“Damn it!” Terrence cursed, spitting out the coffee he’d just taken a sip of. His glare could’ve burned through the mug.

Seriously? He’s mad? I’m the one who made that coffee!

“Are you trying to give me diabetes?” he snapped.

“You didn’t exactly say no sugar,” I answered simply, but instead of replying, he shot me a deadly glare and jabbed the intercom button.

“In my office. NOW!”

Within seconds, Warren appeared, entering only after his usual three warning knocks.

“Sir,” he greeted, standing straight in front of Terrence’s desk.

“Did you not tell her how I want my coffee?” Terrence demanded, his tone sharp and impatient.

“I’m sorry, Sir. I assumed you’d brief her yourself, just like you did when I first started. I’ll explain your preferences to her right away.”

“No need,” Terrence cut him off coldly before turning that infuriating stare back on me. “Make me another one—one teaspoonful of coffee. No sugar, no creamer.”

“Yes, Sir,” I replied curtly, forcing a polite tone as I grabbed the mug and headed back to the pantry. That’s why he’s so bitter, hmp!

When he arrived earlier, he had walked right past me after that brief, intense eye contact. I wasn’t sure if he genuinely didn’t remember me or if he simply didn’t care. Either way, maybe it was better that way. Though deep inside, my pride stung like hell. After all, we’d had one of the nastiest rivalries back in high school.

Now, fate has made him my boss.

I wanted to quit on the spot. I didn’t want to work under him, didn’t want to take orders from someone like Terrence Montemayor. But the pay was good—too good—and I already had plans for how to finally pay off my mother’s hospital bills.

“Damn it,” I muttered under my breath as I prepared a fresh cup. “Just endure it, Evelyn. Do it for your mom. Swallow it all. Every last drop of pride.”

When I came back to his office, Terrence was deep in conversation with Warren. I quietly placed the cup of coffee on his desk.

“Make sure to coordinate with my EA at MHI,” Terrence was saying, “so they can notify my secretaries there about my schedule. I want Evie to have everything arranged with no issues.”

Evie? My brows immediately knitted together. Where the hell did that come from? What gave him the right to call me that?

He must’ve noticed my reaction, because his gaze flicked toward me. “Is there a problem?”

“If you’re referring to me as Evie, I’d like to remind you that my name is Evelyn,” I said evenly, though I could already feel my temper rising.

“Don’t make me waste time thinking of what to call you,” he said, utterly unfazed. “It’s better than me calling you hey.”

The arrogance in his tone made my blood boil. He said it so casually—so dismissively—as if to remind me that I was nothing more than his employee.

My hand curled into a tight fist at my side.

“Warren,” Terrence said, turning away from me. “Are you sure you can handle the workload alone?”

“Yes, Sir,” Warren answered quickly.

“Good. If you ever need another pair of hands, let me know and I’ll hire someone immediately.”

Warren nodded and excused himself, leaving me alone with my so-called boss.

“Evie,” he called again. My scalp prickled. “Warren already shared your email with my secretaries—both here and at Montemayor Holdings Inc.. They’ll be sending you all my possible appointments. I expect you to manage them efficiently. I don’t tolerate mistakes.”

“Yes, Sir.” I gritted my teeth, forcing the words out. God, this was torture. Having to obey him—the one person I swore I’d never bow to. But my mother’s life depended on this job, so I had no choice.

“You can leave.”

Without another word, I walked out, my chest tight with irritation. First day on the job, and I already felt drained to the core—thanks to Terrence, of course. And to make matters worse, it was only ten in the morning.

I sat down at my desk and opened my computer, beginning to organize his schedule. Several emails had already come in from his secretaries, introducing themselves as staff from MHI, short for Montemayor Holdings Inc.

Of all the things I hated most, it was being criticized for my work—especially by him. I still firmly believed that I should have been the highest honor back in junior high. But no—because his father donated a ridiculous number of computers to the school library, Terrence suddenly got the honor of delivering the graduation speech.

Not to sound bitter—but I worked my ass off for my grades. And that arrogant jerk just waltzed in and stole what was supposed to be my reward?

I shut my eyes tightly and forced myself to keep working. Pride? Dignity? I could swallow it all. I needed this job. Even if it meant working for the one man I hated the most.

At 11:30 a.m., the phone on my desk rang. I picked it up, and instantly rolled my eyes the moment I heard his voice.

“Get ready,” he ordered. “We’re having lunch outside.”

And then the line went dead.

I blinked at the receiver in disbelief. Lunch? With him? How was I supposed to eat when my blood pressure spiked every time he opened his mouth? I’d probably starve before the appetizer arrived!

My gaze shot toward the glass wall of his office. I knew it was a one-way mirror—he could probably see me—but that didn’t stop me from glaring daggers in his direction. I wanted him to know that I was not pleased.

Why the sudden invite anyway? Was he actually trying to apologize? To make amends?

Ha! As if! What did he think that I’d forgive him over a plate of pasta? Please. He could eat alone for all I cared.

I focused back on my screen, determined to ignore him, and didn’t even notice when he left his office until a sharp knock on my desk made me look up.

“You’re still not ready?” he said, clearly annoyed. The look on his face screamed disbelief, as if he couldn’t fathom that someone would dare defy his order.

“I don’t need to eat with you, SIR,” I said pointedly, emphasizing the last word to remind him that I still respected his position even if I wanted to punch his smug face.

He exhaled heavily and pressed his fingers against his temples, massaging them like I was giving him a headache.

I was about to add another snarky comment when Warren appeared out of nowhere.

“Let’s go, Evelyn,” he said. “We have a lunch meeting with a client.”

I froze, my eyes darting to Terrence who now wore a smug expression, one brow raised as if to say, Really? You thought you were special?

Oh, crap.

It hit me all at once, he hadn’t invited me to lunch. He meant us—him, Warren, and a client.

Mortification burned through my face. I wanted to melt into the floor.

God, I had just made a complete fool of myself.

All that attitude… for nothing.