Page 418 of Savage Bosses

"A week." He exhaled deeply, the anger radiating off him like heat from an oven. "I'm the hiring manager. I told her I'd hire the new personnel. Since I didn't hire you, you're fired. Leave the premises immediately."

Wait. What?

"You can't fire me," Tati argued, her voice shaking with fury and hurt. She clenched her fists at her sides, the nails digging into her palms.

"Watch me," Bryce shot back, his eyes blazing. It was clear that he wasn't going to let this go easily, and Tati knew she had to stand her ground.

"You can either walk out of here on your own, or I can drag you out."

"I choose neither. I'm the new pastry chef and..."

Bryce's eyes narrowed, his grip tightening around Tati's arm as he cut her off. "If I didn't hire you, you're not the chef. In fact, you're trespassing. Which gives me the right to kick your lying ass out."

Lying ass? What did she lie about?

"Let go of me," Tati snapped as he pulled her forward and pulled the breakroom door open.

Then he was once again, pulling her through the kitchen, where the staff watched but said nothing. They moved quickly through the kitchen, the clatter of pots and pans fading behind them as they entered the cafe area. Tati could feel the curious glances of the patrons, Melinda, and her friends included, but she kept her gaze focused on Bryce.

"Let me go," she hissed.

"Trust me, I'd rather not be touching you," he spat, pushing her toward the exit.

She couldn't deny that his words hurt like a dagger through her heart. She blinked back tears as he pushed the door open. The door slammed shut behind them. He released her arm.

"Now get the hell out of here."

Tati stumbled back, feeling the hot sting of humiliation burn through her. To be thrown out, right in front of Melinda and her friends... it was a blow she hadn't expected. Her hands balled into fists, nails digging into her palms as she tried to will away the tears threatening to spill over.

"Fuck you, Bryce," she hissed, unwilling to let him see her crumble. She could feel the fragile hold she had on her emotions slipping, but she wouldn't give him the satisfaction of breaking her. She would never break again.

"Leave. I never want to see you again," he replied, his voice dripping with venom. With one last glance, he turned on his heel and stalked back into the cafe, locking the door with a decisive click. He'd locked her out.

"Damn it," Tati muttered, her vision blurring as hot tears finally escaped. She wiped them away with a furious swipe of her hand. This wasn't how things were supposed to go. She needed this job. Needed to find out the truth about what happened five years ago.

Tati's cheeks burned with humiliation, her eyes darting to Melinda and her friends smirking through the cafe window. The grip on her arm had been fierce, leaving a mark behind that throbbed in time with her racing heartbeat. She clenched her fists, feeling the sting of betrayal deep within her bones.

"Look at her, thinking she could just waltz back into his life," Melinda sneered, her voice carrying through the glass. The bitch's cackling friends joined her, their laughter echoing in Tati's ears like a cruel symphony.

"Shit," she muttered under her breath, her anger bubbling up inside her like a volcano about to erupt.

She'd just wanted to take Melinda down, have her arrested for the part she'd played in the attack and the breakup. But, now, she wanted to put her hands on that bitch. She wanted to beat the fuck out of her. Tati's gaze jerked to Bryce, who was now standing in front of Melinda. Melinda was looking up at him like he was some type of Greek god or something.

The adoration in the bitch's eyes almost made Tati gag. She couldn't see Bryce's face, but anger roared through her when he touched Melinda's cheek, causing the heffa's smile to widen. Tati released a breath she hadn't even realized she'd been holding.

Melinda was her target. Not Bryce. But she wouldn't let him get in the way of what she had to do. Her love for him was as strong as ever. And she could tell he loved her from the way he'd looked at her.

He'd lashed out today because he was hurt.That, she could forgive. But embarrassing her in front of the bitch who'd played them both for fools was something she couldn't let slide. She’d always had a petty streak, and he knew that. So, he couldn’t blame her for retaliating.

"Alright, Cattaneo, you wanna play games? Let's play. And Melinda, you've got an ass whipping in your future," she vowed, her resolve hardening with each step she took toward her car.

Chapter Four

Bryceson

S

he was back!

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