9. Amala #3
I whipped my head in her direction. “Amala.” I gritted. “Slam my door again and I swear to God ..”
“You swear to who?” She asked sarcastically.
“The devil doesn’t usually communicate with God, but I suppose life is full of surprises.”
I pinched the bridge of my nose, slowly exhaling. “I’ve had enough of you,” I said lowly. “You’re getting on my last nerve.”
I closed my door, then put the key into the ignition.
“Do you think I care?” She scoffed. “Whenever you’re ready princess.”
This woman would eventually be the death of me. Never in my lifetime, has anyone managed to sink their claws into my skin so deeply but she pulled it off effortlessly.
The only thing I felt whenever she happened to be in my presence was stress.
If we worked anywhere else, I would’ve most likely been addicted to some kind of substance.
Alcohol, cocaine, anything to take the damn edge off.
She forwardly entered her address into the GPS, an indication that she clearly didn’t plan on interacting in conversation of any sort.
Not that I wanted to have a fucking conversation with her.
The drive remained silent, the street lights shining above us and flickering in the distance.
With one hand on the steering wheel, I leaned back as the car came to a slow halt at a red light.
I loosened my tie with my free hand, trying to ignore the simmering hatred for the woman beside me.
The sooner she exited my vehicle, the better.
The second the light turned green I sped off.
Amala gripped the seat with her left hand, turning her head slightly.
I could only imagine the look on her face. “Slow down.” She demanded, that stern tone leaving no room for argument.
However, I wasn’t obligated to adhere to her demands. I stepped on the accelerator, going slightly faster.
“Valiente.” She warned.
The breeze slipped through the window that had been rolled down a crack.
I ignored her, eyes flicking to the infotainment screen. Three minutes remained before we arrived at the destination.
One second I focused on the road and the next I pulled the brake when I felt Amala’s nails digging into my thigh.
The car jerked forward due to the abrupt stop, my head whipping in her direction as I glared at her.
She removed her hand, meeting my deadly stare with her own.
The loud car horn behind us brought me back to reality and I pursed my lips, driving off again.
When we reached her apartment, I didn’t bother acknowledging her and unlocked the door, patiently waiting for her departure.
Then I felt her tugging on my tie, forcefully pulling me towards her.
From an outsider’s perspective, it would’ve seemed like we were in the midst of sharing a kiss.
We were inches apart, my eyes widening for a split second. “That shit you pulled will get you killed. If not by a crash then by me, reckless bastard.”
“Let go of my fucking tie, Rivera.” This only made her grip tighten.
“If you didn’t behave so immaturely, we wouldn’t be having this conversation right now.”
Fuck’s sake.
The proximity added to my already tense state.
“I’ll let go when I feel like it. You’re selfish.”
“Amala.” I frowned, seeing her facial features up close and personal felt bizarre.
“It’s frustrating when someone ignores your requests, isn’t it?”
When I inhaled, her perfume infiltrated my senses making me swallow hard.
“You made a request? Seemed like a demand to me.” I tried moving backward but her grip was relentless. “I’m anything but selfish.”
“I don’t think you’re really grasping the seriousness of this situation, so let me break it down for you.”
With her free hand, she gripped my face. Shit.
“When you’re driving by yourself, you can be reckless. Drive yourself off a cliff for all I care but when you’ve got passengers, you really should be more mindful.”
I didn’t want to touch her but I needed to get her wretched hands off me.
With swift movements I grabbed both her wrists and held them down against her thighs with one hand, using the other to yank her head back by her hair.
She hissed, trying to fight me.
My blood sizzled, cheeks flushing in the process.
The turn of events gave me a rush of adrenaline and .. I didn’t know what I felt right now but I despised it.
“Who do you think you’re talking to?” I narrowed my eyes. “You’re not my fucking commander.” I spat.
“I’ve been patient with you, not that I should’ve been but you’re pushing me. I drove faster because I don’t want to be around you longer than necessary. Do you understand that?”
She ripped her wrists free and shoved me, forcing me to release her hair.
“I understand.” She mocked. “I understand that you’re pathetic. If I were spineless I would’ve handed in my resignation ages ago because who in the fuck actually enjoys working with you? I surely don’t.”
She climbed out of the car aggressively. “You better not slam—” Thunk. Of course she slammed it shut in any case. “My fucking door,” I whispered to myself, sighing softly. “Jesus.”
I swiped my hand down my face, shaking my head in disapproval.
If my occupation didn’t turn my hair grey before forty, dealing with people like that definitely would.