Chapter 8: Separate Lives

Roseline’s  POV…

Florian broke the contact between us, “Shit!” 

“I am sorry, I don't know what came over me.”

“It's not your fault it was a lapse in judgment on my part.”

“It wasn't a lapse in judgment for me.”

“What?”

“Don’t pretend you don’t feel the attraction and sexual tension between us?” 

“Nothing can happen between us.”

The tone of Florian’s voice reduced, “You made that clear from the first day.”

I stood up and adjusted my shirt, “Good, I am glad you get the point.” 

“Tell me, you haven't thought about that night we fucked.”

I froze in place, and my feet instantly became glued to the cold floor. 

“I haven't.” I managed to mutter completely avoiding his gaze. 

“Thats a lie.”

My breath hitched as he moved closer, his gaze burning right through me.

With each step he took towards me, my heart beat mimicked his footsteps.

“You aren't in my head, how do you know it’s a lie?”

“Look me in the eyes then, and tell me you haven’t thought about that night…”

“…because whenever I close my eyes all I see is you, you are slowly haunting my dreams that I am so scared to fall asleep and be haunted by the same dream.”

I raised my gaze to meet his, strong and unwavering.

“I don’t think about that night and I sleep like a baby, you should go for therapy. I heard it helps with sleeping disorders.”

His expression dropped, I could have sworn I saw pain gross his features as well.

But it was late at night and I was currently overstimulated so my mind was definitely doing a fast one on me.

“The way you respond to my touch. My gaze. The sound of my voice, you are attracted to me.” He circled me while speaking.

I smirked, “My hormones have nothing to do with an attraction towards you, a girl has to get laid and since sleeping with my boss is off limits, I guess I have to satisfy my urge somewhere else.”

Florian's expression snapped, “Don't you dare.”

Oh! I was definitely enjoying getting a rise out of him.

A chuckle escaped my lips, “Are you jealous?”

“In case you have forgotten, let me remind you.” Florian moved closer to me, backing me up against the wall.

“The Company has a code of conduct amongst its workers, you can't do anything that would give the company a bad image.”

“Noted. I won't carry out my sexual activities on office grounds.” I winked and stressed on the last word, releasing myself from the tight corner he put me in.

There was no way in hell I was going to let Florian control me, my own father could not so who was he to give me rules?

Before I could make it to the door, he grabbed my hand, “That includes both on and off office grounds.”

I scoffed, “We’ll see about that.”

When I was finally in my room, I let out a long breath, I didn't even realise I had been holding in.

What was I thinking, threatening my boss and teasing him about my sex life?

My sharp tongue was going to be the death of me.

—-------

I had somehow overslept on my first day on the job.

When I woke up and saw the time on my phone I jerked up.

I picked one of the dresses Florian had gotten for me and put them on.

As I got ready I cursed Florian beneath my breath.

He couldn't even afford the decency of a knock to wake me up. 

Was he angry about last night or did he just not care to wake me up? 

When I was done getting ready, I was greeted with absolute silence in the apartment.

What was I expecting?

Of course, he left without me, I was at least hoping for a free ride.

Now not only was I late, but I had to take the bus as well.

Tough morning for my first day at work, on my first job.

Hopefully, I don't get fired, else I would be holding a record somewhere for ‘shortest employee’.

As I made it out of the apartment complex, the sky began to rumble.

Shit! “Please don't rain.” I pleaded beneath my breath, not entirely sure who I was pleading with.

It started raining.

The rain poured like it had a personal beef with me.

I was soaked from head to toe, before the bus arrived.

When I arrived, all the other Chefs were already at their stations working.

I was happy when I didn't see Florian.

I couldn't bear him witnessing the joy of my dilemma.

“You're late.” Florian’s voice came like a low rumble from behind. 

Spoke too soon.

If he had any form of amusement or even pity seeing me drenched, he didn’t show it.

He just stared at me with his expression unreadable.

“I am sorry I kind of overslept.” 

No thanks to you.

“Your first day on the job and you arrive this late?”

I stared at Florian confused as my words stuck in my throat.

“She’s definitely getting fired.” I heard some other chefs whisper to themselves.

“I am sorry.” 

My apology caught him off guard. I was 100 percent sure he wasn’t expecting one from me, well neither was I.

But anything to keep the job. 

I don’t even have a place of my own to stay. I can't lose this job.

“You are on prep duty.”

“Prep duty!” I repeated.

He raised his eyebrows, “Do you have a problem with it?”

“No.” 

“Then get to work.”

I went into the changing room to put on my chef jacket.

As my wet clothes came off I couldn’t help but give a relieved sigh. 

“You must be really special for Florian to let you off with just prep duty after arriving this late.”

I turned around to see who was speaking. 

A young lady, in her chef jacket, held her hand out to me, “I am Violette, the sous chef of the restaurant.” 

“Roseline.” I returned her handshake and used the time to study her.

She was really beautiful, with her tan skin and pointed nose highlighting her features more.

“I would show you to your work station.”

I quickly buttoned my jacket and followed behind her. 

She took me round the back, far away from all the other chefs.

As we passed them I couldn't help but feel the scrutinizing gaze of the other chefs on me.

“This is where the prep work is done.”

“Thanks.” I scanned around the room and realized I was the only one here… well beside her.

“Am I the only one on prep duty?”

She giggled, "Florian's instructions.”

Great! 

“We have all gotten our share of prep work in this profession. You would get the hang of it.”

I didn’t need to do prep work, I was trained by world-class chefs in the best culinary schools, I wasn’t a rookie, but here I was on my first day on the job stuck at the back doing prep work.

“I would leave you to it, good luck!”

I sighed, “Thank you.”

Violette nodded and left.

My mind remained unsettled at Florian’s action, he seemed like a totally different person here.

There was no trace of the same man I share an apartment with.

Who was I kidding? That's what I signed up for when I decided to live with my boss.

But he was damn good at living two separate lives.

But it takes two to play such games and I wasn’t going to be intimidated.