The CEO And His Assistant

Chapter 5

PEARL

We got back to New York the next day and I could not stop thinking about our escapade. It went from arid to super exciting. The time on the road when we were stranded to our time at the old man’s cottage to Paris, at the Eiffel Tower.

Each time that I thought about this, it made me giggle. And I couldn’t stop thinking of how Mr. Clyborne almost kissed me, it was definitely unprofessional and is probably why he stopped himself but the fact remained that he almost did!

What if he liked me? I thought as I got ready for work that morning. I was already liking Mr. Clyborne. He was sweet when he wanted to be.

I jauntily strutted into his mansion that faithful morning up and ready to work.

“Good morning Mr. Clyborne!” I said with a beam

“Who the hell are you?”

I flinched at the sound of the voice, it was a woman’s voice she was lying on Mr. Clyborne’s bed in red lingerie.

“That is Pearl, my assistant.” Mr Clyborne said from his closet.

“A woman as your assistant? What happened to Joe? Oh wait, yeah he died.” She said with a pessimistic tone.

“Yes Cora, told you this a hundred times already.”

I stood there in stupefaction, wondering what was going on.

“Why a woman now though. Why didn’t you get yourself another male assistant?” She said as she eyeballed me in disgust.

“Well because I don’t want to attach myself to anyone again. Remember what happened when Joe died?” Mr. Clyborne said as he came out of the closet, trying to fix his tie. I quickly ran towards him to help him fix it and before I knew it the lady pushed me out of the way. She started wearing the tie for him and I stood there in shock. Mr. Clyborne smirked.

“Bye love you.” The woman said as soon as she was done fixing his tie and kissed him on the lips.

“Love you too.” Mr. Clyborne said.

My eyes fluttered in disbelief and I gulped the spit in my mouth.

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

The moment we got inside his car, and started our journey to the company, there was an awkward silence for a while before Mr. Clyborne broke it.

“You must be wondering who Cora is, she is my fiance,” He said and grunted.

“I see.” I swallowed my spit. “Congratulations on your engagement,” I added.

“Oh no, it’s been a while. She is studying abroad it's not like we are getting married soon. But she visits on occasion you know. And she is quite popular too. You don’t know Cora? She is a model.” He said.

I sat there wondering why he was bragging about his fiance, but I was more bothered about why it was shocking to me even after being told by those girls at the cocktail party. What was I thinking believing he was into me? I was just a nobody and she was a popular model.

“Oh, I don’t familiarise myself with things like this so I don’t know her. I’m sure she is quite popular.” I said with a faint smile.

“Oh yeah, she is.” He chuckled.

I sat there feeling like a fool. He was totally in love with her.

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

A few hours after we had gotten to the office I had prepared Mr. Clyborne’s tea. His fiance Cora suddenly showed up at his office. I was busy telling Mr. Clyborne about his schedule for the day when Cora sashayed in and went directly to sit on Mr. Clyborne’s lap.

“Cora, what are you doing here?” Mr. Clyborne asked with his eyebrow raised, he wasn’t expecting her.

“Well, I missed you!” Cora said and proceeded to kiss him on the lips.

“Cora you know I don’t joke with work. I thought we agreed on you going shopping and we go on a dinner date later.”

“I said I missed you. And I couldn’t stay back at home knowing another woman was hovering around you at work. I have a good idea!” She faced me and yanked the notepad from my hand. “ I will be your assistant for today, tell her to go home,” Cora said and I stood there in disbelief of what was happening.

“Cora you are being dramatic right now!” Mr Clyborne said.

“Tell her to go home Lucien.” She said with her index finger pointed at me.

“I can’t do that. You are being over dramatic Cora and it’s going to cost me a lot.” He frowned.

“But I want to be here, with you Lucien.” She furrowed her brows.

“I know, which is why I need you to go home and probably go shopping, when I get back from work, we will go for the dinner date.” He caressed her face and grinned at her.

“Fine then! Since she wants to be everywhere around you then she should come along to the date.” Cora said and walked towards me, she gazed at me as though she was trying to intimidate me. She crossed her arm.

“I don’t…. understand,” I said with a stutter.

“I said should you should come along later.” She repeated herself with a smirk.

“I’m afraid I can’t do that. I’m sorry.” I said with a befuddled look.

“Yeah, it’s a date, Cora, for the both of us.” Mr. Clyborne said.

“But I want her to be there. It’s not like you have any plans or something. This job is your life. And I’m sure it must be tedious. So, come with us, you need to relax, take a break. Or don’t you think?” She said still piercing her gaze at me. I couldn’t tell whether she was being nice or mean.

Mr. Clyborne exhaled and spoke. “ Look, if you would like to come with us, it's fine. I think you should, you deserve to relax.” He shrugged.

Was this a plan to humiliate me? I didn’t understand what exactly was going on but I intended to find out so I nodded.

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

In a cozy restaurant tucked away from the city's hustle and bustle, Mr. Clyborne and his fiance sat at a candlelit table, I perched on a seat reserved for me beside Cora. Their faces were illuminated by the soft flicker of the flames. Cora’s eyes sparkled as she talked animatedly, her gestures punctuating her words with enthusiasm. Across from her, Mr. Clyborne listening intently, a fond smile playing on his lips.

The atmosphere was intimate, the low hum of conversation blending with the gentle clinking of cutlery. Plates of delicious food adorned the table, and the couple savored each bite, occasionally sharing a taste from each other's plates. I sat there observing them display their affection for each other without paying any attention to me. It was as though I didn’t exist.

As the evening progressed, their laughter filled the air, mingling with the notes of their conversation. Their connection was palpable, the chemistry between them undeniable as they leaned in closer, engrossed in each other's company.

“I need to go.” I chipped in, cutting in their conversation. Cora faced me widening her eyes as though she was surprised that I was still there.

“Oh! Uhmm, why so soon? Aren’t you enjoying yourself or something?” She asked with raised brows and right there I realized she aimed to make me see their bond and that Mr. Clyborne was in love with her. It wasn’t for me to enjoy myself or relax, it was to set boundaries.

“Oh, okay hmm.. is there a problem?” Mr. Clyborne asked.

“No! Not at all, I just.. uhm... I have something to do at home.” I said sheepishly.

“Okay then, see you tomorrow.” Mr. Clyborne said.

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

After the date, Mr. Clyborne didn’t show up at work for three consecutive days. I would report at his home and the morning and he would be in bed with Cora. I had been handling a lot of things at the company and reporting to his home in the mornings and the evenings. He had been rescheduling meetings and I had been representing him at work. I loved it, and I savored the feeling of stepping in place of the CEO till I would go to his mansion and see him all lovey-dovey with his fiance, the sight of them together made me depressed.

Finally, after a week, Cora left. She went back abroad and there was enough space to breathe. I was happy that the toxicity in the air had reduced. Cora leaving the country had done more good to the people of the United States, with less toxicity in the air and everyone could breathe easily.

Mr. Clyborne had resumed back to work and things were back to normal. I was back to being close to him without so much barrier, I had missed being close to him and on a faithful day I reported at his mansion but he was still on the bed. That was the most shocking thing I had seen in months, apart from when Cora showed up.

I was worried, it was unlike him to be in bed by 7 am.

“Mr. Clyborne?” I moved closer to him and his eyes were closed but he wasn’t sleeping. There was something wrong. I touched him and I flinched at the temperature that his body gave off. He was burning hot. Soon the Doctor came in after I had called the attention of the Buttler and he had placed a call to his Doctor.

After the doctor had done their job he slept like a baby but I could not leave him. He stood by me when I was down so I sat at the edge of the bed, placing a cold towel on his forehead to cool down his temperature as the Doctor instructed to quicken the fall of his body temperature.

As I was carefully doing what I was told, he was muttering some inaudible words, and their I knew he was probably dreaming or hallucinating.

“It’s fine, I’m here,” I whispered as I wiped his forehead with the wet towel and he abruptly held my hand and pulled me closer to him. I fell on the bed and he wrapped his arms around me tightly and then I could hear him mutter the word, “Stay.”