Chapter 5 No More Kisses, Only slaps

I pushed him away from my chest, trembling uncontrollably.

“Sir, there’s no need to burn me. I can do it myself.” My words came out slowly, as I tried to keep my voice steady.

My hand reached for what was left of the coffee in the cup, a slight tremor running through my fingers.

I closed my eyes tightly and slowly lifted the cup toward my other hand.

If someone had to burn me, let it be me.

Instead of being a victim of others, I chose to be my own victim.

And just before the coffee touched my skin

“Stop!”His voice was sharp, suddenly loud.

In a swift motion, he snatched the cup from my hand with force. The remaining coffee spilled onto the floor, and the bitter smell filled the room. I could hear his breathing, fast and heavy...as if his chest was rising and falling with anger.

I slowly lifted my eyes to him.

And there was something strange in his gaze.

Fear.

Yes… fear was clearly there, and it unsettled me more than any threat.

“I would endure burning a thousand times before I allow you to get hurt again,” he said in a rough voice, his words carrying a weight far heavier than a casual sentence.

I froze completely, staring at him in deep confusion, unable to understand what I was hearing.

What is this man talking about? Just moments ago he was threatening me, and now he looks afraid at the idea of me getting hurt again? When was I ever even hurt?

He clenched his jaw tightly, as if struggling with something inside him. Then he quickly turned his face away from me, and in an instant, that disturbance vanished from his features. His coldness returned, as if nothing had happened.

“I’ll change my shirt. Finish the files tomorrow. Go home now,” he said coldly, indifferently.

I stared at him in disbelief.

It felt like I was standing in front of two completely different people in one body.

Is he a devil or an angel? He threatens me, then protects me at the same time.

I didn’t respond. I couldn’t find the right words. I just stood there watching him until he entered his office and closed the door. Only then did I feel like I could move again.

I left quickly without looking back.

Hours passed, but sleep was completely out of reach. I kept tossing and turning in bed, changing positions again and again, unable to get Alexander’s words out of my head.

“I would endure burning a thousand times before I allow you to get hurt again.”

I repeated it inside my mind without meaning to, as if my thoughts were looping it endlessly.

And moment by moment, I began to think…

Did something happen in the past? In university? Something I don’t remember? What nonsense is this… how could I not remember being hurt?

“Ah, it doesn’t matter…” I muttered, hitting my head lightly as if trying to force the thoughts away.

“He’s just a crazy man trying to discipline me.”

Morning came.

I arrived at the company early, and the moment I entered the building, screams shattered the silence I needed.

“You deceived me! That position was my destiny! How could you give it to someone else?!”

It was James.

He was standing in the middle of the reception area, his face red with rage, his voice rising obnoxiously and drawing everyone’s attention. He was shouting at the receptionist without any regard for the place or the people.

I stopped walking for a moment.

And the moment he saw me, he froze.

His eyes widened in shock, as if he couldn’t believe I was the one who got the job.

Then his expression shifted ,from shock… to disgust.

“You?! I know how you got this job. You must’ve given the CEO something You fu--king bit ” he pointed at me.

But before he could finish, my feet moved on their own, quickly.

I crossed the entire distance between us.

And slapped him.

The slap was strong enough that the sound echoed through the area, cutting through all the noise in an instant. I saw his head jerk to the side, his body shaking slightly from the shock.

“How dare you speak about me like that, you bastard? Where do you get the courage from?” I said, my voice filled with anger.

He stepped back two steps, holding his cheek as if unable to process what had just happened.

Employees began gathering around us, some whispering, others watching in silence.

Then Lisa, a girl from my department, stepped forward and raised her voice.

“Sir, Miss Estrella has worked hard since day one. She arrives first and leaves last. She truly deserved this position,” Lisa said firmly.

At that moment, the elevator doors opened.

The same woman from the interview walked out. I expected her to look at me or scold me, so I lowered my head slightly, preparing for reprimand.

But she didn’t even look at me.

She walked straight past me and headed toward James with steady steps.

“Do you dare lecture us?” she said, throwing a file at his feet forcefully.

“Look at your answers. All wrong. All copied from the internet. Are you sure you studied this field? If you want a job here, try the warehouse section it suits you better.”

“Get him out,” she signaled to security.

And they did. They grabbed him and started dragging him out while his voice rose in resistance and threats.

“You’ll regret this! You’ll see what I’ll do to this company!”His voice faded gradually until it disappeared completely.

And I stood there watching the scene, a small sense of satisfaction creeping inside me. I looked at my hand with a faint smile ...just a small slap, and it actually made me happy. Life is strange. The person whose kiss once made me happy… now it’s a slap that does.

Then my smile disappeared the moment the elevator opened again.

Alexander stepped out.

He was wearing an elegant black suit, holding a file in his hand.

He passed by me without looking.

Then suddenly stopped for a few seconds.

“Couple problems should be solved outside the company, not inside it,” he said coldly.

“He’s not my boyfriend! I don’t even know him!” I replied immediately without thinking.

He frowned slightly just a brief look I couldn’t interpret then continued walking without turning back.

Crazy! he doesn’t even know what happened. How does he think I’m his girlfriend?

I returned to my desk, trying to focus on my work in peace.

And suddenly, that peace shattered.

When I heard a very familiar voice behind me.

“My dear friend… I came to congratulate you on your new job.”