Chapter 6: Too-Good-to-Be-True

I gaped instantly. A double raise? Was it a dream? “Boss, are you sure? When you mentioned double, do you mean I must do the work as your assistant and also as the accounting staff?” I asked him because I had to know for sure. It was a too-good-to-be-true offer. 

“Hold on. I’ve got things to do. Let’s discuss it later.” Then he hung up. 

I continued my work to find some folders and documents I needed to prepare the current month’s financial report. After a while, because I was too busy and focused on the work, I didn’t realize Edward already sat before me.  

“Answering your last question, I asked you to be my assistant full-time. Another staff can handle the accounting. So, you can focus. What do you think? Say yes, please?”

Without further ado, I nodded. It was a dream come true! From last year I wished to get a raise. Now I got it, double! Who didn’t want it?

***

It was five p.m. already. The time flew so fast. I had finished piles of work. When I prepared to go home, Edward approached my desk.

“Done yet? Let’s go home?” 

“Yes, I only need to save and print a document. How about if you go first? I’ll meet you at the parking lot?” 

He shook his head. “No, I’ll wait for you. It won’t take a long time, will it?” He even sat on the chair and waited there.  

“Uh … yes, just a little more.” I rushed to finish everything, tidied the desk, and pulled my chair.  

You know? It was hard to concentrate when a handsome guy stared at you from such a short distance. I clicked a few buttons, then inserted a piece of paper inside the printer. Even a minor task like that made me nervous. After two minutes, I finally finished. 

“Done?”

“Yes, done.” I blew my breath and inserted the printed document into a folder and put it on my desk.

“Good! Let’s go!” He held my hand. 

When we passed through, The Trio Gossipers stared at us from afar. Instinctively, I pulled my hand when I saw them say something among themselves.  

After we were already beside his car—a black and shiny Ferrari—he opened the door for me. “Thank you.” I smiled at him. 

I was blown away while observing the car interior. It was truly a luxurious car! The dashboard, the seat cushion, the steer, all were black. It screamed masculinity, just like the owner. It was spacious inside.  

“No need to open the ceiling, right? It seems it’s cloudy. I don’t want you to be wet if it’s rainy,” he said while smiling at me.  

“Uh … uh … yes, no need to open it.” I stammered. His eyebrow rose because he saw my reaction that still gaped after seeing the car interior. Even after sitting there for a few seconds, I still hadn’t recovered yet. What an embarrassment!

Along the way, I was too self-conscious because so many motorcycle and car drivers who rode beside Edward’s car paid attention to the sports car.  

He reached out his hand to turn on the music. After a second, a gentle tone filled the car. It was “Without You” from Air Supply.  

Either I was single for too long (six years of being single was long enough, wasn’t it?) or there were enough reasons for me to feel a little (or much) that he might have a crush on me. Okay, I knew we just met, but who knew? Was it because he was kind? 

I was his assistant. If we had a good relationship, for sure we could work well together. I made a mental note not to think too far. Patting my cheeks slowly, I talked inside, not to get carried away by Edward’s gentleness. It was nothing!   

At an intersection, the traffic light was red. He stopped the car and glanced at me. “What’s wrong? Are you cold? You patted your cheeks.”

I shook my head. “Oh, no. Not at all.” He thought I was cold. “I’m a bit sleepy. So I patted my cheeks.” I pretended to widen my eyes to convince him. 

“Ah, I thought you were cold.” Then, he looked straight ahead while tapping his fingers to the steer, following the song's rhythm.   

“The song is cool,” I said, trying to fill the quietness.

“Yes, I love it. It’s my memorable song with someone.” 

It was as if I was thrown away to the earth after flying so high above. “Oh, I see …” 

He said nothing. I thought he wouldn’t prolong it. So I didn’t comment on it. When the traffic light was green, the car passed through the road.  

Suddenly, he let out a long sigh. “She couldn’t forgive me when I made a mess once ….”

“Made a mess?”

“I made a mistake.” He blew his breath. “Having an affair. I was too young. An attractive woman approached me and I didn’t say no. It was just for fun,” he was quiet afterward, “... but then Laura knew it … It ended everything ….” 

“I’m sorry ….”

He blew his breath again. “Well, my mistake. At least I learned from it not to make any mistakes anymore. Because of my stupidity, I lost the love of my life.”

I thought about what he said for a while before asking him, “Is she married yet?”

“Who? Laura?”

“Yes, Laura,” I said while nodding.

He didn’t reply instantly. Maybe it was too personal to ask. I was about to tell him to forget my question, but then he answered, “Not yet. Maybe she was too hurt.” Again, he sighed.  

“Then you still have a chance. Fight for her. As long as she is still single, you still have the chance.” 

He shook his head. “I tried it for a year, but her wound was too deep. We even already prepared for the wedding, but it was all canceled because I messed it up.”

“If she means so much to you, don’t give up! Maybe she still hopes to be back with you.” I gulped. It was bitter to tell this to him. “Who knows? One day Laura may forgive you.”

He stopped the car at the side of the street, then reached out his hand to hold mine. “Thanks a lot, Lana.”

“Huh? I did nothing.”

He gave me a small smile. “You are my assistant, but also my new best friend. Thank you!”

“So, it means we won’t have a date tomorrow?” I said lightly though I was aching inside. Best friend? Ah, so that’s it? 

He gazed at me for a few seconds, then laughed. “Of course, we’ll still have a date tomorrow.” 

I widened my eyes. “But … I thought you wanted to fight for Laura. So why do you want to have a date with me?”

“You’re the first person who greeted me at the office. Probably I’m superstitious, but I think you will be an important person in my life.”  

“Me?” I forced a laugh. “Well, I hope I can be a wonderful assistant.” 

Afterward, we said nothing. Along the way, I tried to kill the disappointment that pinched my heart.  

“We arrived.” His deep voice filled the air.  

It was quite different when I went home on a bus and a Ferrari. Since it was so comfortable, I didn’t realize we had already arrived at my parents’ house. “O-Oh, we arrived.” I stammered again. “Thanks so much, boss. Come in?”

“You’re welcome.” He shook his head. “Thanks, but I have a thing to do. I’ll visit your parents tomorrow so I can get to know them. I’ll pick you up tomorrow at seven, okay?”

“Got it, boss!” I forced a small smile again.  

He rushed to leave after waving his hand at me. I set my lips to be straight again. The forced smile was gone. While sighing, I entered the house. It was truly too-good-to-be-true.