Day Thirty
I took the elevator to the top floor of de Leon Industries the next morning, hoping Bea would suggest that we have sex in her office to make up for lost time.
Holding my badge against her keypad, I opened the door and spotted her sitting at her desk. She was holding a pen and staring at a stack of papers.
"Hey, Bea," I said, smiling. "Andito na ako."
"I can see that, Miss Viray."
"Miss Viray?"
"'Yon ang pangalan mo diba?" She looked up at me, her expression blank. "Would you mind signing the fulfillment contract – confirming that we've reached the thirty-day mark so that I can start the payment process for your services?"
Confused, I took the pen from her and signed my name. "I guess I should say my end of the deal then." I smiled. "Thank you for agreeing to this outrageous financial demand, and for hiring me when I had little to no experience."
"You're more than welcome, Miss Viray," she said, her voice cold. "You can leave the ring on my desk. That's not yours to keep."
"Why are you being so..." I shook my head and twisted the ring off my finger, setting it on her desk. "I'll be sure to have my things cleared out by the end of today."
"I can have someone do that for you, if you think it'll take longer than an hour."
"It won't." I feel hurt and upset that she was treating me like this all of a sudden. "I can still give you today's updates if you'd like me to."
"I don't."
I didn't bother saying anything else. I simply walked out. I wasn't sure what the hell I'd expected from her at the end. I'd foolishly fallen for her, thinking that she meant what she said about falling in love with me long ago.
She said we were real...
Heading into my office, I picked up a large box and stacked everything I wanted to keep inside.
I pulled my drawers open, noticing that Bea had stolen my raw sugar packets again. Then I spotted the two gift boxes she'd given me on our "anniversaries" and picked them up. They were still wrapped and untouched, so I figured I'd find out what the hell she'd given me as a gift.
I opened the red one from our first anniversary. It was folded, handwritten letter.
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Dear Caitlin,
First, Happy Anniversary.
Second, I've been sitting on this letter for quite some time, and if I've grown to know you in the way I think I do, you probably won't open this until several months down the line. (By then, I truly hope you'll feel differently toward me.)
Anyway, thank you for being the best executive assistant I've ever had. I know how demanding I can be, I'm aware that I'm overbearing at times, and I apologize for the additional stress you've been under with the Waldman deal.
That said, if I'm being perfectly honest, I would prefer that you weren't my assistant – that you took some time off to consider being with me in a different way.
You're the most attractive and intelligent woman I've ever met, and after spending so much time with you, I think we'd be better off as a couple than in our current scenario with me in a position of power over you. (Although, full disclosure: if we ever make it to the bedroom, I'll definitely be in a position of power there...)
