The plan and a date

(Phoenix POV)

Another day at work and it was going well until I remembered that I was yet to get a returning mail from Mr. Hugh Hancover. I had an eerie feeling about him that has refused to go away but I am just giving myself the benefit of doubt that I may be wrong. I quickly checked my mail and there it was---the invitation to a private party.

I was about calling Sterling to inform him about the invitation which I got; that was when I remembered how strangely he acted when he finally came into the room. I could tell that he was trying so hard to keep it away from me but I guess he also forgot that I am a boss and that I could also put on my poker face perfectly without any hitches.

This morning, I waited for him to tell me what the problem was but it seemed he didn’t want to tell me and I didn’t want to push it either because I might tick him off. Keeping all my worries aside, I decided to call him and give him the update.

I dialed his number using my personal cellphone and it went straight to voicemail. I tried it again and it went straight to voicemail. I wondered what could be the problem and I gave it a minute or two before calling back and this time he picked up.

“Hey babe, what’s up?” he said, in a husky voice that always did wonders to my stomach.

“Hey there, I called you twice and you didn’t pick up. For a second there, you got me kind of worried,” I told him plainly. I wasn’t going to lie to him----nahh, I wouldn’t do that.

“I’m so sorry; I was at my office lobby having a meeting with a business client concerning the upcoming business Gala. What do you have for me?” he said, and I could tell he had that ass-eating grin on his face.

“I got the invite to the party. I checked my mail this morning and saw that he sent it very early this morning. He seems eager for this party,” I said, swirling in my comfy chair.

“Oh really, when is it?” Sterling asked.

“It’s on Friday; in the evening. Honestly, I wouldn’t want to go for it but I’ll just show my face for maybe 10 minutes or so, just so I won’t be termed rude and besides this will be like a first for me,” I told him.

“See, I told you. So, what, does that mean I am going? After all, you do need a plus one, don’t you?” He said. I’m guessing he was pretty eager to follow me. I found his possessiveness very cute.

“Of course you’re coming with me. Who else am I going to go with, a ghost?” I said, laughing at his childish antics.

“Well then, we won’t stay long after that because you need to also get ready for Saturday,” he said, very clearly.

“Okay, I hear you. Well, I just thought I’d call and let you know,” I had to inform him or else I wouldn’t be at peace.

“You did a great thing. Have you had lunch, it’s almost time for lunch break,” He asked. I could hear some shuffles over there.

“No, I haven’t but I’ll order something soon. I can’t starve myself and the baby too,” I said, giggling while rubbing my baby bump that was slightly showing.

“Okay, leave that to me. I’ll order something for you from Alfredo’s and get Olivia to break it over for you, how is that?”

“I guess that would work too,”

“I’ll get right on that now. See you later. I love you,”

“Me too,” After he said that, I was grinning from ear to ear because whenever Sterling said that he loved me, it always hit differently. It made me feel more loved, more special but I don’t know if that will be the case when i tell him about my past.

And just like that, sadness overtook my once cheery self.

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(Sterling’s POV)

Hanging up, I immediately placed an order to Alfredo’s Restaurant, requesting for Seared Salmon lettuce wrap. I heard it was nice and everything from Alfredo’s tasted nice. After I had placed an order, I waited for them to deliver my order to my office before calling Olivia.

20 minutes later, Denzel informed me of the delivery and I asked him to call Olivia into my office. While getting some work done, a knock on the door distracted me.

“Come in,”

Some footsteps were heard and I looked up and there stood Olivia; she looked nice today—she always looked nice and that’s how I want my workers to look; nice.

“Good day, sir, you sent for me,”

“Hi, Olivia, please, seat down,”

“Okay sir,”

“I’d like you to help me deliver this lunch to Phoenix at her office. I don’t want her to starve. You know who she is, a busy bee and she doesn’t know when to stop,”

“Oh, okay sir. I’m going to do that now, any other thing?”

“Uhhh, yeah, about the baby nursery decoration, how is it coming along?”

“It is coming along just nice, sir. The interior decoration is done. The only thing left to do is to get the necessary baby stuffs like the baby bed, bassinet amongst others,”

“I see, hopefully, you can do that and I’m hoping that you can take Denzel along with you,”

“I’m sorry sir but Denzel? I’m confused, why should I take him along with me?”

“Well, that is for me to know and for you to find out. Just get it done urgently. I’m going to show it to her soon; probably on Wednesday,”

“Okay sir, I’ll get that done right away,”

“Okay, I trust you on that. Hold on a second,” I excused her and went towards my door, I poked my head through my door and found Denzel just some feet away from my door. I beckoned on him to come into my office and I went back to my seat.

When Denzel came in, I looked at him and then at Olivia. I wasn’t blind to notice what was going on between those two. They obviously have something going on but they are just trying to ignore it. I admit it, I’m new to love and I’m growing in it as the days go by—I mean, Phoenix definitely brought that side of me out and I want these two to experience it too. Being in love with the right person is indescribable.

After looking at them for quite some time, I decided to speak.

“Denzel, I need you to go with Olivia to the mall and get some really important things and drop them off at home. Do well to arrange the items properly so it won’t be scattered on the floor, making the place look disorganized. Do you understand me?” I said, looking at both of them. I could see Denzel’s eye widen at the thought of him and Olivia sharing a ride.

“Okay sir, we’ll get on it right away,” Olivia said, while casting a side glance at Denzel.

They both stood up to leave my office and I had to remind her about the food.

“Olivia, don’t forget to give her the food before going to mall and to the house and then back to the office. Do whatever you guys want to do but make sure that you both are out of my house before we return,” I said, sternly.

“Yes sir, we’ll get it done,”

They both left my office and I watched them leave before heaving a sigh. Tsk, these humans just wouldn’t behave themselves.

(Olivia’s POV)

It was as though a bucket of cold water was poured on me when I heard Mr. Tyrell say that Denzel was going to follow me to get the necessary from the mall. I mean, was this an ambush! I know I felt something for Denzel and I knew he did the same for me too but he was probably too shy to say it to me. I am probably reading into things but that doesn’t mean that I don’t see the way he acts around me—it was clearly obvious.

When Denzel and I got out of the office, he took me to the garage and pointed at a BMW which was a pretty neat ride for a secretary. I was stunned to say the least.

“This is yours?” I asked him, I mean, I had to ask.

“Yeah, the boss gifted this to me for my ‘hard work and consistency’, that is apart from being his close friend,”

“Is that so? And how long have you worked here?”

“I started working her a year after the company was founded and I must say, we’ve come a long way,”

I stayed at him as he boasted about the company with so much pride written all over his face. I didn’t say more; instead I opened my own side of the car door and got in. When he got in, we drove off to PHOENIX CORP.

(Denzel’s POV)

When Olivia started working at the company, I watched her from afar and I was pleased with what I saw. Sterling has briefed me on what was going on and how Phoenix asked him to employ and Sterling just couldn’t say no to her. I’m glad that she has changed him for the better and I wouldn’t have to do spy duty anymore.

I chuckled at the memories of how I’d spy on Phoenix just so Sterling wouldn’t choke me with crazy questions. I mean, the damn dude just didn’t know when to stop. I am his best friend and I’d do things for him; go to lengths for him.

When Sterling brought the idea of running an errand with Olivia, I was slapped shut. The crazy fool sold me out in the open and although he didn’t say it out loud, I knew what his intentions were.

Tsk, Olivia. She is a pretty one and I wouldn’t want someone else to snatch her away from me. So I had to work fast and move my plans up a notch.

I had to keep the secret of my identity to myself. Besides me, only Sterling knew about me and my plans and that’s why he let me work as his secretary against his wish.

When I drove off, all I was thinking about was to find a way to get married to Olivia and claim my inheritance but I had to know for sure if she truly loved me.