C9 Chapter 4 (Part 1)

As fast as I could, I followed Mr. Easton with my almost wobbly legs because of what's happening right now.

"Keep up, Genevieve." I heard him say with his voice slightly shaking.

We're in a rush right now.

We're in a rush avoiding the press that's been following us since the very moment that sir Conrad came out of his car. I almost got left out, and I almost got distracted by them.

Blinding flashes of cameras, innumerable questions, and unnecessary compliments. Those were just few of the things that were thrown to Mr. Easton when they saw him. I am confused at first, and I didn't understand why. Until I realized that I'm working for someone with a very high prestige and that his reputation is mostly recognized by many. And that he's the CEO of one of the big 5 publishing company across the globe.

I almost gasped when I felt his hand on my elbow. He is trying to pull me closer to him due to the reason that I'm not walking fast enough to keep up with him. He pulled me towards the elevator of the building that we entered in a rush, and I can tell that he's trying not to hurt me; not to tighten his grip but enough to drag me along.

When we finally entered the elevator, he immediately pressed the buttons to take us to his desired floor of the building. I saw the press catching up, but they were too late. The elevator closed just right in front of their faces.

"I'm sorry, did I hurt you?" He's asking if I'm hurt but he sounds very formal.

I quickly shook my head, I didn't even notice it when he let go of me. "No, sir. Not at all." I showed him a small smile, but he just nodded and looked away.

I sighed.

It's been three days now since I became his secretary, and I'm convinced that it's such a tiring work. His schedule is always full; he's always busy. And as his secretary, I did all I can to fulfill the role. So far, I think I'm doing a great job. But at same time, it's tiring me out. I have no other choice, I accepted his offer and now, I'm in this position. I have to always keep up with him, and with this job.

It's just, one thing has been bothering me.

"Tell me everything you know about me. Don’t lie, and be honest."

Since that day, confusion has always reigned on top of my system the moment that I wake up every morning, and every moment that I see him. Especially when our eyes meet, and when I'm beside him. Which is completely an unpleasant feeling because I am always with him as his secretary. It's torturing me, and I know that it'll only be a matter of time before I explode in front of him.

I thought I already discovered the side of him that he will start to let me witness every now and then. But who am I kidding, right? Who am I even? Who am I for him to treat differently? I'm just his secretary, and he's my boss. We're not friends. Nothing in between but formality. I'm such a foolish bitch to think that there's more than that. And why the hell did I even think that there's more than that?

Because you felt it. I scolded myself inwardly when the other side of my brain answered my own question.

I wanted to ask myself a lot of questions, but it will be too stupid. And that the answers will only probably be based upon my perspective, and will only benefit and lead me into thinking nonsense thoughts and far-from-reality kind of situations.

I was pulled out from my reverie when the elevator opened its doors. I followed Mr. Easton when he started walking, and I roamed my eyes everywhere to observe the whole place. Only to realize that it's an office, and it amazes me that a whole floor of a building is meant to be an office.

"There you are! What took you so long?"

Sir Conrad and I turned to the direction where the voice came from. My eyes saw a man that is probably in his early thirties just like the CEO himself. He's also wearing a suit just like Mr. Easton here.

"Traffic." I stopped myself from showing a negative reaction towards what sir Conrad just said. It was a lie. There was no traffic.

"Whatever." He effortlessly rolls his eyes, "Come, Jansen and Kauai are here too. Taking shots."

The man tried pulling sir Conrad to walk but he resists. "Taking shots?" He asks with his forehead wrinkled. The man just smiled at him, "Yeah." and then he continued pulling sir Conrad. Sir Conrad once again resisted his force. To my surprise, he eyes laid on me and my system immediately reacted.

"What do you mean taking shots? I brought my secretary with me. I thought it was a business meeting?" I can tell that Mr. Easton is jumbled, and that this is not what he is expecting to greet him.

I looked away when the man also laid his eyes on me.

"Uhm, who told you that it's a business meeting?"

"Kauai."

"And you believed him?" The man scoffed at sir Conrad, and I heard sir Conrad mocking him. That actually made me smile a little.

"My friend, since you already got here, maybe it's best to just stay instead? Join us? And her..." I looked at both of them again when I heard the word 'her'. I suppose that I'm the only 'her' in here.

"What's your name, sweetie?"

Mr. Easton frowned, "Her name is Genevieve. Don't use that endearment on her ever again, Záviš."

The man, whose name is Záviš, showed a facial expression as if there's something he knows that I don't. That made my eyebrows brought together.

"...Is she?"

Sir Conrad I nodded and looked away, "Yes, she is."

For a moment there, I was lost even by just listening to them. And then I ended up thinking that maybe Conrad Easton himself is friends with people that are just like him.

Confusing and complicated.

Instantly making you question every insignificant detail.

Záviš cleared his throat as he wrapped his arm around Conrad's shoulder.

"So, Miss Genevieve. Suit yourself. I think my office is big enough for you to roam around, or maybe observe. There's a little library on the corner, and there's also a television if ever you feel bored. I'll tell my secretary through the intercom to bring you something to eat."

"I—"

Mr. Easton pulled his friend to a direction that I don't know where leads. And he did that before I could even finish the words that I wanted to say.

Basing from his facial expressions, he seemed annoyed and it upsets me that it still somehow makes me feel confused. More than how I feel before we got here.

I walked to the corner and I saw a little library that what Mr. Záviš was referring. I saw countless books and I decided to just read until Mr. Easton comes and decides to drive us back to our workplace. I sat on the sofa and looked around for a little more before opening the book.

I realized that the interior design of the whole place is inspired by Renaissance around the 1400's to 1600. There's a gigantic chandelier in the center of the ceiling and I believe that it's the only source of light in this place. I'm even surprised that there's a fireplace in here. Everything looks expensively vintage and classic.

As I open the book, I was taken aback when I realized that it was a photo album. Because basing from its outside, it's thick and it looks like a book that contains hundreds of pages. I wanted to read something, but this is what my hands gave me, this is what I'm going to explore. Plus, I feel lazy to stand up. I might as well just stay sitting instead and lay my eyes on the photos inside this photo album rather than standing up.

I am honestly tired from what we encountered earlier.

The first page of the photo album has an opening note.

"Memories can be forgotten forever, and pictures exist for you to remember." I read to myself. Ending up smiling as I turn to the next page.

I gasped when I saw the first photo.

I laughed, amused. "No way."

It was a picture of two young boys.

They're both wearing a helmet with two kiddie bicycles in the background. The young boy on the left is showing a shy smile with his hand poses the 'peace' sign. The other young boy on the right looks completely the opposite of his friend. He's smiling ear to ear with all of his teeth shown, and with his eyes squinted.

Below the photo, there was another note.

"Little Záviš & Little Conrad, 1999."

I assumed that the shy young boy is Záviš, while the other one who's proudly showing off his teeth is my boss, Conrad Easton.