C7 SEVEN

The slight pound in her head seemed to increase immediately she walked into the large building of the company. She had woken up that morning feeling quite down, for reasons she could not explain, and now that she had decided to show up at work even when it was already noon, she felt even more uneasy. It had been days since the date with Robert and the man had successfully ignored her even after she had sent her apology through a text.

Perhaps, he had been right when he had accused her of ruining things. For that reason, Anastacia felt the need to apologize to him even when it was quite a relief not to see him breathing down her neck almost every day; he made sure to visit her at least once a day, and while people might say he was the sweetest fiance on earth, Anastacia found his antic really exhausting and annoying.

Fetching her shades from her bag, she immediately put them on before walking down the hallway. She was sure she had bags under her eyes since she had barely slept the previous night and she was not ready to answer any question about it.

As she walked, people greeted but she paid no attention to any of their greetings. She was in no need to exchange pleasantries with anyone. They didn't even like her so why act like they did?

Halfway through the hallway, a certain image of a person caught her eyes and she stopped, her eyes fixated on her secretary who had not seen her yet. He was dressed in a simple striped shirt with two of its buttons left open, exposing his bare hairy chest. He was laughing heartily with a brunette whom Anastacia could tell was also laughing due to how her body was shaking. The brunette had her face buried in Liam's chest and beside them were two more guys — all laughing.

Anastacia had no idea why they were all laughing so hard but her eyes narrowed at that and she turned to go immediately, increasing her pace as she took the elevator to her office. Immediately she got to the door of her office, she pulled her phone from her bag and dialed Liam's number, pushing the door open and plopping to her couch, as she waited for him to answer up.

He finally did and all she said to him was a single word.

"My office!"

With that, she ended the call and tossed her phone aside, tapping her foot intermittently on the ground as she waited for him.

Liam, who had been enjoying his boss's absence that day, frowned deeply when he stared at the caller id on his phone screen. He had been overjoyed when she had sent him a text early that morning, informing him that she might not show up at work that day so seeing her calling again could only be bad news. He quickly placed the phone to his ear and sighed deeply when she asked him to report to her office.

Lindsey, who noticed everything, turned to look at him, her brow furrowed in confusion.

"The witch wants me in her office." He blurted out and the brunette frowned.

"I thought she wasn't gonna show up at work today."

"That's what she said." Liam raked his fingers through his dark brown curls and sighed heavily again. "I need to get going." He told his friends and they nodded in understanding, the expression of pity on their faces like he was going to the slaughterhouse to be slaughtered.

He knew what they were thinking and he sighed heavily again, turning to go.

In no time, he was standing at her door and he took a deep breath before knocking lightly and pushing the door open. She was seated with her legs crossed, her left black heel dangling in the air while the right kept tapping the ground. Her black dress was quite short so her bare laps were exposed. Her arms were folded under her breast and she didn't look up even after the door had opened.

Liam cleared his throat to get her attention but she still didn't look at him. Was she mad at him? What had he done this time?

"I didn't know you were around," he began. "I thought you were gonna take the day off like you said."

"Oh really?" She finally looked at him and her hazel eyes had him arrested, he just couldn't look away. "Was that why you were busy lazing around?" She held his gaze and his lips moved but he could not form any coherent word. It felt like she had held him spellbound with her eyes and he remained mute.

"Cool!" She stood to her feet after a moment of silence and he took a step back impulsively. She was looking quite intimidating that afternoon.

"Where are the documents I asked you to complete yesterday?" She stretched her hand and Liam's jaw dropped.

"What?" He exclaimed.

"The document. Let me have it!" She kept looking at him and he lowered his eyes.

"You said you will be needing them the day after tomorrow. You said I should take my time." She had actually told him to take his time when she told him about the document and though it had been quite unlike her, he had been glad she was being reasonable. He should have known better than to fall for her antics. Anastacia Blaise was anything but reasonable.

"So?" She snapped at him, taking a step forward to where he stood. He kept his eyes lowered. "I said I would need them the day after tomorrow. True!" She nodded. "But I need them now. It is my decision to make. I need them now so hand them over." She yelled.

"I haven't worked on them."

"You haven't worked on them?" She reiterated, breaking into a derisive laugh for a moment. "You had work to do but you were busy laughing and joking around with that frump."

She couldn't help but bring that up and Liam's bowed head shot up that instance as he looked at her in shock. How had she known that?

"You thought I wasn't gonna know? Just one day I said I will not be available and you begin to slack?"

"I was not slacking. You clearly said I should take my time, that you will need them in two days. I was simply taking my time like you ordered." He countered and her eyes narrowed at him.

"Don't talk back at me." She seethed and his lips moved but he remained quiet.

"I need those documents today."

"That is really impossible. I can't -"

"Don't tell me it is impossible. Make it possible." She slammed her palms on his chest and he looked down at her hands in shock, before raising his head to look at her angry face.

"You are not permitted to leave work without submitting those documents to me today. Now leave!" She pushed him roughly before pulling her hands away and walking to her table.