Chapter 5

YVONNE'S P.O.V

Edgar had been released from prison. The details of his crimes, no one knew and his whereabouts remained a bigger mystery.

Yesterday, I went back home only to see his clothes and some of his belongings gone. I didn't know what to feel, relief or worry.

I had showed up at work today, thinking that maybe he'll be here too, but it's almost lunch break, and there's no sign of Regional Manager Edgar Baxter.

No one even seems to care. Lucinda and Daisy were so busy gushing over the CEO that they didn't spare me and Edgar a slot in their gossip.

“I heard he's currently America's most eligible bachelor,” Lucinda said with a dreamy sigh.

“Yes.” Daisy agreed. “Do you think he has a girlfriend?”

Lucinda sighed again, and I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. “I don't care. If he so much as looks at me, I'll drop to my knees” she said wistfully.

Something twisted in my chest and a picture of Lucinda and Mr Voss flashed in my mind, the leggy angelic blonde and the intense CEO. They would be a perfect fit. Beautiful even.

Maybe he'll hold her the way he held me strong like he was my anchor, maybe he will whisper sweet soothing words in her ears the way he did to me, maybe he'll brush his skin with hers in a way that would send her body heating with desire.

The ugly feeling twisted tighter. I should be worrying about my pain-in-the-ass husband and where he’s vanished to, but instead, I’m thinking about my boss in a way that’s borderline inappropriate.

A tired sigh heaved out of my lips; I reached for my phone only to find it lit with a message from Edgar. I had muted it, so I didn't hear when the message came.

My brows pinched as I read his messages. Each line made less sense than the last.

‘I’m away from Seattle for some time.’

‘My lawyer Maxwell will send you our divorce papers.’

‘you don't have to worry about your father anymore.’

‘Keep the house.’

“What?!” I exclaimed, dumbfounded.

First off, Edgar loved that house, he spent a fortune on it. Second of all. What the what?

A divorce?

I wasn't hurt or sad about it; heck, if anything, I felt relieved. But what had prompted him to just spring it up like that? I mean, we've been together for five years, and Edgar had not once talked about getting a divorce; he seemed just happy with our farce of a marriage.

This was confusing, at the very least.

I tried calling him but his phone was switched off. I stared at my phone, re-reading his messages.

Why the sudden change? Something must have triggered it. Did my father revoke the arrangements between him and Edgar's father?

My hope died down as suddenly as it sprung. My father wouldn't. He doesn't care about anyone who isn't him. He's probably somewhere enjoying his life while his daughter and only child is in a dilemma of her own, struggling alone.

I pressed the heel of my palm into my eyes, I needed a nap. A long, sweet nap; maybe when I wake up, my world will have sorted itself out magically.

I tried calling Edgar again, but it was the same thing, switched off.

“Everything okay, Yvonne?” Daisy asked from her cubic. I rolled my eyes, grateful for the divider that separated us both. I knew Daisy wasn't asking out of concern but because she wanted something to gossip about.

“Yes,” I answered flatly.

“You know if it's because…”

The company's landline on my desk rang sharply, cutting off whatever it was Daisy intended to say. I muttered a soft thank you to the universe, I had a lot going on for me today. I didn't need Daisy and Lucinda's quips to add to it.

I answered the call “Yvonne Baxter speaking.”

The crisp, polished voice of the CEO's secretary replied to me, “Mr. Voss would like to see you in his office now.”

My heart skipped a beat. “Did he say what for?”

“No.”

I waited for her to add something else, any hint, but she didn't.

“Alright. I'll be right there.” I said as I ended the call. My hands immediately turned clammy and I reminded myself to breathe.

I checked my reflection on the black screen of my monitor. I was suddenly hyper-aware of my looks: black circles under my eyes, and my hair was mostly in place. I smothered it down, but it didn't change a thing. I looked....pale. Uninteresting.

But my appearance right now was the least of my concerns. My mind raced a mile a minute as I took the elevator to the CEO's floor. I wriggled my fingers, trying to calm myself.

Was he about to fire me? Was this because of Edgar? Is this somehow related to his sudden disappearance? Had Edgar done something wrong and vanished only for me to take the fall of it?

My heart pounded with each ding. When I stepped out, Mr. Voss’s secretary offered me a polite nod.

“He’s expecting you,” she said in her polished voice, before opening the grand double doors.

I felt the breath swoosh out of my lungs for a moment. Mr Voss stood with his back to me, staring out the glass wall into the Seattle skyline. For a second, my eyes lingered on the firm muscles of his back, visible even in his thousand-dollar tailored suit.

I quickly averted my gaze and entered. He didn't turn.

I cleared my throat. He kept on staring out.

I could hear my heart beating in my chest as I waited for him to address me.

“Sir” I finally called after a minute.

“Close the door behind you,” He requested.

I did. The moment the door was closed, something funny glided over my stomach.

Finally, he faced me, and my knees wobbled. His deep blue eyes bore into mine, the way they did that night with an intensity that excited the blood in my veins.

His hands crossed across his chest; My traitorous eyes followed the movement. Those strong hands that held me from breaking apart.

I had ugly cried In his embrace, while he soothed me with soft murmurs not knowing that he was my boss.

“You’ve been reassigned.” Mr Voss's statement cut my train of thought.

I blinked, not sure if I heard him right “Sir?”

Mr. Voss unfolded his arms, his eyes, those eyes like the depths of the ocean, beautiful and dangerous, zeroed in on mine.

His massive office suddenly felt too small to hide me from the weight of his stare. He wasn't doing anything. Heck, he hadn't even moved from that spot, and my legs were two minutes from giving out.

“You no longer report to Edgar Baxter. You are joining my executive team immediately.”

My lips parted. Was this like World's Surprise Day or something? “Sir?”

I briefly closed my eyes as the question left my lips, this was my third ‘sir’ in three minutes

Mr Voss walked to his desk and picked up a folder. Every stride was purposeful, powerful.

“Executive Personal Officer.” he continued “You'll be working directly under me. Shadowing every meeting. Assisting with daily and strategic tasks. Coordinating with senior executives.”

My confusion hit its all-time high. “This is wonderful. Anyone in the company would feel grateful about this huge promotion, Sir, but I have to say, It feels very sudden, and besides, Me?”

A dark shadow fell off his face. A muscle in his jaw ticked. “Yes, you. Are you questioning my decision?”He asked in a voice that was soft and firm at the same time.

I shook my head “No sir”

“Good. Now that we've settled that, know that the hours are unpredictable. You’ll be required to be on call. Available at any time, including evenings and travel.”

He walked around his desk, coming closer to me. The funny feeling returned.

Married woman. I chided myself inwardly.

He placed the folder in my hands “Are you in?”

“Yes,” I heard myself answering before giving it proper thought.

Mr Voss's lips curled at the side and my God, that did something to me.

He nodded. “Good. Go home and pack what you'll need.”

My brows furrowed “Pack?”

He regarded me, his eyes slowly tracing the lines of my face, my lips, and.... lower.

His look had more effect than Edgar's touch could, and again, I had to remind myself that I was married.

When Mr Voss spoke again, his voice was low and raspy, as if he was fighting back something.

“Yes, Yvonne. We leave for Europe Tonight.”