Chapter 5
1177 Words
I was halfway through my fourth cup of coffee of the day when her voice broke the silence.
“Your friend Jayden… is he always like that?”.
“Like what?”.
She hesitated “A little…obvious”.
I look up from my coffee, “Obvious?”.
She shrugged, pretending not to seem too interested in the conversation. “His eyes weren't exactly on why he was here”.
“Jayden has a wandering attention span”.
She smirked. “More like a wandering gaze”.
I lean back on my seat, carefully settling my cup on the table. “You should ignore him”.
“And why will I do that?”.
“He’s not your type”.
Her brow arched, amused. “And how do you know my type, Mr. Blackwood?”.
I did not answer. Maybe because I wanted to be her type. No scratch that, I do not care if I'm her type or not. She's just a secretary.
“I mean it's nice to be noticeable, once in a while. Right, Mr.Blackwood”.
“Jayden notices anything in a skirt”.
“Good thing I wore pants today”.
“You can't be serious”. I muttered.
“You sound… jealous” she ended with a smirk.
“Ms. Hart, you may leave”. I picked up a random folder on my table and flipped through it, I had already gone through this folder earlier. But I could still feel her smirking as she walked back to the desk.
Jealous.
I wasn't jealous.
I didn't get jealous.
She's my secretary and Jayden is my friend. There was no reason for this irritating feeling in my chest.
This was not about her. It was about keeping distractions out of my office and Jayden's wandering eyes off my employees. That is all.
The phone on my table buzzed. My sister’s name flashed on the screen. “Dad wants us home”, she said the moment I picked up.
“Why?”
“You know why”.
By the time I pulled up into the driveway of the house, a hundred thoughts on what exactly he wanted raced through my mind, well apart from the marriage talk. I found my sister waiting at the door. She doesn't seem too happy with the meeting either.
Dad’s office was the same as always. He sat behind his massive desk, writing away on some papers. “You are late”.
I glanced at the clock at the corner of the room“Two minutes late”. I added”, If this is one of your meetings to lecture me on how I'm not living life based on the rules in your book, no need. I'm running the company just fine”.
“You are running my company”, he corrected. “And as long as it's mine, you will do whatever I say, which is finding a wife. This year”.
I felt Anita staring at me, waiting for me to crash out. I kept my voice cool. “And if I don't?”
I could see the anger rising in his eyes. “Then I’ll find someone else to run it. Someone who cares about the legacy of this family and the company”.
“You care so much about this legacy, but you are going to hand it down to someone outside the family? Interesting”.
“Don’t test me, James”.
Anita stepped in then, her voice soft. “Can't we talk about this calmly, he's doing a good job at-”
Dad cuts her off, “A good job without proof isn't enough, you have until the end of this year. That's all I have to say”.
I turned on my heels, not bothering to tell him goodbye. I hear Anita, right behind me.
“You guys have to calm down”, she said.
I didn't answer immediately. Instead, I started walking towards my car. “I'm not going to marry some stranger to make him happy”.
“But what if I find someone who isn't a stranger? Someone who fits you”. She said trying to keep up with my pace.
I sighed. “You are already planning this, aren't you?”.
Her smile was enough to answer.
“Last chance, Anita”.
“Yeah, whatever. Let's go over to your apartment. I have no plans for the rest of the day”.
“What makes you think I don't have plans?”
“Well maybe because you are boring, only have one friend, have no social life, and no partner”.
“Fine. Let go” I grumbled.
“So. My job at the company?” she asks.
“What's up with it?”.
“You have not said anything about it”.
“You have not asked about it”, I replied.
“Well maybe because I was hoping you would bring it up”.
“I’m not the one who wants the job, so why would I?” I added,” and besides you have not been to the company in weeks”.
“I’ve been busy”.
“Too busy for this position. I see”.
“No. Not like that, shut up and get into the car”.
I let out a laugh because I got on her nerves. How can she want the position without checking in to see how it is done?.
“So who is the new girl?”, I asked.
“Someone you know”.
“That doesn't narrow it down, Anita”.
“Find out for yourself”.
“The last time you said that it didn't turn out so great”.
“Forget about Emily, she was just for warm-up. The third try is our lucky try”.
“When am I meeting her?”.
“You already met her”.
“Ok… just make this worth my time”.
“I'm doing you a favor, remember?” she said while snapping her fingers in my face.
“And I'm also doing you a favor, remember?”.
“Yeah, whatever”. She says sinking into the car seat. “So, Joviana..”
“What about her?” he asked cautiously.
“What do you think about her?”.
“She is competent”. I said plainly.
“You’ve got to be kidding me!”, she exclaimed, raising both her hands in the air.
“What was I meant to say?”.
“Maybe, oh she's beautiful and smart, maybe I will get the chance to marry her one day”.
“You are so weird”.
“Says the person who described a living goddess as ‘competent’”.
- Writer
