Dalton

Braxton's eyes scanned me.

I smiled at him. He is talking to someone over the telephone.

My eyes remained on him. He looked away and continued to talk to the person on the other line.

I can't believe it. It is like nothing happened at all. He goes on with his day, like it was normal. Well for him, I am sure it is normal. He is a businessman. He handles a lot of things that are way worse than I've been through or anything that I will go through.

I'm so freaking crazy to overthink about it last night. I know that he wouldn't care the way I do. I mean, look at him! Same as yesterday. Nothing can ever shake him up or make him feel anything.

I want to tell him not to tell anyone about what he heard or what he saw. If he ever heard or saw anything, I don't think that he cares about it that much.

I still remember what happened yesterday. I was at the wedding of my cousin when aunt Cely tried to shame me. Yesterday was a disaster. Everything went downhill from the very beginning, meeting aunty Cely. Try to make me look like a disappointment. As if I'm not a disappointment already.

Adding fuel to the fire is the engagement of my cousin to my freaking ex boyfriend! I don't care about that anymore. Yes I felt betrayed and lied to, but they always do this to me. It is nothing new.

I just don't know how they can go on with their lives hurting someone. Is it that easy?

I sighed.

I don't know, and I'm not sure if he heard what my aunty said to me. He was there. He grabbed my hand and we left the wedding.

What happened yesterday cleared my mind.

I'm a shame to our family.

Nothing can ever change that, that is how they look at me. Whatever I do, that is how they will see me.

I can't help but thank him yesterday. He saved me from the insults of my aunty. I mean he didn't actually defend me but pulling me away from that place is more than enough.

After he pulled me out of there, he immediately looked for his car, he drove off and said nothing. I'm sure that Monica replied to his message but he didn't look at it right away.

It is okay with me, I can't answer his questions too. My mind is pre of the things that happened. Besides, I wanted to leave and never come back or talk to my relatives.

Dad told me to not entertain their invitations or look at it but I'm hard headed. I still went. I should have listened to Dad. After all, he is all that I have. I don't have any idea who my mom is. Dad never told me as well, he doesn't want me to know but my aunty mentioned it once.

She said, I was a disgraceful child. They are not expecting to have me. I should be here in this world but my mom had no choice, she continued with the pregnancy because she couldn't kill an innocent child. She can't love it either. So she gave me to my father.

I don't know if that is true, most of my aunty are shady. They spread lies as well so it is not a good thing to listen to what they say. But when I was a child, I couldn't get that rumor out of my head. As the years went by I learned how to get rid of the thought and shook my head whenever it came to my mind.

My relatives are shits. No offense but that is how they treat me, even before and nothing has changed now. They don't deserve to be visited by the one and only Artemesia.

Now I'm back and it is like nothing happened at all. I don't care if Braxton saw it or heard it. I told him not to come with me but he insisted. That's what he get, a day ruined.

I warned him but he didn't listen, Monica might have replied to his message or I'm just overthinking but it is on him.

But still, I'm so much thankful that Braxton pulled me out of that wedding party. Or else I would make a scene which will make it a lot worse.

Without talking or asking if I could sit on the chair in front of him, I sat already, just in time when the call ended.

"I got notified that someone bump into the elevator because you walked in Ms. Vena." He said as he dropped the phone.

My brows raised. "What? Why would they bump into the elevator?" I asked.

He crossed his arms. "By looking at you."

"Really?"

"I guess I'm a head turner huh.",

"Well, not in that family wedding and reunion."

I glared at him. I bet he knew everything that happened. I knew it.

"What? What should I do? I'm wearing decent clothes alright?"

"It is not about your clothes Ms. Vena. You are just gorgeous—" he cut himself off.

"They think you are pretty and you are getting too much attention."

"So? What should I do?"

"They are becoming suspicious every time you go here."

"Uh Uh? So?"

"Close the door."

"Huh?" What the hell? Why does she want me to close the door?

"Get rid of the thought in your mind, Ms. Vena. Close the door. I don't want anyone eavesdropping. This is an important business discussion," he said.

My lips protruded.

So what does he want now?

"You will be my secretary from now on."

My brows furrowed with what he said. "What? Your secretary? Are you out of your mind? I didn't sign any contract about having two jobs under you. I only sign one and I didn't read any clause in the contract saying I am obliged to be your secretary or play one."

"You will sign a contract now. Unless you want your first contract to be void. In order for you to teach me those things, we should cover up the real thing. No one is allowed to know what your real intention is. I don't want anyone to be suspicious that is all." I sighed.

Suspicious? As if coming here is not suspicious at all. We already got linked

"Fine. Where is it?"

"Here," he said.

I think he already planned this out. For sure he did, Braxton is the kind of man who calculates every damn thing in his life.

He even planned how to flirt with a girl, he hired me to be his flirting expert. He is willing to spend a lot of money to get the girl.

It is all worth it because the girl is worth a million too. She is worth everything, she came from a very wealthy family, has a degree, a career and she is damn well pretty.

I grabbed a pen on his desk but before I signed it. I gazed at him, our eyes met eye to eye.

I swallowed.

"I.. I'm sorry for what happened yesterday. I didn't want you to be in an awkward position and hear all those things," I said.

"Don't mind it Ms. Vena." He said straightly.

My eyes remained on him.

Well, he doesn't want to talk about it so why would I open up about it?

I'm just his flirting expert, nothing more. He doesn't want to know about my past, unless it would help with his flirting skill with Monica.

No, he doesn't care at all.

Why would he care?

Why would he invest time with you Artemesia? You are nothing, so shut up and finish this contract so you can go on with your life.

I was about to sign the papers when the door was bust open.

"Braxton!" A manly voice shouted behind me. I turn around to see a handsome and tall man.

He has fair skin and curly hair. He wore a simple plaid polo and khaki pants, he looked so elegant and cool at the same time.

Who is this guy?

I looked back to Braxton who raised his brow to him.

I assume he knows this guy because no one can enter his office without any appointment or without telling him on the intercom.

Maybe it is someone close to him.

Probably his friend?

"Why did you ditch me yesterday? I thought we were going to–" he cut himself off.

His gaze landed on me. I looked up to him.

His head tilted as he put his hands inside his pocket.

"Who is this gorgeous woman in front of me?" He smiled.

He scanned me from head to toe.

Damn, this man is more handsome up close.

Is he an actor? Model?

I scanned him. He could be an actor if he wanted. He is really handsome and I'm sure with his deep voice that he can sing well. There's a lot of girls that would fangirl over him.

The people around Braxton are either handsome or pretty people.

Damn. I've never felt so out of place.

He sat on the arm chair of the sofa chair that I'm sitting on.

"You don't look familiar, I don't think we've met before. I'm Dalton," he said as he offered his hand.

I threw a glance at Braxton before taking his hand. I didn't know what to do but I reached for it and shook his hand.

I was so confused.

"A-artemesia." I stammered.

What is wrong with you Artemesia? Why are you stuttering?

I said to myself.

Damn it.

Dalton chuckled. "Are you nervous?"

Before I could answer him Braxton but in.

"Cut it out, Dalton. Set your appointment outside. We are still talking about something."

"What are you guys talking about that I can't interrupt?" He stood up and looked at Braxtons desk.

"Secretary?" He asked as he threw a glance at me, then to Braxton.

"I thought you don't want to hire someone your age to be your secretary? Especially this one, her eyes are pretty."

Damn it. Dalton has a sweet tongue.

But did I hear him right?

Braxton doesn't want someone same age as him or closer to his age to work for him?

Why?

Because they could fall in love with him?

Well, I understand him, he doesn't want his personal life to interfere with his business.

He is really a businessman.

I can't blame him. He made the right decision, he is just being smart and calculated as ever. Every girl will fall in love with him, especially a secretary that is close to him all the time, making him tea or coffee the way he wants. Always by his side in every meeting and conference.

The secretary's life will surround around him. It is all about him.

But I am his secretary.

That doesn't mean that my life will surround around him right?

Well I'm not his real secretary, this is all a cover up for the people to think that we are actually doing business here. That I'm doing a business here and not just goofing around with him.

So they won't be suspicious that is all.

I won't be with him in conference meetings, I won't be with him inside this office often. I won't make him tea and coffee according to what he likes.

That's all. This is all a cover up.

Why am I thinking so much about it though?

"You can't resist those eyes Braxton, just look at that." He said as he bowed down, for our eyes to meet.

Braxton stamp his hand on the desk as he stood up.

"Why are you here Dalton?" he asked, changing the topic.

"You are the one who scheduled our appointment Braxton." He simply shrugged.

"And I don't regret coming here. At first I was like, what does Braxton need this time? I'm glad I didn't hesitate or I wouldn't meet her. I think it's destiny."

"You said that with every girl you met Dalton." He glared at him.

My eyes squinted with what Braxton said.

He threw a glance at me but I avoided it and looked at Dalton.

Phew.

Why is my heart beating so fast?