CHAPTER 4

It’s been five minutes since I received a curt text message from my boss ordering me to come and meet him at the brunch area of the hotel. I walk to the venue on shaky legs, from nervousness and tiredness. He really did a number on me last night and from how long he slept, I on him as well. I would celebrate but I feel like I am walking to my execution as I step into the brunch hall.

I see Marcus sitting ahead with an empty chair in front of him on the other side of the table where uncountable brunch delicacies have been arranged. The instant hunger I feel in my stomach urges me to walk forward although my brain warns me to run away.

I had sex with my strict-as-hell boss not up to twelve hours ago and I’m about to pay the price.

I withhold tears as I approach the table and take a seat quietly. “Good morning sir” I greet submissively.

Should I apologize or beg? I don’t get to decide because Marcus ignores my greeting and shocks me with his first words.

“Do you know who I spent the night with last night?” My boss, Marcus Wayne throws out the question at me so casually I nearly startle. He says it like he is discussing the weather and not inquiring about the details of his sexual activities from the night before.

Oh no, I lament internally. This is it, Penelope. Pack your bags, you’re getting fired any moment now. Instead of confessing, I feign complete ignorance.

“What? No! I’m not your chaperon you know” Fake disgust clouds my voice and I would be truly disgusted except I’m too high strung for that. From the looks of it, Marcus doesn’t remember much from last night. He doesn’t remember I am the one he slept with.

He arches an eyebrow at my short tone.

I clear my throat then murmur a quick apology. “Sorry. I don’t know, sir” I lie with a straight face.

He gives me a suspicious look but I have my poker face on and It is a really good poker face, hopefully it saves me today. I can’t believe he doesn’t remember. I would be offended at how easily he forgot me but this could be a loophole to me retaining my job. He wouldn’t know we broke his no mixing business with pleasure rule as long as he never remembers it ever happened and I’ll get to keep my job

To get his heavy, unsettling attention away from me, I speak. “What makes you so sure you spent the night with someone? Maybe you didn’t, maybe drunk Marcus Wayne isn’t as much of a womanizer as the sober version of Marcus Wayne” I whisper, hiding my proud smile at taking a subtle dig at him. But then it is the truth, everyone knows he is a Casanova. A different girl everyday has been his lifestyle long before I started working for him.

My Wayne gives me another look, I expect a scolding for my smart mouth but he merely shakes his head before putting a hand in his pants pocket and bringing out a tiny black strip of material.

“Because I feel an exhaustion that could only come from wild crazy sex and because of this” He waves the black lacy material in his hand this way and that way, then adds, “This was wrapped around my leg when I woke up”

At his words, I squint my eyes at the black…. Panties! My Panties!

I left my underwear in his hotel room. This is embarrassing. I squeeze my eyes shut wishing I could just disappear. Why did I come up for brunch when he called? Why didn’t I ignore the call? Why didn’t I even tender in my resignation the moment I left his room to mine. I should’ve fled to Nebraska. At least then, I wouldn’t be here, seeing my panties dangling from my boss's fingers… in public!

“Why are you blushing? Is there something you’re not telling me?” Marcus questions me now in an interrogatory manner.

I blink to get my bearings together and clamp my palms tightly underneath the table. “Blushing?” I let out a fake laughter of disgust. “I’m disgusted. Why did you bring… that to brunch? It’s not healthy.” I nod at the -my- panties in his fist.

Marcus nods at my words. “I agree.” He assents then before I can suggest anything, he tosses the material with the expertise of a skilled basketball player right into the open trash can a few feet away from our table.

My eyes widen. “Why did you do that!?” I give him an aghast look.

He shrugs, then takes a sip of his black coffee. “You said I shouldn’t have it around our eating table”

I rub my palm over my forehead, it’s barely noon and I think I’m having a dire headache already. “I didn’t mean to throw it away, I meant… maybe put it back in your pocket and take it back to your hotel room. Maybe the poor girl who left it there will come back searching for it” Silently, I add, I am the poor girl and I definitely would’ve gone back for my panties. I bought that from Victoria's Secret, it is sexy and one of my favorite panties plus it costs quite a bit.

Ever uncaring, Marcus summons a server with a flick of his hand. “The check” He informs him when the server stops by our table. Without even waiting for the man to leave he continues on with our conversation. “When did you ever start feeling pity for any of my hookups?”

I give him a glare, hookups? How degrading. I never cared about whatever he called his one night stands before but now that I have joined the club although he doesn’t remember, I’m offended on all of our behalf’s.

“I’m not” is my pathetic reply as I give one last “I’ll miss you” look at my discarded lace underwear now laying in the trash.

The server brings our check and Marcus clears it.

“Call a cab for yourself. I need to go to the gym now and I’ll be needing you this evening” Marcus says.

My breath catches. “Needing m-me?” I repeat. My dirty mind goes back to last night.

I’m forced to get back into professionalism when Marcus eyes me with curiosity. “You’re being extra weird today, Penelope” He notes.

I chuckle dryly. “I’m always extra weird” I joke but neither of us laugh.

Marcus continues speaking, “As I was saying, I’ll be needing you today. I’m finalizing the contract with Mr. Sancho of Zenoc and Co tonight, book a three seater at any reasonable fine dinning restaurant”

He is such a workaholic, it’s Sunday for goodness sake.

“A three seater?” I ask to clarify or maybe I’m just in need of some gossip, “Are you bringing a date?”

“It’s a work dinner, Penelope. You’ll be the third person” He orders.

What? “It’s Sunday, Marcus” I complain just as he is about to leave.

Marcus comes to a halt and arches a brow at me, looking all superior. He is standing already and because I’m seating, our already massive height difference is catastrophic, he looks like a giant and I am intimidated which I know is he intention.

I bow my head and correct my words and my use of his first name. “I meant Mr. Wayne. It’s Sunday Mr. Wayne” I correct softly, hoping it changes his mind. I just want to go home and sleep until tomorrow. I think I’m still hangover from last night. I’m so tired but then, it could also be that it is the hours long sex I had with my boss that is the cause of my tiredness and not the alcohol.

Rather than pity me as I had hoped, Marcus reaffirms. “Make sure the three seater table is at a secluded spot, you know I like my privacy” He warns, emphasizing on the words ‘three seater’ before turning and striding off gallantly.

He is so… infuriating! Marcus! Marcus! Marcus! I yell at his vacant seat in front of me wishing it was his face. As I do, I remember our first time meeting, it was the first time he warned me not to call him by his name and the first time I made sure he knew I wouldn’t be like every other secretary he had worked with.

That day, he had warned me that I wouldn’t last long working for him with my sassy attitude. But I’ve certainly lasted. Three years and counting. The job is not bad at all, I get paid well and have a handsome boss I can stare at when he is not looking. I’m saving my salary strictly that I know in the next few years I’ll be able to afford my own house which is my dream.

I can’t risk losing this job, because I know I won’t easily find another that pays this high. Which means, Marcus Wayne can never find out that the drunken one night stand he slept with and can’t remember, is me. His executive secretary.