Chapter 14
We returned to the office when the lunch break was over. Indeed, I felt energetic to complete the pending task ahead of me…
When I was done with it, I neatly arranged the files then went to Liam’s phone to submit the files for him to review.
It was then I realized that he has not been in his office all this while (since we returned from break).
I stopped all the acting and be free to myself; I mean I was deluding to be composed, good and hardworking.. Of course I am but not to that faking extend.
“Why didn’t you tell us that Mr Liam is not around? I just found out from the receptionist, she said he hasn’t return to the office ever since he left” George poked in immediately I returned to my seat.
“I guess we found out at the same time” I replied him.
“Enough of choking myself” He loosened his tie.
“Hey, think about if Mr Maya, his father or agents from the companies we work with, suddenly shows up or Mr. Liam himself?” Daisy said… entering my office too. Yeah I can now call it my office.
Maria on the other hand, said she was busy with something, so she couldn’t joke around that free moment.
Leaving George and Daisy who claimed that they didn’t have anything to do.
“How do you cope Eve? are you aware that from Mr Liam’s office, he can see through that means he can see you?” Daisy asked me.
“Yeah.. well” I nodded and they reacted a bit sad for me.
We were together throughout, with them teaching me new stuffs, reintroducing me to other people, telling me the kinds of stock they trade and exchange with out companies, the contracts this company has won… etc.
Before we knew it, it was closing hour yet Liam wasn’t here. I was worried because he didn’t inform me that he won’t be back soon or that he might not even return to his office.
“Come, let’s go wait at the bustop” They beckoned me.
“I’m.. i’m waiting for Liam” I told them.
“Liam?” Maria questioned.
“Yeah”
“Why do you call him Liam and not Mr Liam?” She asked me.
“Uhn… Maybe because he is not here” I lied.
“Why are you waiting for Mr Liam?” Maria asked me another question.
“Because…” I scratched my hair.
“Actually Liam and I stays in the same neighborhood”
“You do?” They exclaimed.
“Yeah, that’s why he brought me here this morning”
“Oh that explains how he easily offered you a job” Daisy remarked.
“Since you guys know each other and already have this rappole, you should not be scared of him at all” George implied..
“Hahaha..” I gave a weird laugh.
“You can go ahead guys, see you tomorrow” I waved at them.
“Tomorrow is Saturday ” Daisy said.
“Tomorrow is Saturday?” Oh that’s true, how time flies.
“I hope Liam returns before the company is locked. It’s nice meeting you Eve, see you again on Monday ” George gave me a hug then Daisy and Maria did the same thing.
“Bye.. ”
“Bye and I guess you have no choice than to board a bus or cab if he doesn’t return” Maria told me and I nodded and watched them leave.
I waited behind and saw everyone leave…
It was getting late, even the one in charge of closing the office; came by..
I had to go wait outside; by the road side, staring at the dull cloud, looks like it’s about to rain. I guess I would just leave already because Liam himself might be upset with me that I waited for him when he didn’t even say I should.
I brought out my phone to dial his number, since I saved it earlier.
“Eve!” I recognized that voice.
I looked up only see Liam in his car, packed in front of me.
I heaved a sigh of relief as I walked towards his car.
“I was just about to board a bus” I lied to him but he picked up his ringing phone and said hello into it.
I heard that same hello coming out of the phone with me.
“Ohh” I forgot that I dialed his contact earlier. I quickly disconnected the call but it was too late, he found out already.
“Are you the one calling my phone?” He asked me.
“Err… I was waiting for you” I finally confessed.
“Come inside the car, I’m in a good mood” He said; I was about to move to the back seat but he opened the door of the front seat for me.
I forced out a smile and entered and closed the door.
“Seatbelt” He told me..; I obeyed wearing on my seatbelt.. then he began to drive.
“That was my girlfriend” He said to me.
“Uhm” I only nodded because I didn’t know why he was telling me.
“Her name is Clara; she is very beautiful, isn’t she?” He asked me.
“Uhhn.. Yes, yes she is” I responded.. i wondered if he is trying to insinuate something or he is only overjoyed that he hanged out with his girlfriend today, now he probably needs someone to talk and burst about it to. That’s why he’s talking to me.
I didn’t say anything else, didn’t even look at him. I only focus on where he was driving to; looking at the window. Yes I’m still very much scared of him regardless of whether he is in good or bad mood. Never will I forget the words he said to me, also the terrible way he treated me.
“Are you preparing for when i’ll be in a bad mood?” He broke the silence as if he knew what I was thinking about.
“Uhnn…?” I sat upright and looked at him. I bit my finger trembling because I really don’t wanna get on his nerves.
“I have a question to ask you Eve” He said.
“What question is that?”
“Are you… No, let’s start from here; how old are you?”
“Twenty” I replied him with no second thought to increase my age.
“You are very young” He said..”Are you happy that you are married to my father?” He asked me.
“Uhmm..” I didn’t know what to say but he observed that I was scared of him. Why won’t I? The last time I opened up to him, it was hell for me.NôvelDrama.Org: text © owner.
“No, no… you don’t have to be scared of me” He assured. But why is he so considerate at this moment?
“Don’t worry, the good mood has come to stay” He said and I sighed.
“To be sincere Liam” I looked at his face.. “I am not happy about it”
“Then why are you still doing it?”
“I have explained to you the other time”
“Ohh, ” He nodded his head, focusing on the steering; abruptly, he started driving slowly.
“You know Eve, if anyone else finds out about it, they will surely react the same way I reacted to you or even more than that” Wait, is he indirectly trying to apologize to me about the way he illtreated me?
“That’s true. I can’t even bring myself to tell other people that i’m married to an old man” I told him and he shook his head.
“I figured out” He scoffed; “I actually tested you through my ill-treatment towards you”
“What?”
“Yeah I found out that you are not glad about it”
“But what else can I do, I just wanted a better life” I tried to be free around him.
“When you finally get the better life, will you divorce him?” He asked me.
“I.. i don’t know” But within me, I know that’s the plan. “We… we are not bonded together by marriage yet”
“Really? Not even a legal registry? then how sure are you that my father is not indirectly paying you off for the s*x he is having with you” Liam said..
“I.. I… I.. ever had s*x with him” I told him but I can see that he didn’t believe me.
“What if I assist you in my own little way and then you leave my Dad alone? I… I can’t watch a twenty years old girl going through the plight” He said.
“I… I am not only doing this for myself but my father also, your father gave my Dad everything favourable that he demanded for before I moved on with him”
“Oh.. that’s right, you told me that your father has a heart issue” He said..
I folded my hands quietly. Thinking about Dad, I have missed him a lot. I really hope he is fine.
“It’s really sad, there is no way I can help you out and looks like you already have completely made up your mind” He was portraying to be calm and understanding this time around.
“I am sorry”
“Well.. why are you apologizing? There’s no time machine, so you can’t go back to erase the past.. you can only be careful and learn from the past, just use the mistake you made to do something great”
“What do you mean?” I asked him, we were almost at the gate.
“Play along with my father. You can do that right?”
“Play along?” I repeated. I tried to but it didn’t work out.
“Yeah, for your own good. Keep away the intimacy. Even i have no idea if you have also made up your mind to give him everything in return but be careful, you are only twenty against a over sixty years old man” He said and I nodded slowly.
He pressed the horn regulator and Robert ran to open the gate for him to drive in.
Gosh, is this really Liam?
He was pleasant to me just now.. Which means that he believed me all along instead he tried to decided to be intensed harsh to me which made me think he was wicked and I was afraid of him but somehow, I understood that that he is not a cruel person especially when he yelled back at his father regarding this same issue.
God! I wish this good mood which has given rise to his peasant attitude has indeed come to stay forever.
Maybe his girlfriend must have re-initiated him this gracious sentiment.
*****
***