Chapter 17: Iris: Undeniable bribe
WE MAKE our way to the garage through the kitchen until we’re outside, standing a few ters away from Marcus’ car. A man who uncannily resembles Paul walks out of the driver’s seat, taking lengthy strides toward us.
"You can give that plastic to him," Marcus says and I follow his orders before he turns to the driver. "I’ll be coming in a while, I need to talk to her about sothing."
Shit. Am I getting fired?
Turning back to
after we’re alone, he doesn’t waste any more ti as promised. " I’ll cut to the chase. Lucas told
the real relationship between you two that day."
I half close my eyes, slightly scrunching my nose. Lucas, that little shit! He assured
his Dad doesn’t know a thing about us.
"Don’t worry, I’m not the type to pry into my son’s relationships. And you know, I’m not old-fashioned. I know how you young people do it these days."
Standing in the dim light and listening to the dad of a guy I’m having a fake dating fling with talk about our sex life was never sothing I thought I’d get to experience in my life. I gnaw at my bottom lip, hopelessly praying that he finishes embarrassing
quickly before I head back to my room and kick my feet angrily in the air.
Marcus must notice my discomfort because he stops talking and laughs. "Sorry if I’m making you uncomfortable again. Lucas warned
not to do that, but I just wanted to talk to you about sothing important before leaving."
I don’t know if I should be happy Lucas fought for
against his dad, but either way, my heartbeat quickens at the ntion of his na. Guess I’m already pent up after avoiding him for two weeks now.
Now is not the ti to be perverted, Iris.
"No, it’s okay. You can take your ti," I lie, plastering a fake smile at him.
"Do you ever say anything else other than it’s okay?"
Maybe if this was a normal conversation between boss and employee I would. But after what happened between us, I don’t think we’ll ever be normal around each other. I fake a laugh, swatting at the mosquito that keeps buzzing around my face.
Mr. Andrews studies
for a mont, before letting out a huge sigh. "I hate that I have to do this to you, but a father’s got to do what’s best for his son after all."
The air around us gets thick with tension as I look at him, waiting for whatever punishnt I’m about to face that makes the CEO hate himself.
"See, Lucas is a tough guy. Perfectionist? Totally! Good at his work? Absolutely! Annoyingly clingy? Definitely! He’s managed to make himself reliable from the young age of twenty, and I’m grateful for that." He pauses, smiling at .
I return his smile awkwardly.
"I love my son and I want nothing but the best for him, but you see, what I consider the best for him...he doesn’t seem to like it, or should I say he won’t accept it unless he’s done with his goals. I’ve tried countless tis to convince him otherwise, but he won’t budge."
Another pause. I shift uncomfortably. Why is he telling
all this?
"I waited for five whole years for him to accomplish his ultimate goal of making the magazine number one on the bestsellers chart, but that doesn’t seem like it’s going to be happening anyti soon. I’m not getting any younger you know, I’ve reached my patience limit."
"I’m so sorry, sir," I blurt out. I’m still not getting the point of all his venting.
"Yeah, you should be. After what I witnessed, you’ve never once decided to co to my office and apologize. Now look at
coming to your house instead."
And we’re back to square one. Fuck you, Mary.
"Sorry, sir," I apologize again, clenching my fist at the realization that he was looking for
all along. Am I really in trouble now?
"I will accept your apology if you agree to help
this once."
"What is it, sir," I imdiately reply, covering the bit of distance between us so I can hear him clearly. If there’s a chance that I get to keep this job, then I’m willing to take it co what may
A huge nacing grin appears on Marcus’ face. "Convince Lucas to beco the Vice President before the charity event happens next month. Use all that charm, seduce him, help him accomplish his goals, I don’t know how you decide to do it. Just do anything to help him make the right choice, okay?"
Huh? Of all the things he could ask
to do. "How do I convince him to do it if you failed for five years straight?"
That earns
a laugh from Mr. Andrews. "Wow, you’re bluntly honest, aren’t you?" He asks, tipping his head up and wiping stray tears from his eyes. "It’s not that I couldn’t convince him, but I didn’t want him thinking I was standing between his goal and him."
"And you suddenly decided you don’t care if he thinks that now?" I ask, getting bolder for no reason. If this man decides I’m being annoying, he could just fire
on the spot, and I’d beco a useless English degree holder again. And yet, I can’t seem to shut up and just accept what he’s saying.
"Like I said before, I’m not getting any younger. I can’t keep convincing the board of directors my son is fit for the role forever, he has to prove himself worthy. The problem now is that they are beginning to doubt my words, so I have no choice but to up my ga if I want my son to inherit my position."
"I thought you were the owner of the company."
"I am, but the managent is chosen by the board of directors as a team."
"Mmmm," I hum, nodding at him.
"Is that an mmm I’ll help you convince Lucas or what?"
"I’ll think about it," I reply, squinting my eyes and deeply thinking about this more than I should be.
Marcus gestures for
to co closer, and when I do, he checks around us to see if anyone is close. Then he whispers in my ear, "This is also a chance for you to make
shut up and not tell your grandparents about your relationship with Lucas."
Before I can gain my composure and digest the shit he just spouted, his hands land on my shoulders and he pats them. "I’ll be looking forward to your assistance in this pact between us. Who knows, I might just beco your best friend."
Turning on his heel and giving
a wink that resembles Lucas’ in the most doppelg??nger way possible, he’s in his car the next mont and I’m left standing outside the garage, swatting away mosquitoes in a daze.
What the fuck just happened?
I’m still zoning out and running the gears in my head when Grandma appears from the garage, giving
a mini heart attack as she taps on my shoulder.
"Your phone keeps ringing," she says handing it to
and I take it from her. Mary’s na is on display. Thanking Grandma as we make our way inside the house, I answer the call.
"Don’t accidentially et him," I begin in a mocking voice, mimicking her words from last Saturday. "You won’t believe what running away from him just brought upon ."
A loud gasp that could also be a choke escapes from Mary’s side and I silently thank myself for not putting the phone on loudspeaker because even though it’s not on, I still flinch at the noise. "Did you bump into him at the office?" She asks, chewing sothing.
Stopping and waiting until Grandma is out of earshot, I whisper into my phone. "Worse, he was at my house!"
Another loud gasp cos from Mary, and I imdiately know we need a live session if this conversation is going to be worthwhile. "Hold on a second, I’m coming over to your house now," I speak into the phone rushing over to the living room.
"Please do," Mary pleads before I silence the call.
Turning around the corner of the staircase, I hold the black steel and turn to face my grandparents. "I’ll be sleeping over at Marys you guys," I announce, my foot already landing on the first step.
"Okay," they both reply, not even bothering to look at
since their eyes are glued to the TV, watching an episode of Judge Judy.
The diva lets out her signature sarcastic laugh, before looking at the defendant. "I don’t care!" She roars, and I hiss.
My life might be in shambles right now, but at least I’m not the guy getting roasted by this savage woman in a court full of strangers, on television!
Oh shut up! It’s better than being seen naked in bed by your boss with his son!
Who else wants to murder that little shitty honest voice living rent-free in their head? I know I do.
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