Page 115 of My Ruthless Neighbor

“Thank you, Mia. You’re so sweet.”

“We know you love colors so much, so I tried these at home.”

Raleigh stands and snatches the box from my grasp. “She is a model now.” He says then looks at me. “I don’t think you should eat these.” He sighs dramatically. “I guess I’ll have to finish them.”

I jump up. “No effing way. They’re mine. Give them back!”

“Let me think.” He squints, then. “No.”

I lunge for him. But he is faster. He easily glides across the room.

“RJ, if you drop them, I swear to God I’ll never talk to you!” Mia shouts.

Hannah sighs before getting up. She strides toward him and holds out her hand. He scowls at her.

“Raleigh…”

He huffs and gives the box back.

I pull a face at him when she brings it to me. Then I lift one and take a bite. “Mmm… this is….” I stuff my mouth with another bite, “delicious.”

“Why do you annoy her?” I hear Hannah ask Raleigh.

“Well, she isn’t crying anymore, is she? Mission accomplished.”

“Aww, you are such a softie, RJ.” She teases.

“No, I’m not.”

I turn to him. “You totally are.”

“Were you eavesdropping, smartass?”

Walking to him, I pick one donut and lift it to his mouth. “Here, before I change my mind.”

He smirks before tasting it.

“I want one too!” Jason crowds us. Then Chris rushes to get one too. And just like that, the box is emptied in seconds.

“I wish Archer was here,” Mia says. “He would’ve loved those.” She motions at the now empty container.

A shudder jolts through my system at the mention of him. Ever since our encounter in the elevator a week ago, I hardly saw a glimpse of him.

He agreed to hire me but never once set foot inside the studio again.

A couple of times when I did see him, he nodded his head in acknowledgment. That’s it.

Well, I asked him to behave professionally so he was simply giving me that.

I also observed that Archer was worshipped by his employees. And for good reasons. He was a great leader.

I caught him helping out a couple of interns on my third day of working there. They fawned over him. Even males.

He is their hero.

Even in his absence, the team used to talk about him. At the end of the day, they used to discuss excitedly about reporting to him about the progress of the campaign.

He is loved by them. And he cared for them too. It made me respect him even more.

---