Chapter 31 Naughty

"I MIGHT go home late because something needs to be finished," Chris informed Nica while they are at the dining table.

Nica just nodded as she observed her half-sister and stepmother through her peripheral vision.

"Will the launching of the new clothing brand continue?"

"Yes, Janice already made a few designs so the event that should've been held this past week will be continued."

"I'm really so proud of you, my daughter!" Margaret said happily and clapped.

Janice smiled shyly at them and thanked Chris. "Thank you and you approved of my designs."

"I should be the one thanking you because you still managed to perfectly do the designs even though we had some misunderstandings days ago," Chris said with a smile.

"How about you, Nica, don't you have anything to contribute to the company?" Margaret asked sarcastically.

"I did a lot of contributions, as a matter of fact, he will do everything for me." Nica grinned from ear to ear at her stepmother as she held Chris' arm.

The smile on Janice's lips faded and Margaret's happy face was replaced by an irritated one.

"Be mature, Nica. Chris became your husband because of the company you took down for your own interests. Just what would happen if he becomes tired of helping the company? Where will we go, particularly, you? "Margaret scolded her.

"That won't happen, Aunt, because I won't let it. I also pledged in front of the aisle that I'll take care of Nica and I'll never leave her, may it be a time of happiness or despair."

"But don't you...?"

"Margaret, don't direct their own lives," Alfonso said to his wife to avoid any arguments.

"Excuse me!" Janice stood up even though she has not finished eating yet.

"Let's just meet again in the office, Chris." She smiled at Chris and turned toward her parents and kissed them on their cheeks. She also kissed Nica's cheek as a goodbye.

"I'll kiss my husband for you," Nica said before Janice could approach Chris.

"Don't bother!" Janice quickly answered because she knew she will just make her jealous. "We'll meet in the office anyway and take an overtime." She added ambiguously and smirked at her half-sister before she left them.

"Do you have any appointment later?" Chris changed the subject when Janice was gone.

"Yes," Nica's short response to the young man. She wants to refresh her mind, thus she will idle at the place where she left a part of her heart. She wants to weigh her feelings and clear what bothers her mind ever since she met her husband.

"Call me if you need something. Don't stay late outside, I'm afraid what happened to you before would happen again." Chris said.

Nica smiled and nodded her head at Chris. She feels that his love for her is true and she feels guilty because of what was bothering in her mind.

"I'll go ahead too because I have to meet my Amigas. I'm very excited to tell them my daughter's new achievement!"

"Good luck!" Nica grinned at her stepmother.

Chris and Nica entered the company at the same time, but they used different cars. Her husband will just pass by their company and move to their company afterward because the board meeting will be held there with her half-sister.

Nica was about to go off her car after she parked it when her husband knocked on the window.

"Won't your mind change?" Chris asked the young lady, he wanted to bring her along in their company and introduce her to his staff, but she does not want to.

"I don't want to ruin my sister's day." She shook her head at her husband whilst smiling.

Chris's gaze was fixed on his wife. He has a strange feeling toward the way she smiled. She was just complacent about her sister's popularity now, but there was an odd sparkle in her eyes.

"Why?" Her smile became mischievous as she lifted up her eyebrows.

"I know that smile!" Chris said in a threatening but not angry voice. He inserted half of his body into the car and reached for her face to give her a quick kiss on the lips.

Nica just let the young man kiss her. She is happy and she trusts that he will not be carried away by temptation.

"Let's go?" Chris outstretched his hand at the young lady to help her go out of the car. They go inside the company whilst holding hands and everyone greeted the two of them with hospitality.

"Good morning, Sir!" Bheng smiled from ear to ear when she saw the two.

"Good morning, Ma'am!" Bheng quickly greeted Nica when she lifted up an eyebrow at her. She can read in her stare the "you really greet him first?"

"Oh, Ma'am Nica, I missed you!" she said to her boss and took the bag she was holding.

"Please take care of my wife while I'm busy." Even though Chris was smiling, there was seriousness on his face.

"Leave her to me, Sir! I love who you love!"

Nica's left eyebrow rose even higher at her secretary's behavior. The way she talks to her husband, they seem to be close or previously acquainted.

"Ayieee!" Bheng shrieked when Chris bid goodbye to Nica. He even kissed her boss on the forehead.

"Are the two of you close?" Nica asked Bheng when Chrismith was no longer in front of them.

Bheng suddenly shut her mouth when she heard Nica's question.

"Feeling close, that's it!" Bheng gave the young lady a peace sign and smiled.

Nica shook her head and turned her back on Bheng without a word and go to her office.

Chris temporarily stopped walking when he recalled his friend. He turned his head to where he was and saw the secretary of his wife busy. Instead of going back to her, he decided to talk to his friend.

"How's the newlywed and when's the wedding here in the Philippines so we can attend?" Larry asked Chris from the other line.

"I haven't even scored yet and that's what's on your mind." He replied to Larry.

"What?!" Larry sounded like he could not believe him. "When did your cobra weaken?"

Chris could see his friend's crazy smile, but he did not bicker about his teasing this time.

Larry became serious when his friend from the other line was quiet.

"What's the news?" Chris asked Larry after a few seconds.

"I've only talked to my cousin once. She didn't say anything other than there's allegedly a big surprise to happen soon."

Chris wondered what is that surprise his friend's cousin was talking about. He turned his head to where Bheng was, again. She is not there anymore, maybe she went inside his wife's office.

"Maybe your wife's preparing a grandiose proposal for you to marry you in a church here."

Chris could not laugh at his friend's joke. He said goodbye to him when he saw Janice is waving at him from the other space. She was holding a folder and her team seems busy with the new designs. When he thought of the design, his forehead furrowed. His mind wants to remember something, but he could not fathom what is it and where.

"Have you been here for a while?" Janice greeted Chris cheerfully when he went near their place.

"I just arrived," Chris answered whilst looking at his staff's works.

"What time will we send this to your company?" Janice referred to a few things for the gown. The exclusive gown will be finalized in the young man's company for the better.

"Maybe after lunch."

"You have a lunch date with Ma'am Janice, Sir?" one of Janice's staff excitedly asked.

Janice shyly scolded the staff, but deep inside, she was pleased with how she teased her with Chris.

Chris smiled at them and could not answer because he did not want to embarrass Janice. He knows that only a few know about his sudden relationship with Nica.

"How enviable! You suit each other, Sir, Ma'am Janice!"

Janice's cheeks reddened because of the thrill. Instead of refuting their teasing, she showed them that she likes what she hears. She was also happy because the young man did not deny it.

"Sir Chris!" Bheng's voice was loud, even though she is beside the young man. They did not notice that she was there. Everyone's stares were on her.

Chris turned to look at his wife's secretary in surprise and at the same time, he felt relieved because the teasing about Janice and him, stopped.

"Is there a problem, Miss Bheng?" Janice secretly made her eyes big in front of her with annoyance because she ruined the moment.

Bheng forced a laugh to come out of her mouth before she answered. "Ma'am Nica ordered me to follow her husband and give it to him." She said the word 'husband' with particular strength and raised a cup of coffee.

"For me?" Chris pointed at what Bheng has in her hands.

"Yes, Sir! Your wife's so sweet, eh? She brewed this and said it's for you to not feel sleepy while working because she made you stayed up until late last night."

Chris coughed as if choked even though he had not drunk the coffee yet. When he looked at the people around, their mouths were open and they could not believe what they heard. He could not at least glance at Janice because he knew she was embarrassed and hurt.

"What should I tell your wife, Sir?" Bheng asked the young man.

"Tell her to thank you and wait for me this lunch."

Before turning around, Bheng looked at everyone one by one. Their jaws dropped and Janice was staring furiously at her. She pretended oblivious to it and excused herself to her with a smile.