Earlier
Tessa's Pov
"Yen, I don't think I should go like this... I-It's just too revealing!" I said in an unsure tone. I am the type who likes to dress up professional and less revealing at work.
"Tess we don't really have any choice now, do we? And what's so wrong in this? You have a perfect body to flaunt after all!" Yeni commented again. I could hear her chuckling tone which only made me sigh.
Her jokes just seems too sarcastic to me sometimes.
"I am serious Yen, this is too inappropriate for my liking!" I spoke seriously as I eyed my attire. I've never shown so much skin before at work. I don't want to get dirty attentions from all the workers as I know how they are. She is aware about it too.
I saw her features dropping down after hearing my words, then followed by a long helpless sigh.
"Tessa I'm sorry but this is the only thing I have!" She replied back making me gulp.
Guess I have no choice.
I don't want to be in any bad looks for being late in front of the new boss, that to in his first day of work.
First impression is the last impression indeed. I might just try to cover some of my exposed skin with my hair.
I soon walked out of my cabin, towards his office. I gulped when I felt stares on me, this time they felt were more irritating.
I never liked those hungry stares, I adjusted my blouse as I strengthened up awkwardly. It's my first time being so uncomfortable at work just because of my attire. It never happened before.
Wearing professionalism, I just walked straight ignoring everyone like I always do. I knocked the door elegantly. Waiting for the response I soon heard a manly deep order from inside, "Come in!"
Turning the knob, I then entered inside.
Pin drop silence...
I saw our new president sitting on his desk while crossing his legs firmly. I approached his seat with my steady steps, he was eyeing somewhere else as his side features came to my view.
My heart thumped for an unknown reason. I gulped weirdly. I was nervous I won't hesitate to admit it. I was used to assist his father, it took me quite while to adjust with his principles. However for him I gotta adapt a lot of things, I don't know... it's just my guts said it's going to be hard to cope with him!
"Good Morning Mr.Brown!" I greeted while bowing to him. I saw him not reacting to me properly, Wearing blankness in his face I heard him only humming to me quite rudely?
Tessa, you got this!'
"I'll be assisting you from now on. Tessa Lopez!" I introduced myself professionally, I became tensed as he wasn't even looking at me, let look alone he was acting like I am not even present in the room. He was still looking at one place ignoring me completely. His aura surely confused me but it kind of intimidated me too.
It was hard to admit that he is the same man who likes all such atheistic stuffs. I was quite excited to meet him but...
I let his ignorance aside and decided to act normal, but however my eyes got stuck on something. I frowned in dissatisfaction and disgust. The foul smell of cigarette smoke disturbed me to no limits. I scrunched my nose.
I hate that smell.
My eyes captured his hand holding a cigarette.
His hand was wrapped with a white bandage. It seemed like his palm was injured but he was still smoking with that hand, not caring about the injury.
Is he not aware about what he is doing? Doesn't he know smoking is forbidden in here?
He was holding the burning substance and blowing the smoke without any care as I hesitated a bit. "Here's your schedule, I've arranged it for you!" I said with my flat tone before keeping the file on his desk in front of him.
I saw him eyeing the file and picking it up from the other hand and opening it. I stood their awkwardly as I waited for his permission of my dismissal but he still paid no attention to me. I saw him focusing on the file while I was still quietly bearing the disgusting smell of his smoke? Only I know how I rejected the urge to palm my nose.
Do I have to bear this thing everyday?'
My eyes then landed on the air purifier on his desk and not thinking about anything else I just moved ahead towards it. I just couldn't just bear it anymore.
I clicked it on.
But from my knowledge he didn't like my action much as I saw him frowning in dissatisfaction the next second. His eyebrows and nose scrunched on my actions. "Turn it off!" I heard him speaking deeply, I would lie if I'll say that I didn't feel tensed at that time but I still held my ground before strengthening my back up in my professional position again.
"Mr.Brown I think it's necessary. It will help cleaning the air." I spoke in a professional way trying not to sound pissed off from his ignorant behaviour. He was my boss after all and I gotta keep my temper to myself.
His eyes seemed threatening.
"What did you just say?" He asked almost in a mad tone but I decided to answer him calmly.
"Smoking is not allowed in working hours Mr.Brown. Moreover it's dangerous for your health!" I said in a normal tone.
It was a genuine concern however he seemed to take it in a wrong way as I witnessed his jaw clenching after I finished my sentence, the next second his action made me shocked as I saw him slamming the file on his desk hardly. I didn't flinch but my eyes surely widened at his actions.
I then saw him finally moving his eyes on me dangerously but I still decided not to leave my ground. I gulped with no noise, I felt his deep eyes on me as that's when nervousness hugged me.
His eyes were on my attire to be exact.
Shamelessly looking at me up and down with a judgemental look seconds later, his eyes were piercing through my soul.
His stare was disturbing me, it was like he was mocking me through eyes. Like he was insulting me through his eyes. It affected me to no limits.
I cleared my throat to bring him back to reality as I had it enough. I was uncomfortable with him in the same room already and just wanted to leave. I heard him scoffing suddenly making me confuse.
"Mr.Brown!" Calling him with my awkward voice I settled my eyes on him strictly but rather than looking away from me he was now staring at me more obviously without any shame.
"Are you uncomfortable? Why should you be? Didn't you wanted me to look at you, I am doing it right now Ms.Tessa!" My name somehow sounded like a mock from his mouth, he tilted his head to the side and matched his gaze with me finally. I furrowed my eyebrows as I had confusion written on my face.
He soon stood up from his seat while still eyeing me darkly. "What do you mean?" I questioned him directly but he only chuckled at my words.
He took his first step then second and third, he was slowly coming near me. I saw him coming closer and closer to me, my muscles started tensing up followed by every steps he was taking. Soon standing in front of me, he looked down at me deeply.
"What do I mean? What do you mean by this? Why are you acting all tensed after putting this seductive show of yours in front of your new boss... and that to be a bachelor!" He questioned darkly back before flicking the burning cigarette in the trash can behind me.
My eyes widened as he said that. It was as if my someone stepped on my pride. Well he just did!
"The kind of women I despise the most are the ones... who are easy to flow with!" He soon opened his mouth again dangerously as he gritted his teeth looking at me with a hateful gaze.
He called me easy?
This made my eyes harden at the comment. In a way he was slut shaming me.
"Why so shocked? Look at you, How can you come in front of your boss wearing such garments. What were you thinking Ms.Lopez?" He asked shamelessly. My hands clenched my skirt as I controlled my breathing.
"Mr.Brown you're insulting me!" I said as I gulped my tears down. I am not going to cry.
I was always used to with all these judgements, I was always judged by the way I look but today it's just went too overboard. I am being slut shamed because of my dressing!
He laughed at my words as if I said some joke, it made me angrier. He then broke the gaze from me. He looked like a demon in disguise.
"Then what did you expect? Did you expect me to bring you to my house after witnessing how much of disgusting woman you are? When you came to know that your new boss is a bachelor... you changed into this revealing garment just to impress him, seriously? Women like you... are such a disgrace!"
My eyes started to shoot fire as he ended his disgusting words. He judged me so cheaply without even knowing me. That was it!
My eyes became red to control my outburst. I can tolerate everything but not anything about my character.
"Enough Mr.Brown! I prefer you to not come to your self made conclusions when you clearly don't know anything about me!" I said as he stared at me raising a brow, maybe not expecting me to say those words.
"I don't know what type of women you've came across in your private life before Mr.Brown but I'm very certain I'm not like them, hence before making any sort of useless judgement on me, think twice because I won't just sit and let you humiliate me like today!" I said in pure anger.
I saw his eyes darkened 10 times more as I saw his jaw clenching after hearing my words but I didn't care a bit, I decided to just leave. I was done with my work for today after all.
I bowed to him even though he doesn't deserve a bit of my respect after saying all those things. He was nothing but an arrogant person who judges others because of their clothing... he was nothing different from the other men I know.
Not waiting for his permission of dismissal, I just turned my heels around without any hesitation then getting out of the room in a second, leaving him alone.
I hate men like him!
Author's Pov
Unknown to her knowledge the man was surprised to hear such reply. He was so shocked to see her talking back after him insulting her so disrespectfully.
It burnt his heart as he realised that she just argued with him again and not only that, she just left without even his permission. His ego got hurt to no limits because of her disobedience.
But some part of him did got excited... wildly excited! He felt weirdly challenged by her temperament.
He never witnessed a woman standing up for herself like she did just now.
Never in his life he saw a luring woman like her with such bad tongue habits. She was aware that being in his position he could easily eliminate her from his company with only a snap of his fingers but still she decided to work her mouth in a toxic way in front of him? Her braveness interested him more. A strong sense of intimidating aura filled the room as he smirked monstrously.
"I will show you what humiliation actually means lady!"