Obsession

The rest of the time in the office, Mallory tried her best to remain calm and avoid getting on Wilder's nerves again. Despite how much it hurt her, she forced herself not to look at him and ignore the fact that he couldn't recognize her.

Arlo and the other manager filled him in on some urgent issues. Then, they talked about his meeting with the board members happening in an hour. 

"Has everyone been duly informed and prepared for the meeting?" Wilder asked. 

"Yes, sir. I made sure to send a reminder email to every one of them yesterday." Mallory replied as quickly as she could, avoiding eye contact with him. 

She gulped tersely after that. 

"Get everything set, then."

They spent quite sometime in the cozy office, until finally, Wilder dismissed them.

The moment Mallory got to her desk, she hastened to the restroom. She wasn't pressed or anything but simply needed an isolated place to cry.

Approaching the restroom, her steps became increasingly unsteady. She got into one of the room and collapsed to the floor, her body wracking with sobs as she let go of all the emotions she had been holding in. It was as if a dam had burst as her tears flowed freely, soaking her cheeks and the cold thighs beneath her. Her cries echoed off the walls, and in that moment, she felt utterly alone, lost in her despair.

For seven years, she looked for him, cried for him, and hoped for his return. For seven years, she lived in the nightmare of losing him and at some point, feared something bad might have happened to him. So, how was he overseas the whole time? And how couldn't he recognize her? What the hell happened to her Wilder?

For a long time, she cried within the walls of the restroom. She's never felt so broken, so dejected. The pain was even worst than when he'd left, 'cause it was more painful having him in front of her but not being recognized.

Finally, as her tears began to subside, she slowly rose from the cold hard floor, her fingers trembling as she gingerly wiped the remnants of her tears from her face. A sense of calm washed over her, tho, she knew that pain would never go away.

She ambled to one of the washbasins, and as she washed her hands while staring at the wall mirror in front of her, she made a resolution. She was going to hire a private investigator to carry out a search on Wilder. Yes, that was the best thing to do. She had a good friend she was sure would do a good job for her. She'd carry out a search on Wilder and know what really happened to him.

She put her hands under the hand-drier and made sure there were no traces of tears on her face. Just when she was about leaving, the door of the restroom went open, revealing Arlo. Mallory flinched upon seeing him.

"Mr Arlo?" She furrowed her brows. "What are you... doing here? This is the female restroom."

Arlo, his hands dipped into his suit pockets, glanced round the place with a grin on his lips.

"Well," he shrugged, looking at Mallory. "I kept waiting at the door, hoping you'd come out. But you were taking too long."

Surprise washed over Mallory. He had been waiting for her? A hint of his intentions lingered on her, but she waved it aside, not wanting to think about it.

She watched unsteadily as Arlo walked towards her. "What was the meaning of that display you put up at the CEO's office, Mallory? Did you really know him from somewhere?" He titled his head.

Mallory creased her brows and shook her head.

"It's nothing," she tried walking away, but Arlo gripped her hand, making her stop.

"Now, calm down, will you?" He teased. "If it wasn't for me, covering you up every now and then, you'd have probably been fired by now."

Mallory took a deep breath. "I really think you should let me go. We're in the female restroom, and I wouldn't want anyone to find us here and have the wrong impression."

"And what if they do?"

Mallory was stunned. She tried freeing her hand from his grasp, but it was futile and too firm.

"Can you let me go?" She groused.

Arlo chuckled, loving the fact that she couldn't get away.

"Relax Mallory; the last thing I'd do is eat you up," he grinned. Then, with his other hand, he dipped his fingers into his hair with a sigh.

"You know you're special to me, right? And you know I've always admired you. Go out with me, I promise you'll never regret it. You know me, Mallory; I was the previous CEO before Wilder showed up. You were new in the company, but I had chosen you as my secretary. Can't you see I have good intentions for you?"

Mallory blinked severally. If only he knew the pain in her heart, he wouldn't bring that up.

"Please, Mr Arlo, I need to..."

"What exactly is the problem, huh?" Arlo cut her off, desperation kicking in. "Take a look at me - I'm young, I'm rich," he scoffed. "You'll never have a problem with money. Just go out with me, even if it's for a night."

"That will never happen," she gritted at him. Hearing a night from him made her eyes glint with so much anger.

"I acknowledge the fact that you've helped me a few times, but I never asked for it, Mr Arlo. I had no idea you even had such thoughts in your head, not until few weeks ago. There are many other beautiful ladies in this company, so please, pick someone else and just let me be." She struggled to break free from his grip, but he didn't let her go.

"There is no woman as beautiful as you are, Mallory," his eyes shadowed with lust. "And even if there is, I still want you. Badly."

"Well, that will never happen. Now, let me go!" This time around, she struggled with all her might and was finally able to pull her hand from his grip. 

She became more upset, panted heavily and tried going to the door, but Arlo still pulled her back. His eyes simmered with rage.

"You know what they say about biting the finger that fed you?" He grumped. "Don't try that with me, Mallory; 'cause you'll regret it. Trust me."

"I'm never regretting it. Now, let me go!" She pushed him off, making him stumble backwards.

Throwing a sharp glare at him, she opened the door and scurried out of the restroom before he'd reach for her hand again.

She returned to her desk and took in a deep breath, fear still washing over her over Arlo's display. It all started two weeks ago. For the past two weeks, he's been rubbing it in her face that she was only there because of him. He's been making her feel indebted, and that her body was the only form of payment he needed. This made Mallory anxious because she learnt Arlo was Wilder's cousin and had his influence in the company. Why did she have to be so unlucky? 

She lowered her head on her desk in pain, trying to overcome the conflicting thoughts in her head.