I didn't notice that I was smiling ear to ear as I stare at the photo for a long time. And as time pass by, I noticed details that I failed to see the first time I laid my eyes on it. I wanted to slap myself for pouring my entire attention to the little boy whose grown up version is causing me so much confusion since the day that I became his secretary.I sighed. What now?I shouldn't be stressing myself too much about it. It's none of my business. I should be focusing on my job instead. To improve; to be better in any angle that my boss has the ability to see.Hell, why am I even confused?Why am I even upset?I'm receiving the type of treatment that is just right and meant for me. His formality shouldn't confuse me or complicate things that bothers me. He's my boss for pete's sake! What else do I expect from him? It's work. It's all about professionalism and formalism. There's nothing wrong about him being formal. That is how it should be in the first place. It was my mistake that I
Scared, I only lasted a few seconds looking in his angry sea green eyes. I wiped my tears away, and I turned my back on him. I'm sure that he saw my tears because his facial expression changed; it became soft, and his eyes suddenly look concerned. Realization hit him, but it was too late 'cause I walked away and decided to take the stairs instead."Genevieve, wait."I heard his footsteps following me, and that made me walk faster. I even started to run as I rush on my way downstairs. I wanted to be away from him even for just a while. I didn't expect that and it was enough for my defenses to crumble down; to give up and to lay my armour down.I've never been shouted at by anyone due to uncontrollable anger. Not even my aunt, not even Feliza, and not even the men from my past. I feel so vulnerable; I feel so terrified. My heart is pounding so hard that it hurts. I can feel it aching, and it made my eyes leak tears without me even knowing. Nothing else is in my mind right now but to run
"Genevieve, I'm sorry about earlier." His voice sounded apologetic, and it was convincing enough for me to look at him; to look in his eyes.I managed to form a small smile while looking at him. "It's okay, sir." I shrugged my shoulders. "I lost my control too earlier, and my emotions burst before you. I'm sorry for that as well, sir."He, then took a sit on his swivel chair. He motioned his hand on the leather chair in front of his table. "Please, take a seat."I hesitated, "But I need to go back to my cubicle—""Even for just a little while, please?"I inwardly slapped my subconscious when it instantly gave up and sat on the chair in front of Conrad. I watched him take the coffee cup with his hand as he took a sip. My eyes feasted on his handsome face that I always praise in my head. Even when he's drinking coffee, he still looks ravishing.I shook my head."Do I look like the devil being a ravishing rogue?"Confused, my forehead wrinkled."Sir?"He chuckled, "Nothing. I said, I was
"Your mind is probably just messing with you, Genevieve. Your boss is not Kairo. The one and only Conrad Easton, the CEO himself, is not Kairo." Feliza said with her voice sounding firm. Sounding like nothing's going to change her mind, and nothing's going to convince her."Girl, Conrad Easton is not a stripper. He's like super duper far from being a stripper. I mean," She took a chip from the bowl and nonchalantly ate it. Making crunchy sounds and somehow leaving crumbs. "He's hot, and he's handsome and all, but I'm not buying it. I think that he'll rather go crazy being a businessman than be a stripper." Feliza took a sip from her glass that contains fresh orange juice.I'm here with Feliza in her house, and just like what we like to do, we're eating snacks while talking about random stuffs.But this time, it's no random stuff. It's about my boss that made me think that he's the man that showered me so much love the night that I got drunk; the night of my 27th birthday. I told her a
"I'm trying to help you here, Genevieve. You should accept my offer before you completely lose your mind." She finished drinking her beer, and she once again stood up to throw its can to the trash bin. "I'll be like, 'I'm sorry for your loss.' once I see you in a mental hospital." She grinned, making it worse. There's no way that I'll accept her offer. It's too much. If I would want to have fun again in that strip club, I should be able to pay for myself. It's so embarrassing to have Feliza's friend to give me a pass.And who is this friend anyway?I was about to ask Feliza about her friend when I suddenly had a glimpse of the wall clock.It's almost 7."I need to go home now, Feliza."She rolled her eyes. Probably because I dodged her offer. But I seriously need to go home now before her husband arrives. I don't want to witness them being civil and formal to each other. It'll be awful and the atmosphere will be awkward. I never met Feliza's husband before, but I don't have any plans
"What made you change your mind?" Feliza asks as she's trying to hide the small grin that I can barely see, but noticable enough for me. "I don't want to explain further. Please, Feliza. Is there any way that you could tell your friend to give me that pass that you offered me yesterday?" I almost begged with both of my eyes looking into hers. After work, I immediately exited the building and went to Feliza's workplace which is just beside mine. "What happened to you, Genevieve?" She looks at me with a hint of suspicion shown by her eyes. I pouted at her,"I'll explain it to you soon. But for now, I really just need to get this out of my head, Feliza. PLEASE!" I even have both of my hands together as if I'm praying. "And you said it right? That it'll be better for me to see Kairo, right? I will try tonight, Feliza. I will, I swear. I just miss Kairo, and tonight I will give it a shot to stop my mind from messing my whole system." I was talking to her like I'm in a rush, and death is ru
When I enter the elevator, I was glad that I was the only one inside. But before the elevator could even close, a hand interrupts and made its way in between. The elevator had no other choice but to open widely again. And then a man who owns the hand, entered the elevator as he stands right beside me. I was surprised when he called me by my name. "Genevieve?" I look at him and he's actually smiling. I scanned his face as I hear a bell rang in my head. "Drayton?" I asked back. Both of us ended up laughing, and he throws another question at me. "What are you doing here?" I shrugged my shoulders at him with a smile formed by my lips. "Going to have fun." He nodded, and that's when I realized that he's wearing his uniform for his job. I somehow forgot that he's a bartender. "Are you also here to see Kairo again?" Honestly, my main objective is to forget about earlier. And then drinking, enjoying, and achieving that feeling that I once felt when it was my first time here with Feliza. But
Entering the room, Kairo wraps his arm around my waists from behind. He shuts the door and he locks it as he pulls my body against him.Just like the last time, the every corner of the room is dark, and the only thing that provides light is the lamp on the bedside table."I love your tight dress. You're so sexy." I didn't think that it's possible, but I feel my cheeks heating up after Kairo complimented me. "Bed, come on. Blindfold." He commanded. And I then I found myself heading towards the bed as I reach for the zipper of my dress. I want to unzip it and undress myself in front of him. But instead of me, he was the one who decided to undress in front of me as I keep my eyes on him.He's standing at the corner of the room, and from the bed, I saw him take off his coat. I saw him unbutton every button of his long-sleeved white polo. He also unzips his pants and I can't take my eyes off of him.I heard him chuckle, "Staring is rude, my lady." I just grinned at him and decided to focus
"A runaway groom? What the hell? Why would he do that if he's just using Aurella for self interest?"My face is probably showing Conrad a huge question mark right now. A huge question mark with my curiosity coming with it. The origin of my curiosity is cannot be identified, but I have a feeling that I somehow believe that this Lucas Zayd Foster can't betray his own system that day.I have a feeling that this Lucas, became a runaway groom and it's all for a woman that he can't stop thinking about.Cupid probably made him realize exactly the moment that he's standing at the altar waiting for Aurella.Poor Aurella."I don't know. None of my friends know. It's still a mystery up until now."Well, that mystery is fucked up. Really fucked up. There's no way that Lucas wasn't rooted on his place when he saw Aurella walking down the aisle. There's no way that he never thought of the consequences that comes after his actions. There's no way that he just decided to put Aurella in so much fame.
"Where's the banana cake?"I look around the kitchen to search for the banana cake that my aunt Astacia bought for me.Today, Conrad and I decided to gather everyone up and tell them the good news. Well, some friends already knew 'cause Conrad couldn't contain his happiness. But our family still have no idea at all. All they know is that we're all gathered here for a dinner together. And they're not going to suspect anything at all due to the reason that Conrad and I do really host a family dinner every month.I figure out that it's a good way for Calvert to know the whole family. It's like a get together but all for Calvert. It takes so much effort for some members in the family to make it here in our house every month. And I appreciate it very much that they all agreed to this family tradition in the making. They reschedule more important matters and sometimes, I think that it's too much. But sometimes, I think that it's worthwhile especially that it's all for Calvert."I placed it
"What?! What do you mean she's back on business?"Bryce is shocked to the core and it's makint me want to burst into laughter. And it's all because I know that Aurella Aglauros is not just a widely known supermodel.She's someone from Bryce's past. Someone that's trying to put him down for years now. But actually, they're like cats and dogs in the business world. It's not just Aurella that's trying to destroy my friend here. My friend here is also determined with every fiber of his being to fire back as strong as she's trying to kick him out.But that was years ago though. After bickering for a long time, Aurella decided to stop handling their family's business and just focus on her modeling career. Maybe it's because of the pressure that her family is putting her into. Or maybe she has other reasons kept.Just like my dirty little secret."Conrad? Are you still there? Hey? Talk to me, asshole.""Bryce, language! You're with my son." It's absolutely my turn now to snap on him."Relax.
"No need to cry about it, Eve. I understand, and I can see that you've been tired and stressed out lately. You're doing your best, and that's all that matters."Whatever I do and say to calm my wife, I still can't succeed at stopping her eyes from crying and dropping tears all the way down to her cheeks.She keeps on apologizing about misplacing her wedding ring, and then accusing me of cheating on her with Aurella. And me, being me, as her husband, I keep on assuring her that it was all fine for me. I always understand her, and I always try to picture myself in her shoes. And every time that I do that, I'll eventually think that I won't survive as a woman and a mother at the same time. I don't even think if I can be graceful and incredible just like how my wife Genevieve is."No, it's just, it's so stupid of me to misplace my ring. And it's not just any ring, Conrad. It's my wedding ring! The ring I had since we got married. I'm sure that offended you even just a bit."I cup her face
I have a feeling deep in my gut that Bryce won't disappoint me at all, and that he will take care of Calvert real good. But the mother in me says that I needed to tell him that in order for him to get even just a single hint that I'm a monster at worrying when it comes to my son."Don't worry, Eve. I won't make you regret on the decision you've made. And this is not the first time that I've watched over kids. I'm good at taking care of them, so just trust me."I nod, "Okay. Thank you.""You're at the nursery school now, right?""Yeah.""You sound really tired, Eve."I look around to find an unoccupied bench to sit to. But when I'm finally about to sit, my phone beeps telling me that the phone call I had with Bryce just ended."Oh, well—""You sound really tired, so you should go home now and take a rest."Bryce suddenly pops in front of me and he's wearing his signature small and unrecognizable smile. "Go, Eve. I'll be watching over Calvert. I promise, after I watch you get into your
"Come on, mama! I'll be late!"I have no idea if I should be proud of Calvert being excited to go to the nursery school everyday, or be all lazy and have Conrad to send him off.It's been a week since my little Calvert had started going to the nursery school, and I've been trying my best to match my schedules with Conrad. And of course, with Calvert too. Asides from having different schedules, Conrad and I have no one else to watch over Calvert or to send him to the school whenever that I can no longer ditch my work with a massive force.I am still a magazine journalist under the publishing company of my own husband. But now, I am also a mother and an author who's busy with her third book. I know that I can just take it easy, or maybe do things one by one. But I can't just easily cross out one thing that I am passionate about. One thing that makes me who I am. Without these things, I wouldn't be someone who Conrad calls his wife; I wouldn't be someone who my little Calvert calls his m
"Mama and Dada are here for you. And about Paddington, I think I can find you a teddy later after all of this. What do you say?" Calvert claps and kisses both of my cheeks. "Can I come with you, dada?" I glance at my wife to look for her approval. But the look on her face is asking me, 'Really? Spoiling him?'. I know that this might not be good, but I can't stand looking at my boy knowing that he's nervous."Of course, you can come with me. But now, let's handle this preschool business first. We'll be over it, and you will have a very good time. Mama and Dada will watch over you."He smiles, "You promise?"I show him my pinky and he instantly binds his with mine. "I pinky promise."After promising to my son, his tiny hand holds mine and he walks over to Eve to hold hers too. We all walk together inside the nursery school without letting go of each other's hands. And when Calvert finally finds the best seat for him, he waves his hand at us who are quite far from him. He then listens att
"Good morning."Even with my eyes closed, my lips manage to form a smile when I feel her lips touch the surface of my cheek.How the hell can she wake up so early?And how is she so good at this?"You better get up now. You're going to be late for work if you stay in bed for 5 more minutes."Oh, whatever. I don't care if I'm going to be late for work. I'm the CEO anyway and I'm very good at it. But for now, I want to stay in bed for a little longer. With my wife.The sound of Eve's sweet giggle instantly fills the whole bedroom when I pulled her on top of me by her wrist."Conrad! You should get up and take a shower now." She's still giggling as I wrap my arms around her. Stopping her act of resistance; only making me tighten my hold on her. "I feel very lazy today, my wife. I don't want to go to work. Can we just stay here all day?" How dumb of me to ask even though I know she'll never approve it. Plus, I interfered with her work last night. Meaning, nothing can stop her now to conti
"Mama, let's have an agreement."I heard Conrad let out a small laughter that made me glare at him. Only for a matter of seconds because my eyes settle on Calvert and I give him a soft look.Conrad laughed because he knows that Calvert is about to propose an agreement that will lead to letting him stay up past his bedtime and finish the entire show. Conrad also knows that my defenses are always weak for our little boy. And honestly, I find it difficult to hold my ground sometimes. Back then I used to wonder why some mothers would just easily give their young ones whatever they ask for. But now? I totally understand. It's a different kind of tormenting feeling when you don't want to give your child what they want. But as an adult, you should always choose to do whatever is best for them. The level of difficulty of parenting will never be matched by anything in this world. And I just hope that I won't lose my mind.God."You don't have to give the same agreement all the time, baby." I s