Keeping His Dirty Little Secret

Chapter 4

As fast as I could, I followed Mr. Easton with my almost wobbly legs because of what's happening right now.

"Keep up, Genevieve." I heard him say with his voice slightly shaking.

We're in a rush right now.

We're in a rush avoiding the press that's been following us since the very moment that sir Conrad came out of his car. I almost got left out, and I almost got distracted by them.

Blinding flashes of cameras, innumerable questions, and unnecessary compliments. Those were just few of the things that were thrown to Mr. Easton when they saw him. I am confused at first, and I didn't understand why. Until I realized that I'm working for someone with a very high prestige and that his reputation is mostly recognized by many. And that he's the CEO of one of the big 5 publishing company across the globe.

I almost gasped when I felt his hand on my elbow. He is trying to pull me closer to him due to the reason that I'm not walking fast enough to keep up with him. He pulled me towards the elevator of the building that we entered in a rush, and I can tell that he's trying not to hurt me; not to tighten his grip but enough to drag me along.

When we finally entered the elevator, he immediately pressed the buttons to take us to his desired floor of the building. I saw the press catching up, but they were too late. The elevator closed just right in front of their faces.

"I'm sorry, did I hurt you?" He's asking if I'm hurt but he sounds very formal.

I quickly shook my head, I didn't even notice it when he let go of me. "No, sir. Not at all." I showed him a small smile, but he just nodded and looked away.

I sighed.

It's been three days now since I became his secretary, and I'm convinced that it's such a tiring work. His schedule is always full; he's always busy. And as his secretary, I did all I can to fulfill the role. So far, I think I'm doing a great job. But at same time, it's tiring me out. I have no other choice, I accepted his offer and now, I'm in this position. I have to always keep up with him, and with this job.

It's just, one thing has been bothering me.

"Tell me everything you know about me. Don’t lie, and be honest."

Since that day, confusion has always reigned on top of my system the moment that I wake up every morning, and every moment that I see him. Especially when our eyes meet, and when I'm beside him. Which is completely an unpleasant feeling because I am always with him as his secretary. It's torturing me, and I know that it'll only be a matter of time before I explode in front of him.

I thought I already discovered the side of him that he will start to let me witness every now and then. But who am I kidding, right? Who am I even? Who am I for him to treat differently? I'm just his secretary, and he's my boss. We're not friends. Nothing in between but formality. I'm such a foolish b***h to think that there's more than that. And why the hell did I even think that there's more than that?

Because you felt it. I scolded myself inwardly when the other side of my brain answered my own question.

I wanted to ask myself a lot of questions, but it will be too stupid. And that the answers will only probably be based upon my perspective, and will only benefit and lead me into thinking nonsense thoughts and far-from-reality kind of situations.

I was pulled out from my reverie when the elevator opened its doors. I followed Mr. Easton when he started walking, and I roamed my eyes everywhere to observe the whole place. Only to realize that it's an office, and it amazes me that a whole floor of a building is meant to be an office.

"There you are! What took you so long?"

Sir Conrad and I turned to the direction where the voice came from. My eyes saw a man that is probably in his early thirties just like the CEO himself. He's also wearing a suit just like Mr. Easton here.

"Traffic." I stopped myself from showing a negative reaction towards what sir Conrad just said. It was a lie. There was no traffic.

"Whatever." He effortlessly rolls his eyes, "Come, Jansen and Kauai are here too. Taking shots."

The man tried pulling sir Conrad to walk but he resists. "Taking shots?" He asks with his forehead wrinkled. The man just smiled at him, "Yeah." and then he continued pulling sir Conrad. Sir Conrad once again resisted his force. To my surprise, he eyes laid on me and my system immediately reacted.

"What do you mean taking shots? I brought my secretary with me. I thought it was a business meeting?" I can tell that Mr. Easton is jumbled, and that this is not what he is expecting to greet him.

I looked away when the man also laid his eyes on me.

"Uhm, who told you that it's a business meeting?"

"Kauai."

"And you believed him?" The man scoffed at sir Conrad, and I heard sir Conrad mocking him. That actually made me smile a little.

"My friend, since you already got here, maybe it's best to just stay instead? Join us? And her..." I looked at both of them again when I heard the word 'her'. I suppose that I'm the only 'her' in here.

"What's your name, sweetie?"

Mr. Easton frowned, "Her name is Genevieve. Don't use that endearment on her ever again, Záviš."

The man, whose name is Záviš, showed a facial expression as if there's something he knows that I don't. That made my eyebrows brought together.

"...Is she?"

Sir Conrad I nodded and looked away, "Yes, she is."

For a moment there, I was lost even by just listening to them. And then I ended up thinking that maybe Conrad Easton himself is friends with people that are just like him.

Confusing and complicated.

Instantly making you question every insignificant detail.

Záviš cleared his throat as he wrapped his arm around Conrad's shoulder.

"So, Miss Genevieve. Suit yourself. I think my office is big enough for you to roam around, or maybe observe. There's a little library on the corner, and there's also a television if ever you feel bored. I'll tell my secretary through the intercom to bring you something to eat."

"I—"

Mr. Easton pulled his friend to a direction that I don't know where leads. And he did that before I could even finish the words that I wanted to say.

Basing from his facial expressions, he seemed annoyed and it upsets me that it still somehow makes me feel confused. More than how I feel before we got here.

I walked to the corner and I saw a little library that what Mr. Záviš was referring. I saw countless books and I decided to just read until Mr. Easton comes and decides to drive us back to our workplace. I sat on the sofa and looked around for a little more before opening the book.

I realized that the interior design of the whole place is inspired by Renaissance around the 1400's to 1600. There's a gigantic chandelier in the center of the ceiling and I believe that it's the only source of light in this place. I'm even surprised that there's a fireplace in here. Everything looks expensively vintage and classic.

As I open the book, I was taken aback when I realized that it was a photo album. Because basing from its outside, it's thick and it looks like a book that contains hundreds of pages. I wanted to read something, but this is what my hands gave me, this is what I'm going to explore. Plus, I feel lazy to stand up. I might as well just stay sitting instead and lay my eyes on the photos inside this photo album rather than standing up.

I am honestly tired from what we encountered earlier.

The first page of the photo album has an opening note.

"Memories can be forgotten forever, and pictures exist for you to remember." I read to myself. Ending up smiling as I turn to the next page.

I gasped when I saw the first photo.

I laughed, amused. "No way."

It was a picture of two young boys.

They're both wearing a helmet with two kiddie bicycles in the background. The young boy on the left is showing a shy smile with his hand poses the 'peace' sign. The other young boy on the right looks completely the opposite of his friend. He's smiling ear to ear with all of his teeth shown, and with his eyes squinted.

Below the photo, there was another note.

"Little Záviš & Little Conrad, 1999."

I assumed that the shy young boy is Záviš, while the other one who's proudly showing off his teeth is my boss, Conrad Easton.

I didn't notice that I was smiling ear to ear as I stare at the photo for a long time. And as time pass by, I noticed details that I failed to see the first time I laid my eyes on it. I wanted to slap myself for pouring my entire attention to the little boy whose grown up version is causing me so much confusion since the day that I became his secretary.

I sighed. What now?

I shouldn't be stressing myself too much about it. It's none of my business. I should be focusing on my job instead. To improve; to be better in any angle that my boss has the ability to see.

Hell, why am I even confused?

Why am I even upset?

I'm receiving the type of treatment that is just right and meant for me. His formality shouldn't confuse me or complicate things that bothers me. He's my boss for pete's sake! What else do I expect from him? It's work. It's all about professionalism and formalism. There's nothing wrong about him being formal. That is how it should be in the first place. It was my mistake that I attempted to climb the high walls that are surrounding him, that I attempted to witness a side of him that I'm not worthy of.

"You shouldn't be holding that photo album. If I were you, I would put that back in the shelf before Conrad finds out that I'm looking at his childhood pictures."

Startled, I look at the person that owns the gravelly voice that I just heard. My eyes settled on the man that was once a shy little boy in a photograph with Conrad.

It was Záviš.

He's standing behind the sofa that's facing the one I'm sitting on.

"Sir—"

"You don't need to address me that way. I'm fine with just Záviš." He said, sounding like someone I'm friends with for a very long time now. And I liked that, honestly. He makes me feel welcomed. His attitude feels like you don't have to hesitate when it comes to him.

I smiled at him, "Okay. So, it's just Záviš then."

He giggled that eventually led to a smile similar to mine. That made me notice that he has a dimple on each of the corner of his mouth.

"Yeah, just Záviš. How about you? Can I call you with just Genevieve?"

I eagerly nodded at him, not discarding the smile that I'm showing him. "Of course. It's also just Genevieve for you too." After a few seconds, I noticed that he was looking deep in my eyes like he was searching for something; something that he's expecting to find in the depths of my eyes. I pushed away the thoughts in my head that he somehow knows me that he had forgotten for a long time.

The way he looks at me says it all. I don't need him to explain. And even if he would explain, I wouldn't believe him at all. I'm a believer of what's hidden underneath, is still visible through eye contact and can be perfectly seen.

I sighed and shook my head, "Spill it."

"What?" His eyebrows raised.

"Spill it, Záviš. Spill the beans."

"Wha... I can't understand you."

I chuckled, "Oh, come on. You look like you have something to tell me. Don't hesitate, please."

Záviš looked away before biting his lower lip and deciding to finally spill the beans.

"Hmm, I just wanted to ask you about Conrad's actions towards you." He grinned, "I'm curious like a cat." I rolled my eyes at him, and he just laughs as he walked towards me. He took the photo album from my hands and I let him put it back from the shelf that I took it from. "Conrad doesn't like to share his childhood pictures with anybody else. So, I think it's better to put it back here before he scolds both of us."

He shook his head, "He doesn't even know that I kept all of our childhood pictures in a photo album. That scumbag will beat the hell out of me once he finds out." Záviš, then laugh and returned to the place where he first appeared when he startled me. But this time, he sat down on the sofa that's facing me with his legs crossed.

"Why is sir Conrad so confusing and complicated?"

Záviš actually laughed at my question. I wondered where I got the confidence to ask him concerning his very close friend. Maybe I just had enough, and that I need something that will serve as an answer to my questions. Even if it's just made up, in my perspective, I guess I'm still to accept it anyway. Rather than settling in a situation that makes me question everything that revolves around Conrad.

"He's not complicated. He's an asshole himself."

For a moment there, my mind captured the whole situation like a talkshow and Záviš is my special guest. I can't help but to admire him the more that I look at his face; that more that I observe his behavior and his attitude. I can't tell if he's being true. I can't tell if he's trying to be nice just because I'm his close friend's secretary. But something inside me, says that he's pure and that he's everything that I haven't encountered yet.

Specifically, the kind of male specie he is.

Honestly, throughout my whole life, I haven't been associated with innumerable men. I can even count using my fingers the men that I met back then that eventually became parts of who I am. Each of them gave me a lesson. Lessons that made me not to want to let another man enter my life.

I don't want to say any hasty generalization. But majority of men are trash, and just up for flings; for games. When the time comes that you will ask them into committing, they'll give on you like you're a bad drug.

That's what they taught me.

"But it's just a matter of time before you figure out what's gotten into him. Give him space, Genevieve. If you feel like bursting out whenever that you're with him, well, I'm pretty sure that he's on the very verge of it. He will be the first one to burst, and I can even bet my whole life on it. Even my net worth."

What Záviš said made me laugh. Real hard. And it felt like it's been a while since I laughed like this. Since I became Mr. Easton's secretary, I started feeling like time is always chasing me, or running after and sometimes, ahead of me. I only feel like that when I'm running late for work, but now? It's everyday that I'm in that situation. I'm never vacant anymore to talk to Feliza. Not even after working hours. Mr. Easton would email me a lot about work.

Work, work, work.

I think my situation is worse now than before.

"I don't think that you can bet your net worth for it." I scoffed, causing for him to show me his dimples again.

Out of context I said, "You're cute." And I wanted to slap myself because he grinned on that with his eyebrows moving up and down repeatedly. It only took a second for the feeling of being embarrassed to inhabit every fiber of my being.

"Oh, Genevieve. We just met. You have a crush on me already?" He made me laugh endlessly because of what he said with his eyes filled with amusement and joy.

"Hey, I'm just being honest, Záviš." I'm starting to feel the struggle to breathe because of too much laughter that he's making me do. It feels like I would like to stay here a little longer. He feels fun to be with.

"You're really cute—"

"No, he's not."

Záviš and I looked at each other when we heard that familiar voice.

It was Conrad. And I can't understand why my heart just suddenly started to beat fast. I can feel it pounding, and it almost feels like I'm nervous; like I'm afraid of him.

"Conrad, you're done drinking?"

"Are you both done flirting?"

I immediately stood up and looked at Conrad. His sea green eyes in ablaze, piercing stares, and emotionless face.

"What are you talking about, sir?"

"Let's leave now, Genevieve."

"Sir, we're not—"

"Now, Genevieve."

His voice is very audible, and from where I'm standing, I can feel and hear the strong emotion in every word. He walked away and he's probably heading to the elevator now.

"Záviš, I'm really sorry." I quickly apologized before starting to walk. Záviš just smiled at me, "He's just a bit tipsy. He's fine. I'm used to him being like that. Go now." I had one last glimpse of his face before running to the direction that sir Conrad took. I was right, he's by the elevator with his arms crossed.

"S-Sir."

He was burning before me. I can feel to the bone that he's angry. He's mad as a bear with a sore head, and it's making me shiver.

"Next time, don't flirt with my peers."

His eyes looking angrily in mine.

"And f**k it, Genevieve! Are you really going to pretend that you don't know me?" He shouted, and it echoed throughout the whole place.

I didn't notice it, but tears already streamed down to both of my cheeks as I silently sob while looking at him.