Chapter 21.

Gabriella.
Working at AT without Jake has definitely not been a pleasant experience for me.
The new boss Corey, has made it his mission to frustrate me to no end and I'm starting to think Trisha is behind his ridiculous attitude towards me although part of the reasons could be our first encounter but judging by how mean and unfriendly he is, I'm going to assume it's cause of Trisha.
Rumor has it that Trisha has successfully seduced him and that she has him wrapped around her fingers. As much as I think it's true, I'm still hoping it's all just a rumor cause I can't imagine surviving Trisha's indirect taunts everyday. It's starting to drain me.
Right now, I'm on my way to the office from my lunch break with Martha, who decided to stop by a friend's office before coming back up.
I walked into the elevator and the familiar face of Liam put a smile on my face.
"Hi." I greeted shyly, earning a curious stare from him.
"Hi? Really? Aren't we already way past that?" he teased me and I rolled my eyes.
"Well, this is work Liam, I have to keep it simple," I replied and he laughed.
"Sure thing Ella. Whatever you say. Anyways, how's work going? Hope my brother isn't being a pain in the ass?" He asks and I'm tempted to actually spill on how terrible his brother actually is but since I don't want to be known as the girl who snitches, I'd rather keep quiet about it.
"He's cool, I guess," I answered back calmly and he frowned.
"You just lied to me," he said out of nowhere and I furrowed my brows in confusion.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"I know Corey hasn't been exactly nice to you Ella," he replied.
"Really? How are you so sure he hasn't?" I retorted.
"I'm so sure because he's my brother. He already made it clear to me that he doesn't like you because you supposedly annoy him but don't worry, I already warned him to leave you alone or else I'll have him transferred," he replies and I frown.
"Okay, I admit your brother is a thoughtless dickhead but I don't want you getting involved at all. I don't want anyone, including your brother, who happens to be my boss, to think that I report everything that goes on in my work life to you. I can deal with your brother, Liam, so you don't have to threaten him on my behalf." I said to him strictly and a surprised look clouds his face momentarily.
Sighing heavily, "Okay, I apologize if you're offended with what I said to him but I didn't say that to him just because. The truth is, Corey and I are not exactly the closest siblings in the world and I know he's only bothering you to get to me and he won't be stopping anytime soon,"
"I just didn't want you getting hurt or anything just because of my spiteful brother and our silly rivalry but since you want me to stay out of it, I will but promise me, you'll let me know when it gets out of hand, okay?" He said and although I still have a lot of questions to ask regarding his strained relationship with his brother, I decided it was best to leave it for later.
"Okay then, no problem but you also have to promise to tell me why you two don't get along, okay?" I told him and he nodded calmly before engulfing me in a quick hug.
"I've missed you by the way," he says suddenly and I could feel my cheeks slowly turn red.
"Me too," I whispered a reply shyly and he stared back at me briefly with lustful eyes before planting his lips on mine.
He teasingly played with my lower lip and me being as inexperienced as I was, simply stood there and I let him do whatever he pleased. I can't even deny that I loved every second of our lips dancing together and I most definitely wanted more from him.
He abruptly breaks the kiss and starts staring at me weirdly as if contemplating on something.
"If you don't mind, would you like to have dinner tonight at my place?" he asked slowly and I'm temporarily gobsmacked.
Did he just ask me to come over to his place? Am I supposed to say yes or would that make me seem too easy?
"Is it too soon?" he asked, snapping me out of my cloud of thoughts.
"Uhm, It's not like it's too soon. It's just... You know what, nevermind. Just text me your address and I'll be there," I replied to him confidently as the little voice in my head rang, 'What would Martin do?'
I know for a fact that if I end up rejecting his offer and Martin finds out I did, he might never talk to me ever again.
"You don't have to worry about that. I'll just send a driver to pick you up from your place." He replies and I release a nervous sigh.
"Okay then, no problem. I... I guess I'll see you later then?" I muttered nervously and he nodded calmly before placing a quick kiss on my cheek and walking out of the elevator, looking dashing as usual.
Can't believe that hot guy is actually into someone as boring as me? I'll never understand what he sees in me but oh well, I guess I have my charm.
***
Now that I know Corey isn't making life difficult for me just to please his alleged lover, I feel much better than I did earlier.
It's not like I'm happy that I happen to be in the middle of two brothers at loggerheads and I'm being used by one of them to get back at the other but something about knowing that Trisha has no hand in this gives me a weird sense of relief and I know it's weird that I feel this way but I just can't be help it.
"Ella, Mr Helton wants to see you." Katie, my coworker informs me and a frustrated groan immediately escapes my lips.
"What does that idiot want now?" I hissed under my breath, wondering why he would want to see me. I tiredly put aside my phone before lazily standing up and walking towards his personal office.
He, unlike Jake who used the same office with us, had requested a new office space cause he supposedly has no interest in interacting with us and he detests the mere thought of sharing an office with mere employees. Crazy, am I right?
I knock on his office door slowly and politely and when I hear his grumpy voice permit me to come in, I walk in and the first thing I see is, Trisha sitting pretty on one of the chairs and she had this weird smirk on her face that didn't really sit well with me.
"Good afternoon Sir," I greeted calmly.
"Whatever, just sit down," he replied rudely as usual and I released an unintended hiss that I wasn't too sorry about and he doesn't even seem to care much.
"May I know why I'm here?" I asked tiredly, feeling very uncomfortable under Trisha's intense gaze.
"Don't be so rude Ella," Trisha says out of nowhere but I ignore her completely.
"Well, the reason I invited you here is simple, Gabriella. Before your scandalous event with Sandler, the agreement was that, if we had won, you would have had the honor of designing a huge part of the next collection we're releasing. Unfortunately, the winner ended up being your family's company after you had almost gotten us disqualified..." He's saying and I quickly cut him off.
"Wait, where exactly are you getting this? What are you trying to insinuate here? I already got cleared by Sandler himself that this was all a misunderstanding, so what else do you want?" I questioned furiously, wishing very much that I could strangle this idiot right here, right now.
"It's not that simple Gabriella. You are the daughter of Rebecca Johansson and the sister of the Vice president of Elite Fashion and you also happen to be the reason we could not win first place and our rightful position suddenly goes to YOUR original company and you expect us not to suspect foul play?" he insinuated the obvious and I let out a shaky breath.
"So now what? What is going to happen to me now? Are you going to fire me again?" I asked and he smirked.
"Of course not! If I do that, that brother of mine will throw an insane fit even though it's the reasonable thing to do. Besides, I already decided the perfect thing to do with you until you're trustworthy enough," he replied, I frowned.
"Listen Corey, you and I both know the real reason you're doing this. I don't know what beef you have with your brother but you have to be the biggest coward on earth, if you're taking your anger out on me but guess what, don't care about all this you idiot. So do whatever pleases you. Just don't bother me except it's important." I hissed back at him and attempted to leave but Trisha stopped me.
"He's your boss, you fool. You can't walk away like that!" She snapped and I rolled my eyes.
"Not happening sweetie. I am in no mood for your shenanigans Trisha. If you don't want to see a very terrible side of me, then you better walk away from me, you desperate ass kisser." I hissed back at her before pushing her out of the way and walking out of the idiot's office.
I may have promised myself not to get Liam involved in my work life but this time, I'm definitely not sticking to that plan. I refuse to be played around and be used as a tool of revenge for anybody. I, as much as anyone here deserves a chance to prove myself and I won't be bullied into sitting back and keeping quiet just because I seem gullible.
"What happened Ella?" Martha asked as soon as I returned to my table and a tear I have been holding back, rolled down my cheek without permission.
"Oh my goodness Ella, what did that idiot say to you?" She asked, I sigh using my left hand to wipe off the stray tear.
"It's nothing Martha. He just wants to frustrate me for his amusement but I won't let him have his way with me. Not today, not ever." I replied to her and she stared back at me with obvious confusion but I don't bother explaining any further cause right now, I need to focus on what I'll have to do to get Corey to leave me the hell alone.