His Sudden Request

JORIE

He was standing at the balcony on the fifth floor, staring below and breathing hard by the time I got to him.

"What's with the sudden behavior towards me?" He swiveled to face me as I inhaled sharply.

I screwed up but then, the anger of knowing my future still gutted me.

"I wasn't myself, a lot has been going on and besides, remember you told me you needed money to invest in an ongoing project, I'm working on providing it." I asserted emotionless.

He let out a soft smile. "It's okay, I was scared you were beginning to hate me. You know I'm working hard for us." he expressed, spreading his arms for an embrace.

I just stared at it, my eyes were burning with pain, grief and hate. I wish I could just push him off the balcony but I found myself falling into his arms again just not to make him suspicious.

He stroked my back gently. "It's okay love, I'm here for you always."

Lies and I didn't want to hear his heartbeat or feel every ounce of his body.

I quickly refrained from the hug and stared at him in the eyes. "Shouldn't Tunisha be here?"

"Oh yes, but she left. I think she wanted to see you for something urgent and you should check on her."

I threw my eyes sideways but then lowered it to his shoes. He wears expensive things because of my money and I called it love which agonized me.

"So i was thinking babe...you promised to write me my proposal this afternoon, then in the evening, we go for a date..."

My phone buzzed in my pocket, interrupting us and I scrabbled for it. It was a message from an unknown number.

Zac was peeping to see and when I opened it, it read: "My Office now!"

It was my boss! I just didn't know what prompted me to lift my head up two floors above us. I found him.

He was standing at the balcony like a statue, hands in his pockets and his eyes, gods, it pierced my soul before he suddenly disappeared.

"Babe, you're going on with it right? I really need this project and since you're suddenly his secretary...you can put in good words..."

I'd already disappeared before listening to his gibberish proposal. Everything was happening fast.

My legs were racing because one queer rumor once said if you made him wait, you'd walk into his office as an employee and walk out as an ex-employee.

I'd gotten to his office, breathing hard and glanced at my rogued wristwatch to be sure if I made it even though he didn't set a time.

"Miss Rio?"

What? That wasn't my name. "It's Jorie sir."

"I forgot to mention, there are rules applied to being my secretary Rio." he furthered, not concerned about the twerk in my name.

I pulled a frown trying to steady my breath. Why didn't he say that while I was inside?

I faked a smile, crossed my arms behind me. "W-what...rules sir?"

"No relationship talks in my premises."

"S-sir?" I squeezed my hands. Even as he speaks, his eyes were fierce on me.

I literally felt my skin peeling. He leaned to the edge of his table and said;

"It's a distraction."

Should I be relieved? At least, I don't get Zac hovering over me like a leech.

"And starting today..." My paused and crossed his arms, his sleeves pulled tightly and I lost my breath.

"You're spending the next three days with me, in my suite."

“What? I mean, that wasn't part of the arrangement. I wasn't given a paper that—”

I closed my eyes briefly. “I can't spend the next three days with you.”

“Why? Are you scared of losing your boyfriend?” he cut in, his tone calm rather than rude.

I shifted my gaze to him again and that cold look seemed even more daring.

“No. It's not that.”

How was I supposed to explain that I had just gotten a job and suddenly my boss wanted me living in his suite for three days? I didn't even know this man.

After everything that had happened in my previous life, trusting another man was the last thing I wanted to do.

I needed those three days for myself. To figure out where I stood, what I still owned, and most importantly, how I was going to destroy the two people who had once destroyed me.

I couldn't afford another distraction.

"It’s work-related.” he continued, lowering his eyes at me from head to toe.

I pressed my lips together. I knew it was, what excuse could I give him now without sounding ridiculous?

“I understand, sir. But three days is a lot of time.”

His brows lifted slightly. “Do you have somewhere else you need to be?”

I delayed because I did. I had a life to rearrange, a boyfriend to keep close enough to suspect nothing, and two people I needed to watch carefully.

“I need to prepare for the conference first." I replied believing he'd do it.

“You'll do that with me.”

That shut me up as no excuse was coming inside my head again.

My phone rang, peeping at it, it was Tunisha.

"And no phone calls while we talk." he interrupted me like one who was monitoring my life.

"Yes sir." I concluded grimacing as I switched off my phone.

He carried his bag and some files, I expected him to ask me to take them from him but he didn't.

Hurriedly, I stepped in front of him to take it "I didn't ask you...I have hands."

I moved sideways feeling embarrassed as he began to walk away. Immediately he stood up, everyone rose from their desk, some amazed, some shocked and the majority had their eyes fixed on his handsome features.

Everyone greeted in chorus but he only looked at them in passing and didn't acknowledge them.

It was hard to follow up his pace and I was far behind before an arm grabbed me.

It was Mrs Lucy who suddenly grabbed my arm, hauling me aside with a bright smile. "You need to follow him with these."

Her information had me trailing my eyes after her finger which she pointed to two large boxes of documents sitting on my desk.

I almost died again as everyone pretended not to see but returned to their Job.

Now I get why the boss didn't want me to assist him. Zac was gesturing to me to take heart and would survive.

"Give to Zac." he ordered and I turned to realize he hadn't left but was waiting for me!

Zac cranked his neck, puzzled. "But she's the secretary sir, it's her duty."

“She has other duties.” the boss replied, glaring at him. My palms were sweaty as I didn't even want to carry them or my bones would break.

Zac frowned. “But, sir…”

“I didn't ask you to question my decision.” He flinched as the boss turned to me. "Consider it your first task for her.”

Zac's jaw clenched and he bent down to grab both boxes. A smile almost escaped me as that was new.

In my previous life, Zac had always made me carry everything while he complained about how tired he was but now, he was carrying my work.

I didn't need to look at my colleagues to know they were as dumbfounded as I was.

The boss turned and walked toward the entrance and I hastened my steps after him.

Behind me, I heard Zac's heavy footsteps, his grumbling. "Babe, they hurt, at least take one."

I turned around just to walk backward and gaze at him panicking.

"Oh babe...I wish i could but you know the boss...we can't lose our jobs if we disobey." I reprimanded in a pitiful tone and he sighed struggling with them.

When we reached the parking lot, I halted.

There was a black Lamborghini waiting by the curb and eyes widened.

The boss opened the passenger door. “Get in.”

I glanced behind me. Zac had just reached the entrance with the boxes.

The moment he saw me standing beside the Lamborghini, his expression turned sour.

His eyes scanned the open passenger door, then returned to me and he was furious yet couldn't utter a word. He just placed the boxes in the passenger seats behind.

I sat on the plush seat, and as the door closed, I caught one last glimpse of Zac standing there, gripping his tie so tightly his knuckles had turned white.

For the first time, I wasn't the one watching him leave. I turned toward the open roof, letting the wind brush against my face.

Unfortunately, I didn't know what this new life had in store for me or what to make of the mysterious man sitting behind the wheel, or why fate had placed me in his path so soon after my return.

One thing was certain, I would never be used again by anyone.

The Lamborghini pulled away from the company, and I leaned back with a strange feeling settling in my chest.

My phone vibrated and I had thought it was Tunisha, troubling me to assist her with something.

I glanced at my boss who seemed to focus on the road or I assumed so. I intended to switch it off but a message popped on my screen from an unknown number.

Unknown: You really thought death would make you forget?

I turned pale shooting up on my seat, that even he noticed. "Are you alright?"

I swallowed and nodded but breath wearily. "I don't think so," he muttered, taking a bottle of water from his dashboard and waving it at me.

My eyes were just transfixed on it as I was delaying taking it, why the sudden care?

"It will ease the tension." he whispered, placing it between my thighs and before I'd dart my gaze to the water, another message followed.

Unknown: I watched what they did to you

I stopped breathing as the third message followed. Unknown: And this time, Jorie, don't trust the man driving you.