The Lotus And The Billionaire

Chapter 12: Work

That honeymoon was a trip that’ll forever be etched in my mind.

For once in this entire lifetime, I learned how to actually appreciate a vacation. Before, I used to plan and arrange the itinerary thoroughly to make sure that everyone who came would enjoy it. But now that I didn’t have to lift a finger for the trip, I actually enjoyed it.

Back then, I didn’t have to worry about the time and work I needed to do. All I did was do what I wanted. Honestly, I was quite surprised that I enjoyed his company during the last day.

Alvarez was surprisingly as in love with the ocean as I am, so I was able to freely appreciate it. That day, I somehow forgot that I hated his guts and the fact that he left me unable to walk. He literally had to carry me into the water!

Long story short, I had a great time with him…which surprised me enough to leave me embarrassed.

Ah, but every happy moment comes to an end. We had to pack up during the afternoon because Vin was picking us up! I was ecstatic to see a different face, so I quickly finished tidying my things.

“Can you walk now?” Alvarez asked as he leaned on the wall outside his bedroom, teasing.

I glared at him as I properly wore my heels. “You don’t need to worry about me tripping!”

“Oh, I was just concerned since you’re wearing those tall-ass heels. I wonder if your legs can take it until later,” he replied as he offered his hand to me, still wearing that grin of his. “Need a hand, mi amor?”

And now we’re back to being each other’s biggest hater!

I smiled as I walked past him, completely ignoring his hand and the endearment he called me with. I heard him laugh at what I did, but immediately followed me to the elevator. He informed me about our supposed setup every day before leaving, so I’m already prepared for our silly little stage play when we go outside.

Ah, I feel like an actual actress with this setup. My father told me that I’m doing a great job playing out my role. Apparently, the company is going on a steady recovery since the partnership, but it’ll take time to reclaim everything we had lost. Either way, I’m glad things are starting to work out pretty well.

“Hey, be sure not to call me by my surname out there. Are we clear, Mrs. Alvarez?” he asked as his hands landed on my waist.

“I know, I know…” I muttered as I tried to push him away.

“I’m not allowed to kiss you?” he asked, sulking. I shook my head and lightly pushed his face away. “And I didn’t even get morning kisses.”

Damn, it’s too early for his bullshit.

I rolled my eyes and pushed his face away. “Just say you’re horny so early in the morning.”

“I’m horny so early in the morning. Now, can I get my kiss?” he asked again, but much more sarcastic this time.

I wanted to pull him by his tie, which I had to fix a few times earlier, because he was always moving around! But after I went through hell just to make sure that it wouldn’t get ruined, I couldn’t…

A sigh escaped from my lips as I tiptoed to reach his lips, and he gladly bent down so I could kiss him better. The smirk he wore didn’t go unnoticed as he grabbed my cheeks to deepen the kiss.

Damn, I’m tall yet I still have to look up at him!

When we heard the ting of the elevator, we quickly came out and proceeded to the basement. I could see everyone giving us ‘the’ look as we walked past them, so I looked at Alvarez…and then I realized that there was a smudge of lipstick on the side of his lips!

“Hey…” I quietly called him as I linked my arm over his.

He looked at my arm, smirking. “Oh, you’re surprisingly clingy. Want more?”

I swear I tried so hard not to smack him!

“No,” I whispered as I looked at his face again. “You have lipstick on your lips.”

He raised a brow, not even minding the looks we were receiving. “So? Let them see. They’re probably jealous they don’t have someone to put lipstick smudges on their faces like me.”

That made me laugh, and I’m not even going to deny it. I shook my head as I continued to walk, often feeling my legs tremble. But I’m a strong woman, so I pretended I wasn’t having trouble by clinging onto Alvarez.

He probably knew so he tried to mess with me by jokingly removing my arm from his! We almost tripped over because he was being annoying, and I was worried people might see us bickering like that! But Alvarez was just laughing, so I don’t think it’ll create any issues.

“Oh, a hickey is showing…” he muttered as he tried to fix the turtleneck top I was wearing. “My bad, I didn’t think they’d take long to heal.”

“You i***t. Stop lying to my face or I’ll dropkick you.”

“That’s if you can even lift your legs– Whoa!”

He had to get out of the car, still laughing, because I threatened to throw my shoe at him. We probably look dumb right now, but with him being like this…I don’t think I’ll be able to bear with it! A man in his late twenties is acting like a child in front of me, a very short-tempered person!

I sighed as I wore my shoes again as I waited for Alvarez to get inside and drive to his building. Seriously, I didn’t think he’d be like this outside work…

“Damn, you need to smile,” he muttered as he started the engine. “You look so tense right now.”

“Because you’re not funny!” I retorted back as I turned his stereo on. “By the way, you really should remove that smudge.”

“No way. The hickey shows a little often when you move, so it’s only fair that I let this stay.”

I palmed my face as I tried to calm down. Alvarez knows I have the shittiest temper, and he really has no plans on letting me live peacefully. Fine, I’ll satisfy him.

Before he could start driving, I wiped the smudge off his lips and made one on his collar. The one on his lips would wear out soon, so I’m pretty sure he’d bug me about it anyway. But if I put one on his collar, then things would be a little different.

When I was done, I sat properly and flashed a grin. Alvarez went silent and watched me re-apply my lipstick in silence, like he was still trying to process it.

“What? You better start driving or we’ll be late,” I told him as I smiled sweetly.

Alvarez had finally snapped out of it and began driving towards the building in silence, often checking his neck in the rearview mirror. I wanted to laugh at his reaction! But I looked outside the window and hummed along to the music instead.

We’re lucky that the traffic wasn’t particularly heavy today, so we arrived on time! Safe! I didn’t want to be late on my first day even if my husband was my boss. I’m a professional, after all!

“Good morning, Sir Alvarez, Mrs. Alvarez,” his male secretary, Elio Smith, greeted us as he carried a clipboard that was full of papers.

Mrs. Alvarez…

That was how everyone else greeted us while making our way to the floor where our offices are located. Although the asshole didn’t greet them back, I tried to at least smile but I couldn’t say anything in return.

Anyway, I simply listened as his secretary stated his schedule for today. Oh, it seems to be packed and it’s likely that it’ll take a lot of time for him to finish. Maybe he delayed his previous schedules for the wedding and honeymoon, and now it has come to this point.

His fault, not mine.

I pursed my lips as I tried to look for my office. “Where is it?” I muttered.

“If you’ll allow me, madam, I’ll show you the way–”

“No, let me,” Alvarez cut him off and grabbed my waist. “The installation of your air conditioner has just finished, so you’ll be fine there. As for the furniture and equipment, I had them arranged there last week.”

I nodded, pleased by the treatment I’m receiving here. As it seems, Alvarez made sure that my workplace would be comfortable enough to make sure I’d work properly. Well…

There are plenty of papers piled up beside my computer, and it seems I’ll have to either encode or process several of these today. I’ll have to work with several teams to finish this, so it’s likely that I’ll be running around a lot.

Oh, no. My legs would immediately give up if I did that! Heck, just standing straight is difficult for me, and I’m expected to run around the building! Isn’t that too harsh for someone who had to deal with an Alvarez’s libido?!

“Just call the team leaders. There’s a telephone there,” Alvarez told me when he noticed me spacing out.

Oh.

I felt my face heat up in embarrassment as I went to sit on my office chair. He probably knew I was already complaining inside my head, given my personality. Well, I had no idea it would be like this right off the bat!

“Hey, Smith,” he called his secretary, who immediately responded. “You can go ahead to my office. I’ll explain several things to my wife first.”

Wife, huh. Now, that sounds weird…

“So, Diaz…” he muttered as he slammed his left hand on my table, grinning. “Sure you can finish everything today?”

This guy already has an evil plan circulating inside his head, that’s for sure. Just the way he smiled gave me the creeps! I bet it’s something dirty or simply worse than finishing all this paperwork. If only I could just ignore him…

“I can. Now, go,” I replied as I turned the computer on.

“You can tell me if you can’t do it. I have an alternative job for you.”

See? This conversation was bound to take a turn for something I really didn’t want to talk about. But given this guy’s personality, of course, he wouldn’t leave without satisfying himself somehow. Ha, how annoying!

I rolled my eyes as I crossed my arms over my chest. “I don’t want to do an alternative job–”

“Sure, but warming me would be a better option than working on these the entire day,” he replied as he tapped my cheek, his voice sultry.

This guy is crazy!

I could feel my face heating up when I thought about his offer, and I ended up shutting my legs so tight that Alvarez noticed! He stared at me for a good thirty seconds before letting out a hearty laugh, almost falling to his knees. Oh, I wish I could kick him!

“Diaz, I was just kidding…” he managed to say as he almost died laughing on my couch. “But I wouldn’t mind if you wanted to–”

“Do you not have work to do, you bastard?!” I exclaimed as I threw a pencil at him, which he caught while still laughing. “Just go to your office and work!”

Alvarez let out one last laugh before standing up to leave. He was so amused that he even had to wipe off a tear of joy that fell! This guy just knows how to push every button!

“Alright, I’ll leave…” he muttered before turning his back on me. “Just so you know, my offer still stands and if you ever feel lonely…just head straight for my office.”

I palmed my face as I felt my legs automatically closing. Of course, it sounds like a tempting offer…but I’m not about to give up my ability to walk for…

Well, there’s a possibility that I can, depending on his performance, but I have to focus on my work right now! I have a lot on my plate, and I’m not letting that demon of a husband distract me too much!

“Ah, how bothersome…”