Chapter 14 Romance in the Office - Part 2
"Good morning," Eva greeted them, and they both responded to her greeting.
Eva looked Angela up and down before focusing her gaze on the elevator door.
"Hey, Eva," Bernard greeted. "How are you?" he asked.
"Good," Eva replied, rolling her eyes at Bernard, who just smiled.
Eva and Bernard exited the elevator on the sixth floor, and Angela continued to the eighth floor. Angela quickly got to work, and after ensuring she had put everything Bryce would need for the morning on his desk, she headed for the ground floor to get something to eat and get Bryce's coffee. As soon as she got to the cafeteria, a lady approached her and roughly pulled her to the side by her arms. She recognised the person as the lady who joined them in the elevator on the fourth floor, and she was the same lady who shared an office with Susan.
"I see how you dressed seductively on your second day. Bernard is my man. So stay clear of him and know your place in this office. If you want to last ten years in this company as the president's secretary, know your place," Eva said and walked away on her seven-inch heel, swinging her hips like she had no bones in her waist.
"What was that all about?" Angela thought after Eva let go of her hand. "Yesterday, they spilt cold coffee on her and today, she is giving her a warning to stay off Bernard," Angela thought, wondering what was going on with these two or if everyone in the company was like that.
She wished she could call Zora, but her phone was still off. She went to the cafeteria and ordered some tea and a sandwich. She checked her time, ordered Bryce's coffee and went back to the eighth.
Angela went through the day, going about her duties as expected. The day was so packed for her that she didn't have the chance to take a lunch break.
Towards the end of the day, she started working on the day's report to share with Bryce. This report includes updates from the various departments and a compilation of reports from the various branches. She receives all the reports, puts them together and shares them with Bryce. Angela finished the report and sent it to Bryce via his email. She printed a hard copy and headed for Bryce's office. She knocked and entered the office. She walked to the space where she was supposed to drop the report, and she carefully placed the report on the table after informing Bryce about it. Her stomach growled so loudly, and Bryce lifted his head to look at her. Angela folded her lips and averted her gaze.
"Have you eaten today?" Bryce asked, stopping her from leaving.
"Yes, please," Angela replied, and her stomach growled again.
"I mean this afternoon?" Bryce asked.
"No, please," Angela answered.
"Why?" Bryce asked.
"There was no time," Angela replied, and Bryce frowned.
"What do you mean there was no time?" Bryce asked.
"There was a lot to do and very little time to get them done," Angela replied. "It would have been easier if I had my lunchbox, but this is not allowed," she added.
"I see," Bryce said. "You don't need to go to the cafeteria to get your food. If the day is too packed for you, order your meal. It will be brought to your office. You have a dining area inside your office," Bryce said. "I don't want to hear that sound again, and I also don't want to hear you starving yourself again," he warned.
"Yes, Mr President," Angela said.
Even though Bryce was concerned, his words sounded like he was scolding Angela.
"Now go eat," Bryce said.
"Yes, Mr President," Angela acknowledged and was heading for the door.
"There is food on the dining table over there. Warm it up in the kitchen and eat," Bryce said, pointing to the dining area in the corner behind him.
"Is that allowed?" Angela asked, surprised, and Bryce lifted his head from the laptop to look at her.
"I won't repeat myself. I said, go heat the food in the kitchen and eat," Bryce said sternly.
"Yes, Mr President," Angela acknowledged and walked towards the dining area behind Bryce's desk.
She found the food and took it into the kitchen. She heated it and brought some to the table after dishing some for herself.
"Mr President," Angela said, drawing Bryce's attention to herself. "I. I.... I... was wondering if," she stammered, fidgeting with her hand. "Erm, arrh...if...you...... you... I mean..... had time to eat?" she said, and Bryce stared at her with an expressionless face. "Seeing how packed the day was," she went on. "Erm, I heated some of the food for you. It is on the dining table. If that is okay?" she completed her statement.
"Thank you," Bryce said and returned his gaze to his laptop, but Angela was still standing there.
"Do you need something?" Bryce asked.
"The food will get cold," Angela said.
"Very well," Bryce said and stood up from behind his desk.
He headed for the dining area. Angela went to the kitchen, grabbed her food and decided to eat in the kitchen.
"Angela?" Bryce called out to her once he was seated behind the dining table.
"Yes, Mr President," Angela responded and returned to the dining area.
"Bring your food here and eat," Bryce said.
"Huh!" Angela said.
"You heard me," Bryce said, and Angela went to the kitchen and returned with her plate of food.
Angela sat down opposite Bryce. Bryce picked up his cutlery and began to eat. Angela did the same but kept stealing glances at Bryce. His eating manners were on point, and he knew how to use the cutlery, even on the grilled chicken. He cut it into smaller mouth-sized pieces. His chewing was very gentle. Angela was used to picking the grilled chicken with her hand to eat, so she was finding it hard to feast on her chicken at the table. She ate the rice and left the chicken alone, which she couldn't handle with the cutlery.
"You don't like chicken?" Bryce asked, seeing that Angela had not touched her chicken.
"It's not easy using the cutlery on it," Angela replied honestly.
"Use your hand then," Bryce said.
"Huh!" Angela said.
"You heard me," Bryce replied.
There was a knock on the door, and Susan walked in carrying some files. She placed them on the table and saw Bryce and Angela eating in the dining area when she was about to leave. She frowned deeply. It looked like a date. She recalled Eva reporting to her how she caught Angela and Bernard kissing inside the elevator, and she clenched her fist.
"First, she wants to take Eva's man, Bernard, and now she is after my man, Bryce," Susan thought, staring at the two.
Susan continued to stare at them when Angela leaned in and kissed Bryce on the lips. To her surprise, Bryce didn't stop her but allowed Angela to kiss him. Susan's face turned red, witnessing the romance in the office. It was like the two didn't care about her presence.