chapter sixteen

"I define me. No man,-not you-not Georgio, will decide my story." Heather's words chimed in my head.

"Have i been wrong about her from the start? She might have beeen spoiled, but she possessed will power and that alone was worth admiring. It's too bad she's the centerpiece to get to Georgio. Who knows, then she would have been somewhere proving herself worthy. These people, they don't deserve a daughter like her.

Yet again i could be wrong, and who knows, maybe she's no different from her father. Afterall, the old saying an, an apple doesn't fall far from the tree does it?

If only i could figure out a way to operate this god-dammed tablet, then I'll know the first thing i ought to do in being a "personal assistant".

I curiously poked at it. It was obviously a programmed tablet, heather wasn't stupid enough to get just a regular one.

The screen lit up abruptly, clearly stating a reminder for shopping. How am i supposed to know what to do next?

Was i supposed to call her or something? Besides, her schedules were terribly packed. Meetings, calls, appointments... Each of them colour coded and filled with notes of people i don't even know. How the hell was i supposed to pull this off?

I scrolled a bit around each tab, figuring if there was anything useful. An information... but her private notes were all encrypted.

Coffee references: Strong, black- with milk.

Resting days: Fridays, sundays, Saturdays {possibly).

Groceries: presice, efficient.

It's not just about her work, it's her.

How did she expet me to figure all these stuffs out? She met me in a bar, i can't give any expectations.

Just then i felt someone approach ,me.

"James?" Heather called. She appeared tired as hell. "Didn't you know you're supoosed to keep me updated. my watch timer kept beeping like crazy."

"You don't expect me to just understand all these fancy tech all at once." I defended, "I don't even know what to do."

"I expect you to try." She said, already walking away. "Let's go. We're leaving now."

I followed her out, still scrolling. trying to make sense of the whole thing I'm seeing.

"So we're going for groceries shopping or what?" I poked curiously.

She just ignored me. Entering the car, like I didn't say anything to her. "Just follow my instructions."

"Whatever," i got in.

We pulled up outside some upscale menswear store an hour later. I stared at heather who appeared rather unfettered.

"You need new clothes," she just shrugged. "You don't expect me letting you work around me looking like shit."

Shit!- did she really just call me shit?

"Well you should have thought about that before kidnapping me against my will... woman."

"Sweetheart, we both know that's just the lie you tell yourself. Besides, think of it as a favour. I'm helping you."

She's impossible...

Unbothered.

We stepped into the overpriced boutique.

"Do you always treat your assistants this way?" I teased, not looking at her. "Keep being this nice to me and I'm just gonna assume you're starting to fall for me miss Martins."

"-Excuse me miss, how may we help you." The shop keeper turned to heather before glancing at me.

He stood wide-eyed. I should have known it was a huge mistake coming here, ofcourse he recognises me.

He smiled at me.

"Welcome sir. We're so honoured to have you here."

He shot me a confused look.

I stared at him sternly. Each gaze, showing looks of uttermost warning.

"Sorry, I don't understand." I said softly before letting a dry chuckle.

That was enough to do the job. Even a child would have understood already.

"I'm so sorry Mr. I thought you were someone else, but clearly I'm mistaken. My apologies for the mix-up." He relaxed a little. "I'll call a staff to show you around."

Heather smiled turning to me. "What was the whole thing about?"

"You ask me. You're the one who brought me here in the first place."

Hmmm...she spoke quietly, "lucky me."

We browsed through some shirts, pants, t-shirts, slacks, jeans and even dress shirts. She kepts scrolling at them, selecting each piece carefully like we were some little girls playing dress up.

"Try this on," heather said, throwing the selected pieces at me. We were the only ones in the dressing room but I wasn't too hesitant to change either.

I stared at her blankly. "Why?"

"Very funny James." She stared at the shirts in my hands. "I need to make sure they fit. So try them on."

"Like... Right now? I raised my brow. "In front of you..."

"Yes." She smiled innocently.

"Okay then, if you say so."

I carefully unbuttoned my shirt. If this was what she wanted, there's no harm playing along.

"Are you sure you want to watch? Okay then," I drawled, rolling my shoulders so the fabric stretched over my chest. If she wants a show, why don't I give her one?

I stood bare before her. Nothing on -just my pants. Which hung extremely low below my waist.

"How am I doing, boss? Meeting your... expectations?"

Heather’s eyes flicked up — sharp, unimpressed — but i caught the way they dragged over me first. Maybe a little.

"Hurry up and try them. We don't have all night." She tapped her fingers on the chair, watching me.

I tried the first one, then another, then the third till I finally got fed up. She still watched me, same expression. Uninterested.

"Are you going to tell me which one you like, boss?

She stared at me. "That's enough, I think we're done here.'

But I didn't move. Driving her over the edge felt so good... So intoxicating. Each time I did it, I craved more. She feels so highly of herself; so highly, like she wasn't affected by me.

Liar.

I let out a slow grin, deliberately stepping into her space. Then another, quietly.

Her gaze flickered to meet mine. Unpredictable, intrigued, but how long could she keep up with the act?

"You sure?" I asked, my voice rough from enthusiasm. "You clearly didn't look satisfied."

Her jaw tightened.

"I said that's enough. I... We've done enough."

God I loved the edge in her voice. So controlled, but not untouched.

I leaned down, not touching her. Just close enough. Close enough to feel the heat I was burning in. Close enough that one wrong turn from her head, we could almost taste each other.

"I think you just don't trust yourself around me," I dared her.

I could feel her breath pause.

"Are you this desperate for my attention?" She whispered slowly, each word, longer than the last.

"I still can't get enough of you." I grinned softly. I felt the silence stretch and the room feel small.

But then -the door rattled.

"-Is everything alright miss?" The salesman asked, breaking the moment. immediately snapping me to reality.

We both retreated.

"Yes I'm alright," heather responded, turning away.

I stood in silence.

"You’re tolerable," she said coolly. "Don’t let it go to your head." Heather slammed the door behind me. Leaving me just to my raging thought.

she loved to run, and I enjoyed the thrill of a good hunt.

Just keep running heather and you might make me want to chase.