To Love A Villain-Chapter 192: Company Trouble

>>Amber

Hael’s house loomed before me, an elegant structure that exuded luxury from every angle. The exterior gleamed with polished stone and expansive glass windows that reflected the moonlight, giving it an ethereal glow. As we stepped inside, the cool air enveloped me, and I was immediately struck by the opulence of the interior.

The foyer opened into a grand entrance hall, adorned with stunning artwork and marble floors that sparkled under the soft glow of chandeliers. I took a moment to absorb it all—the soaring ceilings, the intricate details of the crown molding, and the plush rugs that lined the floor

WOW

Hael led me through the spacious lounge, and my breath caught at the sight. Large windows framed a breathtaking view of the city skyline, their lights twinkling like stars in the night. The furniture was lavish yet inviting, with deep, cushioned sofas arranged around a sleek coffee table. A fireplace stood at one end, its mantel decorated with tasteful accents and family photos.

"Wow," I breathed, my eyes darting around the room as he gestured for me to sit.

"Make yourself comfortable," He said, his voice warm as he moved to fetch the first aid kit.

I settled onto the soft couch, the plush fabric enveloping me as I glanced down at my injuries. My hand was marred with scratches from the fight, and I could feel a bruise forming on the side of my neck, a painful reminder of the actress’s attack.

Ah, that bitch! I wish I could have thrown her out the window

Hael returned moments later, the first aid kit in hand, and he knelt beside me on the floor. "This might sting a bit," He warned as he gently cleaned the cut on my hand. I winced, hissing at the sharp sensation.

"Ow," I muttered, pulling my hand away instinctively.

He grabbed my hand again, "It won’t take long," He started cleaning again.

I stared at him, his hair was loosely tied, "You attend parties like that all the time?" I asked, frustration bubbling up inside me. "Where you pass out and let anyone have their way with you?"

"Who do you think I am?" He replied, sounding genuinely offended. "This was the first time I stayed late and got drunk like that."

"Is that so?" I arched an eyebrow, not convinced.

"I’m not lying. I usually come back home before the party even ends."

"Then why did you stay this time?" I pressed, feeling a mix of worry and irritation.

"..." He clicked his tongue, avoiding my gaze. "I just wanted to see if you would come for me."

???

I blinked, surprised, "Are you out of your mind?" The anger surged within me, and I wanted to grab his hair and yank it out. "What if I hadn’t come?!"

"..." He looked away, his silence igniting my irritation further.

I reached out, grabbing the ends of his hair. "Answer me." My voice dropped low, almost a growl. "What if I hadn’t come?" I gritted my teeth.

He glanced at me, the vulnerability in his eyes startling. "I would have been fine. I always have a bodyguard with me. He was there at the party too."

He was?

"Well, I don’t see him," I snapped, not letting him off the hook so easily, "If he was at the party why didn’t he come with us?’

"That’s because I told him not to follow us," He replied, glancing at my grip on his hair.

I glared at him, our eyes locking in a tense stare. After a moment, he let out a chuckle, breaking the tension. "You’re one frightening manager."

With a gentle tug, he pulled his hair out of my grasp, clearly amused by my fierce protectiveness. I huffed, trying to maintain my stern demeanor, but it was hard when he looked at me like that.

"Just promise me you won’t do something so reckless again," I said, my tone softening a bit. "You have no idea how I felt when I-" I paused, "Just don’t do it again,"

"Okay, okay," He replied, his voice sincere as he finished applying the antiseptic to my hand. "No more late-night parties. Deal?"

"Deal," I said, relief flooding through me. As he finished tending to my wounds

I felt better after that but of course that didn’t last long

***

The air in Hestia’s office was charged with tension, making me feel small. I stood at the edge of her sleek mahogany desk, the imposing presence of Hael’s mother towering over me. Hestia’s sharp gaze pierced through the air, her lips pressed into a thin line of disapproval.

She slammed a set of photographs onto the desk, the sound reverberating through the room like a thunderclap.

"What is this?" She demanded, her voice a low growl. I glanced down at the pictures scattered before me—images from last night’s chaotic confrontation with the actress, my face a mix of anger and defiance. "This is all over the internet."

My stomach dropped as I took in the footage of my fight.

I pursed my lips, my cheeks flushing with shame. "Ma’am, I can explain—"

"Explain?" She interrupted, her voice rising. "What’s there to explain? You got into a brawl at a celebrity party! You think this is just some petty squabble? This is damaging to the company’s reputation!" She leaned closer, her eyes narrowing. "Do you have any idea how this looks for us?"

"I understand how it looks, but you have to understand the context," I replied, forcing my voice to remain steady. "I was there to pick Hael up. I never intended to get into a fight."

"Context?" Hestia echoed, incredulous. "Is that what you call it? You let a drunken actress provoke you into a public display of violence! How do you think that reflects on Hael? On our family?"

My heart raced as I fought to keep my composure. "I didn’t let her provoke me; she attacked me first! I was just defending myself."

"Defending yourself?" She laughed bitterly, shaking her head. "It’s hard to defend yourself when you’re in a dress meant for a corporate event. You don’t belong in this industry if you can’t keep your cool. This isn’t just a personal matter; it affects everyone associated with our company! Especially Hael!"

I swallowed hard, feeling the weight of her words. "I realize that. I never meant for this to spiral out of control. But you have to know, I care about Hael, and I was worried about him. That’s why I went there." 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

Hestia leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. "Caring for Hael doesn’t excuse your actions. If anything, it puts you in a more precarious position. You think I can just overlook this? That I can brush it under the rug and pretend it didn’t happen?"

"No, I don’t think that. I just—" I hesitated, searching for the right words. "I-" I don’t think I can defend myself here, "I know I messed up, but-"

"But what?!." She glared at me, "You’re in a position where your actions can have significant repercussions. Do you think I’m going to risk everything I’ve built because of a childish mistake?"

I felt my throat tighten, a lump forming as I struggled to maintain my composure. "I won’t make excuses for what happened, but I can promise you it won’t happen again. Just give me another chance."

Hestia’s expression softened for just a moment, but it quickly hardened again. "You’re walking a thin line, Amber. One more incident like this, and I won’t hesitate to terminate your position. You’re on probation, and if I hear about you getting into any more trouble, you can kiss this job goodbye. Do you understand?"

"Understood," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Good." Hestia’s gaze held me for a long moment, as if searching for any hint of insincerity. "Now, clean up this mess you’ve made. I expect a full report on my desk by the end of the day detailing what steps you’ll take to prevent this from happening again. And go and apologize to the actress. Get it on camera,"

My heart dropped.

"Yes...," I said, my heart sinking at the weight of her words.

"Now, get out of my office," She commanded, her voice firm.

As I turned to leave, the door closing behind me felt like a heavy weight settling on my chest. I narrowly escaped a firing today. Just as I was about to leave Hestia’s office, I nearly collided with Hael, who had opened the door and came rushing in.

My heart raced at the sight of him, but I quickly tried to push past, not wanting to face him after the lecture I’d just endured.

"Amber," He said softly, but I kept my head down, focused on the door.

Before I could slip by, he stepped in front of me, blocking my path. "Wait," He said, his tone more commanding than I expected.

"Hael, I—"

He didn’t let me finish. Instead, he grasped my shoulders and gently turned me back toward Hestia. "Mom," He began, his voice taking on a serious note, "You can’t get angry at Amber."

"And why not?" Hestia shot back, her eyes narrowing.

Hael took a deep breath, determination etched across his face. "She saved my life."

I blinked in surprise. What? I saved his life?