Alex stepped out into the morning sun and made her way towards the car. Julian was behind her making a call, but he already had the car unlocked so she could place their purchases inside.
She walked quickly, hoping she wasn't being a burden and making him late for the office. In her rush, she paid little attention to her immediate surroundings and clattered straight into a man hurrying past.
The force of the collision immediately threw her off balance, and her arms flew wildly in the air as she struggled to remain upright. Despite her best efforts, she couldn't manage to steady herself and she fell… but not to the ground. Julian's hands held her effortlessly while the art supplies scattered on the ground, but Alex paid no attention, not with the waves of electricity sweeping through her whole body.
The man she had bumped into spun around in a fit of rage. "Watch where you're going you clumsy fucking bitch!"
The shock of his outburst pulled Alex rudely away from the strange euphoria she was trying to understand in Julian's arms. She allowed him to steady her on her feet, but before she could utter a response he was already ahead and standing between her and the man.
"It was an accident, you don't have to be so rude." He said calmly, but Alex could sense the irritation in his tone.
The man pushed Julian aggressively. "Fuck-off asshole, nobody asked for your opinion. Or is she your little bitch?"
Alex didn't want Julian to cause a scene, and besides the man looked a bit rough and dangerous. She held Julian's arm softly, looking him straight in the eyes. "Let's just go please, it's not worth it."
But Julian wasn't listening, instead he had read the tag on the man's shirt and recognized him as the employee he had approved of his employment just the day before.
"Your resume really looked impressive, and I was told you were decent during your interview, is this how you are in reality? When no one's watching?"
The man looked confused and took a step back, wondering how Julian seemed to have known about his resume and the fact that he recently attended a job interview. "Who are you? What the hell are you talking about?"
"Don't look so confused Sylvester," Julian said coldly, paying no attention to Alex as she picked up the scattered supplies. "I approved your employment yesterday, and I assume you're on your way to resume your position as a technician."
The man blinked. "What?"
Julian leaned in closer like a predator. "There's no need, you're fired."
While the man was still trying to get himself to understand the sudden turn of events, Julian had already reached for his phone and dialed a number. The call was on speaker and was very brief.
"Good morning Mr Blackwood."
"Good morning Lucy, I need you to do something. Terminate the appointment of Sylvester Brown effective immediately, and have security throw him out if he shows up at the office."
The assistant asked no questions, only said, "Yes sir," and ended the call.
The man was now visibly worried, realizing who he had been talking to was his boss. The arrogance drained out of him and he went on his knees immediately, begging for mercy but Julian paid no attention. When the man wouldn't stop grovelling, Julian finally responded in a fiery voice.
"You just abused a woman in public, had the audacity to push me because you felt I was a nobody, yet you're wearing my name on your ID badge."
Sylvester's eyes widened with more horror. "What? No… no, please, I didn't recognize you… I didn't mean…"
"You didn't need to recognize me," Julian said in disgust. "You needed to behave like a man, and you've failed."
Sylvester tried one more time to plead, but Julian turned to Alex who had now gathered everything and was holding them in her arms.
"Get in the car… we're leaving."
Alex obeyed without a word, watching through the window as he stood there broken and humiliated. Julian joined her in the car and drove off without another glance.
A loud silence dominated inside the car as they drove. Alex tried to focus on the passing scenery like she did when they were coming, but she couldn't do it for long.
"You didn't have to be so harsh," she said softly after a while.
Julian said nothing.
"I mean… yes, the guy was a total jerk, but to fire him on the spot like that… he hasn't even started yet."
No word came from him… he just kept on driving.
Alex was beginning to get angry. "Are you seriously not going to say anything?"
He kept his eye on the road.
"Julian…"
"I don't explain myself," he said flatly, the cold harshness of his voice briefly stunning Alex.
"Well maybe you should," she snapped at him. "Because what you just did could ruin someone's entire life over one moment…"
"One moment?" he replied in annoyance, finally facing her. "That man shoved me, called you names, and thought he could get away with it. And here you are calling me the bad guy?"
"You could surely have handled it a million other ways." she shot back at him. "Don't defend me if you have to flaunt your almighty power in people's faces."
His eyes were back on the road again, but the tone of his voice as he spoke again was terrifying.
"I am the god in my world… I don't tolerate disrespect. Not from anyone, and not especially from someone who intends to earn a living from me."
Alex knew he was giving her a subtle warning also, but she wasn't done yet.
"You think power means you're right all the time? That people don't deserve a second chance?"
A dry and humorless laugh came from Julian. "People reveal their true nature when they think no one important is watching… that was his second chance."
"You don't even know him that well." she dragged on.
"I don't need to."
Her voice was now rising as her anger increased at his indifference.
"You're cold and heartless." She hissed.
"Not the first time I've heard that." He said, giving her another glance.
And when he turned back to the road, a truck was charging at them at a dangerous speed as a distracted Julian had unknowingly left his lane. Tires screamed violently as Julian swerved quickly to avoid a deadly collision. Alex was screaming beside him with her heart in her mouth.
Julian managed to get control of the car, and gently pulled over on the side of the road. He looked shaken a bit, and a bead of sweat was already forming on his forehead despite the coolness in the car.
Then he turned slowly to her. "Get out."
Alex couldn't believe what she just heard. "What?"
He reached over and roughly flung the passenger door open. " Get. Out."
"Julian…"
"Find a cab home," he said.
He didn't raise his voice… there was a chilling note of finality in it already, and she knew better than to argue with him in that instance.
She took her bag with trembling hands and got out of the car, watching him turn and speed off without a word.