02

JANE

Now, this is getting intense.

My brows snap together. I stare at Christian Tate intensely, this time around. He doesn't look really serious nor does he look like he is joking. He has a blank look on his face. I think something is really wrong with this man.

"Kindly stop this expensive joke of yours, Mr Tate," I warn him.

His eyebrows furrow."I am not joking, Jane Cullen. I also don't like this but I just have to make that offer," He utters.

"I will be your boyfriend and you will keep working in my company. Anyway, fix a meeting with the CEO of the microfinance bank. We have to get this done," He adds, finally sitting down.

I take a deep breath, trying to maintain my composure."Are you serious about what you just said, sir?" I ask calmly.

"I am damn serious, Jane." He snaps at me, his eyes are fixed on the laptop on his desk.

"Then, I'm not interested in being your girlfriend."I snap back.

Apart from his stupid offer, what really annoys me is that he is not paying attention to me. He just said the "boyfriend" stuff because of his selfish motives.

Mr Tate raises his head to look at me."Look, I am doing you a great favor. You should be happy that I offered to be your boyfriend," He mumbles.

I let out a hiss."I don't want you to be my boyfriend," I retort.

"Then, what do you want? Money? Promotion? Great increase in your salary? I will do anything you want, just keep working in my company, Jane," He rambles.

"I want my fûcking freedom!" I yell at him.

He flutters his long eyelashes rapidly."Wait, you just yelled at me,"

"I want my freedom. I'm tired of serving you, Christian Tate. I need my life. I have worked with you for five years, isn't that enough? Serving you was hell. I rarely have time for myself. I lost all my friends in the process of working for you. I don't have a life aside from working for you. I really hate running stupid errands for you and your girlfriends. I don't even have a boyfriend. I'm still a virgin..."

Damn! I am not supposed to say the last sentence. It came out of my mouth unexpectedly. Now, Mr Tate is aware that I haven't had sex before.

My cheeks turned pink as his eyes pierced into mine.

"Are you done?" He asks.

I nod my head."Yes."

"I'm paying you monthly for your service, Jane," He says, picking his words one after the other.

"Yes, I know. But, I am damn tired now. I don't need the money now. I just want to quit," I tell him.

I gaze into his eyes. His eyes are warm and he seems really relaxed. Why is he still cool with all that I have said?

The Christian Tate I have been working with since five years ago had a hot temper. He ought to have thrown me out of his office. But, he remains calm. What is wrong with him?

"I don't want you to quit." He pauses for a second, then continues. "I can't let you quit your work over a petty reason. Okay, I just offered you a solution and you will keep working here,"

"What solution?"

"Just let me be your boyfriend and you will keep working here."

What the heck!

I stand up from my seat immediately, glaring at him."If you like it or not, I'm quitting my work. You won't see me in the office tomorrow."I declare.

I take a few steps away from him. Before I can walk out of his office, his voice makes me stop in my tracks.

"You can't quit, Jane Cullen. Trust me, you're going to come back."

I let out a loud hiss and walk out of his office. I am glad that I had arranged my table already and I had dropped all the company items.

I bid my fellow colleagues ' goodbye '. Of course, they all have a shocked look on their face, after all I am always the last to leave this company. All thanks to Christian Tate.

I heave a sigh of relief when I enter the cab. I tell the driver the address of my house.

'Just let me be your boyfriend and you will keep working here.' Mr Tate's words ring in my ears.

Did I just behave foolish? I should have accepted his offer. That would be great, of course. Imagine being the girlfriend of the one and only Christian Tate. I will be a lucky girl, especially since I have been in love with him for the past five years.

Everyone will love and respect me.

But, that will bruise my ego. That will make me lose my self respect.

Mr Tate only makes that offer so that I can keep working in Hagar Industries. He only said that so that I can serve him forever.

He is such a selfish and possessive human being. He doesn't even want me to have a good life.

It will be useless to be the girlfriend of someone who doesn't like me or have the time for a real relationship.

A tear drop from my eyes.

I don't know if the tears are that of joy or sadness. I guess I'm happy that I finally left Christian Tate's world. I won't serve him anymore. I won't run errands for him and his girlfriends. I won't work overtime and weekends anymore.

Still, I am sad. Heaven knows that I really love him. I have kept my feelings inside of me, since all these years. I really love him a lot.

"Are you okay, ma'am?" The driver's voice jerk me into reverie.

I fake a smile."I am okay,"

I will get over him, after getting a boyfriend.

The first thing I should do is to submit my resume and application letter to some companies. I need to sort my bills and pay my younger sister's tuition fees.

Then, I will contact some of the friends I have lost and get into blind dates.

Finally, I will get my life back. I will be the real Jane Cullen, not the secretary of Christian Tate.

THE NEXT DAY…

"Why did you quit your work, Jane? How will you be able to pay my tuition fees? I even have a project on Friday. I also want you to buy another phone for me."My younger sister, Bethel yells at me.

I pretend like I am not hearing all that is coming out of her mouth. I continue munching on the bread I am having for breakfast.

"Jane, stop behaving like you aren't hearing me. Better return to your work. You - "

"Are you okay, Bethel?"I snap at her, interrupting her sentence.

I am already pissed off with her.

"Why should I be the one to get everything you need? Don't you have parents? Why the heck are you yelling at me? Who are you to tell me what to do?" I rant.

She lifts her shoulder in a half shrug."Whatever! Just resume your work. In fact, I'm going to tell mother what you did." She vows, then dashes to her room.

"Idiot!" I abuse her.

My relationship with my family is a mess. They don't even care about me or my welfare. All they want from me is providing for all their needs.

They're the reasons I kept working with Christian Tate, despite the stress. Thank goodness, I'm free now.

I finish eating and straighten my skirt. Today is for job hunting. I will look for any job and accept it even if their pay is low.

I'm not supposed to look for a job now, I ought to rest for a week but my family won't let me. Of course, I have to take care of the bills. Seems like I am in this world to serve people.

I am free from Christian Tate. But, I can't escape from my family.

I glance at the wall clock. I kind of miss Mr Tate. By this time at Hagar Industries, I will be running errands for him or helping him with preparation for meetings.

I snap out of my thoughts and pick my handbag. Time for job hunting!

*

"What is your name?"

"Jane Cullen."

The interviewer glances at the person sitting beside her, then clears her throat."So, where have you worked before?" She asks.

"Hager Industries," I say proudly.

It's a bonus for me to have worked in Hagar Industries. I am sure they will be eager to employ me now.

"Sorry, we can't employ you." The interviewer blurts out.

My mouth fell open."Why?"

"Well, you don't have enough experience to work in our company. Thanks,"

"Thank you." I mutter calmly and leave the office.

This is the first place, there are still other companies to visit. I already have a list with me, all thanks to Freya. She helped me to make a list of companies looking for a secretary.

Freya is the only friend I have. For now. She is married with two kids, maybe that is the reason we still manage to be friends. Both of us hardly have time for ourselves, anyway.

I notice the look on the interviewer's face when I mentioned my name and Hagar Industries. Is something wrong?

I need to try other companies to find out.

*

It is evening. I am sweating profusely. I am stressed out already. I have tried out six companies but they didn't accept me. They give me the same look the first interviewer gave me when I mentioned my name and Hagar Industries.

Something pops in my mind. What if Christian Tate has something to do with this? He is damn petty and crazy. He is capable of doing something like that.

But, why will he have the time for me? I guess he has realized that I am not working anymore and I am sure that they have employed someone. A lot of people are looking for the opportunity to be part of the employees in Hagar Industries.

I am standing at the entrance of the last company in my list. I hope that they will give me a chance here.

I walk to the reception area and told the receptionist the reason I am in their company.

"Sit down there for a few minutes. The manager is currently busy with some important things," One of the receptionists instruct me.

"Thank you," I smile and did as she said.

"What do you think will happen when Tate buys our company?" The receptionist who talked nicely to me asks the other one.

"Our company will become influential. And of course, there will be a great increase in our salary." The other receptionist replies to her.

I am listening to their conversations. Well, why not? It's about Christian Tate.

"I'm really happy. My crush will be coming here frequently." One of them jubilates.

"Look at you, he may not come here at all. I bet he won't have the time to monitor a small company like this,"

The receptionist is right. Mr Tate bought a lot of companies but he rarely has the time to monitor them. His manager and his personal assistant are in charge of the companies.

"Look, he is coming here," One of the receptionists whisper.

I also jerk my head towards the direction the receptionist pointed to.

The handbag I am holding dropped on the ground. The blue eyed devil is really here.