Brandon’s POV
The sun had barely heated the rims of the horizon when I pulled up to headquarters. By most standards, it’s early, but today I need to get an edge. If what happened with Natalie last night has anything to say on the matter, I’m more driven than ever to square things-not just those between her and me but all around.
I got out of the car and started up to the entrance, but was hardly aware of the confusion or whatever it was up near the security desk. I squinted, trying to figure out what was going on, and there was my stomach, which twisted right away at the sight: a familiar figure, Arlys, whose voice rose in frustration with an altercation against security guards.
“Let me in! I have every right to be here!” she was saying, her strident voice slicing through the room. The guards, to their credit, stood firm, not letting her past the threshold.
I gathered my pace together, now heading directly towards the scene. A cold anger started bubbling up within me. What in God’s name was she doing here? Hadn’t she done enough already?
This one really did a complete 180 the moment her eyes landed on me, onto a pacifying syrupy smile I knew too well. She must have thought I would take her side, and smooth things over for her. So much for him to learn.
“Brandon!” she exclaimed, offensively feigned. “These guards won’t let me in. Can you believe it?” She rushed to me.
I stopped in front of her, carrying a look that could freeze her blood. “What are you doing here, Arlys?” I asked, low and dangerous.
She stopped in her tracks and blinked upon sensing some ice in my tone and said, “I just wanted to talk with you, to clear the air after … everything,” dropping her voice almost to a whisper with almost a pleading softness.
At that, I crossed my arms over my chest, not taking her act for one second. “You have no business being here, Arlys. This is my place of work, and you’re not welcome here. Leave. Now.”
Her eyes widened, and she looked totally shocked by my saying something like that. “Brandon, come on. You don’t mean that.”
I took a step closer, lowering my voice so that only she could hear me. “I mean business, lady. Next time you come around, I’ll have you arrested for trespass.”
Her jaw dropped, and for a second there was no response at all. Then, her eyes narrowed, and I could feel the wheels inside her head spinning, scheming at the very first chance to find some way to put this to her advantage.
“You wouldn’t dare,” she hissed, voice like poison.
“Try me,” I spat back, not giving ground, not even an inch.
Her cold glare dropped on me as she sneered, “I could ruin this deal with Aldo’s for you, you know. All it would take was just one simple phone call.” She crossed her hands
I felt my annoyance quiver through me but somehow held my temper. “Be my guest,” I shrugged, apathetically trying to sound nonchalant. “If you reckon that’s going to put you on a straight line with your goal, then go ahead.”
The shock that crossed her face was evident. Clearly, she didn’t see that one coming. I have absolutely no doubt she thought that I figured I was going to beg and plead with her to let the deal be. But I wouldn’t give her that satisfaction.
“Brandon, come on, don’t be stupid now,” she told me, firmly with a definite rise in her tone, with telltale signs of frustration. “You know how much that deal means to you. You worked so hard to get it, are you going to throw it away just like that.”
I shrugged. “Well, it does mean a lot to me and I worked hard for it, however, it’s not worth more than my self-respect, Arlys. I will not let you blackmail me.”
For a second, she did nothing but look at me, her face a picture of shock; the next, anger wrenched across her features, and she surged forward, jabbing her finger into my chest.
“This ain’t over, Brandon,” she hissed. “Think you all can toss me away so easily? Think again. I ain’t gonna let you live your merry couple life while I’m being tossed aside like trash.”
Her words filled me with anger, but I repeated to myself not to show it on my face. “That’s not your choice,” I said easily, “but you need to move on, Arlys. Whatever it was, it’s done and dusted now.”
She shook her head, but then torrents of anger flashed in her eyes, making him falter. “No. I’ll do whatever gets you back, Brandon. And if that means tearing you and Natalie apart, so be it.”
Her words only worsened the chill down my spine. But I held myself together, watching my voice not to show that she had hit a nerve with her threats. “Do what you will, Arlys. Nothing’s going to change between us.”
She overcame her anger, and now her chest was heaving up and down with the heavy breaths she made. After a moment, there finally came an acrid laugh from her lips. “You will regret this, Brandon. Mark my words.”
With that, she turned around on that sports car stiletto and stormed out. The clicking of those high heels resonated sharply on the floor. I watched her go, angrier than a fox with mixed unease.
The two guards swiveled their eyes at each other before turning back to me in a puzzled fashion. I nodded to them sharply. “Good job keeping her out. If she shows up again, call the police.”
“Yes, sir,” one replied gratefully, for it was a clear instruction.
I knew I had drawn the battle line with Arlys, so I had to prepare myself for whatever counterattack she had. I was going to do everything to protect Natalie from her, no matter what it takes.