~~~NATE'S POV~~~
It has been a week now since I started doing those things for Catherine. At first, I was not sure why I was doing those things for her. I just know that I don't want her in pain again. I don't want her to be in that situation again. Seeing her on the floor whimpering and trembling in pain, it felt as if I was feeling the same pain as her. Though I know that no one could understand what she really felt at that time.
Now I am certain that I'm not just infatuated with her. I don't do this just to impress her, just to get her attention. I do this because I wanted to. Because I have fallen in love with her.
And I am not doing this just so she would return the same affection towards me. Though I know that I affected her. And I love the way I affect her. The way she blushed whenever our eyes met and our body got dangerously close. The way I see her from the corner of my eyes secretly watching me as I work. And the way she glares at Daisy whenever she boldly talks coyly at me.
At first, I didn't like the way Daisy looked and talked to me. It makes me irritated and wants to fire her then and there. I hate it when my employee brazenly talks and looks at me as if I am not their employer. Normally no one would dare. But Daisy dared, maybe she saw that I am lenient towards Catherine and it makes her think that I would be lenient to her as well.
But it wouldn't take long before she gets a word from me. I will just enjoy how Catherine gets irritated whenever Daisy is talking coyly at me.
This morning I picked her up again at her apartment with my daughters before we took them to school. I was wondering why she is not asking me why she has to go take the girls to school when I can take them myself. But I hope she will not. Because I like this setup. I like the picture that the four of us are portraying. I know it is too much to ask but I was wishing that this would become real. Though it seems like it was just pretend, with the girls calling her mommy at school, it seems like the four of us were a family.
And then there's this 'nanny' thing. I am surprised that she is not bringing out the topic of searching for a permanent nanny for the girls. Because I will not know how to tell her that I am not searching for one. Or will I ever tell her? I am afraid that once I tell her the truth, she gets offended and does not show up in front of my daughters again. It will break my girls' hearts for sure.
But I also doubt that maybe she'll get mad and offended and might not talk to me for a while but she will not leave my daughters. I saw how fond she is towards my girls and my girls towards her as well. No one treats my daughters just like the way she treats them. It was like they were her own.
After we sent the girls to school, we headed straight to the office. I was feeling great this morning. Everything started perfectly until I saw the three bouquets resting on her desk.
Eric.
I groaned internally. I forgot that today is Monday and Eric usually sends Catherine bouquets. Why can't he stop? Isn't it obvious that Catherine is not interested in him?
"He's still sending you flowers?" I asked her.
She looks at me apologetically and nods her head. I remembered Eric saying that he will not stop sending her flowers until Catherine agrees to date him.
I fished out my phone from my pocket and dialed Eric's number.
"I forgot to tell you last time that I don't want to see you sending flowers to my building. The next time you will, the guard downstairs will send the flowers back to you." I said as soon as I heard Eric answer his phone. I noticed Catherine beside me raise her head and looked at me questioningly.
"No problem, I'll just send the flowers to her apartment." I heard Eric reply. Wait, Eric knows the address of Catherine's apartment? I frowned at the thought that at any moment Eric could go there if he wanted to.
"No! You will not send her flowers anymore!" I said irritatingly.
"Man, what the-" I cut him off immediately and hung up the phone. When I turned to Catherine I saw her looking at me quizzically.
"What?"
She didn't say anything and just shrugged her shoulders. I watch as she walks around her desk and picks up the flowers.
"What are you going to do with those?" I ask her with curiosity.
"I place one in the pantry, the other one in your office, and the other stays here on my desk." She simply replied.
"You put flowers in my office?" I asked because I never noticed it.
"Yes, you didn't notice it? I put it in the farthest corner of your shelf." She replied and I was puzzled because I didn't notice a flower inside my office.
"Eric will not send you flowers anymore," I said just to see how she will react. And to my relief, she smiled at me.
"Thank you," she said. "Though I would miss seeing flowers on my desk and in your office." She added while she took out a vase from a cabinet.
Then a thought came to me. "Well, that can be arranged," I said, making her look at me puzzled. I was about to say something when someone knocked on the door and then Daisy, came in.
"Good morning, Mr. Vann," Daisy greeted me with a coquettish smile. I replied to her with a frown but I guess she failed to notice it.
"Would you like me to send coffee to your office?" Daisy asked. Usually, it was Catherine sending me a coffee to my office. Now Daisy takes the initiative.
I watched as Catherine's face turned grim. She bit her lower lip and took out a folder from her drawer. But I noticed that her hand is clenched tightly on the folder to the point that her knuckles are turning white. I may be overthinking a little but I thought she'll get hurt if she continues doing that.
Now Daisy will get a word from me.
"Daisy," I called.
"Yes, Mr. Vann?" She asked with a smile, obviously pleased that she got my attention.
"I guess you forgot what your job description is when I hired you?" I snapped icily and good for her, she noticed that I am not in a good mood right now.
"Uhm..." She trailed not sure if she should say a word or if I wanted her to say a word.
"Your job title is assistant to the Executive Assistant. So, if there is anyone you should get coffee with, that should be Catherine." I said not minding that I address Catherine with her first name. Then I realized that Catherine is not drinking coffee or any drinks with caffeine. "No, erase that. Catherine does not drink coffee. Anyways, what I am saying is, that your job is to help Catherine, not me. I already have her to do that. Whatever Catherine does, you help her. Don't waste your time on me because I didn't hire you for that. Now if you cannot focus on your job and do it right, the door is open and I can just hire another assistant for Catherine."
The bitch is dumbstruck while Catherine's mouth is agape.
What? I just made myself clear. That was the truth. I don't need Daisy. Catherine needs her. That is the reason why I hired her. To be of help to Catherine so that she wouldn't get fatigued because of too much work. She is supposed to lessen Catherine's workload.
"Do I make myself clear?" I cocked my head in irritation because Daisy just stands there like a dumb.
"Y-yes, s-sir," the girl stuttered and lost her coyness. That's good.
"Good. Catherine," I turned to look at Catherine. "No one is allowed to enter my office except you. If anyone wants to enter, inform me first."
"Okay," Catherine replied. She had already regained her wits.
Then I walk towards my office. Daisy already left the room. Before I turned the knob I looked back at Catherine and saw that she was smiling to herself. She didn't even notice that I was staring at her.
"Ahem..." I cleared my throat to catch her attention. When she realized that I am still present and she is smiling at herself, her smile was immediately replaced by a flushed face.
"I'm sorry, Nate. Do you need anything?" I smiled when she called me by my first name. She's getting used to it.
"No," I shook my head and sighed. "Are you alright?" I asked. It has become a habit of mine to ask her if she is alright or comfortable. I have to make sure that her work is not taking a toll on her. Because if she ever had that flare again or even that waxing and waning of her symptoms, I swear I will sign her resignation letter and take her home with me so that I could take care of her. She can just become the permanent nanny of my daughters. Or maybe, their mother. That would be better.
"Nate," she rolled her eyes. She gets pissed whenever I ask her that question but it only makes me smile.
"Alright," I said as I raised my hand in the air. "Whatever you plan to do today, do it carefully, don't tire yourself too much. You have Daisy to help you. The last thing we want is you having a flare again. Come to my office after one hour. Got it?" I said in a solemn voice. I make it a habit to call her in my office now and then just to make her rest for a while. I will just instruct her to sit or maybe take a nap.
"Got it," I heard her reply.
"Good," then I turned to leave but stopped when I heard her call me again.
"Nate," she said and I looked at her.
"Whatever this is that you are doing...thank you," She said with a smile and I was stunned.
What does she think I am doing?