Chapter III

“What the heck is wrong with you? Are you serious about this?” I asked in disbelief. He said what again? He won’t accept no as an answer? And if I don’t accept his proposal, he won’t fucking leave?

Is he dead serious right now?

“What do you think, Ms. Merrywheather?” Sarcasm notices in his voice even with his stoic expression right now.

I was already frowning. God knows how I want to erase that smirk of his. It’s very irritating to see.

“I’m dead serious, Mr. Huntington.” I masked my voice with my all-so-over serious tone. I have to do it because my patience has been in a thin line and if I couldn’t get more serious, I don’t know what I will do to this arrogant guy. I never thought that this is his attitude. And what he said earlier that if I don’t accept it, he will stay? For real? “Are you sure you’re going to stay here, huh? Millions of people need you in your company and what the hell, okay? Are you just going to sacrifice just because I don’t accept your deal, huh?”

“Are you challenging me, Ms. Merrywheather? So, you say that you don’t accept my offer, huh? I wonder...” Mr. Huntington said and placed his hand on his chin.

“I am. I am challenging you, Mr. Huntington.” I cocked my brow to see him that I am serious about this matter. And that, I am fond of challenging him. Heck, I caught him gritting his teeth. Perhaps, he isn’t used to someone who challenges him. Wow. Is that a point for me?

I waited for him to answer because he remained silent for a while.

“Then... I will stay.”

My eyes broadened. “You what?” My eardrums aren’t broken, right? I heard it, right? Or did I hear it wrong?

Confidently, he leaned on the couch and crossed his arms. “I will stay. I will stay ’till you say yes to me. I don’t take no as an answer. Sounds demanding, what do you think, Ms. Merrywheather?” He raised his chin and gave me a mocking smile.

“You know what? You’re so annoying. And I want to chop you into limbs. Are you aware of that?” I faked a smile to show him. I sided my glance and saw the pillow on my side. Maybe, I could throw this off in his face just to get back, at least.

“I am not aware, Ms. Merrywheather. Why, yes, aren’t you?”

“Hell, yes!” I gnashed my teeth while answering. I massaged my temples because I think I’m going to have a headache. I never thought that this could be harder than I think it is. I thought I could just get rid of it just by saying ‘no’. But he was really serious. He didn’t utter comical words. “Hey, you!” He arched his eyebrow, looking at me. “It’s impossible that you have no meetings today. You are a workaholic person, right? So, are you serious about this?”

“Why? Do you care about me now, Ms. Merrywheather? I’m flattered. For your information, I canceled all my appointments for today. So that I could give enough time to you.”

I simply clenched my fist to his answer. He’s so annoying! I want to kill him and stab him so many times! “I don’t care about you. I just want you out of my sight. You’re so annoying every second you are here in my condo.”

He stood up and started roaming without even acknowledging the words I spouted. Frowning, I stood up and followed behind. “Hey, what are you doing?” I asked. “So, are you here to check all the furniture I have and are going to ask some personal things about me?” Sarcasm masked in my voice. Why couldn’t I keep my tone down? The answer is because of that eerie guy.

“Wow. How did you know that is all I wanted to ask you, Ms. Merrywheather?”

“Ouch!” I caressed my nose when I was bumped in Mr. Huntington’s back when he stopped walking. “What the hell, Mr. Huntington! Why did you just stop walking? Is that your way that you smell so good by stopping without any warning?!” I kept on caressing my nose. Ouch! My poor nose!

“You’re so talkative, Ms. Merrywheather. Do your teachers teach you that being such a talkative person would lead to you in detention? And one more thing, is that your way that I do smell good?”

I looked at him weirdly. Did I say that? Do I?

“Of course, you do,” he said it’s as if he knew the question in my head.

I shot him a glare and turned my back to him. “You stay here, mister. I’m going to take a bath.” I started walking while stomping my feet. He is annoying, to begin with!

“Argh!” I closed the door with so much force. It is like I want to break it apart.

Annoying! Too annoying! I want to scream but I prevent myself. Mr. Huntington is just behind that door. He was starting to get on my nerves. I’m starting to hate my former boss. I could kill him.

To calm my nerves, I went to the bathroom to take a bath.

Put in decent clothes, normally, just a shirt and jogging pants.

When I went out of my room, I found the living room empty. “Huh?” I looked confused seeing the emptiness of the living room. I snorted and smirked. Oh yeah, probably that gives him a chance to receive an emergency meeting so he left with no word. Yeah. That could be the reason.

Happily, I sat on the couch and laid myself, and took my phone as I opened all my social media accounts which some of my accounts were dummy accounts. And tweet something...

‘You can’t keep your word now, pal.’

Then I put a laughing emoji and sent the tweet. Smirking, I browse anything on my phone that will bring me to distraction in reality. Well, having alone time with myself keeps my lifeless distress unlike when I was still working for Mr. Huntington in the highest position. I kinda missed my job because I am a busy person. Where transactions of the entity and paperwork are the only things I did before. Oh yeah, do not forget the decision-making I spared on the former company I was working for.

Not for long, I got tired of checking out on my phone. I placed it on the coffee table. I slowly closed my eyes and took a deep breath as I felt the silence of this room. My mind and my body are looking for something to do today. I wasn’t used to staying long here forever.

“Perhaps, I need to get a new job then,” I said loudly, not minding my neighbors. I don’t care if they hear me or not. I want to express what is on my mind right now because Marlou isn’t here. Also, there are no people here aside from me.

I made strange sounds and scratched my head as I realized that staring at the ceiling is not a good thing to do.

I love my job. I resigned because I want to save Mr. Socrates. I didn’t think of the consequences of my action. I just made a move that is mistakenly not to think properly.

“Maybe I should accept Mr. Huntington’s proposal. I can’t live without doing anything here,” I said to myself. “It makes me insane to think that sooner or later, I’ll become crazy!” I clutched my hair and pushed myself to sit up. “And I am not going back to my father!” I almost screamed. That was the last resort that I would do!

Should I put my pride down?

That is a question that is roaming around my mind. I sighed in distress. I couldn’t help myself thinking that I cannot do something that resembles the job I had before. It is making me insane if I let myself stay here in this condo not doing anything but to be alone and rather talk to myself like an insane person. If ever my father finds out that I was jobless, he would immediately track me down.

Maybe accepting his proposal would bring me away from my father. But how did he know that I want to be the CEO of my own business though?

“I should go to his office!” I said with finality after having some thoughts. I stood up and made a clear decision. I will let my pride down. Being a personal assistant is a difficult task. But I think I can bear with it. I’m used to being a busy person. I’m used to holding files in my hands and signing and deciding.

That proposal… I can endure it but I cannot endure if I am in the hands of my father. So, might as well put my pride down and accept it.

I spun around and almost shrieked when I came to meet Mr. Huntington. My eyes widened and my heart palpitated so fast.

“W-What the h-hell?! Y-You’re still h-here?” I asked, stammering, almost shouting.

His ocean blue eyes were now staring at me as I found amusement in them. “Yes. I was at your kitchen.”

“I-I thought you are not... You are not...” Damn! I couldn’t say it properly. My mind was too occupied knowing that he was still here and minding that he might hear me talking to myself.

Mr. Huntington smirked which I think he found me lost from my words right now. “I did hear all the things you say. Welcome to my company again, Ms. Merrywheather! Tomorrow you’ll start working with me as my personal assistant.”