AUDREY"I want to quit," I say out loud."Oh, don't be a complainer. It's just one more lap, and we're done," Nelly comments between breaths. "Come on, don't stop, we're almost there."She's got me running laps in the park. Every morning, she comes here to jog, and she made me promise to accompany her every day. However, my job hasn't allowed me time for much else other than my work at Crawford Enterprises.I admit I've neglected my activities and many other things in my personal life. But honestly, jogging is just not my thing.After completing the last lap we had to run, I head to the nearest bench and collapse, trying to catch my breath. I'm exhausted, more like dead."Finally," I say, bringing a water bottle to my lips to take a sip."If there was time, I'd drag you to the gym," Nelly says."You hate me," I protest. "Just like my new boss."Until now, I dared not to mention him, not wanting to accept that I have a new boss, and that same guy is the shameless man I found having ora
AUDREYThat's how I spent the rest of the morning, filing and organizing all the documents for the new campaign discussed in the last meeting.The day wouldn't be enough to finish all the pending work; I'll have to take something home to continue, hoping not to stay up too late.The phone on my desk rings, and I react quickly to answer it. The workload had overwhelmed me."President's office, Crawford. Audrey Turner speaking," I say automatically, like an answering machine."At what time will you bring me the documents I asked for?" My new boss's deep voice comes through the phone line. "Miss?"I hadn't realized that I remained silent for a long time. I don't know what I was expecting, but he was waiting for a response from me."Oh, yes, yes," I reply in a high but clumsy tone."Yes?" he inquires, and I can't tell if I imagined a small laugh escaping his lips without abandoning his serious tone."Yes, I already have them ready. I'll be right there," I try to control my nerves. "I'll b
DANIEL"Mother, I'm not interested in any of those women," I point to the screen of my computer, "or any others you want to match me with in the future.""But Daniel, you need to get a girlfriend and introduce her to your father, and it doesn't seem like you're doing anything about it. So let me handle it; I'll choose the right one for you."I sigh in exasperation. When will she understand?"I don't need you to look for one, and I'll find someone on my own without you being involved.""Do you already have someone in mind?" she asks, raising her eyebrows."Sort of," I partly lie because I do have someone in mind."No," she denies, "You can't choose her; you'll do it wrong.""Why not?" I exclaim, "You're not telling me to find a girl and pretend she's my girlfriend, and now you say I can't choose her. Mother, I'm not your toy.""Son, don't be angry," she gets up from her seat and approaches me, "I just want the best for you, and if you're going to settle down like your father wants, it'
AUDREYIt was past ten, and I turned off the TV, put on a sleeveless shirt and some shorts for pajamas, and slipped under the sheets of my bed. Seconds later, I considered sending a message to Nelly. The doubt about why this Daniel guy wanted information about my private life was gnawing at my head.Anyway, even if I called her, she wouldn't answer or even reply to a message. It's Friday night, and I wouldn't be surprised if she's currently at some night bar dancing with other friends.Saturday morning, finally. I'll take advantage of the day to go to my favorite bookstore and buy another book. I've already finished the last novel I bought, and all the ones on my shelf have been more leafed through and read than the Bible.I prepare a quick breakfast to leave early, and when I'm ready and about to walk out the door, I bump into my friend."Good morning!" she exclaims, entering the apartment.No, not now.I love my friend, but I also want some time alone, is that too much to ask for?S
AUDREY"Nel, you didn't have to accompany me, you've already done enough," I assert resignedly.What would I gain from complaining to her? In the end, she always gets her way, and I always have to be part of her schemes."Come on, don't complain, just smile so your sexy date sees you radiant," she tries to cheer me up, but it's futile."If you like him so much, then you go out with him," I make a face."Enough, hush," she lightly hits my arm. "Come on, go in, he must be waiting for you. At the entrance, just ask for Hill, they'll take you to the table," I sigh. "Go," she pushes me towards the door.I'm already here, I can't go back home. The double glass doors open, and I enter the luxurious restaurant.I don't know how Nelly managed to get a date with a wealthy man; he must be wealthy because this place is one of the most prestigious in the city, and it's not easy to get a reservation here.I walk and head straight to the small counter where a woman dressed in a navy blue uniform, a
AUDREYMy heartbeat quickened as our eyes met. I couldn't tell if he was upset and offended by my insult, but then again, I had no idea it was him.I didn't know how to respond to his query; I felt nervous every time he was in front of me. How was I going to continue working with him if I reacted this way whenever I looked at him?God, I'm lost.Instead of saying anything, I fled. I ran away from there and left my boss standing in the hallway; I went back to my date.Adam was still seated when I arrived; his attention was once again on his phone, but when I approached and sat down, he immediately put it in his jacket pocket and looked back at me.My mind was elsewhere, thinking about how my boss reacted or what he thought when I bolted from there a moment ago.Let him think what he wants; we're not at the office, so he can't reprimand or scold me for my behavior."Are you okay?" Adam inquired, with a puzzled expression. "You look as if you've seen a ghost.""What?" I replied."Yeah, a
AUDREYHe says it without reservation, just like that. This has got to be a joke, how come I'm going to pretend to be his girlfriend? It's crazy.- What did he say?- What I hear clearly.- I'm not getting it.- I already told you, what I want is for her to be my provincial girlfriend.- If I understood that already, which is not that... - I shut up quickly.I didn't know how to process that whole thing, it had caught me off guard and even, but out that way.I think the one who is crazier than a goat, was he, who would think to ask a woman something like that? Well, anyone would say that it's something normal, but in this case it's not.Besides, he hadn't even asked for it, he was ordering it for me.- He questions, why you - I don't question him, I assure him as if he knew what I was going to ask.- What I wanted to say is that, I am simply an employee of the Crawford companies - I deflect the above and remind you of the very obvious — Do not wait for me to accept your... your, I do
AUDREYI tremble as I hear that fake confession. I have no idea where this is going, but I really don't want to think about it.I would have preferred if he had just fired me instead of asking me to do something so crazy. Just because he's my boss doesn't mean he can force me to accept his absurd proposal.The woman in front of us scrutinizes us like there's no tomorrow. If I knew her, I'd say she'd want to pounce on me and pull my hair until I'm bald."So, Sarah lied to me?" I ask cautiously. "Why would she do that?" I murmur to myself, but he still manages to hear it.Sarah? I think she's referring to Mr. Anthony's wife. Or maybe not. And if she doesn't accept this craziness, the entire building will come crashing down when she finds out her son has a fake relationship with his secretary.I'm scared. What have I gotten myself into? Or rather, what has this degenerate gotten me into?"It's not that she lied," he replies. "She just wasn't aware of our relationship yet. We haven't made