Chapter 14

Conrad's POV

I grab the car door, making Ward's and Diane's eyes snap open in shock. I don't even realize what I've done until I see their intense gazes on me.

Jesus.

I quickly remove my hand, gritting my teeth at how annoying I'm being tonight.

"Well, it's not right for my secretary to sit in the backseat with you, Ward, is it?" I mutter with a slight lift of my chin, my gaze darker than my expression.

Ward catches on just in time because he chuckles. "Hahaha, that's right." He laughs funnily with a nod.

I swiftly turn to Diane. "You see? He can tell right from wrong, and right now, he knows he's wrong."

She scoffs, turning her gaze to me. "He's not wrong, and besides, I'll be more comfortable sitting with him at the back." She mumbles, and my heart clenches, with a feeling I can't wrap my head around.

Is she avoiding me? Is it because I accused her earlier of playing some tricks?

"Come on, Diane..." I grunt.

She huffs. "I'll take a cab instead and..."

"No, no, Diane. It hasn't gotten to that." Ward hurriedly butts in, his expression turning serious.

"Conrad here is your boss. He brought you to this event, and it's his duty to make sure you get home safe. And not to mention, he's right; a secretary is always beside their boss. You have to sit beside him in the office, in a meeting hall, even inside the car. It's more like they're soulmates." Ward says softly, moving his hands in demonstration.

It's the best thing he's said all day. Diane stares at me for a fleeting moment, frustration and anger written on every corner of her beautiful face. Then, without another word, she grabs the car door, pulls it open, and settles down with a hiss.

I glance at Ward, no words, neutral expression, and nudge him to get in. He shakes his head and gets in too. I get behind the wheel, bring the car to life, and within seconds, we're zooming out of the lounge.

The drive to Diane's apartment is silent, except for the soft music filling the car. The atmosphere is tense and so awkward that I feel uncomfortable with everything. She isn't even looking ahead; she keeps staring out of the window.

What's going on in her mind?

My thoughts race with that question over and over, and no matter how I think about it, I'm left with no answers.

I clear my throat once and again before looking at her. She's no longer staring out of the window; she has her head rested on the headrest, eyes shut.

I know she isn't sleeping. It's just her way of making sure I don't engage her in any conversation.

A small smile creeps up the corner of my lips as I continue staring at her, until Ward mutters a jab under his breath.

I don't hear what he says initially, but I know it's because of Diane. I glance at him through the rearview mirror.

"It's so hot in here because someone chose to stare at his secretary instead..." He pauses, noticing how murderously I'm staring at him.

He clears his throat awkwardly, then looks away without finishing whatever he wanted to say.

***

The car halts in front of Diane's apartment. I turn to her and see she has already dozed off.

I stare at her. No physical touch, just staring as she sleeps peacefully inside my car without caring about anything else in the world.

Her chest rises and falls rhythmically with her breathing, and it tempts me to push a strand of hair behind her ear, but I stop myself.

If I try to help, she'll jerk up from her sleep and I'll definitely spend the rest of the night dealing with her hate.

I exhale, then look away. "Diane," I call instead. She doesn't wake on my first call, not until I call her name a third time.

Her eyes flash open and a gasp spills from her throat. She grabs her purse from her lap, then turns to me, her expression suddenly apologetic.

"I'm sorry, I..."

I quickly cut in. "What are your plans for tomorrow?"

She seems utterly confused, but I know exactly why I asked. She had a hectic day at work, then I forced her to an event. I need to treat her to something nice, anything.

She slowly shakes her head. "I'll be Netflixing tomorrow."

"Perfect. Let's N*****x together at my place tomorrow with a glass of drink." I say.

I hear her chuckle. It's brief, but I notice it lacks humor. It's more like she's chuckling because she forgot an important part of her job, and I'm not being delusional, because her next words confirm everything going on in my mind.

"For a moment, I really forgot the most important part of my job." She mutters. My heart pangs, but I say nothing. She glances up at me, then nods.

"I'll be there tomorrow." She says, and without another word, even before I can respond, she's out of the car and heading in.

I stare at her retreating figure, feeling nothing but void and confusion in my heart.

Maybe I did employ her because I enjoyed everything that happened at the club that night, but now I just want to... maybe? I don't even know what's wrong with me anymore.

It's only been a few days of working with her. What will happen within the three months?

"That's a pretty terrible way to approach a lady." Ward's voice snaps me out of my thoughts.

I glance at him. "You know nothing, so keep quiet." I sneer.

"Well, I know to an extent that you've got something for your secretary." He continues. I grab the steering wheel so tight, then move the car so forcefully that he jerks up in the back and slams onto the seat.

"Just so you know, I've got your life at my fingertips..."

"But you do like her, don't you?" he asks again, annoyingly.

I'm about to drive again but pause, Ward's question replaying in my head.

I shake my head with a grin. "That's impossible. I'm obsessed with her pussy." I mutter without even realizing it.

"Wha... What?" Ward screams from the back.