Chapter 3 – I can explain.

My phone rang in my arm as I froze in front of Mr. Duncan’s shocked response, a text light up my phone, ID says four leaf clover, ‘I sent Mr. Duncan to get you since you will be working on a project together.’ ‘Sorry.’ ‘Goodluck.’ I receive both texts back-to-back, but it is too late.

“Um…...” I heard Mr. Duncan’s voice snapping me back to reality, so I slammed the door in his face screamed my lungs out with embarrassment, before rushing to my room to change.

I take my very time to change, one because I need to make sure I am ready and level minded when I see Mr. Duncan again, two because I am really embarrassed of the whole thing, he saw my underwear, how am I going to get out of this?

“Fiona, there is a hot guy here to take you to work, apparently four leaves sent him.” Selby chimes, I let her in on what had happened, and she burst out laughing.

“Oh God this is gold, can I get a ride to work too? The awkward atmosphere is going to be better than lying to a Karen about being a manager.”

“Hopefully, there is no way I am seating at the front seat of that man's car.” I say making sure all my undies are not exposed this time. Let us get my customer service smile ready.

“Ah… Mr. Duncan sorry to keep you waiting.” I say he carved his lips into a smirk.

“Don’t worry I didn’t wait long.” That ugly smug how I wish to punch that ugly mug.

“Would Mr. Duncan mind if we drop off a friend at her place of work?” I ask hoping he agrees, and he nods yes.

I immediately hop at the back of the car not even making eye contact, and Selby laughs as she gets into the passenger seat. The whole ride consists of Selby talking to Heath about his money, yeah, she talked about his money all ride and he entertained her. We drove half an hour later, leaving an awkward silence that I prefer.

“I never took you for a lace girl” Heath mummers turning me into a complete vampire by the paleness of my face.

“Um… sir?”

“Nothing can’t wait to work with you, Gian sang you praises,” he says making me angrier, I know what he said before and he knows I know, I can see him smirk through the dashboard mirror.

“I am grateful for Mr. Easton’s trust in me,” I say gridding my teeth with anger, “I look forward to the kind collaboration with Mr. Duncan.”

We start talking about the project as he drives to the office, hopefully we never talk about my lace undies ever again. Apart from the terrible attitude he is not a bad person, well only business related.

“Mr. Duncan, you have come.” The obnoxious ex greets us when we arrive at the office who was ogling at his boss, seems I am unto something with this one, he is in love with his boss, let us just observe for now.

“Oh... Miss Lennon you are here too.” Carl says making me roll my eyes.

“Let me show you to the office you will be working at, since Mr. Easton has a personal engagement; I will be leading the project until he returns.”

Carl scoffs at my statement but I ignore him, professionalism is the key to getting through this, Clover’s husband needs to take care of my friend and the least I could do is hold a fort as a good assistant.

During the meeting I explain why partnering with us to create an even bigger and efficient boat with the help of Easton tech’s advance technology would make not only trading huge container by ship better, but we can also attract rich people on getting them quality ships for their vacations.

Carl is angry the whole time and disputes my every point with some dumb reasoning, but I know enough about what I am doing, I have been doing this job for 9 years after finishing my administrative course for one year I got immediately into job hunting, with this job as my first and only job since then.

“Why are you leading the project you are just an assistant?” Carl asks rudely, “you only have an administrative certificate how do you know about trade.”

“Actually, I just finished my Honors in Financial management,” I say angrily, since I have been working at Easton Tech for these 9 years, they had helped me take long distance learning degree in financial management which was fully funded.

“Ah... quite impressive of you miss Lennon,” Mr. Duncan says, “you know if you need a job that goes with you qualification you can give me a call, I am willing to double your salary from here.”

“Thank you very much sir, but Easton tech is my home, I am not willing to leave.” I firmly respond.

People think I do not earn enough because I don’t have a car or a house, with the car thing, it is because I cannot drive, I barely passed my driver’s license and Clover refuse to let me buy a car until I can drive safely (personal reason due to losing her father through car accident.)

With the house part, I just feel too comfortable at the place I stay to even move out, moving out takes too long. I have enough savings to retire early and even buy a home.

“Well gentlemen that is all for today, please contact me or Mr. Easton if you need more clarity, our technicians start working on a prototype next week, hope to see you all there.” I say bowing goodbye to them.

“Miss Lennon a word,” Mr. Duncan says, “Carl may you please go tell the driver to get the car ready?” He definitely was telling him to leave us alone, which Carl clearly hated, he hesitantly walked out of the room, and Heath made sure Carl was long gone.

“Name your price?” he mutters proudly.

“Pardon?”

“How much are you willing to jump ship, even if you want to be just an assistant Carl can be adjusted to a different department.” I could not help but chuckle at this attempt, he is not the first to try and poach me.

“Sorry sir, you do not understand, it is not financially motivated, I stay at Easton tech because it is my home.” I proudly recited the words I had been reciting for the past four years.

“But if you ever change your mind…”

“I know where to find you, though I doubt I will change my mind.” I say before bowing goodbye and leaving this annoying man, I can feel his eyes on me, they burn holes in my very skin.

After the long day of holding the fort for my boss, I rushed to see his wife who was now discharged to check what had happened to my friend.

“Okay you look fine, what happened why did you go to the hospital then.” I asked to bewilder; I had thought she probably would have been hurt.

“Well, we are okay.”

“Who is we?”

She gently puts her hand over her belly and rubs it, I could keep it in, tears started flowing like my eyes were a flooded river. She is pregnant.