Bonita’s POV
He gazed into me his chocolate brown eyes, boring into mine.
He was still holding on to me, not letting me go.
I knew that he had no intention on moving, neither did I, but someone had to move away.
“Sir?” I whispered and pushed him away, gently trying to pry him off, but instead he tightened his grip on me.
“I’m sorry, I’m just not used to this, this is how I always do it with my employees”
My limbs were frozen, unable to move from the warm position, and oddly comfortable.
He’s always been like this?
How about those before me? Have they experienced much worse than me?
He lifted me up, propping my elbow to stand up. He turned away and returned to his desk without a word.
“Get some files at the File Room, files A, D and E, I want them neatly arranged and alphabetized” He said and turned back to work on his laptop.
I quickly walked out, but before I could get out I heard him speak, stopping me in place.
He sighed before speaking sincerely. “Let me treat you to lunch, to make up for my terrible actions”
I responded with a curt nod, not knowing what to say and left the room in a hurry.
*****
I’ve been circling five floors already, and yet I haven’t found the room where the files were.
That’s the first thing I should have asked him before I left in a hurry, but I was just too shocked to even mouth the right words to him.
My stupid instincts finally kicked in and told me to ask people around me.
I took notice of the blonde man standing next the refill station.
Slowly approaching him, he probably heard my footsteps and turned my way.
Parker smiled, his striking face more vibrant in the lights above.
He looked at me with a cute and cheeky grin, looking so adorable than ever.
“Don’t really know where the file room is, mind showing me where?”
He combed his hand through his hair, messing it, and yet he still looked gorgeous. “What for?”
I fought back the urge to frown. “My boss asked me to get it”
He doesn’t answer and takes my hand, leading me to the room where the files were supposed to be.
He gestured to the stacks of paper in front of us. “Do you want me to help you find the files?”
The widest smile grew on my face. “Glad to hear that, I can’t find them all in these many papers without my boss yelling at me”
*****
We sat down on one of the booths of the cafe inside the building, placing the papers on the table in front of us.
I rubbed my aching shoulders, massaging them gently. “I can’t believe we found them that quickly”
Parker rolled his shoulders, trying to ease the pain in them. “Yeah, but it did take a lot of effort to find them”
I laughed in response, focusing on my aching shoulders. Parker then tapped me on the arm, turning my attention to him.
He cocked a brow playfully at me. “It’s lunch time, maybe we can grab some food together?”
I tapped on my chin, as if remembering something important.
“Well?” Parker repeated, disturbing me from my thoughts.
“Sorry but, my boss wanted to eat with me lunch today, something important to talk about” The last part was surely a lie, I couldn’t tell him the real reason to why my boss wanted to have lunch with me.
But it was so rude to reject him, he even helped me find those damn papers. So, what was the reason of declining his offer if he helped me?
A brilliant idea crossed through my mind. “How about tomorrow? I’ll make sure I can come”
The smile grew on his face, telling me that he happily agreed with me. “Sure, that’ll be amazing”
I stood up, taking the papers on the table. “I’ll be going now, thanks for helping me Parker”
We both said our goodbyes before we both left, noticing the small wink he gave me at the last glance.
I was too preoccupied in my thoughts, that I didn’t see where I was going.
I crashed into someone’s chest and stumbled backwards, gripping the folders I’m holding, falling down was much easier than being yelled at for loosing these papers I’m holding.
But suddenly, two strong hands gripped my arms, stopping me from the painful fall I was about to experience.
I looked up, seeing my boss’ dark eyes looking down on me in slight disappointment.
He spoke, his voice cold as ice and his face stoic. “Took you long enough”
I spoke, my voice shaking in fear again. “I got help from a friend”
I knew that I was imagining, but I felt him tense up at that moment.
He took the folders from me, snatching it from my hands. “Let’s go”
I quietly followed him from behind, keeping my distance at a right pace.
A black limo waited in front of the lobby and the driver greeted him.
He stepped inside, with me following behind him.
The ride was silent, no one bothered to speak nor make eye contact.
It was terribly awkward.
After several minutes later, we came upon a restaurant.
We stepped out of the car and I followed him inside the grand restaurant.
A waitress waited at the front. “Welcome to Dream Petite ” She smiled at us, mostly her attention was to my boss, but he was so busy looking at his phone he didn’t see that she was flirting with him.
“For two”
“VIP?”
“Cliff Brooklyn”
“Right this way” She ushered us to a booth next to a scenic window. We sat down opposite each other, I knew that the food here was expensive, the seats also felt luxurious and I was afraid I might ruin it.
She took off for a moment, returning with two booklets of the menu for us.
My brows furrowed in confusion, the menu was words I couldn’t even speak in my thoughts, they were hard to pronounce so I just pointed my order to the waitress.
I ordered the Poulet à la Provençale, because I love chicken. And I also ordered a Soupe à l’Oignon, and a Crevettes Sauce Boursin,
Mr. Brooklyn ordered a Magret de Canard Sauce Cerise, Champignon Portabella aux Quatre Fromages, Carre d’Agneau and he ordered a bottle of swiss white wine for us,
The lady took our orders and walked away.
I sat there, avoiding the gaze of my boss, his stare was uncomfortable. Was there something wrong with my face?
My thoughts drowned me in questions, unconsciously meeting his gaze to me.
The waiter came by, handing our appetizers. I was so glad that he came that I promised myself to give him a tip later.
While serving our appetizers, the waiter winked at me, a flirty smile showed on his face. I glanced at my boss, seeing him eyeing the waiter, who was busy checking me out.
My boss, who was currently glaring at the man, cleared his throat harshly that I thought for a second he was sick.
As soon as the waiter left, I poked on my food and ate a small amount from it. The shrimp was skinless, the flavors packed inside it, and taking a bite was like the flavors melting inside your mouth.
I turned to my boss, eating his food slowly as he watched me eat mine.
I didn’t mind him and continued eating, slowly my manners were fading away because I was hungry, but it was still there, my table manners were always a part of my eating ha bits.
With a sip of the wine, I took note of the translucent liquid inside the cup, it was fizzing and citric fruits were left on my mouth after that sip.
I finished my food, placing down the fork on the table.
The main course came, my food’s aroma wafted at our table and my hunger doesn’t seem to be satisfied from the food earlier.
He spoke so suddenly, the sentence almost made me choke. “How’s your parents?”
“They weren’t really my parents, but they died when I was sixteen” My stomach churned, the food suddenly doesn’t look appetizing anymore.
You see it’s hard to survive on your own for nine years, I worked at a mini store before this job, college was miserable for me, being bullied for being adopted, bruises from high school life, and the tragic death of my parents that left me broken.
I blinked back tears, remembering the day clearly when my mother told me she was sick, and then a few months she passed away, and my father soon followed after a year. I was left alone, with the money that they inherited to me that was worthless without them.
He spoke, the smallest hint of pity in his voice. “I see, I’m sorry for your loss”
I remained silent.
After finishing the main dish, I handed him fifty dollars, not wanting to have a debt from him. He stares at the bill on the table, his eyes darting to me in confusion.
He handed me back the bill, clearly not interested in it. “I’m going to pay”
I kept the money inside my purse, glancing at my boss taking out two hundred dollars from his pocket. He called the waiter and gave his payment for our food.
“Keep the change, but don’t give it to that waiter who served our appetizer”
“Granted, thank you for dining here today”
We walked out of the restaurant, my stomach full from expensive food. I turned to my boss with a sincere smile on my face, a sign of gratitude for the food.
He nodded in response, stepping inside the car as I followed him from behind.
As soon as we were inside his office, he dismissed me from work and told me to get some rest for tomorrow.
And as I exited, I heard him call my name and I stopped in my tracks.
“Tomorrow is you’re first day as my official secretary, be early and ready as I am expecting you to be”
I gave him a curt nod, a smile on my face as I walked out and strolled back to my home.