Unspoken Longings

David's POV 

I couldn't tell which broke my heart more, what I said or the expression on her face. 

"Sir?"

I had spent the whole night working up the courage to tell her, writing and rewriting the scene in my head, and finally chose the one that didn't cause me so much pain. What I didn't factor in, however, was the way she gasped and the sudden change in her expression, almost as if she felt the same pain I was feeling

Wait. Did she?

"You heard me right, Miss Johnson. Effective now, you will no longer report to me, but to Mr Nick, my assistant." I couldn't take this torture any longer. "You can leave now."

In a shaky voice, she responded "Okay Mr Crest," and then hesitated like she wanted to say something more. She didn't, though, and I nodded and continued what I was doing on my phone, which was nothing at all, but at least I didn't have to look at her and feel worse than I already did. She turned and left the office quietly after that.

I was left alone to my thoughts after the whole exchange. Why did everything have to be so hard? Why couldn't I just be with someone who'll make me happy? Despite my riches and good looks, I've never been with someone who wanted me for me. Most of the women I had dated in the past were only out to get my money, and when I found out, I left them. I was getting tired of the whole dating situation and was thinking of just living my single life to the fullest until I met Sofia Reyes. Sofia seemed like she was going to be different from the rest of them, and I was already thinking of getting married to her before Rosie discovered her plot and saved me from it.

Rosie.

She looked so good today. It was almost like she put in special effort for a reason. A part of me wished she did it because of me, but I laughed the thought off. There's no way she'd want to do something like that for me, unless… 

The possibility of my secretary, a woman I had treated like trash for the past five years, and wouldn't even have noticed if not for the events of the last few weeks, falling for me was almost non-existent.

Almost, my brain pointed out, but still a possibility.

Even if the possibility existed, it still couldn't lead anywhere. Our societal positions were too far apart for us to be in a successful relationship. All the women I had ever dated were women in power, women who were successful in their own fields. Rosie paled in comparison to them. All she was was a secretary. 

Not that I had a problem with her being a secretary, though. I wouldn't care less if she was just a messenger, but I was worried about what the public would say about her, about me. During the whole Sofia fiasco, our story was published in the newspapers and other popular magazines, and Rosie was said to have been the one to expose her. If, barely 2 months after the whole situation, we were seen together, those same newspapers and magazines that portrayed her as a heroine would be quick to label her a gold digging devil, and it'll be terrible.

No. No matter what, I have to protect her from that, even if it breaks me.

I took a break from my downward-spiraling thoughts and got up to walk around and stretch a bit in my office. From one of the glass walls, I could see right into Nick's office. He and Rosie were trying to sort through some paperwork that looked like they had been abandoned since forever. Nick was standing between me and Rosie, so I couldn't get a clear view, but when he moved, I saw her red-rimmed eyes and tear-streaked face. She must have spent at least an hour crying after what happened. Dear God.

Nick must have said something funny, though, because she laughed, and it didn't sound forced. I had known Nick Connor for about 8 years now. He started out as a junior staff member at Crest International, but his diligence and hard work made him climb all the way to being the Executive Assistant. He was a tall, beefy man, although shorter than me, and he had a way of charming people into liking him. He had such good humour and was just as smart as he was funny. I had never had a reason to dislike him. 

Until now.

He made another joke, and Rosie laughed again, touching his arm and letting her hand linger there, although unintentionally. My eyes flashed red, and my stomach twisted into knots. That should have been me. She should have been holding on to my arm like that. With every minute she spent laughing with him, my heart felt like there were a million pins pushed into it all at once. They kept talking and laughing, and I couldn't take it anymore, so I decided I was done with work for the day.

I angrily picked up my phone and suitcase, then snatched my keys from my table, and stormed out of my office, slamming the door behind me. I knew I looked scary, but I didn't care at this point. Everybody who saw me moved away from my path to avoid me. I got into my car and drove off angrily with no destination in mind.

After driving aimlessly for about 45 minutes, I calmed down and thought of where next to go. I couldn't go back to work because it reminded me of Rosie too much. I couldn't go back home because I'd rather be anywhere but there. I thought it over for some minutes, and then I picked up my phone.

I really hope he picks up.

"Ah, David. To what do I owe this honour?" 

I laughed, then "Shut up, Tim. Are you at home?"

"Yes, your highness" he responded playfully

"Okay then. I'll be there in 10 minutes." I said, then hung up.

True to my word, I got to Tim's house in exactly 10 minutes. The place rivalled mine in every possible way. If we hadn't been in contact for so long, I'd have said he was trying to copy me. The gate swung open, and I rolled my car in. Tim was standing at the door by the time I was done parking. 

"It's been a while, man. How've you been?" Tim said as I walked up to him. We shook hands, and he gave me a friendly pat on the back. He was a childhood friend who moved away, and I lost contact with him. Then, after almost 20 years, we met at a party we were both invited to. Reconnecting with him felt good, to be honest. It meant I hadn't lost all parts of my childhood.

"Ah. You know. It's been business as usual for this guy" I responded dryly "Just going to work and getting strung until I'm too tired to even see" 

"That's tough. You should be like me. Give yourself days off whenever you feel like. That's why you're the boss"

It was a good idea, but sitting around doing nothing makes me just as tired as working all day does. I should really consider it sometime though.

We walked inside and talked shop the whole time. Tim got us some drinks and we talked some more about other stuff, people we knew, the golf games coming up, the last football season, everything. I could feel all the tension of the day fading away.

"Oh yeah. I read about Sofia in the papers."

I gritted my teeth. Just great.

"Mmm. What can I say? She was just like the rest" I said in a tone that should have conveyed how much I didn't want to talk about it.

"I'm sorry Dave. And she seemed so true at the beginning"

"They all do Tim. I'm tired of it." 

"Your secretary though, the one that exposed her. She's hot."

I sat up immediately at the mention of that. Tim looked at me, a knowing smile playing at the corner of his mouth. "I take it from your reaction that you're not done with ALL women just yet."

I had just played myself into his trap. I took another sip of my drink and said " And what could that possibly mean?"

"You like her" He said matter-of -factly.

"Well, there's no use denying it now. I do like Rosie. A little too much, if I may add. But it's impossible. Nothing can come our of it"

"What do you mean? She doesnt like you?" 

I knew for a fact that Rosie did, in fact, like me. I had been lying to myself over and over again to avoid it, but deep down, I knew she did. "There's the fact that she's my secretary. You saw the papers Tim. If I announce that I'm dating her a few months after the whole Sofia thing happened, people will give her bad labels. I don't want that" I confessed to him.

"Then don't announce it" Tim was always the one to come up with mischievous ideas like this.

"What do you mean 'don't announce it'? You know my position in the society, there's no way that's possible."

Tim laughed heartily. "David, David. You've always been a stickler for rules. It's nice to know you still haven't changed. Look, the media can only know whatever you want them to know. If you want a relationship with this girl, and you want to protect her from them, then keep it secret. It's not so hard." 

Keep it secret. That's something worth trying out.

As long as I get the girl, anything is worth trying out.