The Arrogant Architect Read Online Free Page A

over at him, in a suit, on that goddamn brand new bike. “What’s up?” he
says and looks down at the sleek teal frame beneath him.
    “What are you doing?” I ask, exasperated.
    “I called for you to stop, you kept running, so I followed
you.”
    “Isn’t that a sign that I didn’t want to talk to you?”
    His forehead creases, “I thought you couldn’t hear me.”
    “So, you followed me on a bike? With a big red bow on it?” I
really wish I could see my own expression right now, because he looks so
fucking ridiculous. Dressed the way he is, too big for the bike.
    “Yeah, I did. I got this for you, it’s for your birthday.
Your work told me.”
    “If you want to give me a birthday gift, then leave me the
hell alone.”
    “Why?”he challenges back.
    I blurt out, “Because you don’t owe me anything.” The light
changes and I jog off.
    “Do you at least like the color?” he yells.
    “No. I wish it was fucking pink.”
    Flipping him off as I glance back, he’s watching me, but
thankfully doesn’t follow. Then I catch him staring up at the sky. Pushing him
as far from my mind as possible, I keep going. Blurring everything away as I
try and get my priorities in check.
    I have work today and after what I did yesterday, I have to
explain myself. I have to prove to Ross that I can run the line and want it
more than anyone else. 
     
    _____
     
    I wake in a panic to my cell phone ringing. It’s 12:15pm;
fuck, I overslept.
    I was set to go into work at 11:30, but the noise stopped
outside and I relished in the silence, passing out cold.
    “Hello?” I answer the call.
    “Are you okay?” Mistee asks me worried. 
    “Yeah, I took a nap and overslept. I’m on my way in now.”
    “You better hurry; Ross is freaking out.”
    “Shit, okay, I’ll see you soon.”
    Grabbing my work clothes I throw them on and barge outside.
The new bike is parked right next to mine and I ignore it, knowing I need to
kick it into high gear.
    Fumbling with the lock on my frame, I jump when he’s
suddenly behind me. “What’s wrong with the new bike?” I swallow, reminding
myself to stay in control before I flip around and end up slapping him. 
    “What’s your name?”
    “King.”
    Of course his name is fucking King. I raise my eyebrows at
him. “That bike is not mine, King.”
    “Oh, but it is, Ever. I bought it for you, for your
birthday.”
    “No.” I shake my head, annoyed with him. “You ruined my
birthday. You tramped into my work and acted like you owned the place, insulted
me, and got me sent home.”
    “Did you just say that I tramped ?”
    “Do you have a goddamn hearing problem?” I yell and storm
off, deciding to take a cab in, it’ll be faster. But he’s behind me, the scent
of him invading me, and the noise of his dumb shoes clicking on the sidewalk is
almost deafening. They’re like a pair of women’s high heels. I’m so irritated
with everything he does.
    “No hearing problem here.”
    “Clearly you have one. Because you don’t hear your dumb ass
shoes making noise like you’re a tap dancer. You stall all the time when I talk
to you, and you won’t take no for an answer.” Thankfully, I spot a cab and hail
it. I slide into the back seat, slamming the door so hard the car shakes.
    I don’t look over at King. Stupid fucking name anyways.
Plus, if I’m honest, I am a little embarrassed with myself for getting so mad,
but he brings something out of me. A scary feeling of vulnerability and
uncertainty, and at this stage in my life that is not what I need. I need peace
and routine, not the noise he’s causing inside my head.

Chapter 5
               
    Work sucked. Ross stuck me in the back of the line and put
Mistee in my place, suddenly promoting her to executive chef because of my one
fuck-up. And to top it off, I had to yell, “Yes, Chef” to every dumb ass thing
she said, and trust me, there were about a thousand of them. Walking home
rather than paying for another cab, I