4

Mary's POV

I started panicking all over, shaking visibly as if I had just survived an electric shock.

'Why does this always happen?'

'Why do I always run out of luck?!'

'How could this man become my new boss, just a few hours after we had a one-night stand and I belittled him?'

Now that he had the power to decide my fate, I couldn't stop thinking about what I said to him. Those words were absolutely unnecessary; I should have just taken the money he wanted to offer me.

I could have used the words to protect my dignity. That would have been easier than what I said.

If I had said nicer words, now that we had met again, he might even reward me. But as I had said those belittling words...

'What is he going to do?'

'Won't he fire me?'

I rebuked that, that must not happen.

'How will I take care of expenses?'

'How will I support my mother?'

'When am I going to get another job if he fires me?'

Thinking about how I could save myself from this mess, I shut my eyes and took a few deep breaths to go deep in thought.

"My name is Danny Williams, your new boss!" The pride stinking in his words forced me to open my eyes. "But I won't want you to see me like a boss."

His last words were so convincing but something quickly pricked me and reminded me they were nothing but lies. I just kept praying that he wouldn’t notice me.

With every passing second, my anxiety kept rising.

My joy knew no boundaries when the meeting finally came to an end, though I wasn't sure whether he recognized me or not.

Without wasting time, I hurried back into the building.

As Sarah noticed how joyful I was, she became curious and she started pestering me.

“The new boss is the guy I had a one-night stand with!” I finally gave in.

"This is a joke, right?" Sarah couldn't believe it.

“Do I look like I am?” I frowned at her.

"You are so lucky to sleep with such a smoky hot man.” She didn't even realize the deep mess I had put myself in.

“Aren't you worried that he might get back at me? What if he fires me? Am I going to support my mother?" Sadness clouded my heart as I remembered what I did to him.

This was caused by Jerry and Donna, if he hadn't cheated on me with Donna, we would be together at the hotel in Trenton.

The mistake was also partly mine, I shouldn't have gone to the hotel at all.

If I were at my apartment, there was no way I would have had a one-night stand with him.

Even after that one-night stand, I didn't have to insult him.

Why am I in such a frustrating situation?

Sarah tapped my shoulder.

”Don’t worry. He might not even notice you.” She patted my shoulder to console me.

Before I could reply to her, my phone rang.

“Hi, Mom!" I greeted her happily, seeing it was Grace, my mother.

“Oh my sweet pea, hope you haven’t forgotten that there is a housewarming party tonight? You have to come, it's a must.”

“No, mom. Why do I have to be there?” I retorted.

Though it was my uncle David's party, I didn't want to go there because of my father, Andrew. I was greatly pissed at him for everything he had done.

He was the reason why my mother and I had to live such a hard life. He was the reason why I never had the happy childhood family that I wanted so badly. He was always asking for a divorce, but Grace, for reasons that weren't known to me, kept begging him.

If there was a way I could go to the party without running into him, I would definitely go there tonight.

“Come on, Mary. I know you didn't want to go just because of Andrew. But you have to consider Uncle David and his wife; they have always been kind to us. The least we can do is to honor their invitation.” Grace persuaded me.

"Who knows, you might find a serious suitor at the party," she added after a brief pause, and I sighed.

I thought about Uncle David; if it hadn’t been for him, my life would have been unbearable.

“Fine. I’ll go.” I could feel my mother's happiness through the cellphone.

“But, please, promise me you will not fight with your father," she pleaded.

“I promise not to fight if he does not seek my trouble. I won’t fight with him. ” I hung up before she could say another word.

I had hardly ended the call when the manager’s voice suddenly rang out

“Mary, Mr Williams wants you in his office now!”

I was so shocked that my heart almost jumped out of my mouth!

I knocked on the door of his office softly with fear.

“Come in,” he answered almost immediately.

Seeing him seated calmly behind his desk, my mind went back to this morning when he came out of the bathroom. I quickly snapped out of the thought before I would make the situation worse.

A few minutes later, I was still standing in front of him and he totally ignored my presence.

"Mr Williams, you sent for me?“ I murmured with strength.

He lifted up his head and stared at me from head to toe with his dark and cold eyes.

Despite how much I tried to remain firm, I was still trembling like a leaf.

He leaned back on his chair and said, ”I didn’t expect to see someone like you here.”

I felt insulted, but I dared not say a word; I had said more than enough in the morning.

"I think since we are at work, we shouldn't be talking about other things. Like our private lives.” I finally slipped even when I was trying to keep mute.

But it seemed like I had caused another problem as the expression on his face hardened.

'Why did I even say that?'

'Can't I just be listening?'

'Now that he has become angrier, won't he fire me without a second thought?'