ChAPTER 2

Sarah’s POV.

I entered the office feeling timid. My hands crossed over themselves in my front, holding my documents in a file. “Good morning, sir,” I said, standing by the door.

“Come in and have a seat.” Smith's deep voice was welcoming. I almost thought we didn’t have a fallout just before then.

His acting was so good that I almost thought it was the first time I had seen him that day.

I walked toward the chair that he pointed to in his instruction. I sat down and dropped a quiet sigh.

“I will attend to you shortly. I just need to summarize this document and send it to a client. It is urgent.” He sounded like a gentleman. His voice was calm and reassuring, yet I was still feeling guilty.

I nodded in response and sat back quietly. I realized it was harder to sit in silence, looking at Smith than to think about him. Guilt and lust made the seat hot.

Sitting in the office quietly for another minute felt like punishment. I felt a mix of guilt and longing stirred within me. Because of the way I spoke harshly to him outside the office, watching him work was like I was in the face of terror. Guilt gnawed at me.

What could be in his mind now? Would he be thinking about how to send me home in a painful way?

As he focused on tasks, my earlier words echoed in my mind, making me feel small. I wished I could turn back time and choose kindness over rudeness. Guilt settled heavily in my chest, a reminder of my unintended disrespect.

I wish he knew that I was only trying to fight for my rights.

Yet, alongside the guilt, a different emotion tugged at my thoughts. Smith, a fine man by any measure, captivated my attention. The way he concentrated on his work exuded confidence, fueling a subtle sense of desire. I found myself admiring more than just his professional skills.

The sound of his thumbs smacking the laptop keyboard rapidly continued while I was looking at his arms. They were big and hot. I could not help but lust over him.

I couldn’t wait to tell Lucas how fine this man looked.

Caught between remorse and a newfound attraction, I grappled with conflicting emotions. The guilt urged an apology, while the allure of his presence heightened my internal struggle. In that office chair, I confronted a blend of remorse and longing, hoping to mend my unintentional rudeness and navigate the unanticipated currents of attraction in a professional setting.

“Alright,” Smith sighed and shifted the laptop to the side. “So, young lady, you are the one we called for the interview, right?” he said, looking straight into my eyes.

“Yes, sir…” Looking at him focusing on me made me feel uncomfortable; I started stuttering. “…I am Sarah… Sarah Bernard. Here are my documents.” I put the file on the table.

He opened it and started reading through some of the documents in had there. He was nodding and smiling while he read on.

That’s a good sign. God please, let him like what he sees, I need this job.

I prayed in my head and stayed hopeful.

He asked me a series of questions and I answered as well as could, to the best of my knowledge. He looked at me and smiled. I could tell that he was impressed, but I didn’t know what the smile was about.

“It is usually not a shock to me that pretty girls can be intelligent,” he started talking. “What surprises me is seeing a beautiful and arrogant lady who is as well intelligent.” He added.

I was confused, but I nodded like I was following.

“Do you now get why I am surprised?” He asked.

The idea of what he was saying snuck into my head.

Oh! So, he is calling me intelligent, yet beautiful, and arrogant.

“Yes, sir, but I am sorry, sir. I was only trying to preserve my right so anyone would just ride on over me.” I tried to defend myself.

“So, you didn’t think there was a better way or a more polite way to drive your point?” He asked calmly.

At that moment, I saw how wrong was. I apologized immediately and was remorseful.

“I know you came from a rural area it might be hard to fit into the life here, but there is always a better way than arrogance. Personally, I don’t think you are a bad person, but you need to watch it.” He advised. “Having said that, I like what I see here on your papers. You are our new marketing strategist. You will resume work on Monday. Have a great weekend.” He handed my file to me with a smile on his face.

My excitement surged through me like a jubilant wave. Attempting to maintain composure, I nodded with a grateful smile and collected my file, but my heart raced with unrestrained joy.

I took a bow. “Thank you, sir,” I stood up and advanced towards the door with a smile on my face.

As I walked towards the door, I felt an overwhelming surge of excitement, and the carefully composed facade I had crafted began to crack. Unable to contain the sheer happiness bubbling within, I let out an exuberant cheer, earning a few surprised glances from Smith. I heard him chuckle.

Embarrassed yet exhilarated, I couldn't help but express my joy with an impromptu dance, right there in the office. Smith, with a chuckle, congratulated me again. Paul, initially taken aback, soon joined in the laughter, turning the office into a spontaneous celebration of my newfound success.

Exiting the office with a grin that stretched from ear to ear, I realized that, in that moment of unbridled excitement, I had given everyone a glimpse of my genuine, uncontainable joy, except Jane. She stared at me with contempt in her face. I could tell that she didn’t like me for any reason. The thrill of landing the job had transformed a typical day into a memorable celebration, leaving me with a heart full of gratitude and an office buzzing with shared delight. So, I didn’t care about what Jane thought.

I met Lucas in a mood as I got home. We stayed together in one apartment but in different rooms. My father had sent him to come to town with me because he didn’t trust me to take care of myself alone. Mr. Bernard has always thought of me as a baby, even if I had proven myself to be worth his trust.

“Hey, Lucas. Guess what?” said with enthusiasm in my tone. He was usually quiet; with less talk and more action. So, when I didn’t get any response from him, I thought it was normal.

“You don’t have to guess, I will tell you,” I started talking. “When I got to the place I met this very tall and handsome man. I didn’t even know that he was the boss. A lot happened and I got the job still,” Even with no response from Lucas, I was still talking. “But you need to have seen this man. He is every woman’s dream.” I added.

While I was talking with much enthusiasm and excitement, he stood up and walked away into his room “Congratulations on your new job.” He said while he walked away.

I was confused. I had never seen him like that all my life. I knew he got angry easily, but whenever he saw me, he would be calm. He had stayed with my family for many years and I could say that I knew him to an extent. To the best of my knowledge, my parent considered him to be my brother even if I had feelings for him; one that I never told him about.

Did I say anything wrong to upset him? Why is he acting strange? What could have been the issue? Maybe I should just let him rest. He will come around.

I sighed and then resumed my happy mood. I wasn’t the best dancer in the world, but any time I am happy, my silly dance moves come into play. So, I started dancing, one foot at a time, until I got to my room. Although I was worried about Lucas, I couldn’t dwell on the thought for too long. I knew he would get over it or talk about it when he was ready.