CHAPTER 24

Nicolette knew men. She knew them like she knew every fine wrinkle trying to show up on her lovely face. And like she knew those wrinkle and how to deal with them, she knew better how to deal with men.
She had learnt all her life to say all the right things men wanted to hear, she showed them what they wanted to see and revealed only what they wanted to know. She had horned her skills so well that she never failed in using them to her advantage. She could manipulate them to do whatever she wanted them to do and she always had them eating out of her hand in no time. All men but Asher Anderson.
Although she had tried so hard to please him, he just never liked her the way she wanted him to. He never once looked at her like he even wanted to share a kiss with her, not to talk of wanting to have sex with her. She had not wanted him to please her like other men, she had wanted to be the one pleasing him. Nicolette had wanted him to use her in whatever way he wanted. She had wanted him that bad.
He was the alpha male kind that made her feel protected. It was not just about his money, that had just been icing on the cake for her. It was just the man himself and the aura surrounding him. He was powerful, his presence commanded attention and respect, people always bent over themselves to do his will and please him. And above all, he challenged her. But she had never really gotten to know him not to talk of learning how to deal with him. The man was elusive about his private life and he was unpredictable.
But yesterday, she had needed no knowledge about men to interpret the very brief look in his eyes when he had spoken to the mousy secretary, even though he had veiled it immediately and treated her like she did not exist. That alone had been a dead giveaway. He had pointedly acted the way he did with effort. Asher never intentionally ignored a woman. Instead, he just played bored with them.
She had even felt used. He had manipulated her into thinking he wanted to spend time with her while all he wanted was to use her to get a reaction out of the unruly secretary and that had irked Nicolette than she was ready to admit.
She was prettier, sexier and more sophisticated than whatever was playing secretary for him and he had chosen to drag her the way he did. So she had decided she was going to make Shaman or whatever her name was pay for it.
And it seemed she had assumed wrong about Asher liking her because he was at that moment staring at her dangerously after saying "Get out."
Well, lucky me, she thought to herself.
"Not just yet. You should teach her a lesson or two about how to treat people not in her class before you dismiss her. She wouldn't learn that way," she raised her voice devilishly. Then she started to walk towards Asher, still talking. "You know, I was wondering where you got such a low life. I mean, look at her clothes and hair. They make this place so gloomy and unwelcoming. If you weren't so desperate about the lunch date, I wasn't eager to show up here just because of her. Good thing she's going to be out of our hairs."
Shana felt like she was going to sink through the floor and she wished it happened. She felt so ashamed of herself. Maybe she really needed to do something about her look. Everyone kept talking about it, from her former job to the present one. Maybe it was not just about what was inside like her grandmother always told her. Her generation seemed to care more about what was on the outside and she knew it was high time she adapted.
But that was not going to be happening in Anderson Group.
She had just been dismissed.
Like a nobody, with just two words and a glowering look. She wanted to argue, because she knew she deserved more. She deserved better but she said nothing and grabbed her bag to leave, her hand still holding her hot cheek. Nicolette had done a pretty number on her. She was certain she was going to have five fingerprints on her very pale skin and she was going to be needing an ice pack.
"Stop!" The command was louder than necessary and she dropped the potted plant she just grabbed.
Oh, now he didn't want her taking what belonged to her? She had brought the pot from home and it was going with her. She looked at Asher, his eyes still trained dangerously at her and she had to swallow twice before she said brokenly. "This is mine."
"Just shut up and leave. You are so pathetic," Nicolette said exasperatedly.
"No, you shut up and leave. And never come back," Asher said in the same controlled, dangerous voice, his eyes still on Shana who continued to hold her cheek.
He wanted to tear into Nicolette but that was not who he was. He never harmed women. If she had been a mam, she would have been lying in a pool of her own blood seconds ago and it was tearing him not to do just that, with her continuing to stay there and tempt him with her annoying, chirpy voice.
He had heard the raised voice and insults when Nicolette walked in and at first, he had felt no need to intervene. He believed Shana could handle herself but when he noticed Nicolette was beginning to get personal and her voice was getting louder, he had decided to intervene then he had walked in to see Shana get slapped. He had seen red.
His mate had been harmed, both physically and emotionally by a nobody he could snap with his fingers and with just a phone call, ruin her entire career. But he had just stood helplessly, waiting for Shana to do something but he did not know what exactly. If she had slapped Nicolette back, things would have gotten messy but at least, she had done something. Or she could have just said something, anything at all but she had just stood there staring and he had been staring hard at her waiting for any reaction apart from her holding her hot cheek.
He had ordered the crazy model to get out and had avoided looking in her direction because if he had, he would have lost control of the raving mad wolf inside him that wanted nothing more but to shred her bones. So he had focused instead on Shana and she had assumed he was ordering her to get out.
It hurt that she still thought so little of him and he could not even find the words to say as Nicolette continued talking but he still continued to ignore her.
His hurt could not measure up to the look in Shana's eyes as Nicolette continued to berate her. He wanted to move from where he was and go to her. He wanted to wrap her in his arms and assure her, telling her how rare and beautiful she was. He wanted to let her know how much he admired her grit, her courage and even her unique, if outdated fashion sense. He wanted to let her know how much he desired and lo....
No, that could not be possible. It was too soon and too early to tell. He could not love her, could not feel the emotion. It was dead to him. He just cared for her a little too much and that was normal. She was his mate after all.
"Are you by any chance referring to me?," Nicolette finally asked in a shrill voice.
"Yes Nicolette. I want you out of here right now and never step foot here again," he said dangerously, finally looking at her. The look in his eyes made her back away from him.
"You can't be serious. This thing you call your secretary was running her mouth at me and now you are going to side with her?" She was getting really worked up and that was getting Asher angrier. He said nothing and that irked Nicolette more. "But you were the one so desperate to take me out on a date."
Asher shrugged nonchalantly, "Now, I wouldn't call it desperation, just boredom and a teeny weeny bit of revenge because the beautiful, sexy woman behind you wouldn't go out with me," he finished, smirking at Shana.
"You were using me?" Nicolette face looked like she was going to have an heart attack. It was one thing for her to know it but for him to admit it before the woman was too much for her. "You son of a bitch."
"I get that all the time," he said shrugging.
"I hate you and you are going to pay for this," she stated angrily.
"Whatever. You could leave on your own or I could have the security forcefully eject you. Your choice but I would love to help you choose," he replied her quietly, folding his arms over his chest.
That got her attention. "You are going to regret this Asher Anderson. I promise you that." Then she gave Shana a dirty look and turned to leave.
But Asher being Asher, who loves to have the last word fired back at her departing back, "By all means Nicolette D'aramitz but kiss your career goodbye," he said with a smile that made Shana shiver.
Nicolette turned around with her eyes going round. "You dare not!"
Asher just had to have the last word. "I dare. Au revoir," he said and turned to go back to his office, leaving Nicolette gaping at his departing back without another comeback. Shana just stared silently, feeling bad for misjudging Asher readily.
Nicolette turned and glowered at Shana before she flounced out without the grace with which she flounced in.