The CEO And His Assistant

Chapter 3

PEARL

Everything went blurry, like I was underwater, drowning in panic. Then, a shock of cold spread through me as someone pressed hard on my chest. It hurt, but it was all I could feel amidst the chaos of the moment. Their hands kept pushing, steady and strong as if trying to bring me back from the edge.

With each push, it felt like my chest might cave in. I couldn't see who was doing it, couldn't even focus on anything but the sensation of pressure and the sound of urgent voices around me. It was like being trapped in a nightmare, unable to move or scream for help.

Then, just when I thought I couldn't take it anymore, the pressure eased. And then I felt a brush of warmth on my lips like somebody was giving me that breath of life. I could breathe again, gasping for air as if I'd been holding my breath for an eternity.

My eyes fluttered open and I saw Mr Clyborne’s lips close to mine, his face etched with an unsettling countenance. And then I began to cough and water sputtered out of my mouth, and there for the first time, he spoke my name.

“Pearl?”

**************

As my eyes fluttered open, I squinted at the rays of light that hit my face, before glancing at the unfamiliar surroundings. I had been there before, but not from this perspective. Then finally my eyes opened fully and I flinched immediately at the sight of Mr. Clyborne who was sitting close to me. I sat up abruptly with unease. But it seemed as if he was asleep on the chair. I checked myself and I was wearing a man’s pajamas.

My eyes widened at the thought of wearing his pajamas. And instantly I started to recall what had happened the night before, I was drowning, but he saved me, he had done CPR on me. I immediately didn’t know how to feel. How did I fall into the pool in the first place? I was drunk.

I sat up thinking about everything as nervousness washed over me, unsure of what next to do, I started to think about how disappointed Mr. Clyborne would have been. The night was perfect until I ruined it.

“You are awake.”

I flinched at the sound of his voice, ready to be berated. I nodded without uttering any words.

“How do you feel?” He said as he moved closer to me, he laid the back of his palm on my face to feel my temperature and I felt the warmth of his hands.

“I feel fine.” My mind was uneasy and I knew it wasn’t going to end with him being nice, why was he acting all caring? Was he waiting for me to be fine before chastising me?

“Do you remember what happened last night ?” He asked with a gentle tone.

“I drowned. I’m sorry if I caused a scene last night, I shouldn’t have gone towards the….”

“Ssshh…” He shut me up with his finger on my lips. “You almost died, who cares about causing a scene? Thank God that I saw you on time, I was watching you from the window and when I saw what had happened and you couldn’t swim? I had to rush down to save you. I called the doctors instantly and when you were revived they took over. But you had caught a cold last night, you were shivering, and the Doctor said you would be fine but I had to keep an eye on you, hence is why you are here, on my bed. And don’t worry my maids changed your clothes.” He concluded with a nod.

He was nice, why was he nice to me? I sat there looking at him, waiting to be scolded but it never happened. Instead, my breakfast was brought in on a tray and he arranged for my drugs. After eating he made sure I used my medication.

Later that day he brought some clothes to change in. They were new clothes and expensive as the price tags were still on them.

“I don’t know your size so I just bought all the sizes that I guessed would fit. So try them all on and see which one fits.” He said briefly and walked out.

After checking them out and wearing them, I walked around the mansion exploring every room and relishing the site of the grandeur. Never have I thought that I would sleep in a mansion or on a Millionaire’s bed. Maybe he wasn’t as bad as I thought. After all, I caused the whole thing.

******************

I resumed back to work a few days after the incident. Although Mr. Clyborne told me to take as much time as I wanted to rest, things had started to bore me. I was already used to my working hours and stopping work all of a sudden had become uninteresting to me. Besides, I was on probation, and staying off from work would automatically mean no job for me.

The moment I resumed work, the one time Mr. Clyborne Nice had suddenly disappeared, the man who saved my life and the man who told me to stay at home to get enough rest was no more. I thought he was nice! He would scold me for every little mistake I made, he would tell me how incompetent I was and how unsure he was that I would make a good assistant.

As weeks went by, the more hard time I had at work. I had been failing woefully at his examinations, I had become more nervous and even constantly uneasy at the sight of him.

As weeks passed, I started to accept my fate. The once confident me, was no longer confident, I would tremble in the presence of his clients, and my voice had become timorous.

“We are going to Paris in two days, get ready.” He said abruptly before slamming the door of his car that day. How was I supposed to get ready? Ready how? Was it my French lessons? Or my etiquette? How come he only told me two days before the trip?

***********************

We arrived in Paris that day through his private jet. Aside from my nervousness, there was also a fit of exhilaration in me. It was my first time entering a private jet and also traveling to Paris. It was the most beautiful place. I couldn’t contain my happiness.

“Are you ready to meet the clients?” Mr. Clyborne said as soon as he noticed the smile on my face as though he wanted to ruin the one moment that I was savoring.

“If you disgrace me here, I'll draw the line and the moment we get back to America just know that the deal is off.” He concluded, and just like that, my happiness turned into a great despair.

When we got to the hotel, Mr. Clyborne received a call that the Client was no longer in Paris and he had gone to a nearby town. But because Mr. Clyborne couldn’t wait for his return, he decided to meet him there.

“We are going to Barbizon tomorrow to meet with my client. Just the both of us.” He said to me before retiring back to his suite.

The next morning, we headed for the town, just the both of us as I drove, after a few hours we arrived.

“We are here sir,” I said

We met with the client in his family home, it was a great feast, they had a party like a tradition and everyone spoke French. I tried to catch up with a smile on my face but all attempts turned futile. It wasn’t like the books, this was real-life situations and scenarios. I smiled at everybody down to the children who galloped around. And I knew at that point that I had failed Mr. Clyborne. He spoke fluently and confidently with so much grace and poise. But I could tell that the deal was closed which gave me an ounce of hope.

As soon as we got back to the car, I didn’t utter a word, ready to drive back to Paris.

“I told you not to disappoint me but you did.” He said abruptly without facing me.

“I’m sorry. I tried my best, this is my first time conversing with real French people.” I said with timidity.

“If you had learned properly, just maybe we wouldn’t be having this conversation.” His voice was becoming cold.

“You gave me a week to learn, amongst other things, out of that week I was not myself for three days!” My voice was becoming raised as I was trying to defend myself.

“After getting drunk and drowning? Whose fault was that? Mine? Was I supposed to teach you how to drink responsibly too? This only shows how incompetent you are, girl.” His face etched a complete disappointment and I knew there was no coming back.

“I will stop working as soon as we get back to America sir. Shall we head back now?” I asked with a low voice and he nodded. I started the car and we began the journey back to Paris without any more words.

Getting halfway through the journey, the car went from purring to coughing, then just quit altogether. We both stared at the dead engine, Mr, Clyborne’s face etched with annoyance and worry. What now?

He got in the driver’s seat and tried the ignition a couple more times, but it was like talking to a brick wall. Nothing. So, I watched him do what anyone would do: pop the hood and stare at the mess inside. It might as well have been a foreign language.

The road stretched out empty in front of us, mocking our predicament. We had no clue how to fix a car, but sitting there wasn't going to help. So, I took a deep breath and decided to give it a shot anyway.

It was a mess. Wires, tubes, metal bits everywhere. But I rolled up my sleeves and dove in. Might as well try, right? Even if I had no idea what I was doing.

After a couple of minutes, my efforts proved futile. And as much as I was frustrated, Mr. Clyborne was even more frustrated. We tried calling for help but no reception. We were in the middle of nowhere, no cars passed by for hours. We sat there, clueless on what to do next.