Chapter Four - Even in a Macho, dwells a vain blood...

Forgetting he was expecting Liza, Mike gave an angry bellow.

 “What?”

 Opening the door tentatively, Liza quietly walked in.

“I’m sorry sir, I can come back if you’re busy,” she said.

Trying to compose himself, he went back to his desk and motioned her to sit.

“No, I’m not busy and I’m sorry for bellowing in that manner, just that I had a lot on my mind.” He said as he tried to give a smile. 

Liza gave a nod as she sat to face him while wondering and praying he shouldn’t mention the promotion. 

With everything going on with her presently, she hadn’t given the promotion a thought, so she’s yet to decide on what to do. Taking it would be the best move for her career but a promotion as the PA to the boss meant more work and less time for herself, and that might not be good for her relationship with Tom, who might look elsewhere if she’s too busy to have his time. 

She was hoping by age twenty five, she would be married and pregnant with her first child and that may not happen if she’s too busy traveling and working as a PA to the boss. 

No, she didn’t want him to discuss the promotion now. She needed time to think about it. 

She thought as she stared at him through her glasses, secured in the fact that he wouldn’t see her expressions and what she was thinking. 

Wondering what was going through her head, Mike tried his best to see her expression but the damn glasses weren’t making it easy. 

Adjusting on his chair, he cleared his throat and gave a little smile of assurance... 

“So Liza, have you had a thought on my offer?” He asked, and was surprised to hear a groan from her which she quickly covered with a cough. He hid a smile and pretended not to notice anything.

Shocked at the involuntary groan that came from her, Liza tried to cover it with a cough while praying the floor would open and swallow her. She didn’t have to look too deep into Mike’s eyes to see the amusement he was trying to hide. 

Obviously, it’s going to be another emotional day. Dammit!

 “I didn’t catch that, can you please rephrase your response?” he asked

Oh, you heard me, you evil man. But it gives you great pleasure to watch me squirm. She thought wrathfully. But what she said was. . . 

“Oh yes, yes! I thought about it Mike and I would like to ask for more time to think about this. If I’m going to be the PA to the boss, then I need to be sure I will give my hundred percent loyalty and attention to the job.”

“I should hope so, Liza. I demand hundred percent loyalty and concentration from my employees and this will not be an exception,” He looked sternly at her before resting his hands on the table to look into her eyes. 

“I need a PA, a professional one at that and you fit into the bill. I honestly don’t have the time and energy to start looking for another candidate for the position. You’re suitable for the job; else, we wouldn’t be having this talk. Another suitable candidate is Stella and we both know the office will not be the same without her, especially when I’m not here… 

“I need her to be here when I’m traveling the continents with my PA for business...So are you going to accept my offer or not?” 

“Em…em… well…I… I…” Not knowing what to say she coughed again as Mike forestalled her from saying anything again. 

“Before you reject my offer, think of the independence that comes with this, the raise in salary, the exposure, the security and most especially, the freedom to have a breathing space from everything stressful at the moment.” He added carelessly before he could stop himself and seeing the confused frown on Liza’s face, he quickly smiled and continued..., 

“I mean, look at this office, I believe coming in everyday to do the same thing over and over again must be tiring. Any sane person will be glad to take an opportunity that comes with traveling all over the world in luxury and comfort. Yes, it also means working late most times as there will be late night dinners with clients and colleagues, but think of the free food and wine, Liza”. He winked and she didn’t know when she gave an involuntary laugh.

“Who would have thought?” she said before she could think of the implications. 

But Seeing Mike’s curious expression, she covered her mouth with her hand in a childish gesture. 

“Who would have thought what?” He asked her and when she gave a shake of her head;

“Oh common, you can talk to me.” He told her.

With a little shrug of one shoulder.

“Well, I was just thinking out loud. I mean, who would have thought you had such a great sense of humour?”

She clarified, while looking at her fingers, which was why she missed the brief flash of anger that came to his face. 

By the time she looked up, Mike was once again composed with his usual little smile and seriousness. 

“Well, I believe it’s safe to say you don’t know me. You only know Mike the human boss, not Mike the human man, which isn’t enough to base judgment. As a matter of fact, it’s bad to place judgment on people when you don’t know their real person and emotions.”

He told her emotionally but seeing the shock on Liza’s face, he controlled himself. 

She was probably wondering where the outburst was coming from. 

For a minute, Mike thought of telling her about the previous night, and the uncomplimentary conversation he overheard but he reconsidered, he didn’t think she deserved another humiliation from the one she already suffered, poor Liza. 

Seeing his silence and wondering if he was as angry as he sounded over her little speech on humour, she tried to make peace by apologising but he waved it off in his usual brusque manner. 

“Don’t apologise for what you meant, you should only apologise when you don’t mean it and we both know you’re offering an apology because you don’t want to annoy the crazy boss. Well, you can forget it.” 

He stated calmly while Liza stared at him wondering why she had never seen this side of him before. 

For a crazy reason, their talk was giving her a warm glow inside, something relating to excitement. But it can’t be, can it? 

She wondered as she kept staring at Mike who in return kept looking at her with that intense mocking twist of his lips. 

Oh dammit! Dammit to hell! The world’s going crazy and she couldn’t understand anything anymore.