Falling in love with my Arrogant Boss

Chapter 7

AMBER'S POV

"James, can you please pick up your phone? It might be an important call, and that's why it keeps ringing," I inquired of James.

Today marks my first day as Phillip Perault's secretary, and James is here to train me. I was feeling quite anxious upon entering the office, unsure of how to interact with my new boss. Luckily, he is currently on a three-day official business trip to oversee and inspect the commercial buildings owned by the Peraults in Southeast Asia. James mentioned that he was originally scheduled to go next month, but the plans changed suddenly today. Perhaps he just doesn't want to see me, or maybe he's having trouble accepting the fact that I'll be his new secretary.

"Hold on a moment, Amber," James said, grabbing the cellphone from the table. He looked annoyed as he checked the caller ID. "Yes, Brenda?" he answered from the other end.

"Oh, Brenda, there's nothing I can do if Sir is tired of you. Even if your services are offered for free, Sir still won't agree. I'll get scolded if I entertain your calls," I overheard James saying on the phone. "Alright, I'm busy, so don't bother calling because I won't answer," he concluded the conversation, then turned to me and smiled.

"I apologize, Amber. That’s one of Sir Phillip’s toys," James explained.

"Huh? Toys? Women? Really, James?"

"Since you just asked, Amber, I have something to tell you about a future task. Sir Phil mentioned that anything he asks me to do, you'll be responsible for, including the tasks he personally assigns to me. One of those tasks is finding women for him to be with in his bedroom.”

"Huh?" I nervously asked.

"You know that even though Boss doesn't like women, he still has needs as a man. You're aware of that, Amber. One of my personal tasks is to find women he can sleep with. I'll leave some contacts for you to search; they're from high-end clubs. You need to make sure the woman is clean and disease-free, so you'll handle all the necessary tests, like HIV, and also conduct an interview."

"But, James, do I really have to do that? Can I refuse?" I said, rejecting the idea of doing that filthy task.

No way, Amber! I'll get in trouble. Don't worry, I'll have your back during your first search and interview, so you'll know how to handle it.

James filled me in on all the things Sir Phillip asked him to do, and some of them were really personal. He even had to run errands for Sir's condo. He knows Sir Phillip's likes and dislikes and what gets on his nerves. I listened carefully, not wanting to embarrass myself in front of Sir Dominic. After all, I still need this job because I'm the one who needs something.

"But the pay is really good, Amber. I've been able to save a lot because I'm Sir Phillip's assistant," James continued his story. "The only downside is that I lose time with my girlfriend because Sir will call me even in the middle of the night. Like last week, on the day you had an argument with him, he asked me to be at his condo early in the morning."

"Huh?" I suddenly had a doubt; staying up late is not good for my health. "What about me, James? He'll probably make me suffer even more. Staying up late is bad for my health," I asked James.

"Maybe not, Amber. I asked Sir Dominic if he told Sir about your surgery, and Sir Dominic said that he informed Sir Phillip not to give you a hard time because of it. Maybe he'll listen to his father; I know Sir Phillip loves him and doesn't want to upset him." I took a deep breath, feeling a twinge of regret for giving in to Sir Dominic's requests just now.

"I hope he doesn't make things difficult for me, James. I really need this job. By the way, James, congratulations. I heard you got transferred to another position in the company."

"Amber, I'm really grateful to you; at least I’ll have more time with my girlfriend now. It's been tough lately with my work affecting my relationship with my girlfriend. Honestly, I've been considering resigning too, but fortunately, I'll just be moved to a different department. It's a bit disappointing that Sir Phillip will be taking over my position, but I'm glad it will benefit someone like you who needs it more." He flashed a smile at me. "So, how's your love life, Amber? Are you going to lose time with your boyfriend as well?"

I couldn't help but let out a bitter laugh.

"Well, James, I don't have a boyfriend," I replied.

“Amber, are you insulting your own beauty? Maya mentioned that a lot of guys from the marketing department are requesting your number. They must be aware that you're currently unattached," James playfully teased me. "Have you never been in a relationship before?" It's quite an unusual question.

I exhaled deeply before sharing the details of my romantic history with James. I recounted the heartbreak of my first love, Kenneth, leaving me.

Wait until you see this! James opened the drawer and started searching for something. We were sitting together at his table while he was teaching me. After a while, he found what he was looking for and handed it to me right away. "Check this out; it's Sir Phillip from four years ago!"

I eagerly took the picture he gave me. My heart started racing as I laid my eyes on the handsome man in the photo. Sir Phillip's appearance in the picture was completely different from how he looks now. Without his beard, I could clearly see the sharpness of his nose, his big eyes, and his neatly styled hair. The person in the picture had such a strong presence, and his smile made my heart skip a beat. I felt like I was being drawn towards the spot where I was sitting. "Is this really Sir Phillip?" I looked up at the woman sitting next to me. She had a beautiful and gentle face, a perfect match for Sir Phillip. The two of them were sitting on a double sofa, holding hands. I don't know how long I stared at the picture, but suddenly I felt James touching my arm.

"Amber, are you alright?"

"Uh, yeah... I was just taken aback. Sir Phillip looks so different now. And the girl next to him... is she Sir's fiancée?"

“Yes, that’s Ms. Charlotte, the woman who broke Sir Phillip's heart. I heard that she had disappeared like a bubble since she and Sir broke up. I just saw that picture here in the drawer when I was just a new secretary to Sir Phil. Let me just put it away."

"Alright then," I responded to James, still amazed at how attractive Sir Phillip looked in the picture. If this photo was taken four years ago, that means he was only thirty-three at the time. I really hope Sir can regain his charm and stop appearing like a hermit in my eyes.

James and I had a great conversation as he showed me the ropes of being a secretary. Thankfully, I catch on quickly. We ended the day on a positive note.

"Thanks, James. I've learned so much. I hope Sir Phillip's official trip to Asia gets extended," I said. "Because honestly, I'm terrified to face him again."

"Don't you dare, Amber. Don't provoke Sir. Just hold back as much as you can, because if you push him too far, I won't be able to help you. It's just the two of you here on the 8th floor, and we won't be able to hear you." I felt even more anxious. By the way, the 8th floor only houses the CEO's office, the conference room, and its own pantry and restroom.

I said goodbye to James and headed home. It was already five in the afternoon. I needed to cook dinner for my mom and myself. James, on the other hand, had to pack his things as he was being transferred to the marketing department. But before that, Sir Dominic needed his help fixing some management reports. James is incredibly intelligent and graduated from a prestigious university, which is why he was hired immediately. He also completed an internship at Perault Land Corporation. I have to admit, James is impressive. It's already challenging enough, and Sir Phillip seems like a perfectionist. I can't afford to make any mistakes in my work, or else I might get fired on the spot. I'll just save up money to pay Sir Dominic and invest in the business I dream of for my mom. That way, I can leave this company and not have to deal with my boss's rough attitude.

As soon as I arrived home, I greeted Mom with a warm hello. The best part about my commute from the Perault Building to our house is that it only takes me less than an hour, even during rush hour. And when it's not rush hour, I can get home in just thirty minutes.

"How's your work, Amber?" Mom asked. She’s been doing well ever since we got out of the hospital. I've been taking good care of her and making sure she does not overexert herself so she can regain her strength easily.

"I'm doing fine, Mom. Did you follow my instructions today?" I asked her. I specifically told her not to do any strenuous activities. I prepared her breakfast and lunch this morning, and I'll be cooking dinner tonight.

"Don't worry, Amber. I'll follow your lead. I just rested for the day. It's quite boring though. My hands are itching to sew and work with fabric," Mom said.

"The doctor strictly instructed you not to work, Mom. Let me take care of everything first. I can handle it," I reassured her with a smile. I quickly changed into my comfortable home clothes and started cooking. I wasn't tired yet, so after cooking, I immediately served the food.

I prepared a delicious dinner consisting of fried fish, stewed okra, and eggplant with anchovies. I decided to buy the ingredients from a nearby shop so that my mom wouldn't have to go out. Since we don't have a refrigerator, we buy fresh ingredients every day and sometimes opt for simple meals. Although it may be simple, my mom and I find happiness in our uncomplicated lives together. After finishing our meal, I took care of washing the dishes and finally got a chance to rest. It wasn't too tiring for me, so it was fine. The doctor advised me to exercise to strengthen my heart, so I made sure to do the household chores myself. It's important not to overexert myself and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

As I went to bed that night, thoughts of Sir Phillip occupied my mind. Whenever I thought of him, my heart would beat strangely, especially because I could vividly imagine his handsome face. Even with my eyes closed, I could still see his charming features. And then, the dream...

Two days had gone by, and James had finished teaching me. He must have covered almost all the dos and don'ts. That night, I had trouble sleeping because I couldn't stop thinking about Sir Phillip. I knew I would have to face my arrogant boss again. I tried my best to fall asleep so that I wouldn't be late the next day.

The next morning, I practically ran off the bus as soon as it stopped near the Perault Building. I made it there ten minutes before 8 a.m. and managed to enter the building without any issues. Thankfully, I wasn't late since my schedule was from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sir Phillip usually arrives at 7:30 am, and I secretly wish I could have gotten there at 7 am to beat my grumpy boss. However, I had a hard time getting up this morning because I slept late. I didn't even have time to cook breakfast for my mom. I had to convince our neighbor, who sold food, to deliver something for her.

I took the elevator and noticed that many employees were already arriving. As usual, the guy I was with rushed past me, and someone tried to get my number again.

When I reached the 8th floor, I immediately sat down at my desk, which was just outside Sir Phillip's office. The surroundings were quiet, as expected. It would only be the two of us in the office today, Sir Phillip and me.

Before anything else, I went to the restroom to touch up my makeup with a little powder and lip gloss. I wanted to make sure I looked presentable before stepping out.

I wasn't sure if Sir Phillip was already in his office, but I assumed he was. So, I decided to go inside and let him know that I had arrived. I knocked on the door, but there was no response.

"Maybe he's not here yet," I thought to myself. With that in mind, I unlocked the door and peeked inside. To my surprise, Sir Phillip was sitting in his swivel chair, staring at me intently.

I was speechless and felt like I had frozen in place, my heart pounding loudly in my chest.