Chapter 3

Chapter 3

“Fuck,” I uttered.

I was staring at the furniture and appliances that Mr. Cohen sent me. Until now, I couldn't figure out why he would give me tons of things when my place is not that huge!

“You're all giving me a headache,” I mumbled, might be losing my mind for talking to these things.

Can you imagine it? He sent me a refrigerator—and take note, it's not just a simple refrigerator; it's the most expensive ref! It's a double door and there is a small screen on the other side of it. He even sent me a microwave, blender, air fryer, chairs, table, vases, and a lot of things.

I took a deep sigh before I quickly grabbed my towel and took a shower before I headed straight to the company. Today is my first day as his secretary. I should be nervous, but that's not the situation. I kept thinking of the reason why he suddenly gave me those expensive things.

“Sh*t,” the woman in front of me dropped the paper from her grasp when she saw me. I roamed my eyes around and they all looked like that, as if they saw a ghost, which is me. I would be surprised and puzzled if Mr. Cohen and his former secretary weren't like this yesterday—but they were.

I faked an awkward smile as I headed to his office, ignoring all their gazes that seemed to be a bullet to the point that I could feel it on me.

“You need money, Dahlia.” I whispered to myself.

I stopped in front of his office, facing the door. I had to heave a sigh before I knocked three times and sat foot inside his office.

I was supposed to greet him, I swear. But the moment our eyes immediately met as I came in, I just lost all the words that I practiced.

“G-Good morning, Mr. Cohen.” I finally said and pulled myself together. He followed me with his eyes as I stood in front of him.

“Just tell me what I have to do,” I said and drew a small smile. Now, I'm nailing it.

Except for the fact that those exquisite eyes of his were melting for another reason by looking at me.

“I need coffee in the morning—black coffee. My former secretary also ordered me breakfast and then she arranged all my schedule.” He explained shortly.

I nodded. “Copy that, Sir.”

“There's a coffee room outside my office,” he said, avoiding my eyes.

So, I went out and found the room he was talking about. I'm being amused by this company. The coffee room was cute and I could smell the brewing of the coffee. Good thing that I know how to use the machines as Charlotte has this in her house. Just like what he told me, I made him black coffee and served it to him.

“Thanks,” he said while busy on his computer.

“By the way,” I uttered, about to mention what he sent me.

“Yes?” He asked and now gave his eyes back to me.

“I…uh…” I shut my eyes firmly. D*mn it. Why would he give me those, right?

“You sent me a lot of things,” I mentioned.

“Oh, you received it yesterday?” He asked and smirked with satisfaction.

“Yeah, I did… but, I don't think I can accept any of it, Mr. Cohen.” It was so fast when his eyes came back to me after I refused to accept the things he sent me. He looks bewilder, as if he was not expecting me to turn it down.

“What? And why? I gave it to you for free, you don't have to pay for an—”

“Oh, it's not about that. It's just that… I don't know why you did that. It's kinda weird,” I know that I became blunt at that moment. But I cannot accept those things, especially that it will not fit in my place.

“And my place is small, you know. It will not fit there,” I mentioned, to avoid making him feel bad.

“Then, find a bigger place. I'll buy it for yo—”

“Why are you doing this, Mr. Cohen?” I smirked unbelievably, bewildered. This is freakin’ me out. Why would he a bigger place for me? Damn, I'm just a secretary.

“I mean, I am not connected to you. I'm just your new secretary. Did you do this to your former secretary? I'm sorry, but I don't just understand.” I was in total distress trying to understand why he's doing all of this.

“Hey, Sea—” both of our attention were captured when the door just opened and an unknown man just barged in.

His hair is brown wolf cut, but it's enough for me to be blind by that bright silver earring on his left ear. There was also an earring on the side of his nose, but I can also figure out in one look that it was just fake. If Mr. Cohen is handsome, this man is also good looking, indeed. However, he's the bad boy type—a womanizer, probably. With those thick brows, hazelnut eyes, perfect shaped nose, to his thick lips that every woman would die for—I couldn't help but to think that I am being surrounded with handsome men around me. Mr. Cohen looks professional, his authority speaks when you look at him. But this man, all I can say is that he's wealthy with his clothes and accessories.

“Ford,” I supposed that is his name, huh?

He was in awe. Just like the others, it seems like he suddenly saw a ghost when he saw me there. His eyes were widened as if it would bawled out at any moment. Even his lips are parted, and his saliva would probably drool.

“Can you leave us alone for a moment? Take this to arrange my schedule,” he said and gave me some papers.

I just nodded at him as I left. I even stopped for a moment and faced the guy named Ford who still cannot process everything. I ignored how he watched me leave the office.

I wonder what they are going to talk about.

Third Person's POV

“Pull yourself together, Ford.” Sean said and heaved a sigh. He wasn't expecting that Ford would be here. All he knew was that he was still in London because of business, and yet he came here unexpectedly.

Ford Castilian.

“Am I dreaming? Is it because I drank a liquor this morning? No, no.” He laughed like a man who was losing his shit.

“But I just saw Celeste and she's dead. Oh, it can't be.” Sean shut his eyes firmly while watching his best friend losing his mind after seeing Dahlia who looks like Celeste. It's like she's Celeste’s twin.

“She's not Celeste,” he uttered and blew out some air.

“Then who is she? Of course, she can't be Celeste because she's dead! Fuck! I should stop drinking alcohol,” he said and stole Sean's coffee that Dahlia made for him.

“She's my new secretary, Dahlia Savedra.” He introduced her. But then, Ford was still bewildered.

“How?” He walked slowly in front of him with his fingers glued under his chin.

“How can someone who exactly looks like Celeste exist?” He mumbled. It was also the question that roamed in Sean's mind when he saw Dahlia yesterday.

“Shit, Sean.” He said and now pinned his eyes at Sean.

“What are you planning? Did you hire her because she has Celeste’s face?” Sean knew that with those blunt eyes of Ford, he wouldn't be able to escape him.

“Oh, fuck. You fuck up, Sean, you're fucking up!” He exclaimed, didn't need him to answer anymore when the answer was all over his face.

“Sean, Celeste is dead. And right now, you're dragging an innocent woman to your pain!” Ford was definitely firing up. He couldn't help but to keep walking in front of him, hysterical of what Sean started. He knows what he's thinking. Sean is going to use Dahlia to erase the pain in exchange of love, thinking that Dahlia is Celeste and Celeste isn't dead.

“I know what I'm doing,” he uttered.

Ford chuckled unbelievably. “Are you sure? You're playing a fire,” he reminded him.

“Goodness, Sean. You're toying that woman,” his eyes closed emphatically as he heaved a heavy sigh.

“Everyone who knows about your relationship with Celeste would think the same as me, Sean. Everyone will think that you're only using her and that woman doesn't even have any idea,” Ford was trying to make him understand and stop whatever he's doing.

“Stop this, Sean. Let Celeste go and don't ruin an innocent woman,” he almost begged with his tone.

“I'm leaving,” he said and left him alone inside.

Sean was left there with no words but still unconvinced. He doesn't care whoever she is, what matters to him is that she has the same face as Celeste—his beloved woman.

Dahlia’s POV

I quickly stood up from my desk and bowed when Sir Ford came out of the office. Unlike earlier, it looks like he lost his temper. He was fuming mad when he gave me those eyes.

“Dahlia, right?” He asked.

“Yes, Sir.”

“Resign until you can. It's now or never,” he heaved a sigh before he began marching away from me. I only watched him leave while I was puzzled. He sounded like Mr. Cohen's old secretary. Was it a warning? And why do I keep receiving warnings from them as if being close with Mr. Cohen would ruin me?

Before I could even go back to my sit, the door suddenly opened again—and there was he, Mr. Cohen, who was eyeing me.

“Do you need anything, Mr. Cohen?” I asked professionally beyond our conversation earlier.

“How long do you plan to stay with me?” My brows crossed. Should I understand that pragmatically?

Dahlia, he was pertaining about your job in his company.

“As long as I can work. I need money, you know.” I was a bit ashamed to admit that. But I don't have a huge name as him. There's nothing to be ashamed of. It's the truth after all.

I am fucking broke.

“You salary is 50,000 each month,” he mentioned, which made a sparkle appeared on my eyes.

50,000? Fucking hell.

“But I will make it 100,000,” now, my jaw dropped.

100,000. Oh, shit.

“Really?”

“With a deal,” he added.

“What is it? I don't mind whatever deal it is,” oh, yeah. I don't care if I sounded craving too much for money. After all, you cannot live in this world without a single penny.

“You can't resign,” he walked closer to me, not allowing me to escape those eyes.

“You can never leave me, Dahlia.” He said firmly.

That moment, I felt like I was being manipulated and hallucination was invading me by looking at him. He went closer to me as his hand stood up on my desk, leaving a small distance from our faces. I couldn't even move a little.

I gulped in secrecy when I saw how his eyes went down on my lips. My heart was fucking pounding.

“Deal?” He asked seductively.

“Deal,” I replied.

Was it the easiest deal or the hardest deal that would burn us?

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