Chapter 4: Playing Hard to Get
787 Words
Hannah froze. "What? No, he's history to me. I'm going to be a thousand times better off without him."
Clyde was somewhat taken aback by her candor. He glanced at her figure, drenched by the rain, with scrutiny in his eyes. "She's quite ambitious," He thought.
He admitted that Hannah was beautiful, and the birthmark on her neck was intriguing. Even with her determination to win him over, she hadn't done anything inappropriate, which was commendable among those with ulterior motives.
However, he had no intentions of getting married anytime soon, so Hannah's wishes were bound to go unfulfilled.
He shifted away and put more distance between them. "What does 'better' mean to you?"
Clyde's question was difficult for Hannah to answer.
She wondered, "Is he trying to seduce me? Does he want to tell me he can provide a superior life and expect me to accept an indecent proposal willingly?"
Instead of replying directly, Hannah attempted to get out of the car. "Mr. Lawson, thanks for helping me out just now. Please, just drop me off at the next corner. I'll take a cab home."
Clyde suddenly let out a cold laugh, "Helping you? Didn't you send me a message asking me to pick you up?"
Hannah was baffled. When had she ever messaged Clyde?
She was just a designer. How could she possibly have the CEO's phone number?
"Is this his excuse?" she wondered.
Just then, the traffic light turned red, and the car stopped at the intersection without unlocking the doors.
Before Hannah could ask to be let out again, she heard Clyde let out a soft sigh.
"Just one night. It won't take too long."
Then, a thick envelope was thrust into her hand.
By gauging the weight, Hannah estimated it contained forty to fifty thousand dollars.
"Consider it payment for services."
Clyde's words pierced Hannah like a cold arrow, chilling her to the bone.
"Mr. Lawson." Hannah threw the envelope back onto Clyde's lap and said sternly, "Money can't buy everything. Stop the car. I'm getting off!"
Clyde frowned but didn't insist.
However, before Hannah got out, he said, "I admire your disregard for money, but the company doesn't need rebellious employees."
Hannah stiffened. "Sometimes, rebellion can lead to good results."
She would rather starve or be penniless than accept any indecent proposals!
After she got out, the car door had barely closed before Clyde instructed the driver to drive off. The splashing water from the car signaled his displeasure.
"It was just a site visit to a villa. It wouldn't take too long. Isn't the overtime pay enough?"
Clyde frowned, puzzled by Hannah's inexplicable statement.
He couldn't explain the uncontrollable sense of loss deep inside.
Why did he feel that way?
Clyde was horrified. Why would he harbor such ambiguous feelings for a woman he barely knew?
The driver said hesitantly, "Have you heard of the saying, 'playing hard to get'?"
She needed the money but refused it, and she said "sometimes rebellion brings good results".
Wasn't that playing hard to get?
Clyde sat stiffly in his seat, blinking slowly.
Was Hannah really determined to win him over?
...
Hannah returned home.
She had been drenched in the rain. After a hot shower, she felt dizzy, so she went to bed early.
The next morning, a call from Horizon Innovations' HR department delivered the latest directive.
Hannah already knew what was coming. Such a straightforward refusal of her boss's indecent proposal was bound to lead to her termination.
But she had no regrets. "I understand. I'll process my resignation soon."
HR was surprised, "Resignation? Why? Ms. Carter, you are being transferred from the Architectural Design Department to serve as Mr. Lawson's secretary, with double the benefits and salary! Why resign?"
Hannah sat up abruptly in bed.
"What? I'm being transferred to serve as Clyde's secretary? Who issued this directive?"
"Of course, it was Mr. Lawson."
Hannah was speechless.
She knew well that Clyde was either to continue pursuing her or as a form of retaliation for her refusal. Neither outcome would be in her favor.
Feeling bewildered, she got out of bed and discovered she had a high fever.
She had breakfast and took a taxi to the company.
The first thing she did was to refuse the transfer and submit her resignation.
But HR said her contract was with the President's Office and suggested she speak to Clyde.
Hannah went to see Clyde. She was fully aware Clyde would not let her go easily after she made her stance clear.
Hannah was prepared for the difficulties.
But she was surprised by Clyde's reaction.
"Playing hard to get doesn't work on me, Ms. Carter."
He agreed to Hannah's request for resignation.
- Writer
