Chapter 5

ANNE

I stood dumbfounded, my droopy in in belief as he pulled away slowly, a small smirk gracing his lips. I could almost feel mockery in his expression. He couldn’t be mocking me, could he?

“You should note that our relationship, like every thing successful, will have rules, babe,” he stated, drawling the last word like he wanted me to hear that part in particular.

I raised a brow in confusion. What did he mean? I didn’t even have the faintest idea what I was supposed to do as his girlfriend. Was I going to get paid for it? Did that mean I was just dating him for his money?

My stomach sunk as a faint feeling of despair washed over me.

“As my girlfriend-”

“What will I be doing as your girlfriend?”

We both spoke at the same time and paused. His eyes iced over for a split second.

“Firstly, babe, you will learn not to speak without my permission. Most times. I need to think and I don’t need the buzzing distractions from anyone.”

That was like a punch to my guts. I didn’t even have a say in our relationship. What had my gotten herself into?

“Also, I can basically see you wondering if you’ll get paid. Don’t worry about your payment. You will get the sum of three hundred thousand dollars deposited in your account every month starting from now.”

My eyes nearly popped from their sockets. That was triple times my salary as a secretary. I stared at him.

“Also, this,” he pointed to the empty space between us to signify our relationship. “Stays between us. It’s not the business of anyone else but ours. I don’t want to hear it anywhere that we are in a relationship. You might wonder what you’ll be doing as my girlfriend.”

I mouth went dry at this. A secret relationship?

I opened my mouth to protest but he beat me to it. “I’ll make sure you’re well taken care of, babe.”

I winced at the way he pronounced the ‘babe’ but decided to let it go. At least we were in a relationship now. Maybe he could learn to love me like I wholeheartedly loved him, enough to be making such a decision. “What exactly will I do for you as your girlfriend?” I asked curiously though.

He shrugged. “Whatever girlfriends do. You can make your research. Mind you, you still get to be my secretary until I find a replacement.”

Perplexed but a tiny bit better, I nodded. “Alright.”

“Also, please take care of your appearance. I’ll send you some money for you to change you wardrobe. Use it well. I tend to get bored with dull looking things,” he stated waving me off. My stomach sunk. What was with him and his degrading remarks?

I masked my pain in a small smile. Things could look up from here. I guess love really made one foolish.

I had barely gotten back to my office when my phone dinged with an alert of ten thousand dollars. It had a simple message ‘Makeover’ accompanying it.

Grabbing a mirror from my bag, I gave myself a once-over. Was I so hideous? I thought I looked good.

My head shook on its own accord. Paul would not make me feel bad about myself.

My work had piled up within the couple of minutes I had spent making a decision that my mind objected to in Paul’s office. Settling down and re-arranging my things, I got to work.

‘You’re doing this for Elle, Anne. For Elle.’

In three hours’ time, we were at a meeting in an exotic restaurant with his business clients.

I sat, occupied with my job and taking notes of the key points as they spoke. The fact that we had suddenly become boyfriend-girlfriend did not mean I would handle my job with levity. It was my dignity after all.

My pen danced along the already full page of my diary when I felt eyes on me. Looking up, I caught sight of the middle-aged business partner on me.

Following his train of vision, heat flooded my face. His dark eyes were staring directly at my blouse which had a loose button at the top.

I cleared my throat, adjusting my blouse. Paul didn’t look like he noticed that. He was busy listening to the man’s assistant pitch his idea.

Shaking my head, I focused on the assistant as he spoke, ignoring the creepy stare.

“Your secretary is very commendable, I must admit,” the man, whose name I learned was Ethan digressed out of the blue when it was his turn to speak.

I turned to Paul, her face red and annoyed but Paul didn’t seem to mind. “She’s one of the best.”

Ethan smirked. “She wouldn’t be taken, is she?”

My eyes were fixed on Paul now as I wondered what his response would be. Would he really let this man keep checking me out inappropriately?

Paul’s eyes grew steely as he glared at the man. “Are you here for a business deal to you’re here to check out my secretary?”

The man stifled a smile. “I apologize, Mr. Paul Thomas,” he stated, not sounding apologetic in any way. “I just wanted to know if I could make a move.”

Paul rose to his feet, obviously indignant. I rose along with him. Being alone with this creep was the last place I wanted to be.

“Mr. Thomas,” he cut in, realizing that he had crossed a line. “I’m very sorry. Please give me another chance.”

Paul’s eyes were cold as he stared down at the man. “That will be another time, Mr. Ethan. Since you’re so interested in my secretary, perhaps you could make your move now that our meeting is done.”

I stood dumbfounded for a split second as he stormed out, before snapping to my senses and practically running after him.

Tears threatened to spill out of my eyes as I got into the car.

“What was that about?” I snapped, unable to hold the reins to my anger.

“What?” He asked. “You didn’t expect me to tell him you are my girlfriend, did you?” He callously threw his words around. “Did you forget our rule?”

Tears spilled down my cheeks before I could stop them.

“Paul, this is-”

He stepped on the gas, causing the car to move so fast my words flew right out of the window.

He turned to me with a grin. “You agreed to be my girlfriend, babe. Get ready for whatever comes. You’re in for a ride of your life.”

I felt the intensity of every word and my heart raced as he drove with a crazy speed out of the parking lot. Was it out of fear or out of realization that my decision was a mistake? I guessed I would have to find out.