Christian

A sigh eluded my lips as I glanced at my reflection one last time in the mirror before stepping out of the bathroom.

“Good morning Chris!”

Instantly, my eyes shifted to the direction of the voice. Harieth lay comfortably on my bed, a wide smile playing out on her face and an expression that claims everything was all rosy with her. This was a surprise and I’m sure my face displayed that but rather than admit it further, I declined it.

“You never listen, do you?” I questioned as I made my towards the bed in stretch of picking up my tie but quickly, she grabbed it and sat up.

“Perhaps... perhaps not. I woke up this morning feeling pretty great so I just couldn’t care so much for your orders.” She stated with a strange sort of excitement. For the meantime, I said nothing. I stared, trying to understand what this strange behaviour of hers meant. I recalled last night and the brief moment we had. Either, this was her way of denying last night ever happened or she was simply trying to prove something to me.

“Let me have my tie or I’m going to be late.” I requested with a hand stretched out to her.

“Come on Christian. You own the company. No one’s going to ask questions when you show up late.” Her reply adds to her reluctance in returning my property.

“First, my family owns the company and secondly...” I place a knee on the bed and lean towards her while her gaze focused on me.

“... You don’t have to prove anything to me.” I snatched the tie off her hand once her guard was let down and only then did she realise what just happened. She battered her lashes a few times while she looked away for a second and tried to steady her happy face once more.

Ignoring her drama, I stood once more on my two feet as I hung the tie around my neck and began my attempt at knotting it.

“I-I’m not proving anything to you...”

“Really? You’re in my room regardless of my order to refrain from being here. You’re smiling, talking and pretending like you didn’t lean on me last night. I get it. I wasn’t supposed to see you in your vulnerable state but guess what; you can’t always be in control. Last night happened so get over it.” I was done with my tie so I looked up to her. The smile she wore earlier was gone and a sullen expression lay on her face.

Her eyes focused anywhere else but on me.

“I’m over it.” I added which forced her eyes back on me and without wasting a moment more, I turned away and began my steps towards the door, not forgetting to pick up my jacket off the sofa.

I let out a sigh once outside the room and the door shut behind me. A flashback of how her arms curled around mine last night intervened and I could do nothing about it.

I’m over it.

I recalled my own words. Well... Soon, I’m going to be.

Harieth

I slumped flat on my back and stared at the ceiling.

Did I try too hard?

No, I’m pretty sure I did what I’ve always done. I simply acted like nothing ever happened and he was supposed to play along. He wasn’t supposed to point out the fact that I was up to something, well, so much for sharing that moment for that night.

I sighed quite loudly and exhausted.

Why am I doing this in the first place? I’m Harieth Gryffin. I don’t care what people think of me therefore I’m not supposed to think of what he thinks of me. I’m not supposed to try too hard, except... except it seems I can’t help trying to control his thoughts of me since I have feelings for him.

I buried my face in my palms as I felt the urge to scream my lungs out but a muffled scream would suffice for now.

I have to do something. I have to keep my feelings in check and stop it from clouding my thoughts, actions and life in general. I need to be busy and with that thought, I got off the bed and hastened my steps out of the room.

Christian

“Yes, Miss Larson.” I beckoned and waited for my secretary’s voice to come through the intercom.

“Sir, Mrs Hen... I’m sorry, Harieth is here.”

Instantly, I lift my eyes up, away from my laptop. Harieth?

“Sir? Sir...”

“Let her in.” I ordered before the call got disconnected and I’m left wondering why she would show up at the office a second time in a row.

A knock came through followed by an order on my part for her to come in. The door opened and she stepped in, shutting the door behind her. I watched as she graciously walked towards me, looking as stylish dressed as always and a simple smile playing on her pretty face.

“May I have a seat, Mr. Hendrix?” She politely requested once she was in front of me.

Unavoidably, my brows narrowly ceased up at the clearness in her voice and the epitome of sincerity entailed within her eyes. This has got to be some sort of game. Did my pep talk this morning have no effect on her?

“Christian.” She called with a snap of her fingers which instantly snapped me out of my thoughts and onto reality at the fact that she had been waiting for my reply for a while now. I blinked a few times while looking elsewhere in other to get control of the situation.

“What is it? I let you know of my presence, I knocked and I politely asked if I could have a seat in your office. I don’t know any better way to get on your good side.” She ranted, her old self finally returned.

“What are you doing here?”

“Is that the only question you have for me each time I show up here?” She questioned back as she made herself comfortable on the sofa. Her head rested back as she crossed her legs, barely exposing a good glimpse of her thighs beneath her dress. I rolled my eyes away from the sight.

“Fine, why are you here?” I questioned before shifting my eyes back on her, only to find out her head stood straight once more and her eyes gazed directly at me. A smile broader than the one she walked in with, plastered on her face. Her appearance worried me a bit.

“I want to work.” She stated with an unexpected enthusiasm.

“What?”

She got up from her seat and started her march back to me.

“You said something about working and owning money so I thought about it and now, I want to work. I’m bored of staying in that huge mansion all day and waiting for you to just come home.” Suddenly, she stopped on her tracks, her eyes a bit widened at what she just said. Surprise was my brief expression as well. I hadn’t quite expected her to say she waited each day for my arrival. That would mean... that would mean...

“I’m not a housewife.” She blurted out in the heat of correcting whatever error she had put out there. For a few moments, she found it difficult meeting my gaze and I so desperately wanted her to. Most times, Harieth was easier to read once her emotions were out and I’m able to stare into her eyes.

She cleared her throat and pushed a handful of her hair behind her ears, the act alone a bit abnormal for even her.

“Well? Say something.” She queried as continued on her steps and only stopped once she was in front of my desk.

My silence lasted as long as needed, carefully thinking of the right words to utter.

“Are you sure? An actual work isn’t the same as shopping.”

A brief smile crossed her face.

“I know and that’s why I’m here and not at the mall. Look, just give me a position or better yet... make me the face of Hendrix products, the grand ambassador. I’m much prettier on camera than in reality. The company sales would sky rocket and it’ll all be thanks to me.” With a wide smile and dreamy eyes, I knew she was far off into her own fantasy than in what could actually happen. The scene of it all seemed quite funny to me so I chuckled as I lowered my eyes for a moment.

I raised them back up and she was staring at me. Everything about the expression on her face was quite different from what I earlier saw. Her eyes were softer, entailed with compassion. She battled with a smile or better yet, she seemed conflicted about displaying a simple or a broader one. I couldn’t quite wrap my mind on the conclusion as to her present state.

“You do smile and it’s not bad.” She confessed much to my surprise. Any smile that played out on my face eventually disappeared whilst my sudden inability to look away from her prevailed.

Has it really been so long since I smiled?

She was first to look away, probably sensing just how awkward things got real fast. She noticed and said something I hadn’t expected. It stirred something different in me and I couldn’t help but think she isn’t all that selfish after all.

“Can I have that job?” She finally spoke up, shifting her eyes back to me and choosing to behave like something didn’t just happen. I was going to play along, after all, lately, that seems to be the order of the day.

“No.”

“No?” She repeated, a tinge of surprise laced in her voice as I stood to my feet and made my way away from my seat to her side.

“It seems you’re unable to recall most of your embarrassing choices and the effect however light it had on this company’s publicity. Putting you out front would be suicidal on my part so no.” I took a look at my wristwatch ignoring the disappointment that displayed on her face.

“I have an appointment in about ten minutes. I think we’re done here.” I stated before making an attempt to walk away.

“Wait.” She hollered as both of her hands grabbed my arm to prevent me from leaving. One glance at her hands on my arm and she instantly, withdrew them away, clearly aware of her wrong doing.

“Fine. I’ll take whatever position you hand over to me. Just let me work.” Her statement sounded more like a plea.

I drew in a deep breath as I stared at her. She actually seemed sincere with her words and I’m choosing to believe she’s indeed interested in having to work.

“Assistant!?” She exclaimed much louder than I had imagined in my head. She looked away from me and back onto the people that feigned busy behind their desks whereas truly interested in what was going on between the both of us.

“Mr. Hendrix.” Mrs. Carson, the manager called as soon as she was out of her small office and made her way towards us.

“I wasn’t expecting your visit. Nevertheless, we can talk in my office.” She addressed and tried navigating our way towards her office but I politely declined.

“There’ll be no need for that. Already, I’m a little late on my appointment. I take it you recognise my wife.” The last word felt a bit awkward in my mouth. We’ve been married for a while now but it still feels a bit strange when I use that word.

Indirectly, I glanced Harieth’s side and her eyes steadied on me.

“Harieth. Harieth Gryffin, right?” She politely questioned with a hand stretched out to Harieth for a handshake.

She accepted the handshake.

“Correction, Mrs Harieth Hendrix. I’m sure you heard the part about me being his legally married wife which boils down to theme of this conversation.” She rudely let go of the handshake as she shifts her eyes up to me.

“I’m not serving anyone.” She proclaimed before shifting her eyes back to the manager.

“I’ve never done that in my life and I’m not about to start now. Although, it would be better we switch positions. I take your job and your little office and you become my assistant. I think that sounds better.”

A chuckle eluded the manager’s lips.

“You’re quite funny Harieth. Are you always this funny?” The unexpected happened and I noticed how enraged her question made Harieth. Clearly, she wasn't liking being turned into a joke.

“You want my job? You would have to go on a fair fight with me for it. I’m not quite sure if you majored in marketing or spent your intern days working enormously as I had but all that doesn’t matter when you’re married to the boss, right?”

My brows rose a bit at the unexpected comeback on Mrs. Carson’s part. I’ve heard one or two rumours about her blunt tongue and her ability to speak up regardless of who was in power. She was perfect for taming Harieth. Perhaps, it was time she got a taste of her own medicine. So far, Mrs. Carson was doing great.

One glance at Harieth and I could see her new fond spite for the woman in front of her whose retort had stung like a bee.

Why am I still here?

“I don’t have time for this. Harieth, either you accept the position or you can forget working in this company.” With what needed having said, I turned away and made my exit without glancing back even once.

Lately, I’m doing all sorts. I just hope letting her work here won’t come back to bite me.

Sorry about the late update. I know it's not as long as the last chapter but I tried my best. Hope you like it.😊😊