up at me long ago. I quickly lowered my eyes to the floor. I hope he didn’t notice me gazing at him.

      “Well, Ms. Brown,” Even the rim of his glasses didn’t protect me from the intense stare of his dark blue eyes. “Today is your first day as my personal assistant. But first, I suggest you read the contract and sign it.”

      The man motioned to a chair in front of his desk and, after I sat down, handed me a document.