Chapter nine

You know that feeling when someone's telling you something and then you just want to look into their eyes and say, "I don't really give a crap"

That's exactly how I felt when he told me. I mean, it's not my company, I'm not the CEO. But I asked so it's not really his fault.

"Eric, I want you to inquire about what just happened." Mr. Bossy Pants said into the phone. "They said that..? Till when? Next month? Alright....yeah yeah, thanks." He hung up and looked at me. "Isabelle, the dinner is canceled go home," he said, and with that, he went out of the balcony.

Okay, to get this straight, two things made me shocked and surprised. First, is because he called me by my first name. And second is because he just left me there, just like that.

I walked down the stairs of the now deserted TE and flagged down a cab.

"Wilton Avenue," I mumbled and hopped into the car.

*

I laid back on my bed, unable to sleep, it was 11 PM and I was still tossing around on my bed. I decided to call my sister since it was still early evening in Seattle.

"Hi, sis, " she chirped from the other side of the call.

"Hey girl, how're you?"

"I'm alright, just busy with school and all, but I could spare time for you."

"Could? What do you mean could" I joked.

"Never mind." She mumbled and I knew she was rolling her eyes.

"How's mum?" I asked.

"She's asleep." She told me. "I had to tell her to go to sleep because she needs her rest."

"Oh okay, what are you doing?"

"I'm baking cupcakes." She said and I raised my brows. "A school project." She clarified and mouthed an Oh as if she could see me.

"How's school?" I asked, I really needed to keep this conversation going.

"School's cool." She answered. "Mum told me that you got hired in a place like this. I've forgotten," she said and I palmed my face. "A tech company."

"Yeah. The place is a second hell."

"Why do you say so? Are you being maltreated there?" She asked.

"Nah, it's nothing."

"I hear the boss is one hot asshole." She purred.

"Crystal!" I scolded and she giggled. "Who told you that?" I asked her.

"Nobody." She said and I could feel her smile from the other side. "Belle, I've got to go. Bye."

"Bye." I hung up and I sighed.

*

The next few days at TE was hell. Mr. Trevelyan snapped at any moment but yet he didn't fire me.

There was a time, I brought his coffee late, and he just snapped, though those gray eyes of his were blazing in anger, he still didn't fire me. I was also beginning to think I was his favorite.

"What's wrong with Mr. Hothead?" I asked Eric some days later.

He shrugged, "I think it has to do with that contract."

"Come on, you aren't telling us something," Susan whined.

"The contract was not given to anyone by the contractors. They said, they couldn't give anyone at all, because they had already promised us." He explained.

"Then he should be happy, why is he all worked up?" I asked.

"They couldn't give him the contract," Eric said.

"Why?" Susan and I asked simultaneously.

Eric shrugged, "I don't know. But all I know is that this contract is important to Ivan and his career."

*

"Good afternoon sir. You called?" I said to Mr. Trevelyan who was behind his desk, face all clenched together, all the same, he looked as hot as ever.

"Yes. I did." He replied, calmer than I thought he would. "You'll follow Tyler, he'll take you to James Gregory's company. I want you to deliver these files to him." He said calmly and I had to stop my brows from going up.

"Alright, sir."

Just so you know, I was still his PA. Apparently, his PA came and he fired her, for no apparent reason. I had to just take up the job. That's three people, he's fired because of me. I don't think I want to dwell on that too much.

"Come back to my office after the delivery." He said and I waited back. "You may leave." He dismissed me and I walked out of his office.

I went down the floors with the elevator and I got to the reception lobby. I spotted a red Audi SUV and I entered.

"Good afternoon ma'am." He greeted.

"Afternoon Tyler." I smiled. "We are going to James Gregory's company."

"Yes ma'am."

We arrived at the place and I entered the building. I spotted a receptionist in the lobby. "Hi, good afternoon, I'm from Trevelyan Enterprises, I'm to get these files to Mr. James Gregory."

"Sure." The receptionist gave me a smile and I gave her the files.

...

"Sir, the files have been delivered," I said to Mr. Trevelyan. He didn't answer, he only stared pointedly at me. His features were void of any emotions, so I couldn't tell what he was thinking. Silence lingered in the air and my feet began to hurt from standing too long. Soon, I gave up and tore my gaze from his. I turned on my heel and began to walk away, without his dismissal.

"Marry me."

I stopped dead in my tracks, like a vehicle in a sudden brake mode. My heart hammered against my ribs and my breath shallowed. Surely I didn't hear him well. He must have said: Travel me, Carry me or something else– even if it didn't make sense. I didn't hear him right, I'm very sure. Not.

Where was my subconscious when I needed her?

"Isabelle, I said marry me."  I heard him say again.  No, I said continuously to myself. I think I just need hearing aids.

I turned to him and sure enough, he had a blank expression written on his perfect features. I stared into his deep gray eyes, looking for any hint of amusement.

 I just need hearing aids. I just need hearing aids. I'm just temporarily deaf or something.

"Answer me." His voice snapped me out of my thoughts. I  jerked back to reality. 

Someone, please wake me up.

 The air around us seemed to hum like it was cackling at my misfortune. "I'm sorry, I didn't hear you correctly," I said leaning in a little. This is a joke, right?

Right?

"I said, marry me. Did I say anything from wrong?" Oh right, I just forgot that you're never wrong.

"You're kidding, right? I mean, hahaha!" I laughed nervously to myself, waiting for him to laugh along and tell me, he was just playing around, but his face was serious, not one muscle on his face twitched, to show was trying to laugh.

"Do I look like I'm kidding around?"

"But-" I wanted to say, you are doing a good job, holding the laughter back.

"I've done a little research about you, Isabelle Kimberly Greene." He said deadpanned.

I blinked. "What?"

"Your mum." He paused and then continued, "Your sister. Your friend. Every single person you are connected to."

My stomach churned and I began to feel agitated and jittery. My breaths were a go-between shallow and deep as my chest heaved them out.

Stalker! My subconscious yelled from nowhere.

"Marry me or it'll be all over, " he started and my stomach fell to the floor. "Marry me or you lose your job, and I will make sure you never ever find a job, on planet earth again."

Shut the crap up. . .