CHAPTER 3: THE PARENTS

Chapter 3

"Nice to meet you, Miss Sophia." His voice came out smooth and calm that you'd actually think we've never met before.

At least one of them was very composed at this revelation. Sophia on the other hand was on the verge of having a panic attack. 

"Sophia, are you okay?" Andre asked. She looked pale, like she was about to pass out and was she breathing? 

Chris stared at the woman who was having a full blown internal attack, she was doing a very bad job at pretending not to know him. Chris raised his hand and cupped her face. "Breathe." 

The minute he touched her, she inhaled sharply and her eyes became foggy, Sophia shook her head to try and gain control of her fuzzy mind. 

"Yeah, sorry. Nice to meet you, Mr. White." She stepped back from his touch, bowed, instead of taking his outstretched hand and excused herself to the bathroom. 

Sophia leaned against the door of the bathroom and tried to control her breathing. She moved towards the sink and splashed water on her face. 

Sophia didn't remember doing anything awfully wrong that she deserved this much karma. 

Will he fire me? 

Will he insult me in front of everyone? 

What if he thinks I intentionally slept with him? 

What would people think if they knew that I slept with my boss? 

Different thoughts were flying through her mind but she maintained composure. 

There was only one way to survive in a situation like this. 

Avoid him! 

If she could show him that she didn't care who he was and just focused on her job, then he wouldn't think she intentionally set him up.

"That's it. You can do it. Avoid him and you'll be fine." She said, giving herself a little pep talk but little did she know that things were about to get even harder. 

Chris watched as she scurried away and shifted his focus back to the next employee.

 By the time he was done, Chris was exhausted and he hadn't even begun the day's work yet. 

"This is your receptionist and your temporary secretary." Andre explained to him and Chris stared at him confused, "Temporary? Why?" 

"I recently got married and my husband and I are moving to the other side of the country. I'm just here to assist you for a while until you find a replacement." 

Chris sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, "Isn't there anyone fit for the role of Secretary in the whole company?" 

"We didn't think it'll be appropriate to pick anyone from the company. We were considering putting out a vacancy and interviewing-"

"I'm sure you heard what she said." Chris cut him off, "She's newlywed and should not be away from her husband. 

Interviewing someone would take ages. Put out the vacancy within the company and whoever I pick, you have to find a replacement for that person." 

Andre nodded, "Of course. I'll do that right away." 

Paige watched Andre scurry away and shook her head, "I tried to explain to him but he's too stubborn." 

"You shouldn't be here working. I promise to let you off as quickly as possible."

Chris would understand because his girlfriend Mia was a model with a tight schedule and he wished he could spend more time with her. 

"If you don't mind Boss, I have someone to recommend for my position." 

Mia looked away from his phone and looked at Paige, "Who?" 

"Sophia Davis." 

"The tech lady?" He asked.

Paige nodded, "Yes. Sophia is the most hardworking lady I've ever come across and her CV is so much better than the job she's being asked to perform.”

"But why didn't you recommend her to Andre?" Chris wanted to know why she was informing him instead of Andre. 

"I did, but he shut me down. He said the Tech Unit needed Sophia but I highly doubt that. There are tens of employees doing the exact job she is doing currently." Paige responded. 

Chris thought about it for a while but dismissed the idea. He couldn't work with Sophia....not after what happened between them. 

He just didn't have the courage to face her and the way she stared at him earlier, killed him. 

"I'll think about it. Let's try to focus on our schedule for today." 

And just like that, he got down to business. 

It was late at night when Chris finally made a move to go home. 

He already dismissed Paige early so he was the only one left in the company, except some other employees who were pulling an all-nighter. 

As he made his way to the garage his phone's ringing tone went off. 

Mia.

He immediately picked up, "Mia, my love." 

"Hello my dearest. I have a surprise for you. Turn around." 

Chris’s eyebrows scrunched up in a frown and he slowly turned, watching a silhouette walking towards him slowly. 

It didn't take him seconds to recognize his beautiful girlfriend. 

"Mia!" He grinned and walked up to her, both of them meeting at the center. Uma threw her hands around his neck and he held her body to his. 

"I can't believe you're finally here." He exclaimed with joy as he buried his face in her neck.

"Me either." Mia said with a smile as she pulled away from Chris and smashed her lips against his. 

"Fuck, I've missed this." 

After minutes of kisses and touches, Chris pecks Mia's forehead. 

"You came at the right time. I want you to meet my parents." Chris said with a smile and Mia felt ecstatic. 

She and Chris had been planning this for a while now and this was the last stage to getting their marriage approved. 

Meeting Chris’s parents was a big deal in their relationship and she was going to do anything to gain their approval. Thankfully, she had dressed appropriately and had the right amount of naivety and smartness around 

her. 

Mia was all smiles until she came face to face with Mrs. White. 

"What is she doing here?"