Once out of the meeting room, Adam slowed down his steps a bit so that Stella could walk next to him, and not follow him around like a cat.
Stella walked next to him quietly. She was in a turmoil. She couldn't comprehend why he did that. Why would he side with a new assistant rather than the V.P? Moreover, she was feeling bad for using his name. But wasn't he the one who asked her not to complete the file. But isn't it still wrong that she did that, he was her Boss after all.
All the way up to the top floor, she was contemplating what she should do.
"Sir?" She finally spoke up when Adam was reaching for the door of his office.
"Yes, Stella." Adam replied politely.
"I need to talk to you about something, if you have time." She told him.
'I always have time for you little lady.' He thought.
"Sure. Come in." He said, holding the door open for her.
Stella stepped inside, followed by him.
"Have a seat, please." He offered her courteously.
Stella said down, fiddling with her fingers. She finally spoke, "I am so sorry, Sir."
Adam frowned listening to her. "Why are you apologizing to me?" He asked her sitting in the seat next to her instead of his own seat.
"Because I lied in the meeting. And more importantly I lied using your name." She said, her head lowered in shame.
"What are you even talking about? I didn't mind it. In fact, it's actually the opposite. I am glad that you know how to protect yourself when faced with such a situation." Adam replied to her, looking at her with admiration in his eyes.
"And I won't mind if you used my name again for your own sake." Adam spoke to her gently.
'Even if you do that for the rest of your life.' He kept the last part to himself.
Stella was still looking down at her hands, which were now knotted together and rested on her lap. Adam turned her chair so that she was facing him now. He raised his hand and knocked on her forehead with a bit of force which made her flinch in pain slightly. "Get it through your thick skull, little lady." He said retracting his hand.
Stella raised her hand, massaging the spot he had hit earlier, she frowned, "Who are you calling little lady?"
'Out of what I have just said she had to catch on this.' Adam didn't know whether he should cry or laugh at this.
"Do you see anyone else in here other than you and me? And of course, I won't call myself a little lady, will I?" He asked her in return.
Stella pouted in response, as if she was being wronged by him. "You are the one who has a thick skull." She retorted back.
Adam couldn't help but laugh out loud, his laughter echoing inside the quiet office. He was enjoying their banter. He liked this side of her a bit more than the strong headed person she usually behaved as.
"Oh! Am I now? He asked her, a sleek smile on his face.
"Yes, you are." She scoffed in response with her eyes narrowed.
"Why is that?" He asked again, his face cocked to his left slightly, looking at her intently.
"Isn't it obvious? How can you just help out someone you have known just for a bunch of days?" She replied, turning her head to look outside through the glass wall.
She liked it, she liked the idea of one being able to see the world but the world couldn't see you back.
"Why would I do that? Why do you think I did it?" He responded with a question of his own.
"Maybe.." She stopped before she could complete her sentence.
"May be what, Stella?" Adam wanted to know what was going through her mind.
She turned her head back to him, looking in his deep gray eyes, she replied, "It's nothing, Sir. I just wanted to say thank you for what you did for me there." She smiled at him but it wasn't like her usual smile which was radiant. It was a professional one. Adam could tell it because he had seen such smiles all his life.
After thanking him, Stella stood up to leave but as soon as she reached the wooden door, Adam caught hold on her wrist making her turn back to him.
"Say it, Stella." He asked her, a mischievous glint in his eyes long gone now.
"Say what?" She tried to break her hand free from his grip but her strength was no match for his.
He continued holding on to her wrist, his grip was firm and strong but not too much too hurt her. He wouldn't do that to her in his life.
"Say what you actually wanted to a minute ago. Say it out loud. I want to hear it." He spoke.
"I did." She was still trying to get her hand free.
Her response infuriated Adam, he pushed her against the dark wood door of his office but was careful, as not to use much force. He placed both his hands on either side of her head and tilted his head down.
"Do you think I would be able to run this company all this while if people were able to manipulate me this easily?" He questioned her, narrowing his eyes in the process.
"Now, what was it you actually wanted to say in the first place? Say it. Say it right before me, now." He said to her, lowering his head a bit so that she didn't strain her neck.
"Speak up." He was adamant to know. He wanted her to speak her mind before him, and he will have it, even if he had to force her to do so.
But she remained quiet. No one wanted to step back and let the other one have it their way.