Chapter 9: The boss is sick

Paula POV

I woke up extremely early which is actually a first for me, thoughts of Ethan made me restless all night. I hate the jerk for affecting me so much. Every thick girl has to have a thick skin. But with Ethan I don't think I got any skin at all.

What was his trauma, curiosity almost killed me because I landed the worst headache; after thinking for so long. Ethan was perfect, I mean he appeared to be, so what is it?

I decided to video call Olivia, I missed her so much , it gets lonely around here. I don't have friends anyway except from Clara and I don't need a gym instructor right now.

I grabbed my laptop and made my way to the kitchen counter. I ringed her up a few times and she finally answered. She was holding her bed sheet up her body and slightly running with the laptop.

"You hooked up with someone right?" I giggled. She just kept running like a ninja and nodded mischievously.

"The dildo wasn't doing the trick anymore, I needed the real deal" she winked and I fake gagged.

"You're such a hoe Olivia" I rolled my eyes at her.

she laughed.

"Oh please mother Theresa save me, I’m sorry" she teased back.

"Very funny Olivia very funny" she stuck her tongue out. I did same and we ended up going back and forth.

"Wait, what time is it over there" she asked.

"Its 5am , why?" She looked shocked.

"What" I asked.

"You are up so early, its impossible for you to be up by 5am on your own" I rolled my eyes at her.

She has a point, this was a really odd time for me.

"You're being so dramatic oli, I work now soo" i took a sip of my coffee.

"Oh please, I had to drag you out of bed literally even when you started working. Tell me who's making you restless uh?" I ignored her eyes and looked any where but at the laptop.

"Its Ethan right" she raised a brow.

"No its not, why will it be Ethan. Its not Ethan" I said swiftly, I was too fast with that. She definitely knows its him.

She rolled her eyes. "Its so obvious ala , now tell me! Did he say something stupid to you. I swear I'll" she's gonna curse.

"No, no " I cut her off. I sighed and decided to tell her anyway.

"I'm just worried about him. He almost had a panic attack because it was raining yesterday and got drenched at the site. kelvin our chauffer, said he usually gets panic attacks."

She blinked a couple of times "Ethan gets panic attacks?" She asked in awe. I nodded.

"Well, its karma I guess for the wrong he did to people" she said shrugging. I chocked on my coffee.

"Olivia! What is wrong with you?" She stared back with an unapologetic face.

"What, its the truth, you and I both know it"

"No I don't know it, no one deserves it oli" she rolled her eyes.

"Its because you have a crush on him, you like him, of course he wouldn't deserve it. But I'm telling you he does"

I stared at the cute unapologetic vixen on the other side, she has such a poison mouth. I shook my head.

"What ever Olivia, I have to go get ready for work. I miss u bunny" I dropped my coffee on the counter.

"Baby get back in bed" my eyes snapped back to the screen .

"I'm coming?" Olivia screamed back to the man she hooked up with.

"Ewww, just eww Olivia" she winked at me.

"I'll call you later, love you ala" she ended the call.

The poor man is going to have his heart broken. Oliva never takes anything seriously. I miss her so much though.

I took a quick shower and put on a mustard A line gown with red two inches heel. Quickly placed my hair in a bun. Grabbed My jacket and my umbrella, I will never forget my umbrella.

I had to commute to work seeing as I left my car yesterday at the office.

I got out of the elevator , I was really early today. I was so anxious to see Ethan.

"Hey paula" cole waved and was walking towards me. He was dashing, any girl will feel flattered by him. I would have too, if only Ethan wasn't in my head. He would totally work.

He has blonde hair almost like mine with dark roots. Blue eyes and toned body but he doesn't even look half as dashing as Ethan.

I don’t go for people because of looks, he’ll no! My ex James wasn’t exactly the mvp but I still loved him.

Ethan just had a hold over me. For now, I hope.

"Hello cole, you are rather early today" he nodded.

"Well, I had to come finish some work. You?"

"Oh same , same" he smiled.

"I was wondering if you'll like to grab dinner with me sometime ?" Wow, he just asked me on a date.

This is a rare event, I should take a recording of this and hand it on the wall.

"Uh, sure of course, let's chat later and fix a date" I replied.

he smiled widely.

"Yeah, I know the list is full but please squeeze me somewhere okay" he said winking.

I grew red. The list is so not full except my date with Rex on Sunday. But I just nodded.

Yes Rex and I were so busy the date got almost impossible, but this Sunday we are definitely going on that date.

He saved my job.

I walked to my desk and started with a few things , it got heated i got exhausted and I slept off.

I woke up about an hour later and still Ethan hasn't showed up, you see without the boss here the work wouldn’t be as hectic.

I was worried about him, after organizing meetings and events for the next three month. I had nothing to do.

I looked up to his office and felt my chest sink.

Should I show up at his home?

.no no it would be awkward besides I'm not sure he is home.

I ringed kelvin and he told me the boss hasn't left home.

Okay so he is home , now I just needed an excuse to go see him. I don't have one , think Paula , think. Think....

got it!

I grabbed some papers that needed his signature, they are projects he has to approve today. Thank you papers.

I ran to my car and zoomed off to his house.

I had to calm myself as I got to the gate.

"Who are you miss?" The security at the gate asked. I didn't notice him before when Kelvin brought us here till now. I didn't even notice the cameras everywhere. Why does he need so much surveillance? He's a billionaire so I guess he needs it.

"Miss Paula, i am Mr Andreas's Secretary" he nodded

"hold on a moment."

He uses the phone to call Ethan I suppose, I watched him from my car. He was in the security house attached to the gate. After some few seconds the gate was opened and i drove in. I parked my car somewhere safe away from the other expensive cars.

You can definitely tell my car doesn't belong here and it a 2017 Toyota Camry.

Billionaires and their luxurious cars.

I knocked on the door and an elderly lady opened smiling from ear to ear.

"Good day, madam I'm Paula rayes. I work for Mr Andreas."

"Come in, come in young lady" I smiled at her. She gives a homey feel. Ethan should learn a few things from her. Just be warm.

I walked in the mansion and my mouth fell open. Wow is the word to describe this.

This is luxury, I haven't stepped in a place like this in all my whole twenty-two years alive.

The tiles on the floor was Mable, it was so polished I was scared to move further. To the right is the living room, Huge expensive couches and a mega TV is this a cinema?. Everything was spaced so as to occupy the house. Huge paints on the wall and ahead of me was a long wide stairs , which probably leads to other rooms.

To my left was a glass door , I could see another coach and a lot of games. That's definitely the game room. Far ahead from the living room another glass door. Yup its the gym.

He totally hits the gym.

"Make yourself comfortable lady, while I go get Ethan" I nodded. They are on first name bases. This is shocking. Ethan allowed her address him like that?

That's something that's never going to happen between me and Ethan. I know my place and as much as it hurts I have to learn to accept that.

I sat on one of the coach facing the stairs and crossed my legs leaning back with the papers far ahead on the center table.

Some few minutes later Ethan emerged from the stairs , he walked slowly and gracefully , it tugged at my heart. He looked so pale and tired. He was wearing black sweatpants and white turtle neck sweater. He's lips was blue but still kissable. He was sick. He looked so tired, I felt bad for dragging my ass here to disturb him.

It made me more concerned. I tried not to show, He's going to land me a nasty comment anyway.

"Afternoon Mr Ethan," I stood up to great him . he nodded.

He nodded?

He never replies, I don't think he did. I hallucinated that. I guess.

He sat down across from me crossing his leg. He looked like a legit boss. I didn't know if I should cross my legs or not.

I just sat down.

"Why are you here?”he said tiredly. Yup he was definitely sick.

"I came to deliver the papers , you are supposed to sign them so the construction can begin immediately " I said with so much effort trying not to stutter. I was lying .it's always hard for me to lie with a straight face.

He grabbed the papers and read through them. I sat down patiently waiting. Drinking him in.

This is the first time I've seen him dressed so casually.

He looked so cute even though he was sick. He killed it.

I heard the sudden breeze outside, it was about to rain. Again?

The wind blew and made noises that almost had me running to my car.

I don't want to be kept here for long , I just came to check on him. I can't be in his house for hours. ..

He stopped reading and listened to the wind.

"Sir, if you'll sign so I can head back before it starts raining." He stared at me with his familiar expressionless face.

"You can't drive in such a weather , its windy already, and would start raining before you get to the gate' if only you studied the weather before coming here. You're so careless with everything. " he stood up and left the living room dropping the contract on the table.

What did he just say to me?

I'm not a weather forecaster , how would I know?

He's getting on my nerves and I don't think I can take this any longer, I felt so stupid for even in caring. If he said one more nonsense to me; I’ll snap.

I might be calm and fat but there’s a limit to what people can do to me. I’ll bite back.

I stood up and headed for the door.

When he signs he can bring it to the office whenever he likes.

I opened the door and was greeted by a powerful breeze swaying my gown , I boldly walked outside and headed for my car. It started raining heavily before I could open the car , so heavy in seconds I was soaked. I ran back to the house cold to my bones.

I opened the door and ran in , closing the door and clutching my body shaking helplessly. I should have just stayed on the coach.

Why did that ass hole have to piss me off!!!

I looked up and saw Ethan staring at me from the Stairs. He was leaning on the iron bar. He used one of his finger and motioned for me to come to him.

I walked slowly up the stairs and finally to him.

"If you weren't so stubborn, you wouldn't have been soaked"

He said calmly staring at me. Stubborn???

Who’s fault was it? This man had to be joking; I lost my last piece of sanity and replied him.

"If only you were not a jerk to me , I wouldn't have stepped outside." He raised a brow at me.

"Jerk you say?, " he said calmly, I find myself shivering.

"It doesn't change the fact that My boss is a jerk and I've learned to accept that" I fired at him.

He walked closer to me, "you will do well to remember who I am, don't cross the line" he said through gritted teeth.

"Oh please, don't cross the line?, excuse me big boss but you've crossed the line countless times and I don't see anybody warning you about it. Ever since highschool you've been a jerk to me , its like you were sent to make me miserable. Throwing insults at me all the time is you crossing the line" I was out of breathe by the time I was finished.

Oops did I just tell him about highschool. What if he remembers me now?, you big mouthed girl.

I looked at his face and he wasn't surprised one bit. Realization washed over my face. He knew.

He knew all along , I was the girl he and his friends made fun off. Did he give me the job to punish me?

"You knew we went to the same highschool, you do remember. Oh my God, did you give me this job to continue your torture ? You sick man" I don't want to believe it. I had hoped he didn’t remember. I have lost a couple of pounds since then. I even look more mature now. I turned and started walking down the stairs.

His warm hand grabbed my wrist and turned me around.

"Its not why I gave you the job" I snatched my arm away from him.

"It wouldn't make a difference if I admitted it or not. What’s the point? We weren’t exactly friends Paula " he walked back up the stairs. I stared at him and tears welled up inside my eyes.

He was right though, we weren’t exactly friends.

He got to the top and turned to me

"Coming?" I didn't move .

"Come Paula, change into something warm then we'll talk" he held His palm to he's head.

I walked up the stairs and followed while he lead me through the hallways.

We stopped at a door , he opened it and walked in , I followed after him.

"I will go get you something to change into" he walked out after much struggle taking his eyes off me. Did he just struggle with that?

He left me alone with so much thoughts going through my head.

He knew, I always thought I was too irrelevant to be remembered. He surely gave me the job to finish off what he started in highschool.

But I can't help but feel the need to be with him, this is His first act of kindness towards me and it makes my heart flutter. I sat down on the bed waiting for the one who caused me so much pain right from the moment he saw me.