My Boss's Husband

Chapter 5: Gifts.

*Babe, I’m getting a divorce. We can finally be together.* I stare at the text that makes me wonder if it has been accidentally sent to me.

What a horrible person. This person was probably cheating on their partner.

I check the name on Truecaller, and I gasp when Mr Henderson's name appears.

My phone rings, and his number appears on screen. I completely ignore it. I prepare to go to work, and when I arrive, I find a large bouquet of various red and white flowers on my desk. I get a card as well, and a box of chocolates.

*My beautiful Zara, may our love blossom as beautifully as these flowers. Only, I want our love to bloom forever.* I read the card. I notice curious stares in the interns' office, but I ignore them.

I put them aside and begin with work. Inaya walks into the office, and her eyes widen when she notices the flowers.

“Whose flowers are these?” She looks around.

They point at me. I hide my face behind the computer screen.

“Everyone, take a fifteen minutes break.” She motions for them to get out.

I get up first and rush to the door.

“Except you Miss Acres.”

They all look at me suspiciously, and they head out. Inaya closes the door, and then she grabs another seat and sits next to me.

“Where do you get these flowers?” She stares into my soul.

“I got them from Mr Henderson,” I swallow.

“Really?” She raises her eyebrows.

“I didn’t speak to him, I promise. He has been calling and texting. I ignored him.”

“Oh! He is sending a message. He is playing a game with me. This flower arrangement costs more than the money I gave you.”

My jaw drops at the news. I tell her all about his love bombing. The constant text and calls. Mostly I feel that there is a part of me that is doing this to rub it in her face that he could fall in love with me.

“Just be careful. Okay? He might be a bit boring, but he is sneaky.” She gets up and leaves me in the office with my thoughts.

I’m in disbelief that she still thinks that Mr Henderson is doing this as part of a game, but his words still play in my mind. After all, he told me that he wouldn’t want to be in my shoes.

During lunch, I walk to my usual restaurant to get myself a light sandwich. I like being alone, but sometimes it feels lonely. I’m still a new intern, and I don’t talk much. Whenever my colleagues ask a question, I reply, then I don’t take the conversation further. Nalo is my only friend in the city, it’s easy to be around him.

When I have finished eating, I freeze at the door on my way out. Mr Henderson is leaning against his car, his attention on his phone. I turn around, trying to walk back in before he notices me.

“Wait, Zara.” He rushes after me. He holds my wrist, and I look up at him.

“Mr Henderson. I didn’t see you there. I forgot my wallet in the restaurant.” I remove my wrist from his grip.

“Don’t you have your wallet in your bag?” He glances at my handbag.

“Oh! It’s probably in here. I am so absent-minded. Thank you Mr Henderson.”

“I would prefer if you called me babe.” His lips curl up.

“Not even Wyatt?” I giggle to hide my discomfort.

He opens the door for me, and I can’t even tell him that my lunch is over, because he probably knows that I have 30 minutes.

“Why have you been ignoring my texts and my calls?” He sits next to me on the backseat.

“I had a busy day.”

“Even in the morning?” He frowns.

“I woke up late, and my boss doesn’t tolerate late coming.”

“That one. She is so uptight.” He reaches out and holds my hand.

‘She says the same thing about you.’ I say internally.

“Are you okay, babe?” He asks.

I want to tell him that I feel uncomfortable, and that he is really creeping me out.

“I, I, I think I want a breakup.” I blurt out.

“Are you serious?” His jaw tightens.

“I’m sorry. This relationship is a mess already. I wouldn’t want my first relationship to be like this.” I look out of the window.

“You’ve never been in a relationship before?”

“That’s nothing. I haven’t kissed anyone before you.”

“How?” The shock on his face makes me chuckle.

“I had a fear of germs when I was young. By the time I thought I was ready for my first kiss, people already had their first, second and third kisses. I was afraid that I didn’t know if I was a good kisser or not.”

“You avoided kissing so you wouldn’t humiliate yourself?” There is suddenly empathy in his voice, and in his eyes.

I nod. “I would really like my first relationship to be magical, not to start in the midst of a divorce.”

“I understand. Will you at least come back to work then?”

“I have been coming to work.”

“No, your other job.” He traces his fingers on my palm lines.

“Which one?”

“You didn’t read the contact. Did you?” He snickers.

I shake my head, ashamed that a whole new attorney didn’t read a contract.

“I need you to come to work. You are still my maid.”

“Huh?”

“Just read it. There are a few things your boss forgot to specify, and that makes me your new boss. You have been paid in advance.”

“May I send the money back?” I ask.

“You may if you want to.”

I sigh as relief washes over me.

I don't care what would happen to me anymore, I can't take this anymore. Perhaps I can ask to stay with Nalo for about three months, and then I will move out. Why didn't I think of this before?

“When can I expect the $800 000 termination money?” He smirks.

“What?”

“You better learn to read your contracts, Miss Acres. I will meet you when you knock off, so that we can negotiate new terms. Jeff will drop you off at the firm.”

I want to protest that it's just a walking distance, but he gets out of the car, then I watch him walk into the restaurant as the car drives off.