Chapter 56

Amaris' POV

I shifted my gaze back to the door before letting out a small groan. Why did he always have to be like this? Even when I told him that his mother was at the door. I looked down at my pair of toe-covered heels staring back at me. I knew I should have brought an extra pair of *more* comfortable shoes. My legs are killing me.

I was about to knock again when the door swung open with a surprising force, causing a sudden shift in balance that sent me stumbling forward. I tried to regain my footing, but my heels only added to my instability. Yup I definitely shouldn't have worn this pair of heels today. Before I knew it, I had tripped and fallen into his arms, barely catching myself before hitting his hard chest. I lifted my head slowly meeting a pair of dark orbs staring back at me and I couldn't stop the cold chill from running down my spine. I definitely should have stayed in my office today.

I immediately moved away from him, almost tripping again. I then dusted my clothes before clasping my hands behind my back. "Sir, your mother's here to see you." I cleared my throat trying my best to ignore the intrusive beating of my heart which was completely normal considering the fact that I almost fell. Deep breaths. Deep breaths. Deep breaths. You're okay. Caleb glared at me for a few seconds before shifting his gaze to his mother.

"She didn't know where your office was so I decided to show it to her." I said before turning to leave. I had shown Miranda to his office. There was no other reason for me to hang around anymore.

"I don't remember giving you permission to leave." His reverberated through my body like a rich baritone saxophone causing me to halt in my tracks. "Mother....what were you doing with her?" I heard him say.

"Oh come on Caleb. This is my first time here and I didn't know where your office was." She told him.

"And....you could have asked anyone else to accompany you."

"She offered to help. You know....I don't get why you dislike her so much. She's such a sweetheart." I could practically hear him clench his jaw after hearing his mother's words. I then turned around to face them, this was clearly a mother-son talk and I wasn't supposed to be here so I didn't understand why Caleb had stopped me earlier.

"Please permit me to leave. I have a lot of things to do." I told him as politely as I could. I didn't exactly have a lot of things to do but as I said earlier I didn't want to spend one more second here.

"Amaris dear you can go." Caleb's mother sent a warm smile my way as she dipped her head in a small nod. I redirected my gaze to Caleb who glared at me like he was going to strangle me to death if he had the chance. Well, if his mother permitted me to go, then I guess there was no stopping me now.

I turned on my heel making my way to my office even though I still felt the heat of Caleb's stare on my back. I understood he hated me but that didn't mean I couldn't even show his mother to his fucking office and to think I actually made him look good in front of his mother. Twice.

"He's such an ass." I walked into my office rolling my eyes. I was about closing the door behind me when it suddenly stopped and I felt a firm presence preventing me from shutting it completely. That was when I noticed the foot sticking out behind the door. No it couldn't be. I didn't hear anyone walking behind me so there was no way he would have followed me all the way to my office without making a sound, right?

I tried pushing the door close but his leg didn't budge, it was like it was rooted to the spot. Since my efforts to close the door were proving futile, I stepped back, watching in dismay as Caleb barged in, his presence filling the room with an uncomfortable tension. Ugh! What did he want now?

My lips twisted into a scowl as our eyes met, I then immediately turned my back to him as I headed to my desk. "I don't want to see you anywhere near my mother again." His voice sent chills coursing through me as a wave of goosebumps spread across my skin. So the only reason he followed me all the way to my office is simply because he didn't want to see me anywhere near his mother again?! Ok I got the fact that he despised me but I wasn't going to murder her. He's incredibly stupid if he thought I was going to harm his own mother. I fought the urge to roll my eyes as I muttered a response while turning back.

"Noted."

Suddenly a gust of wind caressed my shoulder, followed by a forceful grip that sent me spinning around to face him. "Look at me when I'm talking to you, Miss Carter." He drawled, tightening his grip on my shoulders. From the look on his face I could tell that he was waiting for me to probably lose it and yell at him but that was never going to happen.

"Noted," I repeated with a long drawl as I locked eyes with him. "And in case you've forgotten your mother is waiting in your office with a basket of cookies...." With a subtle shift of my body, I managed to disengage his grasp from my shoulder. "So if I were you I'd hurry back to her so they don't get cold. I'm sure she put in a lot of work and love when she baked those cookies for you...." I dusted the spot where his hand was like I'd just been touched by the most disgusting creature on earth. "So she'd be incredibly disappointed if you didn't eat them." I raised my chin an inch higher with an inscrutable expression. Satisfaction filled my insides as I heard his low growl. I then turned on my heel before moving towards my table. I didn't care about the burning sensation on my back. He could glare at me all he wanted, I didn't give a damn about what he thought. All I knew is I was never going to give him the satisfaction of getting a rise out of me ever again.