But maybe she was being too judgmental because they met in less-than-ideal circumstances.
“I’m going there for a job interview, princess,” he drawled. “Some of us have to work to earn money for food and shelter. We don’t have time for hobbies.”
Once again, anger flared inside her at his answer. She was right about the man the first time. The ass was definitely not the kind to care about the trees or environment.
“Leading a protest is not my hobby!” she gritted. “I graduated recently, and I’m looking for a job too.”
“Really?” His eyes swept over her.
She was outraged by his skeptical tone. She was dressed in simple faded jeans and a t-shirt. Her long hair was pulled into a high ponytail, and she only had pale pink moisturizing lipstick as makeup.
What was she supposed to look like? Looking for a job didn’t necessarily mean she needed to always dress up for an interview. She wore jeans and a t-shirt and tied her hair because it was practical and comfortable, especially since she was going to be leading the protest for hours.
Judgmental ass!
Annoyed, she turned away to ignore him once again.
A few minutes of silence prevailed, but she couldn’t tolerate it. The need to educate the arrogant man next to her and also fish for more information from him grew inside her.
“Did you know that the company you want to work for plans to destroy the City Central Park and build a mall?” she asked.
He raised an eyebrow as though to ask so?
She gritted her teeth. “The protest is to stop them! If the mall plan goes ahead, thousands of trees will have to be cut, without which all of us living in the city, including children and animals, will suffer. That’s one of the last green patches left in the city.”
At her passionate outburst, she sensed his gaze intensifying on her. A strange prickling awareness spread through her, causing her skin to break into goosebumps.
What the hell?
She shook off the awareness. Maybe it was simply a strong annoyance because she wasn’t the kind to be drawn to strangers—especially arrogant strangers.
She discreetly rubbed her arms so the goosebumps would disappear.
His mouth twisted slightly at her action. “So how are you planning to stop the construction of the mall?” he asked.
“By demanding that Prism Corporation should stop the project right away and go to some other feasible place to build their mall.”
“You think they would listen?” There was amusement in his voice.
She raised her chin. “Yes. They would have to listen. There’s going to be media coverage which will translate into bad publicity. All businesses know how important it is to earn public goodwill and maintain a certain image.”
“Not all businesses or businessmen care about their image. A few give a damn about their image. The reason they are on the top is because of their ruthlessness.”
She narrowed her eyes. “I know Prism Corporation will stop.”
Once again, she saw his mouth twist into a smirking smile. Before she could respond, the taxi pulled over in front of the Prism building, where a small group of people had already gathered.
“Good luck with your protest, princess,” the man drawled out.
Tanvi was annoyed by his offhand attitude. She knew not everyone had a similar passion for causes such as saving the environment. But she had hoped the information she provided would at least make him a slightly responsible citizen. Hopefully, if he got the job, he could convince his colleagues and others to help stop the destruction of the environmentally protected park.
The man turned towards her, and she could sense his gaze on her once again. “By the way, since I let you share my ride, you are welcome to pay.”
Before she could protest in outrage, he opened the door and slipped out of the taxi before disappearing into the gathering crowd.
Arrogant ass!
She let it slide and didn’t argue because there was no time. And also because the man was most likely unemployed since he was going to a job interview.