Chapter Twenty-eight: Profound Boundaries 

Thane’s POV

“Thane?”

I don't stop walking down the hallway with a cocky attitude, my hand in my pocket and the other, holding my golden briefcase.

“Thane, I know you can hear me.”

Avery calls out again, rushing towards me. As her footstep gets closer, I walk faster and eventually stop when she's in my face, stopping me from taking another step.

“What?”

My voice is cold, as cold as the very first time we met, or probably worse.

The side of her head has the little plaster I sent Rufus to get after the incident. Thankfully, it was minor for her, but for me, it was an embarrassment of a lifetime. Not even when Aunt Lena saw me was that embarrassing. In hate and disgust, I locked myself up last night and throughout yesterday.

“Stop.”

I step back when she draws closer.

“I don't have all day, ma'am, be quick.” I'm as formal as you can imagine.

“Thane…”

“It's sir to you.” I cut her off, slipping in the correction.

“Sir,” her voice is low. I can tell she's hurt, but I don't care. Not anymore.

“H-how are you feeling?” She mumbles.

“I don't pay for your emotions, will that be all?”

When she stands in awe, I sidestep her, heading for the stairs.

“I know I caused it,”

She hurries after me.

“I shouldn't have touched you…”

I stop on my track, pissed off. Turning to face her, I almost bump into her, and she's quick to push backward.

“Young lady,” my look is devoid of emotions and my voice is blunt. She can feel the anger and irritation in my tone.

“This will be the last time you'll bring this up…”

“I'm sorry, okay?” she whimpers, almost brought to tears. “Why acting like a monster?”

I chuckle.

“I suspected that you'd call me that after seeing the dark side of me… Y'all never disappoint, pathetic.”

“I… It's not what I mean… Tha-sir…”

“And to think I almost broke my rules for you, almost?” I pause. “I broke every damn thing for you, I'm so stupid.”

“I'm sorry…”

“Where your sorry ass is needed, is in your room,” I warn her, not batting a lid. “If I ever return and see you out, you'd get the full definition of a monster that suits your wild imagination and lousy description.”

Leaving her in utter bewilderment, I walk away, heading out of the house and to my neat car parked in front of the building.

“So early…”

“Shut your damn mouth and open the door.” I slam Rufus hard with my words.

In shock, he presses his lips together and just does as he's told. He sets my briefcase down and steps aside for me to get in.

The ride to work is awkward. If before Avery’s arrival, we were odd buddies, it just got worse.

“Good morning, sir.” Ava and a few other workers greet me.

All in the dust.

I walk silently to my office, and suddenly the concept of being at work and surrounded by people.

Slumping into my armchair, I spin in it, feeling like it's my world crumbling on my feet.

If only I had listened to her and given her the space she demanded, instead, I forced my way on her, and I'm living like a shy teen behind a mask of the tough guy.

There's a knock on the door; once and twice. I stop spinning, with my back facing the door. The door creaks open, with the visitor walking in.

“Good morning sir.” A voice I recognize to be Williams’s, speaks out.

“What is it?”

“The shareholders are in the conference room and it's over twenty minutes of you being absent.”

“Oops, it skipped my mind.”

“It happens sir, I'll just tell them to…”

“Leave.” I finish his speech. “That's what you should tell them, tell them to leave.”

“Sir?”

“Williams, you heard right. I only forgot to tell you to cancel the meeting,” I continue.

Taking another spin, I'm facing him directly.

“Cancel all of it… I'm not having any today, maybe tomorrow…”

“Sir, the company’s reputation is at stake, we can't keep declining patron’s request.”

“Well, they can also accept what we offer.” I wave him off. “I'm done here, Williams.”

He turns to leave, but stops, turning to face me once more.

“What do I tell them?”

“Anything that's not involving me.”

“Is something wrong, sir?

His question strikes me hard, almost sending me to grab and take a look at any picket mirror. Does he see through me?

“Sir?”

“Do you still live your job?”

He runs off, seeing the angry change in my eyes.

Damn it!

Restless, I resume spinning, tilting my head backward, and leaning on the headrest. My eyes close, as I try to not think about it.

“Damn it!”

I fight the air, sweeping the files off my desk and crashing the ceramic flower vase.

Being me sucks.

Picking my briefcase and leaving the premises when it's barely fifteen minutes before my arrival, I sigh nonstop. This isn't how I planned my day.

“Destination?”

“Keys.”

I stretch my hand to Rufus.

“I'm driving myself, take the day off. He just nods and drops it in my palm.

Pulling out of the park, I watch Rufus’s eyes blink in confusion. He's seen different shades of me, but not this darker.

If I'm left with a choice, I'd live my life with no humans in it. Just me alone with my hurt, where no one gets to see me and call me a monster.

Driving off with no particular place in mind, it gets more frustrating but I don't step on the brakes.

I keep driving like I'm escaping my reality, and when it really gets harder, I crash my head on my wheel, pulling the car to a forced halt as the tires squeal in motion.

“Shit!”

I slam my fist on my wheel, beating it as if beating my fate.

One. Two. Three.

I keep slamming until I get weary and just break down in tears.