Love to Hate You by Anna Premoli Read Free Book Online

what’s the word…
intense
way of going about things,” my boss declares.
    I look at Colin in confusion. “Well, that's not exactly the way I'd put it, but I suppose that's how it might look to some people,” I admit.
    Colin is about to leave, but he turns towards me one last time. “Anyway, you make a gorgeous blonde.”
    He gives me a wink and leaves.
    *
    The meeting room furniture is spartan and bare. They say they took everything out back when I used to fight with Ian, because they were worried we'd go for each other with blunt objects. Seeing the way things ended up, they weren't actually that far off the mark.
    I walk into the room with a determined step, and notice Ian is already sitting there comfortably, talking on his mobile. If it had been anyone else I'd leave so as not to disturb their privacy, but Ian’s not worth wasting any niceness on, so he can go to hell.
    He gives me an inquiring look without interrupting his call. His expression is inscrutable, but he continues to stare at me.
    â€œI have to go,” he says finally. “I really don't know what my plans are for that day. I can’t promise anything, but if I’m around I'll definitely show my face. Bye, mum,” he says, as he hangs up.
    He quickly puts his mobile in his pocket and prepares to attack.
    â€œTamara told me you'd undergone a radical re-styling,” he teases, “but I wouldn't have imagined anything so dramatic.”
    I had really been hoping to startle him – to at least have this psychological advantage over him – but his secretary had obviously gone running straight to her boss and told him everything, ruining my surprise.
    â€œWomen change their hairstyles all the time, what’s odd about it?”
    â€œYou never have,” he answers simply, putting an end to the conversation.
    â€œWell, I have now, and I might even do it again. I was thinking of dying my hair red next time. Is there any law which says I always have to stay the same?” I ask sarcastically.
    â€œYour problem is that even if you change the outside, deep down inside you’re
always
the same. That's your curse – you can’t escape yourself,” says he, in a know-all voice.
    Oh
that's
a good one.
    â€œAnd has it ever occurred to you that I have no intention of escaping from myself?” I snap in irritation.
    â€œYou might not, but apparently your boyfriends do – big time”, he replies, playing his ace. Before today's over, I'll have Tamara’s decapitated head on my desk, the little snake.
    If I punched him on the nose again, who would blame me, tell me that? Aren’t these little verbal attacks equally hurtful?
    â€œHa! Coming from someone who doesn’t even remember the name of the woman he slept with last night, that sounds like a compliment,” I answer. “But I've got a solution for you: just call them all 'darling', that way you won't run the risk of mixing them up. It'd be so plebby to come out with the wrong name right when things are getting interesting, wouldn't it, and I know that never letting the regal mask slip is a big deal for you!” I provoke him.
    Ian’s facial expression suddenly changes, becoming intensely irritated. Bullseye!
    We glare at each other for a few seconds until I decide to cut short the pleasantries. “Right, if we're done with the small talk, what do you think about getting down to business?” I ask, sitting down next to him and opening Friday’s presentation folder. I haven't even time to get the papers out of the folder when I feel him moving closer.
    â€œBefore we start, there's something I'd like to point out,” he says in a serious tone.
    I say nothing, inviting him to continue.
    â€œPeople like Beverly want to carry out their business in a traditional way. It’s a question of relationships and not of solutions. Your idea might be the most brilliant ever, but the only thing that