Chapter 12 The Passenger Seat
“Tom, can I have a word with you?”
For freaking sake, how can’t he just drop everything? This man is seriously on crack for ruining my day.
“What is it now, James? You know I’m busy. If you’re not doing anything, just stay out of my way.” I said through gritted teeth. I really don’t want to deal with him today. I have to be at the airport this afternoon and I have to check my reports.
“Stay away from her.”
“Who?”
“Betty. Stay away from her, Tom.”
“Do you want me to stay away from my assistant? You’re crazy.”
This guy seriously needs medical attention. His craziness gets worse every day.
I began walking to the office but this man just can’t leave me alone.
“What is it with you that you’d want me to stay away from her? What is it, James? Tell me.” Charging forward to scare the hell out of this man. I know he has been afraid of me ever since.
“I like her. And you know that. You already ruined everything that is left of my family.”
That made me stop. How dare someone like him accuses me of ruining their life.
“I think you missed something here, James.” Staring through his eyes while I try to explain what the real deal here is.
“It was your family who ruined my life. Have you forgotten what your psychotic father did to me? Do you have any idea, what he had done to me? I never wanted to be part of your family. Now tell me who are you to dictate me what to do?” I added while taking one step forward invading his bubble.
James is probably aware of his father’s psychotic behavior. A pedophile. We were both at the same age when his father took advantage of my weakness.
My father took full control of both companies in exchange for my innocence. He is a vile man, you’d want to be dead than witness what he can do to you if you say ‘no’ to him.
They mercilessly took everything away from me just for the sake of money. Used me for business. No, it’s my time to make them feel what I’ve been through.
“If you want someone to blame, Tom. It was your father. He was the one who sold you to us. To my father. I never even wanted you to be in that house.
“Mr. Dawson? James?”
Betty appeared behind us with a stack of papers in her hands. Confusion laced on her face eyeing us back and forth.
“Do—do you know each other?”
James stared at me waiting for me to say something.
“Uhh we’re just talking about work.” I nodded and went straight to my office with Betty tailing behind me leaving James on fire. I really don’t have the time to deal with him.
He likes Betty? Who cares if he like her? Like I care? That doesn’t mean I have to stay away from her. She is my secretary for crying out loud.
“You know what? Just go with me to Europe.” I blurted out without thinking twice. Even I, myself was shocked how I came up with such bold ideas. I’ve been to Europe a couple of times now, I think it would be nice to bring someone. Riding a plane alone can be boring, you know.
“Careful with the documents, Ms. Hernandez. I want that to be neatly stacked for later.”
She must be in awe that she forgot she is carrying my report papers, it fell flat on the floor.
“You want me to be in Europe with you, sir?”
“I think I already made myself clear. Prepare your things. We have to be at the airport a couple of hours before our flight.”
“Are you sure, sir?”
“Yes. Just, pack up the documents. We have to take some of your things before we’ll go to the airport.”
Her face lit up in excitement and I am also grateful that I am able to make someone smile for a very small reason.
“Ms. Hernandez. I want to ask you something.”
She is now all too focused looking at me with those blackest pair of eyes patiently waiting for me to say something.
“What do you think of James?”
Like what the heck. Out of all questions? I was just curious, you know.
“James? Well, he is a good friend. He is kind, thoughtful, and sometimes crazy. Yes, he can be crazy when he wants to. I remember the last time—”
“Okay, enough.”
How does she know everything about James in just a few months? Isn’t that just so freaking hilarious? Like what in the world?
“How long have you been friends?”
“Uhm, three months?”
“Three months. Okay, three months.”
She is looking at me like my head got doubled. I can see the gears inside her head running.
“Why do you ask, Mr. Dawson?”
“Uh, nothing. I am just wondering how you two seem too close to each other.”
“James is a good man, actually. People misunderstood him because he is quirky but crazy most of the time. I don’t like him, sometimes I am fond of him ‘cause he is different from other people.”
“Uh, really?”
Yeah, you don’t have any idea what he is capable of.
“Are we good to go now? Faster. We still have to be in your apartment to get you things.”
How does someone know a person all too well in just three months? Hilarious.
We are driving down to Betty’s apartment when the rain poured down and in split second, men and women began fleeing with their bags over their head. Betty is on my side staring outside with my things on her lap. She began to feel comfortable with her work with me. A first, I can see how uncomfortable she is whenever we were in the same room. She doesn’t look me in the eye, she fidgets when I try to scold her, but most of the time you can see her balling her fists whenever I get her good time in annoying her.
I internally laughed when I remembered the last time I saw her raging with anger when I told her she was only up for nothing when she tried to explain to me the difference between professionalism and being flirty. That was after she got an earful word from me from talking too much to Mr. Willis’ assistant. It is clear as the day that the guy is flirting with her and she’s just too good to not see it. I found our confrontation entertaining every time she tries to explain to me, she was all nice but you can see she will attack you anytime.
“He did nothing wrong, Mr. Dawson. He is new to this environment and he needs a friend.”
“I did not hire you to be friendly, Ms. Hernandez. You have a lot of work to do, why would you need a friend when you have those Income Statements with you?”
“Are you trying to say I am not allowed to have friends unless it’s related to work?”
“Thank goodness, you got it.”
I can clearly remember how she shoots glare to my forehead and I tried to hold my laughter when she just gave up and stomp her way to her office. So fascinating.
BETTY’S POV
I stood in awe in front of the apartment building with Mr. Dawson beside me. Rain is spattering on the Jet Black Audi parked in front of us. Mr. Dawson is standing casually not even glancing an eye on me.
“What is this? Where’s Robert?”
“That’s the car I promised you for accepting the position.”
“Are you sure?”
“Get in, I’ll drive.”
Stuffing the suitcase in the trunk is so hard when you’re only five foot three, on heels and the rain is pouring down on me while Mr. Dawson is just staring at me patiently.
“Faster.”
This jerk.
He is walking to the driver’s seat casually as if the rain doesn’t bother him. Out of habit, I settled in the back shaking the water from my hair and blouse.
“You’re not the first lady. Sit here in front.” I can see the annoyance and boredom on his face.
“Why can’t we just let Robert drive us to the airport?”
“You don’t want me to look like your driver, do you?”
He is staring at me through the rear-view mirror whilst sitting comfortably on the driver’s seat.
“No, I’m okay.”
“Or do you want me to put you in the trunk? Come here, Ms. Hernandez. We’re an hour away from our flight.”
Putting with all my might, I finally carried my ass to the passenger seat with my now slightly wet blouse and trench coat. He started the car immediately and drove to the airport together. The rain is pouring so hard that it slowed us down and the sound of the radio blasting through the speakers.
“Can I turn the heater on?” I asked shyly with my fingers suspended in the air to turn it on.
“Of course, it’s your car.”
The fact that this sleek black car is my car now, makes me want to do a backflip and cry in excitement. At last, I will not be late again, I can go to the grocery store on weekends and I can now finally go and visit Mom. I am feeling more and more comfortable with the heat and the mellow music blasting through the speakers.
“That’s my favorite song.” I blurted out smiling, tapping my fingers on my thigh absentmindedly.
“What? Does my blank-faced assistant have a favorite song? I always thought you’re the nerdy type on forced labor.”
Now that made me laugh so hard. It’s so out of his vocabulary to make lame jokes. I have never seen him so carefree like this before. There’s a smile on his eyes like he is happy for some reason.
“You’re in a good mood today, sir.”
“Oh really? Am I? What made you think I am, Ms. Hernandez?” The smile has left his mouth and his eyebrows were drawn together while his eyes focused on the road.
“You’re smiling.”
“I’m not.”
“You are.”
“I said, I’m not.”
“Yes, you are, Mr. Dawson.”
“Okay, if you say so. You’ve grown a lot feistier. Unbelievable.”
We drove for a couple of minutes before we’re stuck in traffic. We only got an hour before the flight so he did what is right. Of course, called one of his sources according to him and moved our flight this afternoon. I can finally breathe as we still have four hours left before the flight. That means we don’t need to worry about hurrying up. We know what it’s like to get stuck in traffic.