“Oh my goodness! What are you doing?” I yelled in surprise.
“What? My assistant decided to take up a job in a publishing house so I didn’t think it was a big deal to become a cab driver. We both changed careers, switching to something less, so we are still on the same page.” He blurted.
“Do you even hear yourself? That is silly!” I retorted, disbelief written all over my face. “You are the CEO of a multimillion dollar company, if anyone sees you doing this shit, it won’t be good for your reputation.”
“Well I can just be your personal driver, Miss Ann.” He said with a smirk plastered on his face, his curved lips quite attractive.
“Wipe that smirk off your face,” I acted unimpressed. “This is silly, how did you even know when and where to pick me up? Have you been stalking me, Mr. Blackwood.” I feigned anger.
“Umm… forget about that, let's go back to the part where you think this is a silly job for me. Exactly, that is the same way I feel about you working in a small publishing house, it is not even a major media house. I have an offer, we can both go back to our previous jobs, I am your boss and you are my assistant and everyone is happy.” He lured me in his charming voice.
I scoffed and rolled my eyes. “Do you ever give up? I am never coming back to work for you, it has been nearly two months now, I think it is time you find yourself a new assistant or promote Megan to that position and then find a new Secretary.”
“Hello Miss, don’t you think I can decide what is best for my company?” he fired back in his arrogant all-knowing tone. Of course he is never going to change, what did I expect advising him?
“You are right, I am totally sorry for telling you what to do, Mr. Blackwood.” I rambled in sarcasm and turned my face to the other side, looking out the window.
There was silence between us for a while and then from the edge of my eyes, I noticed him looking into the mirror to catch a glimpse of me. I tried hard to act unfazed but I was dying of laughter inside.
“So you won’t resume, huh?” he switched to a Korean accent that caught my attention.
I wrinkled my face as I turned to him. “Eww... Don’t do that.” I blurted.
“Don’t do what?” he asked with a pretentious face
“That accent, it is weird, just stick to the British one. Wait!” I suddenly halted as I noticed he had passed my turn. “Where are we going? You missed the turn!” I yelled.
“Relax, it is not like I am going to abduct you and lock you inside my house for the rest of your life.”
My heart flipped the moment he said those words as I thought back to the TV show. Wait, what if he did that? He could as well have me locked up in his estate and no one will get to know.
He must have noticed the fear on my face and he chuckled darkly, I had to put a frown immediately to show that I wasn’t feeling the least intimidated by him.
“Do you really think I will abduct you? C’mon, you are not of any monetary value. your monthly salary is my daily gas refill budget.”
“Oh, that comes to me a relief.” I replied in sarcasm and rolled my eyes at him.
There was yet another few seconds of silence between us before he stared at me through the mirror. “So who is he?” he asked coldly, although there was concern etched on his face.
I had a feeling that he was talking about Mr. Wilson but I played it off. “Who is Who?” I asked rudely.
“The guy from your office, don’t pretend like you didn’t already know I was speaking of him.”
I sighed and shook my head. “He is my Manager.” I replied grudgingly.
“Hmm… Manager, I see. So why was your manager chasing after you in that manner today? Does he bother you?” he queried.
“It is not your business, Mr. Blackwood. Please stay out of it.” I responded coldly. The last thing I wanted was to get him involved in my life again, I have no idea where he is taking me but after that, we will both go our separate ways again.
“Okay… Sure. If that is what you want,” he flashed a smile at me and my heart skipped two beats at the least.
At some point, Mr. Blackwood slowed down and stopped the car by the roadside. I looked out immediately in confusion, we were in the middle of an empty highway by a hill, I could see the forestry surrounding the road below.
“Why are we stopping?” I asked, my heart beating rapidly inside my chest.
He alighted and came to my side of the door, gently opening it. “Come on out now, Princess. don’t be a scared cat.” He chuckled.
I huffed and rolled my eyes at him before stepping out of the car. I looked around but I could see anything significant to warrant our stop here. What was this arrogant billionaire up to now? And what does it have to do with me?
“So… does it ring a bell?” he asked as he tucked his hand inside his pocket. It was just then that I noticed his amazing body fit jacket and neatly pressed suit pants.
“No, it is an empty highway, I have been across here a few times but I don’t remember it meaning anything to me.” I blurted out.
He laughed softly as he turned his gaze from the trees on the side of the road and back to me. I was still standing with my back against the car.
“You see Ann, this might mean nothing to you, but it means quite a lot to me. Do you know why? It is because this is the first place I set my eyes on you.” he announced.
“What? No, I clearly remember being summoned to your office only after your HR department had approved my application for a job…”
“Shhh…” He hushed as he put his finger against my lips, my body froze immediately and I felt my eyes dilate.
“The day you had come for the interview, the cab you took had broken down at this point. I was on my way to the office when I caught sight of you for the very first time. I felt this strange feeling, I wasn’t familiar with it but I knew what it meant. I was captivated by you at first sight, Anna, and this was the day my obsession over you began, even before you got to meet me.” He confessed.
I stood there puzzled with a lot of thoughts running through my head. What? Was he serious? Where was he going with this? Fear took hold of my body and I gulped down saliva.
He came closer to me and gently pressed his thumb against my lips, my heart quivered in excitement and fear.
“Why… Why are you telling me this?” I asked with a stutter, afraid of what his response would be.
I felt him suddenly wrap his arm around my waist and pull me closer to his body, my heart began to race. “Max… we are out on a highway,” I muttered, my body shaking in anxiety, not knowing what he would do next.
“Don’t worry Princess, I know one or two politicians, this road will be closed off for the next five to ten minutes. Anna… you always wanted to know why I desperately wanted Jimmy out of your life. you asked why it bothered me so much since you were still keeping your side of the deal with me. Do you want to know the answer to that question?”
I swallowed hard and looked away. “It doesn’t matter now, you are a bit too late for that. Jimmy is out of my life for good.” I replied softly.
He smiled. “Good riddance… took long enough,” he said. “I am still going to tell you anyway… Miss Annabel Joseph, I was being possessive with you because…”
The little pause between his words gave me goose pimples, my heart fluttered and I was overwhelmed in anxiety.
“Because what?” I asked in a whisper, looking into his gray eyes as the curiosity was eating me up.
“It is because I am in love with you, Annabel Joseph. I love you, Anna.” He confessed.
My entire body froze at his words. What?
TBC!!