Chapter 3
Slade couldn't help feel a heavy amount of rage and anxiety as he neared Amber's office. She ran some sort of magazine about world issues and companies. He straightened his tie as he entered the building. There was a large world map on the wall near the largest couch and chairs. He walked over to the front desk to see Allison, Amber's sister, as the secretary. Slade suddenly recalled that Amber had given her younger sister a weekend job so she could learn people skills.
"Hello," said Slade abruptly, "I have an appointment with Amber Rhodes." The younger sister smiled sweetly and flipped through an agenda. Slade never assumed the magazine business would be so organized.
"Of course, Mr. Princeton, if you will wait here for the moment she is busy at the moment, but you are about thirty minutes early." replied Allison trying to hide some resentment. She remembered the night of Amber's break-up with Slade perfectly.
Flashback
Amber silently sulked into the kitchen and pulled a pint of strawberry ice cream. Her younger sister was eating cereal and reading a book written by Jane Austen. Allison looked up to see her sister who refused to show any sorrow. She noticed how Amber clenched the spoon tightly as if she was never going to release it.
"So you really broke up with him?" Allison asked quietly unknowing of Amber's reaction. Of course, the younger sibling knew about her older sister's plan. In fact, she had recommended it to protect Amber's beliefs.
"I did," replied Amber with shame and regret in her voice, "He said that I was making a big mistake, and that I never gave a fuck about him if I couldn't accept him for all he is. Do you think that's true?" She pulled her pink blanket tighter around her shoulders as she stuffed a spoonful of strawberry ice cream into her mouth.
"I think," Responded the younger sibling, "That's he has his head stuck up his butt. Of course you cared for him, you loved him, and I know you still do. Honestly, he started treating you like crap, and right now, you don't need someone like that in your life. Maybe in the future, you could get back together with him, but not now." She gave her upset sister a warm embrace.
Amber sniffed and wiped the tears she couldn't repress from her eyes and. She looked at her younger sister, "He hates me. I know it now. I don't him to hate me, but I…I couldn't have done anything else. I never should have been with…" she broke down sobbing. Allison knew that her sister would probably refuse to love anyone else, but it was all for the better. There was always the future.
End of Flashback
Thirty minutes later, "Miss Rhodes will see you now," said Allison as she received a message in her email. "She is on the top floor; there will be a sign and many helpful people if you get lost." Slade rolled his eyes as he got out of the chair. The blonde-headed girl shook her head in disgust wondering what possessed Amber to go out with the man in the first place.
When he reached the top floor, he saw Amber holding a folder and talking with a handsome young man with sandy brown hair. "Brandon, I need you to cover the genetic coding story. I want people aware of the fact that there is technology where people can decide the genetics of the offspring. I want details." She handed him a plane ticket and said, "You'll need this."
Brandon replied happily, "I won't let you down Miss Rhodes." He rushed past Slade eagerly. Slade wondered how anyone could be so excited to work for someone who could be such a bitch. He noticed Amber just attempt not to laugh. As she approached him, Slade felt his heart rush.
"Hello, Mr. Princeton," said Amber coolly as she pulled her hand to shake his in a business like. "It's a pleasure to see you once more." The sarcasm in her voice sent shivers down her spine.
"It's nice to see you again, Miss Rhodes," Slade said bitterly. He thought the verbal irony was intense, but somehow he didn't know if he actually agreed with his words. Amber escorted him to her desk.
"Can I offer you anything to drink? We have herbal tea, green tea, water, coffee, grape juice, and apple juice," inquired Amber, but Slade declined. She sat down in her backless chair. Slade wondered how many times she fell off that chair. "So, what is the reason behind calling for this meeting, Mr. Princeton?" she asked trying hard to hide a grin.
"Because of your magazine, I have a bad reputation," snarled Slade, "I want it to end." He expected a reaction from Amber who just kept silent. He thought say something, Amber. I know you have an opinion.
"Let me assure you that if you wanted a better reputation," said Amber bitter sweetly, "You could easily obtain it, but you are such a busy man that you wouldn't have the time to send some money to preserve some of the Temperate Grasslands or the Rainforest." Slade rolled his eyes as he reclined in his sweet. Making the world a better place was that entirety of what she was concerned about.
"Thank you for that analysis, Miss Rhodes," retorted an angry Slade, "I just want you to stop printing articles about my company and me. It's bad publicity." He watched Amber click her pen impatiently. Slade observed she's either highly annoyed or about to come up with a highly offensive remark.
Amber said calmly feeling as if she was saying this for the second time, "Slade, the world isn't about you. You want other to respect you and admire you for what you're not. That's why the world won't belong to you. I'm sorry Slade, but you can only control yourself, not others, but you can't even control yourself." Slade was taken aback. Those were the exact words she had said when they broke up three years ago. There was no way that he was going to lose to her. He was determined to win this battle.
"And that has to deal with this meeting, how?" demanded an agitated Slade unnoticing the pain that had overcome Amber once more. The words she had uttered were never meant to be brought back from the grave.
"That's simple," she whispered, "Because you think you can control what others write. I didn't write that, and I will never write a piece like that. It was another staff member or a loyal reader that submitted a story. It's not my business." Slade's rage took over him. This wasn't what he wanted to hear. He always forgot that Amber never backed down from anything she believed in.
"You run this goddamned place!" he yelled. He felt his blood burn as they rushed through his veins. His heart pounded against his chest from the stress he was bringing upon himself.
Amber said calmly, "I inform people of what is really happening in the world. Are you angry that we don't sugarcoat the truth? That's not my problem at all. You want a good name then make it. Prove it to the readers, to the writers, to me, to your brothers, and to the world that you are worth something instead of a total asshole." Slade pounded his fist against the wall.
Slade demanded, "What the hell? Don't you know my company could be on the line because I am the boss?" Amber rolled up her white sleeves of her blouse and looked down at her knee-high denim skirt. She knew that perfectly well, and because she knew that he knew that, she refused to answer him. Slade yelled as some employees came in the office, "Why are you going to allow this? I thought you didn't like people talking shit about others?" He looked around as more people entered. Apparently, the whole building had heard his tantrum.
"I am not allowing it," Amber said bitterly trying not to allow anyone see her get overly emotional about some corporate asshole that was telling her what to do. She stood up from her seat and looked him in his dark eyes, "I allow honesty, and you proved them right. I told you, we don't sugarcoat things here, and you deserve the harshest honesty. Slade, I used to think that maybe you'd outgrow your controlling ruler phase, but I was mistaken. Now get the hell out of my office until you have some reason worth my time to be here." The businessman looked shocked. He stormed out of the office without looking back. Stubborn bitch, she's probably just afraid of what I'll do when I rule the world. She'll submit to my will soon enough promised Slade.
Back at the office, Amber fell back into the chair. All of her writers, editors, photographers, secretaries, and her sister watched her with an emotion that she couldn't comprehend. She didn't know what to say, but she had to say something while they were in her office. Amber announced, "I'm so sorry you had to witness and hear the current situation with Mr. Princeton. Don't let people like him hinder what you do or believe in. We shall continue what we do well at. We have people that need to know what is going on in the world. Ignore the man. So let's get back to the world." The crowd of workers applauded.
Allison cornered her sister after the others had left, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have let him come in here even if he had an appointment." Amber shook her head and patted her sister on the head.
"Don't worry, Ally, that's the cruel side of business. He'll be back, and I promise you that I still will be obstinate enough to make sure he doesn't get the best of me." Allison nodded and ran off to her duties. Amber wondered what Slade was going to attempt to do next.
Mew Kazurinu: Woot another pissed off Slade moment. What will he do next? What does he think of him having to deal with Amber as an opponent? Thanks for reading. Stay tuned.