Page 1 of My Ruthless Neighbor

Prologue

“Call the security.” His deep harsh voice makes me flinch. My chin trembles and my nose tingles. But I don’t look down. I keep staring into his dark eyes.

The black woman who was present in the room since the beginning steps forward. “That’s not necessary, Archer. I can handle it.”

The man in front of me—Archer—doesn’t take his eyes off me as he says, “Oh, it’s very necessary. We have a trespasser after all.”

This time I didn’t flinch. I was indeed a trespasser. I look around and find people peeping inside the conference room through the glass wall. The spectators watch as Archer towers over me and insults me.

The acute pain in my chest increases the longer I stare at them. My willpower is about to buckle down and land on its knees. The need to give in to the negativity that slowly clouds my mind grows. But I don’t give in. Instead, I lift my lips. They feel stiff as I form them into a smile.

I am scared. I am so scared that my feet are practically trembling. The thought of men dragging me out makes me sweat.

It’s okay, Summer. They won’t hurt you. They won’t hurt you unless you co-operate.

When the security guard’s hand closes on my arm, I itch to lash out. The need to scratch his hand off me makes me almost blind. But I curb my demons. Not now. Please.

I whimper when they begin to pull me out the door. My vision covers in red but I don’t let my smile waver. I might be looking like a crazy person who’s smiling while getting kicked out.

Think of colors, Summer. Think of rainbows.Picture your favorite bird, a flamingo.

I will not let Archer or any other person for that matter see my fears. I will not disclose how shaken I feel.

We are almost down the hall when I lift my gaze. Through the glass wall, I see him. There he is, staring at me with those cold, cold eyes.

“This is not over, asshole.” I mouth. As if he understood what I said, his jaw clenches.

His eyes, the dark orbs that were glaring at me shift down to my arm when the guard jerks me roughly. The movement causes my sunglasses that were hooked on my blouse to fall on the white tiled floor.

He barks out something and seconds later the same black woman who was trying to save me earlier comes out and says something to the guards.

Their grip slackens and I frown. “You need to leave, Summer.” She says to me but I look over her shoulder. Toward him.

“Summer?”

She urges me to look at her and I nod.

The people are still staring as I bend down to pick up my sunglasses. Instead of hooking them back on the front of my top, I wear them with trembling fingers.

Disapproval flashes across the crowd when I pass them. I don’t cower away from their disdain. They think a little humiliation could break me. I have been through a lot worse growing up. At this point, I don’t think anything would ever pierce my jaded heart.

Reaching into my pocket, I fish out a strawberry lollipop. Unwrapping it, I shove it in my mouth. With my head held high and welling eyes, I make my exit.

As always, candy makes everything easy.

Chapter One

A few hours earlier…

“Summer?” My landlord, Mrs. Bowers calls out just as I press the elevator call button.

Fuck!I grimace as my feet halt. Oh, how I wish to be a cartoon character rather than a human at this moment. Because I want nothing more than to just dart out of this building, leaving everything, including my landlord behind in a puff of smoke.

Sadly, I am very much human, and judging by Mrs. Bowers’ voice, I can tell she is now right behind me. That means I have to turn around and face the music.

Taking a deep breath, I turn around.

Mrs. Bowers is in her late sixties with pale skin and gray hair. She is also skinny. Her sunken cheeks and bony limbs give her a creepy look.

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