She disappeared without a trace. Just when he had lost all hope of ever seeing her again, she just appeared at his doorstep.
He hadn't expected her to be the one he was interviewing that day. She still looked innocent and beautiful as he remembered.
The way she felt uncomfortable in his presence that day annoyed him, and left him wondering if he was the only one who couldn't forget her.
That day, he decided to never let her go again.
He remembered how his best friend Alex who was also his secretary, looked at him as if he had grown two heads when he asked him to personally send her an email requesting her to resume as his assistant immediately which he didn't need, because he had never cared about who was being employed in his company as long as they did their job well.
He didn't care. All he knew was that he wanted her to be close to him.
She was scheduled to resume today, according to the contract he drafted. "I should call Alex and ask if she is here already," he thought.
The phone rang repeatedly, but no one was answering.
He wondered where his so-called secretary wandered off to when he was supposed to be in his office. He tried calling again, still no answer.
He stood up to go check on him.
He was about to enter Alex's office when he heard voices coming from the hallway. He moved to check it out.
He fumed at the scene that welcomed him. Alex was standing there, flirting with Ivy, with their hands locked in a handshake.
What was more annoying was the way she smiled and acted timid with him.
Filled with annoyance and jealousy, he yelled, "Alex, what do you think you're doing?" His voice vibrated through the hallway.
Both of them turned to look at him. He watched as Ivy froze in place.
Alex had his signature mischievous grin plastered on his face, "Oh, Liam, we didn't notice you were here. How long have you been standing there?"
"Bastard," Liam muttered with his teeth clenched
The grin on Alex's face widened as he saw the look on Liam's face. "I was just about to show Ivy here to her office," he said, still intentionally holding Ivy's hand. He wanted to find out how jealous his friend could get.
Liam knew what game Alex was playing at, and it only irritated him the more. "Let go of her hand, Alex!" he commanded in a low, menacing tone.
Alex sensed the drop in the hallway temperature and smirked. Mission accomplished.
"Woah, woah woah, Liam, calm down. I was just messing with you, okay?"
"I don't fucking pay you to hold hands with people in my fucking hallway during working hours Alex" Liam let out angrilly.
Ivy, not knowing what to do or say, so as not to worsen anything, just stood there trying to make herself as small as possible
"Okay, okay, I get it. I'm going back to work already, geez man!" Alex said, raising his hands in the air.
"I'll see you around, Ivy, if you need anything, my office is right next to yours," Alex said, smiling at her. Ivy smiled back and replied, "Thank you."
He hurriedly walked past Liam, who had a murderous look in his eyes, to his office. Liam tried to calm himself down as he looked at her. He was just noticing her outfit, her skirt clung to her like a second skin, giving a better view of her shape, not too curvy, but perfect.
Her hair cascaded over her shoulders, her face clear of makeup, just mascara and some lip gloss.
"God, she was so beautiful." Liam thought loudly in his head.
Ivy fidgeted under his scrutinizing gaze, not knowing what to do.
Liam realized he had been standing there ogling at her for a while. His face softened as he saw her fidgeting.
"I'm sorry about him," he apologized
"It's fine, I don't mind," Ivy replied with a forced smile
In some kind of way, Ivy's reply annoyed him because for some reason he wanted her to be upset.
What does she mean by "I don't mind"? Was that how she allowed strangers to flirt with her all the time? He couldn't help but think.
"Come with me," he ordered, already walking away with annoyance still evident in his face.
Ivy wiped her sweaty palm and walked behind him wearily, like an animal on its way to the slaughterhouse.
They arrived in front of an office almost at the extreme of the hallway.
"This is your office, and you'll be working as my assistant. A file containing everything you need to know will be sent to you later. If you have any questions, my office is just at the end of the hallway," Liam said and walked away, not giving Ivy a chance to say anything.
Immediately, he got to his office, he dialed a number.
"My office, now!" he commanded in a clipped tone.
Alex strolled into his office five minutes later with an annoying grin on his face
"You called for me? He asked?
"I don't know what messed-up game you are playing this time, Alex, but keep it far away from her, or else-
"No," Alex interrupted, his grin widening
"Do you have a death wish?" Liam asked irritated
"Come on now, Liam, you know I would do anything to irritate you. What's the purpose of my existence if I can't even make you lose your temper now and then?" Alex let out, throwing his hands in the air dramatically.
Liam sighed, rubbing his temple with his thumb.
"Who is she?" Alex asked
"None of your business," Liam answered
"Oh come on, man!, I'm your best and one and only friend, why won't you tell me who she is?"
"She is no one, okay? Leave it," Alex
"No one, huh, even after you almost murdered me with your eyes because I was just holding hands with her? It's okay, you don't have to tell me who she is, I'll just have to find out myself." Alex let out heading for the door.
"Alex, don't you-" Liam started, but was interrupted
"See you later, Mr ceo/my best friend, I'll be in my office doing some secretary work." Alex waved as he shut the door behind him. Leaving Liam to seethe all by himself.
Time seemed to move at a slow pace for Liam as he sighed for the umpteenth time. He couldn't concentrate on anything, not when she was just an office away from him. He has thought of a thousand reasons to make her come into his office, but none of them seem to make sense.
His thought was interrupted by a knock at his door.
Prepared to yell at the person to go away, thinking it was Alex again, but hesitated when he heard a soft voice.
"Who?".....