"Sit Cecilia." His instructions was clearly stated, but it was quite the opposite for Cecilia.
At first, Cecilia felt like she was hallucinating her boss's words. She stared at him repeatedly, as if waiting for him to repeat the words just to be sure.
"Have you finally gone dumb?" His sharp question quickly pulled her out of her shock. Clearing her throat immediately, she pulled the chair in front of his desk gently as she settled herself in it.
In the span of time she had been working for Vince, he had never ever for once instructed her to sit, and most definitely not in his office. Whatever discussion they had, she was always the one standing on the opposite end of the desk. but sitting there, directly in front of Vince, she felt like she was dreaming and moved her hand underneath the table to pinch herself.
Ouch!
Okay, probably she wasn't dreaming.
"Listen Martins.." he placed his hands on his desk, moving his chair closer to seat up straight. "I don't know what deluded plan or arrangements your father or your family in general has agreed with my mother. And I most definitely don't like the fact I have been wrapped up into whatever this is." He confessed, a scrowl forming on his face as he gently tapped his hands against the desk. A habit Cecilia had observed him to do whenever he's either upset or trying to process his thoughts. At the moment it could be both.
"Um, with all due respect sir…" she paused for a short few seconds before continuing, "I had no idea whatsoever about the engagement. My father had informed me the night before the dinner with your family." she explained to him
"So what? This is your father's doing alone?"
"I'd say pretty much both our parent's doings." she corrected and he glared at me. I quickly withdrew my gaze to be entwined fingers.
Cecilia stayed quiet and so did Vincent. Thinking about it, she came to realize that this was indeed pretty much the first time she and Vince has had a conversation or batter that didn't involve work or projects. But at that moment, Cecilia would pray to be discussing any other thing at all, but not this.
"How much?" Vince finally asked and Cecilia raised her head to look at him
"Excuse me?"
"How much did my mother offer your father?" His question caught her off guard and she didn't know when a sarcastic laugh escaped her lips.
"Are you trying to insinuate that your mum payed my dad into this?" She asked, trying to hide the annoyance in her voice
"You should know I don't make insinuations by now." His answer was curt and cold. "No father gives out their daughter for such a ridiculous arrangement without a price attached to it. Unless you're saying he had willingly handed you over to my mother, I'd say that's rather petty on his behalf."
Cecilia could feel the annoyance in her begin to increase each moment Vincent opened his mouth. Was he crazy or something?
"My family aren't so cheap and hungry for money to sell of either my brother or myself sir. I'd appreciate if you mind the tone you use when speaking about my family." She said, being as polite as she could, while she had her fist clenched on her lap.
Vince on the other hand scoffed.
"It's funny you think I care of the way I address your family or yourself." Cecilia glared at Vince who's face was stoic and devoid of any emotions. He scoffed again, resting his back against his chair, "we're not even married yet and you're already gaining some boldness, Miss Martins."
"It's not about boldness sir. I just would not let you disrespect my family or my father like that." Cecilia made her words clear enough, not breaking the eye contact the two of them now shared. If possible, sparks would begin to form from it, but not the good type.
"Interesting." Vince said, looking away from her and towards the one still turning leisurely in between his fingers. "And do you think your father selling you off to me as a financee isn't enough disrespect on my part?"
Cecilia stared at the man in front of her as if she couldn't believe the words that came out from her mouth. Because truthfully, she couldn't. What exactly did he mean by that?
Suddenly, she slammed her hand against the desk as she rose up from the chair in full force
"Hey!!" She shouted, "are you a lunatic or something? Who the fucking hell do you think you are to speak to me like that huh!!!!" Her voice filled the office. "This is probably why your mother had no choice but to find a wife for you herself, who possibly could love huh?, You're cruel and heartless both in and out. I hate you so much Vincent Quinn!"
Her eyes remained on him as that scene kept replaying in her head as she sat down quietly. If only she could say those exact words to this man, but she knew she couldn't and with that, she got rid of her imaginations.
She took in several deep breaths, clenching and unclenching her fist as she tried to compose her self and her emotions. She couldn't blow up, there would be no use of it in such situation like this. She has indeed stayed past her planned time and brought up rushing feelings she had tried to diffuse for days.
That was just how Vincent was. He was like a ticking time bomb. But the thing about this bomb was that instead of himself, it was the person on the other end that would end up blowing up
"I think I should do what I came here to do in the first place." she immediately stood up from her seat. "I'd go get the documents from my desk as well as the ones in my system." She said, giving him a bow as she turned to walk away.
"There would be no need for that." She heard him say from behind.
She turned around to face him. "Sir?"
His gaze was no longer on her. "The documents. There would be no need of you bringing them to me."
Cecilia didn't understand what he was trying to say. "I'm sorry, but what exactly do you expect me to do with them?"
"What you've always done. Keep them. Whenever I request for them, you bring it."
What exactly was this man saying this time?
"But sir, I…." He cut me off
"Do you not remember the contract you had signed Mrs Martins?" At his question, she looked her him, puzzled looking painting her expression. "Employee cannot resign without a five months notice properly stating their intentions and reasons. And if employer by any chance were to fire employee, he/she must wait for an official signed dismissed letter handed down by employer before employee can claim to have been officially fired and approved to leave company." He stated out the terms and agreement if their contract effortlessly, as if he already has each and every word and sentence at heart.
Of course he would, considering the number of people he had sacked.
Finally looking up at him, his gaze zeroed in on her. "Did you forget it so fast?"
Cecilia didn't say anything to his question. But from his words, she had already picked up on the conclusion he was trying to make. Since Vince had fired her, he was yet to hand her a dismiss letter which meant she was still a full pledged employee of his company.
"You can leave now