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N I N T H
C H A P T E R

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"So, what will you guys eat?" a bald guy with tan skin asked once again. He was standing for like forever because Mr. Only Rude couldn't think of anything. I have to say he's really bad at choosing.

Yeah, that's why he chose you as his PA, my inner voice giggled.  

'Told you, bad at making choices.'

"Will you, please, stop tapping your foot on the floor." he said looking at me with a frown. "It's so distracting."

I stopped for a while but continued tapping. What can I do? It's because of him. He's gone through the menu chart so many times but his heart is not settling on anything.

"Didn't I tell you that this place is not for people like you." I moved a little closer and whispered, trying my best that the bald tan guy won't listen to me.

He looked up at me angrily and said a little authoritatively, "Stop tapping! I can't decide if you kept making that disturbing voice."

"You are not choosing flowers for your wedding!" I said resting my back on the chair. "Is it too difficult to choose between burger and--- well, burger."

"There are different kinds of burger." he said moving his hand over the menu chart.

I so hoped he wasn't serious, but sadly he was.

"Only if you had thought like this while choosing me as your PA." I mumbled. 

He looked up at me, "Believe me I did." 

He didn't! He told me himself that he made me his PA because of Mr. Smith. 

"I'll have a buffalo burger." he finally spitted out.

"Finally!" I signed a breath of relief.

"Actually wait."

"NO!" I face palmed.

He again hold the menu chart and started looking at it.

I literally saw the bald guy who was taking our orders roll his eyes. Even he was annoyed. He should be. I don't think he would've ever seen a customer like Mr. Aaron.

"So I think you guys don't have much things available here." he said still moving through the menu and finally putting down said, "So--- I'll just take the same thing I told you before. Buffalo burger and yeah with fries and mayo garlic."

Oh, my god! After so long and his heart settled on this.

"Your order, Mam." bald guy asked.

"I'll just have a beef hamburger."

"You know buffalo burger is more heart-healthy. It has less cholesterol and less fat---" he babbled.

"Stop it!" and I interrupted. "I get it. Thank you!" 

I really don't need to listen to his babble about what's healthy and what's not.

He raised his brow, "You got a real nerve talking to your boss like this."

Shoot! I never know when I cross my boundaries. He's right I shouldn't talk to him like this.   

What to do now?

"Well, we're not in office and you're not my boss right now." I said cocking my neck up so I can meet his face, but I couldn't.

God! He's tall. 

He nodded in approval.

"But I was your boss when you attacked me in my office." he said with a smirk.

Told you he wasn't going to stop reminding me about that incident. 

"Well---" I tried to come up with a nice excuse. "that was for practicing."

He furrowed his brows indicating his disapproval.

"Miss Williams, that wasn't a normal punch." he said placing his elbows on the table and entwined his fingers. "I have to say, even I had a little difficulty in saving myself from that punch."

"Yes! I knew my punch was great." I blurted out cheerfully.

Ava, dear! Always think before you speak, my inner voice gave me an advice and I would have been glad if she had advised me before. 

"You just said it was for practice - a simple punch." he said with a questioning look.

I remained silent.

"Do you train, Miss Williams?" he asked moving back. "It seems like you specially go somewhere and train."

Busted! If he knew that my purpose of living is to train and that my training is the reason behind my poor performance, he's going to fire me and I can't let that happen. At least not for a month.

"Nope! No training." I lied but sounded true. I further added, "Just a few kicks and punches for--self defense."

"Kicks and punches in the air, right?" he raised his brow.  
 
I nodded.

He chuckled.

I could sense the disproval in his eyes. I knew he won't buy my excuse. 

"Why do I think you're hiding something?" he looked deeper in my eyes and for a split second it seemed like he can see through me.

"Are you kidding me?" I rolled my eyes and tried my best to sound okay, but deep down I was shuddering.

"What are your actual desires, Miss Williams? Your cruel intentions?" he said with a smirk on his face.

CRUEL INTENTIONS!

Is he for real?

I looked at him silently for a while.

I was seriously getting a little annoyed and frightened at the same time.

Who is he to ask such things? Who is he to interfere in my life?   

Okay, Ava! Spit the anger out, my inner voice calmed me down. 

"Well, everyone has their own likes or dislikes, desires--- some are good and few, nasty impulses." I said calmly and with a fake smile. 

There was silence. It felt like someone has muted the car honks and chatter of nearby people.

"What is your nasty impulse?" I asked breaking the silence. 

"I asked this question before you did, so you should be the one answering." he said but I don't see any uncomfortableness in him, he was actually enjoying the conversation and I was sweating inside.  

"Well, now I'm asking you." I remained firm.    

He kept mute. In no time the bald guy came with our orders and he made the weird atmosphere a bit less weird. 

I'm glad the bald guy finally decided to come. I was getting sick of this topic. 

I smiled at him as he placed the respective trays in front of us. 

"Enjoy your heart-healthy buffalo burger." I said moving my tray a bit closer to me.

He half-smiled while shaking his head.

We both dug into the food and kept eating. 

I took a big bite, not caring who I was with, just enjoying the not-so-heart-healthy burger. A little mayonnaise gathered on the tip of my upper lip. 

I licked my lips, taking the mayo off of my lips and ate it.

He looked at me for a moment and then looked down and smiled slightly. 

He took a big bite and I think he did it on purpose because a little mustard spread on his lower lip. He brushed his thumb on his lower tip and the mustard gathered on his thumb. His eyes still fixed on me. He sucked the edge of his thumb, taking the mustard off of his thumb. 

I gawked at him.

"What did you just do?" I said with a puzzled frown on my face. 

He laughed showing his beautiful teeth. He covered his eyes with his hand and continued laughing.

"Nothing!" he replied. His laugh getting feeble.  

I think it's the first time I saw him laughing. He chuckled a bit before but never laughed. He actually looked--- more handsome while laughing.

Wow, Ava! I knew you'll like Mr. Aaron, my inner voice giggled. 

'Okay, it's nothing like that.' Irritated by my inner voice, I replied to her. 

I have to say, what he just did was a little inappropriate, but then I also know that he's crazy.

"Okay, enough interrogating me." I said moving closer to the table.

"I haven't asked you anything."

"You did." I argued. 

"and you didn't answer." 

"By the way, Mister---" I started.

He interrupted, "Only call me Sir."

"We're not in office right now." I rolled my eyes. "I can call you whatever I want."

"No!" he said sternly making me jump.

His face was expressionless. 

"Didn't you just say that you're not my boss outside the office?" I looked at him confusedly.

"You said it, not me." he said with surety.

I recalled and he was right.

"If you are in my company then whether we are in or out of the office--- I'll be your boss." he enunciated each of his words. 

"Gheez! Sorry, S.i.r." I apologized. 

He smirked, "So you were saying something?" 

Oh, Dear Lord! His mood swings are really scary. A second ago he was a bit mad and he's back to his smirking. 

I looked down and gathering courage I also brought back my cheerfulness.

"So I was reminding you that you said that I can ask you any questions about you." I said with a smile and added, "as long as they are not personal."

"Sure, Miss Williams, ask me anything." he said moving back and resting his back with the chair, he crossed his arms and added smugly, "I'm an open book. You can read me whenever you want to. The cover of the book is also very jaw-dropping." 

Self-obsessed! I restrained myself from rolling my eyes.

I was about to ask him, when he interrupted, and looking into my eyes, he said with no expression on his face, "I don't hide truth like you do, Miss Williams."   

I stared at him with a mild fear.

Why do I have a bad feeling that Mr. Aaron knows more about me than he should know.

✴ ✴

N e x t :
10th Chapter.

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