Chapter 13

Arya. After the debacle of last night, I’d told Tyler that I was ready to begin work. Staying at his mansion without anything to do only left space for intrusive thoughts and that was the last thing I wanted. I needed to get busy, do something, earn money so I could move out and get a place of my own if push came to shove. And in my experience, it always did. Tyler had acquiesced and right now, I was standing in his spacious office, holding his gaze as he sat behind the massive mahogany desk. I’d not forgotten how he’d stood up for me last night, even though he hadn’t needed to. Usually, I was a wallflower, perching on the outside, looking in on the main activity but last night had put me at the center of attention and I was still not completely recovered. “So, as my secretary, your job is to schedule my appointments, take official calls, draft out reports and manage my correspondences,” Tyler was saying. It should have been impossible but he looked so much bigger sitting on his chair. His presence was even more intimidating. Dressed in a white dress shirt and black slacks, he was too handsome not to look at. “If there’s anything else, I’ll let you know.” Then his eyes narrowed and he angled his head. “Are you sure you’re up for this, Arya? I won’t think less of you if you decide to just stay home and rest.” Absolutely not. “I want to do this. Thank you again for giving me this opportunity.” “I’d do anything for you, Arya,” he said. “If you need anything, don’t hesitate to come to me.” Nodding, I turned around and left. My peach dress bounced around me as I walked, another one of Tyler’s generosities. A small area had been designated for me as a workstation. At least that was why Tyler called it. It wasn’t small to me. It was quite large. A perfect square, the office had window walls that stretched from the top of the ceiling to the floor. There was a desk, a swerving chair and a two-sitter couch just near the door. Barely able to contain my smile, I walked in and inhaled. It was hard to believe I was this lucky. But I was really in my own office, right outside that of my mate’s and for the first time in my entire life, I didn’t have to toil for anything. Years and years of hard work paled in comparison to this. I’d certainly never gotten an office before. Had the moon goddess finally taken mercy on me? The answer to that question came two hours later when a knock rapped on my door. I lifted my gaze to see a very beautiful woman walk into my office like she owned the place. The first thing I noticed was that her shoulders were raised impossibly high, as though she thought every other person was shit beneath her designer boots. She was also impeccably dressed in a two-sizes-too-tight black pencil skirt, white camisole and black blazer. Her heels were impossibly high and I wondered how she was able to walk in them without falling flat on her face. In fact, Alison and all her high-handed fashion sense had nothing on this woman. This woman was breathtaking. Her waist was impossibly thin, creating a figure-eight shape any woman would kill to have. I resisted the urge to look down at my own plain peach dress. Growing up with Alison taught me one thing: don’t compete where you can’t compare. It wasn’t worth it. Plastering a smile on my face, I sat up straight. She was probably a guest who wanted to see Tyler, though I’d gone through his schedule for today and there were no women on it. “Good morning,” I said. “How may I help you?” The woman fixed me an icy glare, blonde hair falling down one side of her shoulders. “It’s you?” she scoffed with a chuckle. “You’ve got to be kidding me.” Confused, I stared at her. “Excuse me?” “Oh, you’re excused, alright, you swine.” A cold chill ran up my spine. It was suddenly Crest all over again. Alison was suddenly standing in front of me with her fatal tongue like a lash, hitting me over and over. The smile dropped from my face. “I’m sorry, but I don’t know who you are. You can’t just walk into my office and call me names.” Her green eyes flashed. “I can do anything I want,” she snarled. “Especially to a woman who’s trying to steal my man.” “Steal your man?” This was getting ridiculous. “What on earth do—” The penny dropped. My eyes widened as recognition dawned on me. Mr. Steele from the party last night. His daughter. Marrying Tyler. The argument that had ensued. “I can’t believe Tyler wants to mate with someone so…” she struggled for the right word. “Dirty and plain. What has come over him?” “Uh…” “Oh, fucking great,” she threw her hands up exasperatedly. “She’s an illiterate too. Did he give you this job out of the kindness of his heart or did he have to sleep with you first? Though I wouldn’t know why he would want to get into bed with such a Plain Jane.” Her face twisted in disgust. “I won’t work here if I have to see your ugly face every day. I just can’t.” I didn’t have the words to explain how I was feeling, being bombarded by this woman. Anger that Tyler hadn’t told me the daughter in question from last night worked at his company too or shame that I couldn’t even bring myself to talk back to her? A myriad of emotions ran through me. “Please leave my office, Miss. Steele.” I said quietly. “You know my last name. Awn. Maybe not so much of an illiterate after all.” I decided it was anger. “I said, get out of my office!” My outburst shocked us both. She stood there staring at me, obviously expecting me to sit there and take her insults. But I’d decided a while ago that there would be no more Alisons in my life. Which was not to say that I would actively fight anyone, but that I would work on summoning the courage to fight for myself. And as hard as it was, I had to take that step. I couldn’t depend on Tyler to be my knight in shining armor forever. “And don’t come back.” The words were low. Anger flashed in her eyes as she gave me one last look, just like her father had done to Tyler last night. “This isn’t over. I will not stand idly and watch you snatch him away from me. You better buckle up because this is war.” Then she swung on her ridiculously high heels and strutted out of my office. I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding. What was it with me and making enemies wherever I went? I didn’t understand it. No one avoided discord more than I did. I hated drama or anything that resembled it. So, why then did everyone seem to hate me?