Chapter 28 Bryce Ridiculous Rules
It was past noon when Angela, Evans and Bernard finished with what they came to do and exited the building to where they had parked their cars.
"I really appreciate this support. I will put in everything to make this project a success. I would go through the feedback and go with your decisions," Don assured Angela and her team before they walked towards their parked cars.
"Bernard, Angela, I am heading in a different direction. I am meeting with the president for a meeting in town," Evans said.
"Oh, that means I have to come with you," Angela said and was about to close the open door of Bernard's car.
"No, Angela. This meeting is only for accountants," Evans said and smiled.
"Oh, okay," Angela said and sat inside Bernard's car.
Bernard shook hands with Evans, smiling before going around the car to get into the driver's seat. He closed the door and buckled his seat belt, and Angela buckled her seat belt too.
"I am hungry. Are you hungry too?" Bernard asked before starting the car engine.
"No, I am fine. I just want to get to the office and start working on the other files," Angela said.
"No, you can't work on an empty stomach. There is a restaurant nearby, we can have a quick lunch before going back to the office," Bernard said and put the car into motion, driving out of the compound.
"I am not that hungry," Angela protested, recalling some of Bryce's terms for their contracted marriage.
She can't be seen with another man. And going to the restaurant with Bernard would look like a date.
"I am not taking no for an answer. You need to eat," Bernard insisted and made a turn with the restaurant as the destination in mind.
"Please, let's go to the office," Angela pleaded.
"Hey, it's just lunch. Why are you sounding like I am taking you to a hotel?" Bernard said, staring at her briefly before returning his gaze to the road.
"I have a lot to do and every minute counts," Angela said, hoping he would turn the car around and head for the office.
"Okay, let's do this. Let's order a take-out," Bernard said, and Angela realised he was going to take her to the restaurant despite her protest.
He was the one behind the wheel. Angela just nodded, hoping they didn't have to stay long at the restaurant.
They arrived at the restaurant, and Angela wanted to wait in the car, but Bernard would not accept that. He forced her out of the car.
"What is it? Is that you don't want to be seen walking with me?" Bernard asked, holding the door to Angela's side open. "Am I that terrible to be seen walking with you?" he added.
"No," Angela replied, feeling pressured.
"We are just ordering some food, that is all. It's a restaurant," Bernard said, pointing to the building.
"It's fine," Angele said and got out of the car.
"This way," Bernard said, teasingly looking like Angela just got out of the car to walk on a red carpet.
Angela just smiled, and the two walked into the restaurant. Bernard found a table and pulled a seat for Angela before taking his seat. The waiter walked up to them, and Bernard placed his order. Angela ordered a bottle of water.
"Hey, you can't do that," Bernard said.
"I am fine. I am okay with the water," Angela said.
"Nope, you have to eat," Bernard said and shifted his gaze to the waiter. "Make my order two," he said to the waiter.
"Yes, sir," the waiter said and closed his small notebook before walking away with the menu.
"Angela, I have told you. Eva is not my girlfriend or anything. You don't have to be scared coming to me or being around me," Bernard said, staring at Angela across the table.
"It's not that," Angela said, even though part of the reason was Eva, but the major reason was Bryce. "I have a fiancée who doesn't like to see me in the company of other men. Especially, single men," she said.
"I see," Bernard said. "He must be very insecure. If not, it doesn't make any sense, but I understand. I will respect that," he added, and Angela nodded.
After a couple of minutes, their orders were brought in package bags. Angela picked up one of the bags after Bernard had picked his, and they both exited the restaurant walking side by side. Unknown to them, someone took multiple pictures of them. Bernard said something which made Angela laugh, and that was caught in one of the pictures taken. Once they got to the car, Bernard opened the car door for Angela, and she got into the car before Bernard went around the car and got behind the wheel. That was also caught in the picture.
After a couple of minutes' drive, Bernard and Angela arrived back at the company. They both strode into the reception and straight to the elevator. Inside the elevator, Angela pressed for the eighth floor, and Bernard pressed for the sixth floor.
"Thank you for lunch," Angela appreciated.
"No problem," Bernard said, but saw something on the side of Angela's lips. "You got er, a little, er," he said and pulled his handkerchief out of his pocket and cleaned the side of Angela's lips.
Angela flinched at his gesture, but the elevator door opened, and Bryce was standing there. Bernard withdrew his hand from Angela's face and greeted Bryce, but Angela looked tense at the sight of Bryce.
"See you later, Angela," Bernard said with a smile before exiting the elevator.
Bryce stepped into the elevator and stood in the middle. Angela took a step backwards and was now behind Bryce, standing in one corner of the elevator.
"What is going on between you and Bernard?" Bryce popped the question once the elevator resumed movement.
"No, nothing," Angela stammered.
"Is that so?" Bryce commented calmly. "Then explain your sudden tension and why you are panicking about it. You look like you will pass out in the next second," he pointed out.
"I am not doing anything bad, and I am not doing anything with Bernard aside from what is official and professional. I..I.." Angela said, but not sure how to complete her statement.
She flinched and tensed up even though she was not doing anything bad. It was the way he stared at her that got her heart racing. He made her feel like she was doing something bad.
"Angela, you are my wife, legally. You can't be with another man. I forbid you to have male friends. You can only work with them, and that is how far it goes," Bryce said, and the elevator beeped.
The door of the elevator opened, and Bryce stepped out, leaving Angela inside the elevator. Angela put herself together and pressed for the elevator to open. She stepped out and headed for her office.
Inside her office, she brushed whatever happened behind her and began looking at the documents for the project. Once Don sent her the email of the approved staff based on the screening. They will now move to look at the movie script and the role assigned.
Back in the office, Bryce was looking at the photos of Angela and Bernard. They looked like a couple out on a date. He frowned, scowling through the picture frames.
Why would she go after another man? Bryce thought, resting his elbow on his desk and resting his chin on his arms put together. Is it because they were married and nothing has happened between them since the last time? He thought and furrowed his brow.
"So this is about sex," he muttered, recalling how Angela brought her lips to his when he was just asking her a question.
He still didn't know who had drugged him that night.
He pushed the thoughts aside and focused on his work for the rest of the day. At 5:30 p.m., he dialled the extension to Angela's office.
"Hello, Mr President," came Angela's voice.
"Pack your stuff and come to my office," Bryce said and ended the call before Angela could say anything.
Inside Angela's office, she just obeyed. She grabbed her bag and exited her office. After locking it, she headed for Bryce's office.
"Let's go," Bryce said, and he headed for the door.
Angela followed him quietly out. Angela locked his office with the spare key and followed Bryce to the elevator. They were soon inside the elevator going down the garage. Inside the garage, Bryce and Angela got into the back seat of Bryce's car, and they were soon on their way home.
At home, Angela thanked Bryce for the ride and headed for her room. She went into the bathroom and took a shower. When she returned to the bedroom, she found Bryce standing next to the bed.
"Sir, do you need something?" Angela asked, wearing a bathrobe.
Bryce didn't say a word; he just walked up to her, making Angela move backwards until she was trapped by the wall behind her.
"I need to remind you, you are my wife and mine alone until I say otherwise," Bryce muttered.
Angela frowned, but before she could process what Bryce was saying, he captured her lips in a deep kiss. Angela was stunned, confused and surprised by his action. She was not ready for that, but she wondered if she could protest.