Sorry it took sooooo freaking long for an update! xD I have been so pre occupied with other stuff. X.x As a Native American it is hard to stay focused on your hobbies when religion comes first. xD I've been away from a computer/laptop for far too long…so hopefully I can update this story more often.

Oh! Note: Since I failed to mention this in earlier chapters…each chapter will begin with events that happened in the previous chapter and will continue from where that chapter left off. :3

P.S. – Sorry if this chapter sucks towards the end…it's like 3:00 a.m. at the moment and I'm sleepy A'f, but I wanted to finish this chapter. xD Hopefully I made sense. /:

And now…hopefully you enjoy this chapter. :3 Please read and review! xD

My anger and frustration cooled down as Kendall had informed me I phoned him last night. I'll admit that I may have gone overboard last night. Ok, scratch that. I DID go overboard last night, the night was a blur. But why the hell would I call this shithead when I was drunk? The thoughts circled around my head furiously like they were in a tornado. I walked over to my seat, which was across the desk I was sitting on, and sat down. "I-I called you last night?"

The thoughts were being processed when tall, blonde, and eyebrows began towards my desk. "Yes you did," He began. "and you were rather rude."Oh please; that's old news. I never quite understood why, but there was something about Kendall that turned my 'asshole switch' on whenever he came into my range of sight. Maybe it was his feisty, snappy attitude I liked.

Kendall reached my desk, placing his hands on it, keeping eye contact, and leaned forward. "And just for your information, your family adores me too much to let you fire me."

Haha, excuse me, what was that? Did I just hear this little shit say my family, MY family, adores him too much to let me fire him? The rage came flowing back into me. I do not know what made me angrier; the fact that he had the balls to talk to me, his boss, like that…or the fact that he was obviously right. I never understood why, but my mother and stepfather treated Kendall as if he were a son of their own. I had to hold myself back from yelling as I spoke, "What the hell did you just say?"

A smirk came across his face as he continued to speak. "Look, you said so yourself." The bastard began as he probably enjoyed seeing me uncomfortable like I was now. "Your family adores me," I found myself calming down a little as he spoke. "So much that you believe it affects your authority as my boss to fire me." The anger was back as I found myself glaring now. "Don't use your family against me like that Mr. Maslow, otherwise it'll come bite you in the ass."

I watched as he turned his back to me and started for the door, calling out "Karma's a bitch!"

Oh hell no. I quickly stood and rushed after him. We weren't finished here. What made him think that he could get away with speaking to me like that? He was almost at the door before I reached out, not letting him open the door. "We're not finished here Mr. Schmidt,"

The expression on his face was a mix of fear and anger. As I inched closer to him, he inched back. Aha, so he IS intimidated by me. A smirk came across my face as I crossed my arms over my chest. "Listen here, Kendall…" I began, Kendall obviously being thrown off by me calling him by his first name. "…this is MY Company. Even if you are right, which we both know you are; my parents fucking love you. But my mother and step father won't be around forever."

Kendall pursed his lips together as my words sunk in. I bit my lips in response, oh god I just wanted to smack my lips against his at that moment. I never really understood why I had this attraction to Kendall. I mean, everyone else could clearly see that we fucking hated each other. It confused me; a whole lot.

Just as those thoughts circulated through my head, Kendall shook his head and let out a sarcastic laugh. "Ha ha, that's very funny JAMES," He started, clearly putting emphasis on the fact that he just called me by my first name. That irritated me. Everyone knows that during office hours, everyone called me Mr. Maslow. My eye twitched as he continued, "funny how you think that I'll stick around if your parents left the company. You know Maslow industries isn't the only place of employment, right?"

I narrowed my eyes as he spoke. Now it was my turn for the sarcasm; I walked past him and let out a chuckle. "Ha ha, I am very aware Mr. Schmidt." I adjusted my tie as we turned at the same time to face each other. "I'm not stupid, but to get another job as good as the one you currently have…" I couldn't help but smile as I placed my hands in my pocket, chuckling to myself as I shook my head.

Kendall stepped forward, and I could feel his dagger like eyes glaring at me. "…I'm waiting to hear the rest Mr. Maslow," That's better. "what do you find so funny? Enlighten me."

I glanced up to meet his gaze. Our eyes stayed focused on the other's before I spoke. "…you'd have to have a pretty damn good resume." He rolled his eyes and was about to speak before I held a finger up. Which meant 'let me finish', "And don't get me wrong, working for Maslow industries can get you jobs in high places. But any good CEO would want to know any possible applicant's work ethics."

"What are you saying?"

"They'd have to contact your old employers, and as your boss I'll be the one they'd speak to." I began walking over to my desk, Kendall repositioning himself so that he was facing me. With my back still turned against him, I continued. "It would be a shame if any future employers you'd be interested in were to hear how much of an optimist you are when it comes to working at MY office." I said with an obvious tone of sarcasm emphasizing on the word optimist.

Kendall raised an eyebrow as he adjusted his pose as I turned to face him. He crossed his arms across his chest before he began to speak. "If I didn't know any better…it kind of sounds like you're trying to threaten me Mr. Maslow."

"No, not threatening. Just stating facts Mr. Schmidt," I took a sip of the coffee that was sitting on my desk before continuing. "we both know how much you dread coming to work every morning." Our eyes stayed locked on one another as I spoke. "You hate working for me, I get it."

"Yeah, you got that right!"

My gaze turned into a serious one as those words escaped his mouth. Judging by the tone in his voice, I had upset Kendall with my words. "I'm sorry there's nothing I can do about that, but if it was up to me, I'd have you fired Mr. Schmidt."

Kendall stayed quiet as I continued. "But like you said…my parents adore you too much to let me fire you. But as I stated a few minutes ago, they won't be around to run this place forever. So if you value your job, or any possible future employment, I suggest you drop the fucking attitude with me." I took his silence as a sign of him understanding.

Kendall took a deep breath and dropped his head, "You're right. I'm sorry Mr. Maslow…" That's more like it! Seeing Kendall finally understanding that I was his superior, and should be treated with respect, brought a small smile to my face. "…Sorry that you're such a rude, egotistical, self centered douche bag that doesn't know the meaning of trusting your family's judgment."

His sudden outburst caught me off guard. His choice of words made me clench my fists. Does he not know that one should never talk to their boss like the way he just did? But it got me curious…where exactly was he going with this? "And what point are you trying to prove, Mr. Schmidt?"

Kendall smiled his poker face smile as he began walking towards me. "Let me explain something to you,"

"Just get to the poi-" I was cut off by Kendall as he held his finger up at me, returning the gesture I did to him earlier. My eyes twitched in frustration in response to his actions.

"I started as an unpaid intern here at Maslow industries. I was a full time student; balancing school, my personal life, and the internship. Your mother hired me on when she saw how much of a dedicated worker I was; and seeing as my personal life was shit at the time, she took note of how I didn't let that effect my work ethics." I rolled my eyes as he began blabbing on about how he started working here. He must have noticed I wasn't really paying any mind to what he was saying, so he took a jab at me. "I was here two years before you came into the picture!"

Pssh, did he really think that mattered? Even though he was working here two years before I did, I still became his boss. "Oh please, do you think working here longer than I have matters? You're working for my company Mr. Schmidt, remember that."

Kendall threw his head back, "OH MY GOD! Your company, really? So, tell me Mr. Maslow…which four trading industries are currently trading partners with Maslow? Which contract with what company is keeping Maslow industries financially stable?!"

"…." I stayed quiet as he barraged me with questions, and truthfully I didn't know the answers to any of them.

"Your company my ass. Without your parents and Logan, Maslow industries will be nothing but a shadow of what it once was. So go ahead and fire me when your parents are gone, let's see how far you and your company go without me."

"Ha! Do you think you're that fucking precious to this company?" There was no way in hell that I would let this fucker get the last word.

"Mrs. Henderson once said I was practically family…so therefore I know a lot of secrets about this company. Secrets that you probably don't know yourself…so yeah, I think I'm that fucking precious Mr. Maslow! And where the fuck were you while I was working my ass off for this company? Oh that's right, you were busy dropping out of college and being a failure and disappointment to your parents. You know what your mom once told me? That she was naïve to believe you would make something of yourself. So without this company, you're fucked."

I could feel my blood begin to boil as I tried my hardest from throwing a punch out of irritation. He was right…there were things I didn't know about this company. Logan and my mother have tried many times of explaining stuff to me, but I usually tuned them out. My mother also had high hopes for her precious son, and hearing this information from Kendall hurt. He had a point about one thing though…without Maslow industries I would be jobless. It pissed me off that he spoke the undeniable truth. He bowed his head before speaking, "Now if there isn't else to be said…I'd like to get back to work now Mr. Maslow"

I glared at the blonde as he began to turn, two can play that game. The words that escaped my mouth next were the result of anger. "It's no wonder your father used to beat you…"

Kendall stopped in his tracks, his back facing towards me. He stayed absolutely still as I began walking towards him. I know it was a shitty thing to bring up, but he needed to know his place. I was the boss and no one would get away with talking down on me like he did. "You know mother spoke so highly of you, she often shared stories about you. With your attitude and lack of respect for your superiors, I can see why he beat you. You need an ass kicking to learn respect I guess, but luckily for you I can't do tha-"

"That's low…" Kendall cut me off. I could hear the sound of hurt in his voice when he spoke.

"Is it? Well honestly, I don't care Mr. Schmidt." I was now standing a few feet behind him, "What you said about you being precious to the company may be true, and that irritates me, and that's not a good thing. Now I can't physically hurt you, but using words can hurt just as much."

"…." Kendall stayed quiet as I stood behind him.

It was low to bring up his past, but he started it. I chuckled as I leaned my head close to speak, "Sorry to bring up your father, but you brought up my mother first. And as a ungrateful brat said a few minutes ago…Karma's a bitch-!"

I was cut off when Kendall slapped me across my right cheek. I placed my hand over my now heated cheek as I glanced up at him. He quickly turned away and stormed out of my office, leaving me to stand in the middle of my office, holding my cheek as I watched the doors close behind him. Kendall stormed out so fast I couldn't get another word out, but he didn't storm out fast enough for me to catch the hurt in his expression….the tears in his eyes.