Tempted By Their Promises

5 - Joyce

“Why can’t he be like a normal CEO? Arrogant, rude, and obnoxious. I could easily dismiss him if he was. He even asked to be my boyfriend”, Amanda told Chelsea as they sat on the couch in their living room.

“Are you saying you don’t want Mr Dreamy as your boyfriend?” Chelsea asked, raising her eyebrow at her best friend.

“That’s not the point, and it’s Mr Oscar the Grouch”, Amanda giggled as Chelsea’s mouth dropped open. “And I have already agreed to be his girlfriend. I can also see why the office calls him Oscar the Grouch”, she continued, taking a sip of wine and proceeding to tell her about the email for lunch and what happened afterward.

“What changed his mind from the email to being considerate of your feelings?” Chelsea asked, a curious smile crossing her lips.

“I don’t know. He was spurting things such as I was his, and I yelled at him, I wasn’t a possession. I guess it was that” Amanda answered, picking up the folder Sarah gave her.

“What’s in the folder?” Chelsea questioned, trying to read it over her shoulder.

“Sarah gave it to me. According to her, it’s the bible of everything there is to know about Toby’s life. What he likes and doesn’t like. To what her duties are, being his personal assistant. I’m going to have to know this if I am taking on her role for a few weeks”, Amanda responded, browsing through it. “Did you know he doesn’t drink alcohol?”

“Really? I thought all the CEOs liked a bit of booze. Help them to unwind” Chelsea responded, taking a sip of her own glass of wine. “Or is that me?”

“Apparently his father was the same. Keeping their minds clear to face whatever is thrown at them”, Amanda giggled at Chelsea’s small joke. “And he likes his underwear folded the same way when packing for a trip”, she continued, reading his packing procedures.

“What else does it say?” Chelsea questioned, trying to take the folder from Amanda’s hands.

“Get your own bible”, Amanda laughed, grabbing the folder back from Chelsea as a message came on her phone.

‘Missing you already’ she reads and quickly texts Toby back. ‘I’ve only been out of the office for an hour.’

‘That long? It feels longer. Do you need help deciphering the bible?’ He sent another message instantly.

‘Why not; I can always get it straight from the horse’s mouth’ she texted, stifling another small giggle.

‘I’m going to ignore it; you just called your boss a horse. I will have a car pick you up in 10 minutes. The driver’s name is Ramirez. Pack to stay overnight, we might have to pull an all-nighter 😉.

‘I’ll see you soon’ Amanda responded, putting her phone down and heading to her closet to get changed and pack her overnight bag.

“Where are you going?” Chelsea asked, following Amanda into her room and watching her stuff things into an overnight bag.

“Toby is having someone pick me up in 10. He wants to help me go over the bible. Don’t wait up” Amanda said, picking up her purse, bag and phone, before heading to the door.

“Thank God. I was going to ask if you could make yourself scarce. Jamie is coming over after work, and now we have the place to ourselves”, Chelsea smiled as Amanda walked out the door and headed to the front of her apartment building, where a black Mercedes sedan was waiting.

“Are you Ramirez?” Amanda asked the gentleman standing next to the rear passenger door.

“Amanda? Mr Sommerville said you were a beautiful redhead. He didn’t say how beautiful” he answered, opening the rear passenger door as Amanda stepped into the car.

“How long have you been Tob… I mean, Mr Sommerville’s driver?” Amanda asked Ramirez as he sat in the driver’s seat and turned on the engine.

“5 years and counting. My father, James, is Mr Sommerville Senior’s driver. I grew up with Toby and we both felt it fitting for me to become his driver. I wouldn’t have it any other way”, Ramirez answered, pulling onto the road. “Oh, and Toby told me to tell you; I am sworn to secrecy. What happens in the car, stays in the car.”

Amanda decided to look out the window, to hide herself from blushing. Although she did catch Ramirez looking in the rearview mirror at her, smiling to himself.

“Here we are, Miss Amanda. I’ll buzz you in”, Ramirez said as Amanda looked up at the tall building.

“Let me guess, he lives in a penthouse apartment?” Amanda smiled as Ramirez grabbed her overnight bag and walked her into the building.

“Sweet Pea” Toby called from the kitchen as Amanda and Ramirez walked in through the door of the penthouse.

“How many times have I told you, Sweet Pea, when we are alone?” Ramirez joked, placing Amanda’s bag on the floor before exiting.

“What smells wonderful?” Amanda asked, heading into the kitchen.

“Dinner”, Toby chuckled, coming over to give Amanda a kiss. “I hope you like Spaghetti Bolognese. It’s the only thing I can cook.”

“I do”, Amanda said, glancing at the pot that had the Bolognese sauce in it.

“Let’s eat, and then I will give you a tour of the place. You are going to love it, we have a games room, pool and jacuzzi…” “Candles?” Amanda asked, cutting Toby off as she walked into the dining room and sat down at the table, smiling at the effort Toby put into the dinner.

“Toby, I need a place to crash for the night” A female voice rings through the penthouse from the front door.

“Joyce; not tonight”, Toby yelled as a dark brown-haired lady, with the same chocolate-brown eyes as Toby, came into the dining room.

“Hi, I’m Joyce” she said, extending her hand to Amanda.

“Amanda; Mr Sommerville is helping me learn his PA position” Amanda replied, trying not to blush in front of her.

“Yeah, right” Joyce said, glaring at Amanda. “Toby won’t get rid of Sarah, and he never offered her a candlelit dinner. You have to do better than that if you want to get in her pants, Tobes”, Joyce continued, pulling over Toby’s plate of food and started to eat the spaghetti. “Really, Toby? You’re using dried pasta? I thought you were trying to woo this innocent young lady? You will have to do better than that.”

“What’s wrong with going to Mum and Dad’s? As you can clearly see, I have company, and we have a lot of work to get through”, Toby snarled at his sister.

“They’re out of town until Friday and I don’t want to be in that large house by myself…” “First, no, they’re not because I have a meeting with Dad in the morning. And secondly, they have 10 housekeepers. You won’t be in the house by yourself and I don’t want you here”, Toby yelled, cutting Joyce off.

“It’s OK, Mr Sommerville. I should get going. Dinner was lovely”, Amanda said, putting her hand on Toby’s arm before standing up from the table.

“No, you are my guest for the evening. I would like you to stay”, Toby replied, grabbing hold of Amanda’s hand as Joyce’s eyes grew wider at Toby’s change of demeanor.

“Who are you and what have you done with my brother?” Joyce mocked, shaking her head.

“Joyce; this is not the time. Either go to the f*****g guest room and stay out of sight or get out; it’s your choice” Toby shouted as Joyce stood up from her seat. “Like I said, Mandy and I have a lot of work to…” “Make sure you wear protection” Joyce laughed, walking away from the table towards the guest room.

“You can mark meeting my younger sister off your to-do list”, Toby said, ignoring Joyce's remark. “Come and I will show you around the place. You will need to make yourself familiar with it as this will be your second home” he smiled, giving Amanda a wink.

“Since when does a personal assistant stay here?” Joyce muttered, overhearing Toby as he gave her a death stare.

“Since I asked Mandy to be my personal assistant while Sarah is on vacation. If you don’t mind, you can f**k off to your room” he seethed, grabbing Amanda’s hand and escorting her to the master bedroom, picking up Amanda’s overnight bag on his way through and pulling out his phone to text Henry ‘SOS’.

“Sorry about the intrusion; you too love birds, do what you have to do. The Jacuzzi’s mine for tonight” Joyce said, a knowing look crossing her face.

“Joyce, one more word and I will lock you out of the penthouse permanently”, Toby snapped, before shutting the bedroom door behind him. “I’m sorry. I was hoping to be a bit more romantic tonight,” he whispered to Amanda and sat down on the edge of the bed.

Amanda moved towards him, placing her arms around his neck. “It’s the thought that counts”, she said, giving him a peck on the lips.

“I have Henry coming over to get rid of Joyce. I should go back out there” Toby muttered, getting up from the bed.

“Looks as though she has figured out what is going on. It’s a matter of, can she keep it quiet?” Amanda responded, looking at Toby a little concerned.

“Joyce? Not likely. That’s why I’m going back out there; to have a word with her”, Toby grumbled, heading back to the living area as Amanda sat on the bed and listened to the screaming match being played out by the two siblings.

“You could have warned me you were coming. I would have locked the doors”, Toby shouted. “That’s why I didn’t warn you. And who is she, Toby? Someone else who is after our money, I suppose,” Joyce spat back. “That’s not fair; Amanda’s not like that. You don’t know anything about her. How dare…” “How dare I? You know the mess mum and dad had to clean up after you broke it off with Penny. You have the gall to say how dare I?” Joyce screams, cutting Toby off.

“That’s rich coming from someone who is in the tabloids every other week…” “That’s right; your Mr. Loyal. No wonder you have fallen head over heels to someone you hardly know…” “I’ve heard enough. You are talking about my future wife and if you have scared her off, I’m coming after you”, Toby screamed as Amanda got off the bed, grabbing her overnight bag and racing to the front door, running directly into Henry.

“Whoa; where are you going in such a hurry?” Henry stated, grabbing Amanda around the waist.

“Your future wife? You’ve known her for how long? 2 minutes? You get a taste of her p***y, and she’s your future wife?” Joyce screamed.

“I see you’ve met Joyce” Henry chuckled, glancing at Amanda’s face.

“I’ve got to go” Amanda said, rushing past Henry and pushing the elevator button several times until it opened.

“Your future wife has just run out the door and stepped on the elevator”, Henry called out to Toby as the elevator door closed.