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

         I left Collin’s office in such a depressed state that I just wanted to howl and climb the wall in despair. Yes, he can now torment me for a whole year, and on official terms. Even if I really, really wanted to, I couldn’t find him such a huge amount of money right now.

      I used to think that only in movies stupid girls, without reading the documents carefully, fall into such traps. And no, the real life is not far from it all… As I can see now.

       Why back then, I couldn’t sit down and read everything properly. If I saw this point, I would never agree in my life to work here. But no, I was shaking in front of him again for no reason and signed the contract without even looking at it. And he, too, is a... He could also clarify this point. Yeah, Mia, it’s too late clutch your head.

       I went into my office, which now didn’t seem to be as fancy as it used to, but rather a stuffy cage. I saw myself in the mirror. Yes, it really would be nice to change clothes. I was expecting to go into this building for the last time today. And it turned out... as it turned out.

       I used to have two feelings for the man. At first, he scared me with his pressure in the gazebo, then I felt grateful to him for saving my, as it turned out, often-getting-into-trouble ass, and now I’m terribly angry with him. I now think that he behaves practically the same as Mike, who thinks that he has some rights over me.

       What kind of men are they? They got it into their heads that they were allowed to do anything, but they couldn’t care less about a girl’s opinion. What century are we living in?

      Half an hour later, I was sitting in my office in the blue pantsuit, sorting through the documents so that I could distract myself from worrying and terrible thoughts. I still had a high, straight tail on my head. I even put on some makeup, to hell with it. I really wasn’t going to embarrass myself in front of my perfectly-dressed colleagues.

       “It’s just a year. It’ll fly by without you even noticing. But you’ll get some good money and gain excellent experience. After working for such a cool company, other firms will just take you with open arms,” reasoned me the sane half of my mind calmly.

       “No-o-o, Mia, it’s not just a year, but a whole year during which anything can happen. And you might not like it at all. Remember, Collins mentioned yesterday that he could arrange something worse for you than dismissal?” screamed my nervous half of the mind.

       I thought that I literally jumped on the spot when I heard Collins’ voice on the intercom. Wait, did it stand here last time?

       “Ms. Brown, come to my place,” came a calm but rather powerful voice.

       I took my notebook and pen with me and walked quickly to the boss’s office. Strangely, Amanda was not at her workplace. I walked confidently to the door, knocked, and entered the room.

       Collins was clearly going somewhere, which was indicated by the fact that the man was not sitting at the table as usual, but was putting a laptop and documents in his briefcase. I scrolled through his schedule and checked the time. Exactly! At 10:00 a.m. he had the departure to the construction site.

       “Mr. Collins, you call me?” I said dryly, looking my boss straight in the eye. It’s time to stop hiding already. The sooner you face your fears, the sooner you’ll realize that they never were them.

       The ordinary man. Terribly handsome. Yeah. So what now? But he’s got an ill-nature, that’s what I know for sure.

       The man looked back at me and I felt my knees begin to buckle again. He stared at me but didn’t say anything. Apparently, he was satisfied with my appearance now.

      But that burning look... It’s the one that makes me feel so uncomfortable. It was as if he could see right through me. Everything I felt and everything I thought. Is he a vampire or a werewolf? Because I can’t react like crazy or half-wit to an ordinary person.

      Okay, that's it, Mia, stop reading fantasy before you go to bed. Or else I’ll pounce on him with a sharp wooden pencil in a heat of passion. Or I’ll be poking Collins discreetly with a silver fork to see if he’s some kind of ghoul. My shoulders shook with suppressed laughter at these thoughts.

      “Ms. Brown, now I’m going to leave for the site for a few hours,” phew, it seems that the man didn’t see my hysteria, “But, unfortunately, I won’t take you with me this time, although I would like you to be there. But I happen to need you here in the office .”

       I remained silent and humbly listened to the boss, looking at my locked fingers. Then my gaze shifted to the desk drawer that Collins had opened to take out some papers again and put them in his briefcase.

       “Today you will take Amanda’s place,” the boss continued his speech, “and answer calls and take documentation. Nothing too much complicated.” Collins raised his eyebrows mockingly. “Can you handle that?”

       “Of course, Mr. Collins,” I said calmly, clenching my fists. What kind of idiot is he treating me?

        Five minutes later I was sitting at Amanda’s desk, and Collins was safely off on business. I don’t know where his secretary is, but I’m glad to have this opportunity. I’ll see less of his cheeky face.