SEND GIFT
Chapter 25
CAESAR
By the time we make it to the coffee shop, my shoulders are stiff and tense and there’s a slow burning sensation deep within the confines of my heart.
Am I really jealous that another man talked to Amaya? Smiled her Fucking looked in her direction!
The moment I walk into the coffee shop and spot Amaya seated on a high stool at the bar while a tall, Tean fucker who’s seated on another stool beside her literally presses himself against her, it finally dawns on me that this painful, angry feeling inside of me is indeed jealousy.
I’m jealous.
I don’t want any other man talking to Amaya, smiling at her or even breathing the same air as her.
I watch, my anger slowly building as the man lifts his fingers and brushes a curl of bright red hair from her forehead. That’s when I decide that I’ve had enough.
1 mask my scent and stalk towards them with the precision of a silent cat. Without further ado, I wrap my fingers around his wrist and squeeze hard.
“What the…?”
The man lets out a surprised, pain–filled growl as he shoots to his feet, his eyes widening with shock when he sees me.
I feel a corner of my lips lift with satisfaction. Six foot four with long hair and built like a goddamn tank, I’m used to getting this reaction from people.
“I saw you touching my fiancée.” I growl, my voice barely audible. “I know you think she’s gorgeous, but if you make that mistake again, your pack members might need to retrieve your hands from the bottom of an ocean.”
His eyes narrow as he takes me in, not even bothering to struggle his wrist from my grip. “Who the hell are you? What are you doing in my establishment?”
“Are you hard of hearing or you just love to play dumb in your free time? I said-”
“I heard you say that Amaya is your fiancée,” he cuts in, “but you and I both know you’re lying, so let’s try this again. Who the hell are you?”
Despite the icy anger that burns in my throat, I cannot help the slow smile that lifts my cheeks.
“You seem brave. Quite impressive. My name is Caesar Manchester I would say that it’s nice to meet you, but I’ve never been known to be a liar.”
The light disappears in Pierce’s eyes as soon as he hears my name..just like I bloody expected.
Not only am I a world famous CEO, I’m also the Commander of the Blue Rivers Army. I have an army of over eight thousand men under my command. Packs cower at the mention of my name, although most people never know what I look
like.
e Caesar? The Caesar Manchester? Pierce ask
I shrug. “The one and only.”
faintly.
He peers down at Amaya, his lips parting with shock. “But Antay just told me she was single. How come..
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Chapter 25
“I told you I was single because I am single, Mr. Pierce.” Amaya says calmly. “I have no idea what this man is talking about
She doesn’t look at me. She just sits there, staring at the untouched apple pie in front of her.
Look at me, Amaya. I snarl inside my head. Fucking look at me)
“Man, can you please let go!” Pierce finally asks when the tension in the atmosphere almost becomes unbearable.
I release him instantly and he limps away to the far end of the room, still rubbing his wrist and muttering curses underneath
his wreath.
I stand behind Amaya for what feels like an eternity, but she just sits there, staring at the plate of pie.
Finally, I take a deep breath to calm my raging nerves and sink into the stool by her side: “Why are you ignoring me?”
She shrugs. “I went looking for jobs today. I haven’t had a bite to eat since this morning and it’s almost three PM. I was insulted and humiliated at almost all the companies applied to this morning. I came here tired and exhausted and Mr. Pierce offered to give me something to eat, which I was very grateful for…”
I wasn’t expecting such blatant honesty. I’m surprised. I must say And I cannot remember the last time anyone or anything succeeded in taking me by surprise.
Amaya finally turns in my direction and the glimmer of tears in those bright green depths sends signals of panic down my
spine.
“I just wanted to sit here and eat something with a nice man… and you just had to ruin it. Why?
Why can’t you just forget that we ever met? Why don’t you stay the hell away from me already?”
Everything was going slightly great, except for her tears, until she mentioned Pierce… then all my anger and jealousy came rushing back to the surface.
My lips tighten and I run a finger over the worn–out counter.
“You like nice men, I see.”
She frowns slightly. “What does that have to do with anything?”
I want to yell that that little fact is relevant to everything.
She likes nice men and I’m anything but nice. The mere fact that she used the word “like” and that bastard, Pierce, in the same sentence makes me want to rip something apart limb by limb. Preferably him.
I heave a sigh and lift a finger. Almost immediately, two of my guards walk into the store, bearing bags.
The smell of delicious food fills the cafe as they drop the bags on the counter in front of Amaya and step back.
“What is this?” She asks me, staring at the black bags like they might contain bombs.
“Food. I thought you said you haven’t eaten anything since this morning. You can eat now.”
She tilts the bag and takes note of the name.
“You got me food from The Elite Buffet?” She asks, her voice laced with surprise. “Doesn’t a plate of rice there cost like eight hundred dollars?”
She’s right. I bought her food from The Elite Buffet because it’s currently among the top two restaurants in New York City, and it’s not number two.
12.57 Tue, Dec 3 G G
Chapter 24
Oh, and I might own half of the restaurant chain, but she does have to know that. Yet.
“Wrong. A bowl of rice there costs one thousand five hundred dollars.” I calmly correct her. “I can order a thousand extra bowls for you right now if you want.”
She
snaps her head in my direction, blinking those big eyes at . Just when I start to feel like she might be casting some kind of spell on me, the light in her eyes disappears and Armaya muddenly gets to her feet.
“Where are you going?”
She lifts her bag and slings the strap over her shoulder with sho jerky movements.
“I’m going home.” She looks down at the food with eyes that but with disgust. “I won’t sit here and let you trick me into owing you anything, Mr. Manchester. You can keep your fancy food. I don’t want it.”
To further rub salt in my injury, she picks up Pierce’s apple pie, takes a huge bite and lets out a slight moan to demonstrate just how delicious it is before proceeding to march out of the cafe with her head held high
“Sir, should we go after her?” One of my guards asks..
1 clear my throat, hoping no one noticed that Amaya’s little moan went straight to my dick.
“There’s no need for that. Pack up the food and make sure it’s delivered to her room at The Pack’s Harbour lon
“Right away, sir.”
Hurn to leave but change my mind and stalk in his direction when I spot Pierce standing by the door. I can see the slight fear in his eyes even if he tries to stand tall.
I place a hand on his shoulder and he trembles beneath my palm.
“Don’t worry, Mr. Pierce, I don’t want you dead. Yet More fear. Yes.
“Amaya seemed to like your apple pie. Make some more of it and send it to her at the inn. Henry will take the bill. Understood?”
“Of course.” He says through gritted teeth.
I feel the need to say more but instead, I give him the death glare and walk out of the shop and into the afternoon sunshine. When Henry finally comes to the car five minutes after waiting behind for the bill from Pierce, I speak up;
“I saw tears in Amaya’s eyes today. Someone made her cry. People, rather. The thought of it still makes my fingers quiver with a strange emotion. Mostly murderous rage.
“Do you know who these people are, sir?”
“Not yet. But I will soon. Work with Zee to find out the companies that Amaya submitted CVs to this morning. She said she -Not was insulted by their workers. Bring their names to me. I’ll deal with them myself”
Zee is my head of cyber operations. A goddamn tech wizard.
Henry nods, typing furiously on his iPad. “Of course, sir.”
They made Amaya cry and that is unacceptable. I’m starting to feel for some weird reason that I’m the only person who has that right.
Chapter 25
AMAYA
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I submitted my CV on Monday. Thankfully, by Wednesday morning, I receive good news. Macpherson Engineering invited me for an interview!
I’m still suffering from PTSD because of insults I received from their receptionists the last time I was there. This time, I take a lot of time and care with my clothes and hair.
By the time I left the inn, Jayla had screamed: “girl, you look gorgeous over one thousand times. I love her.
Oh, and I splurge on an extravagant expense on my way there–take an Uber. In my defense, I surely can’t walk three blocks in my six inch stilettos.
I’m greeted at the reception by Misha, the same receptionist froth last time. She was cheerful on Monday. Today, she seems extra, extra cheerful with a cherry on top
“Hello, Miss Miller.” She greets with a huge smile. “It’s wonderful to see you again.”
Slightly surprised, I just blink at her, “Um, yeah. I’m here for the interview.”
“Of course! Just use the private elevator and go right up to the CEO’s office.”
I frown. “Just like that? Am I not supposed to wait with other applicants or something?”
Misha’s smile still hasn’t disappeared or toned down. Weird.
Of course not!”
Still feeling a bit apprehensive, I turn to leave. Just then, I spot a figure beside Misha. Upon closer inspection, I realize that it’s Dark Hair.
The woman gives me a devilish glare from beneath her lashes. She looks quite upset about something.
I’m surprised that she doesn’t have anything to say concerning my hair and clothes today. Maybe she’s ashamed that she wa wrong and her boss actually called me for an interview. That’s what I call karma!
I walk to the fancy, golden elevators with a spring in my step, awed by the mirrors, and all the fancy buttons.
The elevator takes me straight to a private hallway covered in more gleaming marble and expensive decor. Following Misha’s instructions, I force myself to stop being distracted by the grandeur of the place and hurry towards the door at the
-the CEO’s office. end of the hallway
The door is unmarked. Weird. Isn’t there supposed to be a name plate with “CEO” pasted on the surface?
I knock twice and a deep, dark baritone replies almost immediately.
“Come in, Amaya…
SEND GIFT
