Page 478 of Savage Bosses

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eja got to work early the next day. She was anxious to finalize the project they had been working on. She walked into the lobby and the cool air hit her face, providing a welcome relief from the oppressive heat outside. It was eight o’clock in the morning and it was already hot as hell. Appreciating the cool air that brushed across her face and neck, she smiled as she headed towards the elevator.

Fifteen minutes later, she was settled at her desk, taking deep breaths, trying to focus on her work as the scent of her fresh coffee filled the air.

“Deja!” a voice called out sharply, snapping her attention to the doorway of her office. It was Angie, one of her colleagues and the person some employees had been gossiping about. Deja noticed how Angie was overtly flirtatious towards Stephen and seemed to have an attitude with her. She was trying to get on Stephen’s good side and was hell-bent on trying to make Deja's life difficult. “Stephen wants to see you in his office.”

“I’ll be right there,” Deja replied, forcing a smile, but wanted to ask herwho the fuck she was talking to like that,but she bit her tongue and would wait for the right opportunity to have a conversation with Angie. She stood up, brushing imaginary lint off her skirt, and made her way across the open-plan office.

“Come in,” he said tersely when she knocked on the door, not even bothering to look up from his computer. When she walked in, Deja couldn't help but feel the weight of Stephen’s anger glare as she walked towards his desk.

What the hell is his problem with me?

“Is there something you needed, Stephen?” Deja asked, her words measured as she tried to maintain her composure.

“Sit down,” he ordered, gesturing to the chair opposite him.

“I’ve reviewed the work that you completed, and I must say, it’s impressive. We are going with the changes you made. I want you to be a part of the meeting when we present it to the client.”

Deja couldn’t contain her smile. But it was short-lived because he looked at her and gave her that same intense stare that made her feel uncomfortable. She recognized that look. It was an ‘I’m done, and you can leave’look. Deja stood and was about to walk out of the office but decided that the tension between them needed to be addressed.

“Stephen...,” Deja hesitated for a moment, wondering if it was wise to broach the subject now.

“What is it, Ms. Rose?” he snapped, impatience etched onto his handsome face.

“Is there a reason…,” she began, her voice shaking slightly, “Did I do something to make you angry? I've been trying my best to prove myself here, but it feels like you're determined to make things difficult.”

Stephen's eyes narrowed dangerously. “You should know better than anyone why I have no reason to make things easy for you.”

“Actually, I don’t. Please enlighten me?” Confusion filled her entire body.

Stephen paused. Now was not the time to go into the issues he had with her. At least not at work. “You, like everyone else, have to prove yourselves,” Stephen replied after a moment, his tone icy as ever. “But remember, Ms. Rose—you're still on a probationary period. One wrong move, and you'll find yourself out the door.”

“Unbelievable,” Deja murmured under her breath. Her mouth was dry as she fought to contain her anger. “Is that why you called me in your office, to tell me to watch my step?” Her tone was sharper than she meant, but her frustration level was at a new high.

Stephen glared at her but didn’t respond right away. Stephen knew he was losing his cool, but he really called her in the office because he wanted to look at her. He didn’t recognize the man he was becoming around her. He wanted to stay angry at her, but every time she was in his presence, he felt drawn to her. “I’m going to email you some additional documents. Please review them and we will talk later,” he said dismissively.

As she left Stephen's office, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was walking through a minefield, every step bringing her closer to an explosive confrontation with a man consumed by bitterness and anger towards her. Deja returned to her desk, her thoughts racing as she tried to focus on the tasks ahead of her. Deja clicked on the light that illuminated her desk and couldn't help but wonder how long she be able to put up with Stephen’s attitude before she would tell him to take his job and put it where the sun doesn’t shine. Deja needed to talk to Olivia. She had a way of talking her off the ledge. She pulled her phone out of her purse and sent Olivia a text.

Hey, can we meet for drinks tonight? I need to talk.

Sure, I can meet you at Charlie’s at six o’clock.

It’s a date.

Two hours later, Deja and Olivia were sitting at one of their favorite places, enjoying the happy hour.

“I don’t get it, but he is angry all the time, and that anger is directed only at me,” Deja said before sipping her fruity drink.

“I don’t know what his problem is. I asked Caleb what the issue was with him.”

“What did he say?”

“He said he’s not in the office that much and he thought the issue had resolved itself.” Olivia sighed sympathetically, her eyes full of understanding. “Some people are mean for no reason,” she said slowly. “I think you should talk to Stephen and see if you can figure out what's wrong. Maybe he's just going through a tough time and needs someone to talk to.”

“I asked him, but he avoided the question.”

“You asked him at the office. I think you need to have a conversation outside the office, maybe over drinks.”

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