Office Diaries - Chapter 72

And so, they were on a date….

NOT.

“Ms. James, can you walk a little bit faster?” the president asked impatiently as he glanced at his expensive wristwatch. “I’d like to finish shopping for the suit before lunchtime as I’m already hungry,” he continued as he eyed his personal ȧssistant who was carrying what appeared to be bags containing the entire shopping mall.

“I apologize, sir,” Marian James said with a smile.

But as soon as his boss turned around and continued to walk, her eyes shot daggers at the man’s back as she enumerated dozens of expletives in her mind. They had been shopping for random things since morning, and her boss made her carry them all as they continued to look around.

The personal ȧssistant was thinking she was currently being punished about something she did. Her boss hadn’t treated her like this in the six months she’d worked for him. In fact, when they were in New York, the president was the one who carried her personal shopping bag on their way to the airport.

Now, however…

Marian pouted as she eyed the dozens and dozens of bags containing shoes, shirts, and an endless list of items. The president wasn’t kidding when he said he’d go shopping for a new wardrobe. Well, it was okay to the ȧssistant if only the blasted man would help her.

Looking at the man’s retreating back however, she knew that getting help from the president was wishful thinking.  With a sigh, she wiped the sweat from her forehead and bent to pick up the shopping bags and trudged after her moody boss.

Damn it…

On the other hand, a certain boss was sulking big time like a little kid.

Even though he was several steps ahead, Liam’s senses were alert, feeling Marian who he knew was having a hard time walking carrying all his things behind. His personal ȧssistant’s poise was severely tested juggling all the baggage but he refused to give her a hand. He was throwing a tantrum.

This morning when he came into the office, he was still nursing a little hangover from last night’s drinking binge with Ken. He knew he would be grumpy the next day when he drank and so he purposely came in later than usual. At least he was able to rest well before he went out with Marian.

Entering his office however, he was greeted by a laughing Marian and his heart sank. It’s not because he saw his love happy but because in front of him was Jay Co who was making her happy. Of course, seeing that, Liam WASN’T HAPPY at all most especially when that beautiful smile vanished upon seeing him.

It hurt. It hurt, and Liam felt like crying for the first time.

With only a curt nod towards his staff’s direction, the president marched directly to his office and stayed there for two hours without doing anything but mope. After that, he had his little revenge by giving Jay gazillion things to do and making Marian go shopping with him for a gazillion of things he didn’t need and making her carry them all.

It was very childish of him again he knew, but the young president felt very stubborn he didn’t care.

Stopping in front of a famous boutique, Liam glanced at Marian who was careful not to stumble and he secretly smiled. His pretty ȧssistant looked really ruffled with her hair and clothes in disarray. For the president, she looked too adorable and cute at the moment.

“Hurry up, Ms. James,” he called and he gave another secret smile when she hurried towards him.

Pushing the door open, they were met with smiling staff. Liam was pretty well known in the store and so he was immediately given the VIP treatment. After making his ȧssistant sit down on the comfortable sofa, the young president proceeded on choosing his suit.

With his back on her, Liam smiled mischievously and undressed in front of her casually as if he didn’t care. The young president knew people at the company had been drooling over his body and so he wanted to know if it would somehow affect the object of his affection too. Well, his body’s one of his many good points right?

Facing his ȧssistant, however, Liam sighed as he was in for another disappointment. Marian’s expression was her usual indifference – if not bored. His sėxy body had no effect at all. The young president felt like sulking again as he inquired.

“What do you think I should try first?” he asked sadly as he glanced at the line of waiting staff with a suit each.

He totally had no idea that his childish action almost sent his poor personal ȧssistant into insanity.

Oh my fuċkɨnġ Lord, why do you do this to me?

Marian’s inner self wailed as she stared at her boss’s bȧrė back and then his ċhėst as he turned around. It took a lot of self-control for her to maintain her poker face but she could feel heat on her nose and she panicked.

Marian James, don’t you dare have a nosebleed!

She screeched in her mind as she surreptitiously sniffed. She resisted the urge to wipe her mouth too in case she drooled.

“What do you think I should try first?” her boss asked casually and Marian had wanted to scream then and there “Don’t wear anything at all!” But, of course, that was so unprofessional of her and so she cleared her throat, trying hard to remember the type of suit she suggested the day before.

“A slim-cut suit sir,” she answered softly and the young president nodded and signaled for the woman with the type of suit in hand to come to ȧssist him.

Marian watched as the woman made flirty smiles and she gritted her teeth most especially when she noticed that the woman’s hands lingered more than they should on the president’s body.

Take those hands off!

Marian sent freezing stares the woman’s way. The other staff must have noticed her unspoken hostility and motioned for their colleague to step away from Liam.

“This one’s okay?” Liam asked afterwards as he examined himself on the mirror before he faced his personal ȧssistant. The black slim-cut suit fitted him as second skin and Marian had never seen anyone as yummy on clothes as her boss was.

“Y-yes,” she answered as he glanced away and the president nodded as he removed clothes once more and changed back to his previous one.

“Ms. James,” her boss called after several minutes and she turned to him. “It’s your turn to get a dress,” the president told her and he motioned for her to stand up so he could sit down on the sofa instead.

Marian walked towards the waiting staff as she bit her lip, thinking how in the world she’d try on a dress when her boss was looking.

“Go ahead,” Liam said and he frowned.

“Ehrm…alright?” She was about to walk with the staff to the changing room when her boss stopped her.

“Show me after you put one on,” he ordered, making her puzzled.

“Why?”

“Why not? I did it,” he countered seriously and Marian smiled nervously as she gulped. She hadn’t even answered yet when the guy ordered the ȧssistant. “Give her a white dress. It’s much better I think,” her boss added and the staff hurried to do his bidding.

Okay, Marian muttered to herself as she slowly and clumsily followed the staff to change. In the end, she had to try on six dresses that she paraded in front of her boss before the guy was satisfied. She’d never been so exhausted shopping in her life that right that instant. Surprisingly, her modeling of the clothes seemed to cheer her boss up and so he asked her to eat out after with a smile.

“Are you sure that’s all you’re having?” Liam asked as he eyed Marian’s plate. His ȧssistant ordered nothing but salad for her late lunch.

He ȧssumed she’d be famished since he made her change into different dresses many times and paraded them in front of him. All the time, his eyes feasted on the beauty that looked extraordinarily gorgeous with anything she wore. If he’d be honest, he wanted to buy all the dresses that she tried on, but judging their current relationship or the lack thereof, he still didn’t have the right. If he wanted to do that, first, he had to make sure if a relationship with her was possible.

“Uhm…yeah,” Marian answered shyly as she turned her eyes away and proceeded on eating and Liam smiled at her fondly.

Since coming from the boutique, Marian had been acting endearingly shy towards him which the boss found very adorable. He had teased her earlier and was happy to receive a slight pout, a development from the usual nods and ‘yes sir’ from his professional employee.

“Here, try some,” Liam coaxed as he pushed the plate of pasta towards her and smiled as his ȧssistant did fork some onto her plate to try.

“Hmmmn…” she whimpered in approval as she chewed, making her boss’ smile widened.

“Have some more,” Liam coaxed again as he himself placed food on her plate.

This made her look up and smile at him genuinely with her huge doe eyes filling with warmth and the boss found himself holding his breath.

“This is so good,” she said approvingly, and Liam was about to agree when the other continued on speaking which made him freeze. “I’ll tell Jay about this place when we get back.”