Love at the Nth Time

Mutual Misunderstanding

Chapter 21

"Hello, dear!" A cheek-to-cheek kiss made by the dad of Seth, Mr Tim, greeted me with delight. It's a little awkward as he's the only man who made the gesture to me, and he's half-American above all. Seth put down the present we bought for him on his desk. "So, you're gonna be Seth's assistant for a while?" Mr Tim added. My eyebrows creased and I looked back at Seth. She scratched her forehead a little.

"No, dad, she came here to train the employees. They have it scheduled later."

"Oh, okay. Suit yourself. Let's talk before you leave," said Mr Tim firmly to Seth. Seth nodded at me and moved her head sideways, signifying me to leave ahead. The doorknob clicked as I closed it and stepped forward.

Seth's different inside their company, aloof, arrogant, and mysterious towards people she barely knew. My hand reached the strands of my hair as it blocked my view whilst busy chatting with my business partners on the phone. Compared to my lifestyle and Seth, I realized the kind of business I was in, differentiated the hierarchy of their origins. Even if it's a business, and socializing with people to gain clients was the same as the company of Mr Tim, their journey was too far, and its purpose illustrated the large gap.

I sat down on the sofa as I entered the office of Seth. 4th floor from 31 and the highest floor I'd only get to step on was this one. His office was a mix of modern and ancient western styles of furniture where the colour was primarily black, dark brown, grey, and maroon. I inhaled the scent of Seth. Usually, it would linger around here as well. I did not bring my iPad to do some work since I had to wait for my sister to arrive for the meeting with the new business partners. I saw Seth's open laptop on her desk. Should I use it? I had used it a few times without her permission, and she did not give a damn about it. I gazed at the door that creaked, and Seth groaned in annoyance. That's troubling.

"What's your dad talking about?"

"Win asked for two weeks' leave. He had a family issue, so he went home to their province."

"Ah, so you're looking for an assistant?"

"Not really. I just couldn't manage my schedules and activities because I'm not the one who's doing it for me. It's even complicated to deal with a changing schedule from time to time while you have work and projects to do." She sat on the office chair, rested the side of her head on her hand with eyes on the ground.

"Ah, so are you looking?" She eyed me, and pouted, then picked up some sketches she worked on the table.

"I told you, not really."

"Eh, be honest, you just don't know who you'll hire." My back slid to the sofa till it lay on it. Lifting my phone as I checked for the task listed, I had a lot of work to do, aside from delegating the job to the business partners, meeting my sales, attending, and doing my training. My older sister assigned me to make a teaser for the upcoming event and the itinerary for the business partners to work for the whole week.

"Let me hire you then." I raised my chin to look at Seth. She's staring at me.

"Ha?"

"I said let me hire you even only after Win comes back here."

"Whew! No way. I'm busy-"

"Just for two weeks, lady!" I clicked my tongue and sat up.

"I can't. I already have a full schedule this month."

She didn't talk to me till my older sister and I left the company. She's crazy. She already knew my sister depended on me to help her as the team grew bigger. Although my sister was the one who got in contact with Mr Tim, she put him and his network on my team. Sometimes, I doubted Seth if she understood the concept of this kind of business I ventured into.

The next day, the second training for new business partners came, so I went straight to the conference room. Mr Tim was too kind to offer us the other area for merely our business matters.

The security guard who passed by smiled at me as I stepped into the entrance. Step advanced on the elevator and clicked the number four. Seth did not message me yesterday. It's obvious she's mad, but wow. How could she be so childish? The elevator dinged. I blinked as my eyes gazed at Seth entering her office room with a short girl the same as my height. She was white, and her eyes were so small, the same as a Chinese person. I stood still in front of the elevator and hesitated to greet her. I took a deep breath inaudibly. Better not to.

"Hello, ma'am Celine!" I turned my head around to see Kenneth, a staff member from the finance department who was also our new business partner. I saw the same girl coming out of Seth's office.

"Ah hi, Kenneth uh, who's that girl?"

"That's Chinnie, secretary of Sir Seth, while Sir Win isn't around." Seth found someone quickly. She didn't tell me about it, yet I knew my place with her as merely a friend. Look who's bothered by her tantrums as to why I rejected her offer.

Idling on the terrace while waiting for the two business partners I'd meet today, my hand worked on the iPad, working on the itinerary I missed completing last night.

"Celine," a familiar voice alerted my senses. I turned around to see Seth as they stepped outside the area with Chinnie. I stood up as they stopped in front of me. Seth added, "This is Celine, a friend. She's here for business matters with some of the employees." The pale hand of Chinnie reached out to me for a handshake.

"Hi, nice meeting you. I like your hair," Chinnie stated with a smile. I was right. Her English accent was slightly off, so she's Chinese or somewhat close.

"Thank you. Is this your first day?"

"Um, yeah, this is quite exciting." I smiled at her response. She's so pretty, and she looked so young with her glowing skin.

"Let's go. You need to meet Dad's secretary." Chinnie nodded at Seth, and she touched the girl's back as she opened the door for Chinnie. Their babble continued.

I already guessed she was the type of Seth. Perhaps she asked one of her women to be her temporary assistant. My hand pulled the wooden chair to sit and focus on my job. Soon, the two business partners came, and we filled our time with training and planning.

Usually, it'd take us one to two hours as they had to leave work early because they had kids waiting for them at home. I appreciated their effort as they extended their time instead of resting. They added additional opportunities to help their loved ones.

Message

Celine: You got a new assistant quickly. What's the drama of you trying to hire me?

Seth: That's nothing. It's not just the end of the world for me.

Celine: so emotional

Seth: Oh? What do you think about her? Is she a cutie?

Celine: Yup. Total 101%

Seth: Haha, I was planning to let her be my model too if she passed as my secretary, but I only recommend Win as secretary.

Celine: Yes, of course. I would choose Win among others.

Seth: But if Chinnie passes Win, I will think about it.

Crazy, I knew she was her type. I didn't ask for further regards to her women. She shut me up when I tried to probe her interest in partying and told me it's none of my business, and that's enough to draw a boundary, as I felt Seth withdrew whatever her interest in me before. I tried to come up with reasons for the difference between how Ryan treated me, yet because Seth never mentioned it to other women, it was a sign our feelings would not become mutual.

Anyhow, we got busy with our agendas, but it did not stop us from updating each other's status, as we never failed to give each one a call or text message.

CHAT APP

Seth sent a back picture of Chinnie wearing a white skirt almost half of her thigh and a checkered blue polo exposing her waist.

Seth: We have a date later

Celine: What the? Is that what the secretary should wear?

Seth: Why? Is there something wrong? I work in fashion. That's refreshing, ya know.

Celine: Ah, okay.

Well, it made sense, even a bit distracting. I frowned in dismay, as I could not have the confidence to show off my skin while working. What should I send to Seth? As if I'd sent him a photo of me. After seeing me with unruly hair and a loose plain shirt, she'd be in a bad mood. I halted to eat the doughnut in my hand. I chuckled and took a picture of it, then sent it to her.

Celine: solo.

Seth: Lol, you only take pictures of food.

I sent a photo of a notebook full of activities with black and red pen doodles.

Seth: What's that, your schedule?

Celine: Yup

Seth: Hahaha

Seth sent a photo. I smiled and stared at her selfie, smiling with full teeth, and her eyes smiled as well. She's so pretty!!

Celine: Haha! If your secretary caught you not doing your work!

Seth: Yeah, she'll punish me

What the. I sent her a blank message.

Seth: LOL, I need to go now. Bye.

After these months of being with her, I was used to our daily attachment, unseeing the most vital part. The feelings we buried between us showed no signs of regret.