บท 26: The Ex-Boss

They arrived at the hotel where the product launch was supposed to happen. Both of them exited the car at the same time, grabbing attention from the people present at the entrance. The couple looked eye-catchingly gorgeous.

Adam handed the keys to a valet who was standing near him. He then glanced at Stella who had made her way around the car and was standing next to him now. Stella looked up and smiled at him. Adam smiled back at her and headed in with Stella following two steps behind him.

Adam stopped in his tracks to turn around and looked at her, narrowing his eyes during the process. "What have I told you about walking behind me?" Adam asked her.

"I know that you don't like it, but I am here as your assistant, not a friend." Stella replied, her voice barely audible, but enough for Adam to understand.

"So what?" Adam asked her again.

"So, I cannot walk next to you." Stella almost wanted to smack him on his head.

"Yes, you can." Adam was adamant, not wanting to step back. "You will walk next to me little lady, whether you like it or not." He added stubbornly.

"But, Adam--" She wanted to reply but was interrupted by him. "Stella, please listen to me." He said coming one step closer to her. "I know what you are thinking. I can understand your concern as well. But I really won't like you walking behind me. You are my friend. And don't worry, no one will say anything to you."

Stella was still a bit hesitant, looking everywhere but at him.

"Do you think just anyone can have the guts to bully someone by my side? Do you have such less faith in your friend?" He asked her, looking deeply in her eyes, giving her a bitter smile.

"Okay! Fine." Stella raised her hands up in the air in defeat. 'Seriously, no one can argue with this guy.'

Adam gave her a toothy grin listening to her reply.

After their little banter, they entered the hall side by side. As soon as they entered, a number of people approached Adam, paying their respects and greetings to get in the good books of the young man. But unknown to them, Adam was unfazed by all of this. His Dad never raised him to be like those people who easily got manipulated. Adam didn't pay any heed to their flattering. He hated such people, who would do anything just to earn some benefits for their own selves.

Listening to their boring one-sided conversations, Adam's gaze drifted to his surroundings looking for a particular person. He found her sitting on a stool by the bar.

'What is she doing there?' His eyes narrowed at her petite figure. "Excuse me!" He said to the people surrounding him and turned to head to the bar without waiting for their reply.

"What are you doing here?" He asked her, taking the free stool next to her.

"What do you think?" She rolled her eyes at him.

"You roll your eyes a lot. Don't you?" Adam asked her, which was more like a statement.

"Only at those who annoy me a lot." She retorted.

Adam couldn't help but chuckle at her reply. "Would you like some?" She asked him, tilting her glass towards him.

"Thank you, but no. I don't drink at such events. And I have to drive us back as well." He declined her politely asking the bartender for a glass of fresh orange juice.

Just as his juice was served, he heard someone. "Mr. Adam. It's a pleasure meeting you. It is my honor to have you here as the chief guest."

Adam turned back to look at the owner of the voice, only to find the host of the event smiling at him. Adam only nodded in response. He felt something was not right with the little lady next to him.

Stella's hand froze in mid-air when she heard the familiar voice. Looking at her expressions, Adam couldn't help but ask her, "Are you okay?"

Stella came out of her trance and nodded meekly.

"Who's this beautiful lady? Aren't you going to introduce her?" The man spoke up again.

Adam wanted to punch the guy so bad for eyeing Stella but tried his best to control. "She's my new assistant." He replied keeping his anger at bay.

Stella turned around reluctantly. She couldn't escape the situation even though she wanted to do so badly.

Before Adam could tell her name to Mr. Albert, he heard him say, "You? How did you even get in?" Adam was confused at his sudden outburst. 'They know each other.'

"Leave the place yourself or I will call security to drag you out." Albert spoke begrudgingly.

His sentence was enough to send Adam in a rampage mode. "Please, go ahead and try." Adam spoke up, a smirk gracing his face.

Albert could feel the temperature drop down around him. It was only then he realized that Adam had introduced her as his new assistant. He shivered thinking of the way he had just spoken to her.

"I am sorry Mr. Adam. I just couldn't help it." His tone changed completely to a professional one. "But I must say, for a man of your standard, you shouldn't surround yourself with immoral people." He continued.

"Excuse me?" Adam scoffed.

"I apologize if I am being rude but she had worked for my company already and that too as my assistant. I know her character better than anyone." Albert said with a deep meaning behind his words.

Adam was burning with rage. 'How dare he slander her and that too when I am her!' Just as he was about to say something, a young lady who was standing behind Albert spoke, adding fuel to the fire. "Yes, I was working in the company then too. She used to be quite frank with the male staff, flirting with them all the time. She even tried to seduce Boss. Thank goodness, Boss isn't like those men who would easily surrender before a woman's charm."

Stella, who was standing quietly so far, turned and walked past them disappearing into the crowd.

Albert was grinning like a fool thinking he should give some raise to his assistant for her work now. 'She will surely be fired now. She definitely deserves this.' He thought to himself.

"Say that again!" A cold voice brought Albert back to the present. "Say that again." Adam repeated his words.

Just as Albert or his assistant opened their mouths, Adam spoke again, "One more word about her and I will rip off your tongues from your throat." His voice was calm yet so cold to send shivers down their spines.

"And Mr. Albert, I am sure your wife would love to know that you're not the kind of person who will throw himself at every beautiful girl he lays his eyes on." Adam said boring his eyes into him, his voice laced with sarcasm.

"One word about this to a single soul, and you two will know the ruthless side of Adam Levinson." After giving his final warning, Adam headed in the direction that Stella had run into.