C10 Rule

"Miss Moore, there are many other things you can ask for, a car, a house, why this?" His mood had turned sour. The frown across his forehead was a clear indication of that.

"Because that's what I want, Mr. Sinclair. Are you going to give it to me?" She asked, Afraid that he might reject her.

He looked at her for some time, closed his eyes, and sighed, then he opened them again. "Miss Moore, the last thing I want is for you to get clingy, I will not have that. I will fire you the moment you start asking for more... Do you understand?".

"Yes Sir "

"Very well then, tomorrow night. Come, I'll drop you off at your place." He walked off after paying the bills and leaving the waiter a good tip.

The drive to Jolene's house was quiet, with each of them lost in their thoughts. He stopped in front of her apartment complex and killed his engine. “Miss Moore, my conscience fights me everyday for what happened-” He paused remembering that she asked him not to bring up again. “And now, you demand this?”

“I just...” She swallowed. “You always tell me to go for what I want, I’m doing that now, aren’t you proud?”

He stared at her for a while before bidding her farewell.

That night, Jolene could not help but feel stupid. "What did I do? Why in the world would I ask for such a thing? I wonder what he thinks of me now".

She tossed and turned until she was overcome by the sweetness of sleep.

***

The next day at work, she did not know how to face him. She felt like she had violated some kind of code.

"Good morning Miss Moore"

She almost jumped out of her seat at the sudden sound of his voice from behind. "Mr. Sinclair, you startled me. Good morning".

Frankly, she was hoping he'd stay home and not show up to work that day.

Mr. Sinclair walked by into his office, unbothered.

How can he be so calm?. She thought.

Most of the day passed by with her avoiding any kind of confrontation with her boss, hoping in her heart of hearts that he had hit his head the previous night and his brain did a complete wipeout of yesterday's events. Too embarrassed to face him, she stayed in her cubicle, hoping he goes home without remembering her existence at the end of that day.

Just when she was about to thank God for answering her prayers, the telephone rang.

"Yes?". She sounded so cat-like.

"Miss Moore, my office, now". Came the voice of her tormentor from the other end.

"Okay, Mr. Sinclair". Why do I keep sounding like aunt Delly's old, fat cat? She thought.

She entered the lion's den, Mr. Sinclair's office. There he was, sitting like a king on his throne, behind his desk.

"About what we agreed upon yesterday Miss Moore". He started.

These words stared up the contents of her stomach. She could throw up.

"Mr. Sinclair, I wasn't thinking straight, I...."

"Get ready, we're going to my place" He declared. Not looking up even for a glance.

"S Sir? mmm, how about here?".

There's that cat voice again! She cleared her throat.

Mr. Sinclair raised his head and looked at her for the first time since she walked into his office, his eyes appeared to be searching for something on her, observing her so intensely.

"Miss Moore, I do not like having sex in my office". He answered, focusing his attention back on what he had been writing down.

"Mmm? Uhm...well, I know of..." She tried to finish the hopeless sentence but couldn't find the right words.

"You mean Kiana".

It was not a question, but she nodded.

"Miss Moore, I don't take Kiana home because I don't want her there. You, on the other hand, I respect you as my employee, I think you deserve better for a true first-time experience, don't you think so too, Miss Moore?".

"You're right Mr. Sinclair".

"Good, pack up your things, let's go".

***

He parked his car in front of his mini-mansion, mini is just a modest word for 'a little less than the grand palace of Buckingham'. Jolene noticed for the first time how beautiful his house is. Rumor has it that very few people know his address, especially not the press. It felt like an honor being one of the few people who got to come here....twice! The interior, as she remembered from last time, is all white, the walls, the floor tiles, the stairs, the railings, everything. Paintings were hung on the walls, and sculptures were placed beside the door and near the base of the staircase. There were some sofas facing each other to her left next to the television, and a dining table on the opposite side of the large room.

"You have a lovely house, Mr. Sinclair ". She complimented. At least that would break the awkwardness on her part.

"Thank you, Miss Moore, I love to do things with a little bit of finesse if you know what I mean". He stood facing the staircase, with his hands in his pockets.

"A little bit?" She scoffed.

"Now, Miss Moore". He turned to face her, this move always put her on the edge. "Let us discuss the rules, shall we?". He said with a straight face.

"Do I need to take notes?" She asked timidly. Taking out her phone.

"You don't have to, but if you feel like you need it, fine".

"Okay, Sir". She answered.

"Rule Number one: No kissing"

"I don't understand Sir". She thought it to be absurd, who has sex and doesn't kiss.

"Rule number two: No mentioning of the word 'love'. Do not speak of it, I don't want to hear it"

"Okay, Sir". She continued to type in what he was saying.

"Rule number 3: This will be the last time you ask for such a thing. After this, you will not mention it, most importantly, no emotional attachment whatsoever".

"Okay, Sir ". She answered, like a straight-A student taking down notes in class.

"Very well then, let us begin". He pronounced.

She could almost hear the sound of a gong from an Asian movie which signified the start of a fight.