Chapter 45

Caleb's POV

"Get away from me." Amaris pushed herself off my chest as she stumbled again but this time she was quick enough to grab the sofa before she fell.

"Oh my God." I let out a small sigh as I pinched between my brows. I had never met a woman as frustrating as she was. If she wasn't intoxicated right now she would have enjoyed seeing me this frustrated. "Why did you lie to me?" I dipped my hands into my pockets.

"You don't need to know that." Her lips twisted into a scowl as she crossed her arms over her chest averting my gaze.

"Can you hear yourself?" I raised my eyebrows. "You are drunk." I drawled. "You are in the middle of a club partying with your friend who is also drunk." She let out a small huff as she rolled her eyes. "What do you think other people are going to say when they find out that you work for me, huh?"

"And why am I supposed to care about your reputation?" She sized me up. "If you think I am not responsible enough to be an employee at your fucked up company then why don't you just fire me." She raised her shoulders in a half shrug. "Fire me. Get a new secretary and then, poof. All your problems will go away." She rambled. "Don't you want all your problems to go away, huh Mr. Thorne?" She moved closer, close enough that I could feel her body heat as my gaze dropped to her exposed tummy that was only covered with thin strands of cloth. She then placed her finger on her lip. "Or are you keeping me for another reason? Hmm?" She then pressed her body against mine before lifting her gaze to meet mine and for a second there I almost forgot that she was drunk.

"Hmm." I scoffed. "You actually think that I'd stoop that low to fuck my own secretary huh?" I leaned in closer, close enough that our lips were almost touching.

"I don't think....I know." She purred.

"So what are you trying to do now?" I lifted a brow. "Seduce me?"

"I don't need to."

"You're drunk." My lips twisted into a scowl as I pulled away before I did something that we were both going to regret. "We'll talk about this on Monday," I sidestepped her, moving away from the lounge area. It was a Saturday and Sundays were the only days she didn't come to work so we couldn't talk about this tomorrow and I couldn't sacrifice my weekend away from here just because I wanted us to talk. I didn't bother turning back....her friend was going to come help her anyway so that was none of my business. I was already far away from her but I could still smell her perfume wafting around me.

So then you asked her to have sex with you? I mean it's the only reasonable explanation....you were the one who was lusting after her after all....

That was a mistake....

All of these were probably happening to me because I drank too much. I thought to myself as I let out a small sigh. "Now all I need to do is take out my frustration on the woman waiting for me upstairs." I said to myself as I walked into the elevator. "I really hope she's worth the time."

~~~~~~~~~

"So you're telling me she lied to you so she could go clubbing with her friend." Kian's brows shot up as he leaned back on his chair. It was the last Sunday in the month and we always had dinner together at Miranda's place....I was so worked up about work that it kind of slipped my mind.

I lightly shook my head before turning towards the kitchen. "What's wrong?" Miranda asked, walking out from the kitchen with a tray of food in her arms.

"What do you mean what's wrong?" I lifted a brow as I watched her place the dishes on the table.

"You look....." She paused, sizing me up. "...mad."

Just then Kian let out a loud chuckle, his chest rumbling with laughter. "Oh come on mother, he always looks like that." He said still laughing as I frowned at him. "Don't worry, just ignore him. He's just mad at his PA for lying to him so she could go clubbing with her friend."

"Is it the sweet young lady I met the other day?" Miranda's face lit up and deepened my frown even more. I didn't get why Miranda liked her so much when all she did was cause trouble for me. I mean she wouldn't stop talking about her ever since that night I helped her at the ice cream shop.

"Hold up..." Kian's brows drew together as he sat up. "You know her?"

"Well....if you guys are talking about the young lady we met at the ice cream store a few weeks ago who works at Caleb's company, then yes." She dipped her head in a small nod as she turned to head back into the kitchen since she wasn't done taking out the food. We wanted to help her but she insisted we sat at the table since we were her guests for the night.

Kian then turned his head towards me the second Miranda disappeared into the kitchen. "You didn't tell me she was there that night?" A small smile crept up his lips.

"You never asked." I said in a casual tone. His jaw dropped as a faint gasp escaped his lips. He was always the dramatic one in our group and by our group I meant just me and him.

"And that doesn't mean you shouldn't tell me." He leaned back into his chair.

"Mhmmm." I blinked.

"Okay....Dinner is served." Miranda announced grabbing our attention as she walked in with another tray in her hand. The smell of mashed potatoes and gravy wafted in the air. "Hope you like it." She beamed at us as she pulled out one of the chairs from underneath the table.

"You cooked them mother. Of Course we'll love it." Kian smiled back, reaching for one of the serving dishes. "Oh my goodness," Kian exclaimed as he drew in the intoxicating aroma of the food. "How long has it been....a decade?" He questioned dropping the lid by the side. We were having roasted chicken with mashed potatoes and gravy for dinner which was one of my favorite dishes and as much as i wanted to thank and shower Miranda with praises i didn't want Kian to see how vulnerable I could get when I was with Miranda if not he was going to use it to tease me for the rest of my life and I wouldn't have cared if it was anyone else but this was Kian we were talking about. The most annoying creature on earth, well apart from women in general.

Fire me. Get a new secretary and then, poof. All your problems will go away.

"Caleb?" Miranda called out with a worried look on her face as she pulled me out of my thoughts. Great. I couldn't even have a normal dinner without thinking about that nasty woman. "Aren't you hungry? I thought roasted chicken was your favorite...." She reached for the knife beside her. I was about to speak when she said. "I mean that's the only reason I made it in the first place."

"Umm hello. He's not your only son, you know. Why didn't you make my favorite meal?" Kian's lips twisted into a scowl.

"It's because she loves me better." A small smile crept up my lips as I reached for the plate in front of me.

"Oh shut up." Kian rolled his eyes.

"Kian....there is no need to be mad." Miranda let out a light chuckle. "You know I love you both and besides I made your favorite dish last time, it's only fair Caleb gets a turn." She grabbed the dishing spoon from Kian as she carefully dished out generous portions onto our plates.

"Just wait till I tell your business partners about this." I said, earning a glare from Kian as my smile widened. No matter how much I hated to admit, the only time I really smiled was when I was around Kian and Miranda. A certain brunette with sparkly hazel eyes flashed in my head but I immediately shook off the thought. She didn't make me smile. All she did was cause trouble for me and I was going to make sure she regretted every single second of her day at work tomorrow. Every damn second.