Office Diaries - Chapter 86

Jay watched as his boss ran like a madman and sighed. Looking at the president’s expression, he knew Liam had misunderstood something.

“Oh well, what’s new Jay Co?” he asked himself sarcastically.

Misunderstanding was the running joke of his life lately with those two besotted idiots sandwiching him. He shouldn’t be surprised if the president jumped into conclusion, a hobby his boss and Marian shared.

“Oh well,” the secretary muttered as he sighed once more.

There was no use running after his boss and making him listen to him. He had been trying to tell Liam that Marian was pregnant and that the president should come clean if he wanted her to stay. But since his boss ignored him because as Jay had guessed judging from the president’s reaction, Liam was thinking she had something ominous such as a serious medical condition, Jay would just have to give up.

“Yup,” he agreed audibly as he turned to leave.

He’d just let those two fix their problem on their own. At least now that the president’s here, thinking that she might die – though that’s far from the truth since she fainted because of sudden high blood pressure and not because of some grave illness, Liam would be able to confess his feelings. Well, at least the secretary hoped so.

Crossing his fingers in silent prayer, Jay hopped in his car and drove away. “C’mon Boss, don’t let me down…”

Back in the hospital, Liam rushed towards the room Jay indicated earlier and stopped as soon as he opened the door.

He found Marian lying on the hospital bed with her eyes closed. His love looked very fragile that his heart constricted. His eyes burned with tears that threatened to fall. She indeed looked very ill and he felt queasy again as cold dread settled in his stomach.

Why hadn’t he noticed this earlier? His poor love. His poor, poor love. If he’d known Marian was this sick, he’d have confessed to her earlier. He should have been with her earlier so he could take care of her and spent more time with her.

Thinking that Marian’s illness was something grave, Liam felt sick himself. Was this the reason she wanted to leave? It was truly because of her health? He wondered as he crossed the room and stood next to the bed, his eyes never leaving her pale face.

“Marian?” he called softly and he watched as her lids fluttered as she came slowly awake.

“Hi,” He greeted as soon as Marian’s eyes opened and their gazes locked.

They remained that way until she realized he was really here and she blinked several times as she sat up. Liam quickly ȧssisted her. He fixed some pillows behind her so she’d be comfortable.

“I…” Marian started but she bit her lips to stop herself. She looked like she had no idea what to say next anyway. It was as if she was overwhelmed by his sudden presence in the room.

Meanwhile, inside one pregnant idiot’s head, a storm of thoughts was raging.

“He loves you. Our boss has always been in love with you, but as it seems, he has a bad case of nerves when it comes to confessing to you,” Marian remembered what Jay said and she suddenly felt very shy. She turned her eyes away from Liam as she blushed.

By now, she was already aware that Liam was the father of her child and that her boss loved her back. For someone who had never thought that her feelings would be reciprocated, Marian was now at a loss for words.

“I shouldn’t have left you earlier,” Liam suddenly spoke and Marian turned to him once more.

Her boss looked very serious, his voice regretful.

“Hell, I shouldn’t have let you escape from me whenever I tried to talk to you,” the president added as he pulled the chair next to her bed, placing it nearer before sitting down. He took her and held it firmly.

She felt her heart race as soon as he held her. She still couldn’t forget the kiss they shared earlier and she sure as hell was remembering the night they spent together now. It was real. It was real, but she wanted to hear it firsthand. She wanted to be sure.

“Jay said…I… You…” Suddenly feeling shy, she found that she couldn’t ask her question directly.

The president, however, understood what she wanted to ask. ”

Yes. I love you. I do,” Liam said softly and he watched as her beautiful face wore an expression close to disbelief and so he repeated his words. “I love you Marian James. I’ve always been in love with you,” he said again, this time with more conviction as he turned her hand over and kissed her knuckles before placing it against his cheek.

Finally speaking his feelings out loud, Liam felt relieved and somewhat lighter. If he’d known it would be this easy, he would have – should have confessed months ago. He regretted his procrastination now. He wasted too much time.

Searching her face, Liam swallowed hard and asked his own question.

“How about you? How do you feel about me?�� he prompted and he watched as tears filled her eyes, her nose turning red as she began to cry and threw herself against him.

“I love you too,” Marian sobbed as she anchored her arms on his shoulders. She was so happy she could die. “I thought you are going to marry someone else. I thought the one you like was Jay,” she continued and Liam stiffened.

“I don’t swing that way! What gave you that insane idea?” Liam asked helplessly and she laughed in spite of her tears.

She reckoned she sounded stupid now, her reasons lame. “Because when we went out, you asked so many things about him as if you’re really interested in him,” she said.

“I didn’t ask about him,” Liam countered. “I asked about you two not about him in particular because I wanted to know the real score. I like you too much and I’ve been very jealous of Jay’s closeness to you for months. Why did you think I brought you to France with me? I wanted to spend time with you without Jay hanging around.”

Marian’s mouth formed an “o” but then she remembered something. “But at the gala, Susie said you already proposed to the love of your life…” she reminded him and Liam sighed.

“I was planning on proposing to you. That day I asked you to take home all the chocolates, I was planning on picking you up and taking you to a restaurant I had reserved. I was planning on confessing to you before the gala but then…” his voice trailed off and the two of them remembered why it didn’t push through.

“Because I got drunk…” Marian’s voice was small.

It was her fault, she realized, If she hadn’t gotten drunk that night, she wouldn’t have to go through miserable months. But if she hadn’t gotten drunk that night, she and Liam wouldn’t have made love and wouldn’t have created another life which resided within her now.

Their child. Hers and Liam’s.

Thinking about this made Marian feel warm inside. It was the first time she felt really happy about her pregnancy. It’s not that she hated her child when she didn’t know who the father was, but knowing that she was carrying the child of the man she loved made it very different – wonderful, perfect.

With a gentle smile, she placed her other hand on her abdomen, trying to feel her child inside. She could now see a bright future with the three of them together. Liam would make a very good father. She remembered how the president said he loved to have kids – lots of them at the gala, and she would make that dream come true. She would give him as many children as he wanted, starting with this little miracle on the way.

“Marian?” Liam called her name and she turned to him, but her smile vanished upon seeing the seriousness of his expression.

“W-what?”

“Your resignation letter,” Liam continued. “I accept it,” he said and her eyes widened.

“Eh?” She couldn’t believe her ears. Why now? Why would her boss still accept her resignation when everything’s cleared between them?

“You resigned because you’re sick right?” Liam said as his hold tightened on her hand. “It’s okay. You don’t have to work. We’ll get married and you don’t have to worry about anything. I’ll take care of you, so you should just focus on getting better,” he added as he searched her face and then he frowned upon seeing her expression.

Marian looked at him as if he’d gone mad.

“W-What?”

“I’m not sick,” she said which confused him. “I resigned because I thought you’re marrying someone else.”

“But you’re here at the hospital and you look like you’re sick,” Liam countered and she shook her head.

“I just had high blood pressure earlier from shock. Jay told me about you— about us earlier because I thought he was the father of my baby.”

“Excuse me?” His expression turning comical, Liam was now beyond confused. “Father of your baby?” he squeaked as his gaze turned from Marian’s face down to her still flat abdomen and she grinned.

“Yes boss, I’m pregnant – and I’m so happy to learn that there’s nothing immaculate about my conception after all,” she announced with a twinkle in her eyes remembering her little insane idea when she just found out about her pregnancy and laughed at the dumbfounded expression on his face.

“EH?” Liam looked at her wide-eyed. “You’re pregnant?” he asked again his tone serious and her smile vanished, replaced by apprehension.

“Y-yes. You don’t like it?” the latter asked, uncertain. She had thought the other would welcome the news.

A smile broke across Liam’s face and her anxiousness disappeared.

“I’m going to be a father soon,” the young president said in wonder and she smiled as she nodded. “Oh, God,” he murmured as he pulled her against him and hugged her tight. “I’m so happy. I thought you were leaving me because you’re sick. I’m glad you’re not – and I’m glad we’re going to have a baby soon,” he murmured against her hair.

“I love you, Marian. I do – and I love our baby already,” Liam said over and over again as he held the woman of his dreams and the mother of his child tight.

At the age of twenty-seven, Liam Kang was glad he found love.

Back at Jay’s apartment, the secretary slept soundly on the bed when the phone rang, dragging him from dreamland. Totally annoyed, he pushed the answer buŧŧon and spoke without greeting the caller.

“This better be good or else,” he warned.

“Yah! Jay Co, I’m your boss,” Liam protested on the other end and Jay yawned.

“Well, Mr. President, sir, this better be good or else,” he rephrased his words with mock politeness making his boss laugh. “What’s up?” he asked as he scratched his belly.

“Marian and I are getting married!” the president announced and Jay yawned again, not at all surprised.

“Well it’s about time isn’t it?” he retorted making the other laugh some more.

“Well, just calling to say you’re the best man,” his boss informed him and said goodbye.

As soon as the call ended, Jay stared at his phone and smiled.

“At last!” he exclaimed as he gave a huge yawn and curled back under his blanket. From this moment on, he knew he’d have a good night’s sleep.

“Good riddance besotted idiots…” he murmured as he made a mental note to himself. When it was his turn to fall in love, he wouldn’t waste time telling the other person “I love you. I do!”

Well, it’s not that difficult. Right?