Chapter 12

★★★★★

•WHITE HOUSE•

Karen Brooks had never been a diary keeper nor someone who keeps records of important events but certainly, things are going to be different today.

To her..

Nothing could be more pleasing than realizing that her brother had taken steps towards developing a love life and breaking free from some damned betrothal..

And at the same time..

Nothing could be sweeter than realizing how cute the bride to be is..

Just a short while ago, she was leaving the white house with a note of not living there anymore and now, she's back with screams and noises in excitement..

She was so excited that she didn't deem it fit to board a cab or call her driver to drive her home, perhaps because she saw it as a limitation to her screams and shouting..

As usual, Tristan was on the field, playing his favorite hockey game while Kathy stood behind him, cheering loudly like a fool..

"Young madam, you aren't with your footwear" the gatekeeper said as Karen walked in.

"Oh, right. I threw them off cause they wouldn't let me walk well" she replied like she was in haste, going in without sparing him a final glance.

"What's happened to the promise you made about not returning to this house?.." Kathy glared hatefully as she walked in.

"I didn't make a promise by the way, why would I leave my father's house for some unwanted chickens?.." she scoffed, trying to get Tristan's attention..

"If anyone is a chicken here then that's you!" Kathy replied.

"So you're what?.. a pig?.." Karen chuckled.

"Thank goodness you know what fits you" She laughed again.

"What the hell do–" Kathy wasn't done speaking when Tristan interrupted.

"Do you realize that I'm right here before you!" Tristan snapped, seeming so upset.

"Sorry dear, I mean bro.." Kathy said quickly and Karen scoffed again.

"I've always wanted to know what name you'd call a brother you're sleeping with and guess what, you, yourself don't know.." She said mockingly.

Tristan bit his lip, somewhat embarrassed.

"Well, I came to say something very important before the invitation cards are being printed out.." Karen paused, smirking.

"The only legitimate son of the Brooks, Harrison Brooks, is getting married to the most beautiful lady in California soon!.." she announced, earning furrowed brows from the duo infront of her.

"Of course dearies, the bride isn't the skinny, rude and disrespectful daughter of the Smiths.. " she added with a chuckle.

"Oh Kathy, you need to see my brother kissing this lady.. he was touching her and then.. aww" she lied dramatically, intentionally wanting to provoke the hell out of Tristan.

"That isn't just it, she won my brother's heart so much that he wasn't even bothered by my presence. Now I know why Harrison has been growing fatter and handsome these days. This lady is giving him the best life" she continued, still continuing her drama.

"Kathy I never knew my brother was a good kisser, he kept on – "

"Will you shut that mouth!" Tristan suddenly interrupted and Karen snickered.

"Someone got jealous " she snickered again.

Kathy on the other hand wasn't even wearing a particular expression. She didn't even know if she was sad or happy about the news.

Tristan scoffed..

"You think father would approve another lady other than Ashley smith for Harrison?.." He scoffed again.

"Keep dreaming. " he added. Karen glared

"Yes, He has just six months to marry her else Tristan emerges as the heir!" Kathy shamelessly said in support.

"Let's go.." She said to Tristan who was even already leaving..

"Enemies of progress!.. watch and see!" Karen yelled, breathlessly.

She bit her finger, watching them leave.

"Father really won't approve of any other lady but Ashley Smith?.."

"Arrrrghh!!!" she groaned, ruffling her hair breathlessly.

*

~LATER THAT DAY~

•NOVASPIRE INC•

"How can you say such a thing?.." Harrison asked surprisingly, staring in awe at Iris whose head had remained bowed since she came in..

After the incident at the kitchen, she hadn't been free with him and he can't deny disliking it.

Her palm was treated already, according to his order but she had been trying to avoid him.

'Harrison Brooks finally found his woman!' that statement of Karen hadn't stopped making Iris uncomfortable..

"What the hell are things driving at?.." she'd been asking herself that question a couple of times.

"I'm sorry sir. That's my request please" she said, still avoiding his gaze.

Harrison scoffed silently.

"You suddenly want to be demoted from a secretary to a cleaner without any reason?.." he asked, badly wishing she could just raise her head.

"I don't think I can cope as your secretary sir.." she said again and he scoffed for the second time..

"But this is just your first day.. oh, are you scared of having burns while trying to brew me coffee?.. tell me, I'll assign Someone else to be doing that.." he said.

Iris sucked in a deep breath..

How was she supposed to tell him that she wasn't comfortable being so close to him?..

And that arousing different assumptions from his family was so uncomfortable?!..

"I'm not scared of the burns sir. That was just a silly mistake.." she replied.

"So?.."

"I really can't function properly as a secretary sir.. I can't brew a simple coffee, correct errors in documents, respond effectively to memos, make submissions to other companies.." she sighed.

"I've been sitting in that office for hours and I just can't lay my hands on anything there. The simplest task seems like the hardest for me. I can't even identify documents and files.." she added.

Those were literally the smallest amongst the reasons she had in mind…

"I promised to teach you everything, didn't I?.." Harrison asked, slowly getting up for his seat.

"But you've been busy all day sir. You've been attending to lots of things and I've been so useless as a secretary." she said with a sigh.

"As a cleaner, I can assure you of good and quality cleaning.. i can –"

"A cleaner won't be provided with accommodation and every clothes given will be retrieved.." Harrison said intentionally..

"Huh.." Iris voiced without realizing.

"You won't even have access to any free service here if you become a cleaner. Your work will be to clean, clean, wash, mop, sweep, receive abusive words, get slapped by other workers.. you might even get molested" He added..

She bit her lower lip hard.

He really has his ways of brainwashing her without arousing suspicions..

"Yes. This is an office and the fact that I'm the boss doesn't mean I can protect all staff. Other male workers can molest you and even beat you up if you refuse to give them what they want. Is that what you want, huh?.." He spoke again, making sure his voice was firm enough to scare her

"And besides, no accommodation. You'll also return the clothes the company already bought you. Tell me if that's what you want.." Harrison shrugged.

Iris sighed deeply.

"Can I be your house cleaner then?.." she found herself saying.

"I have robots who do my cleaning" He replied simply.

"Are you still interested in being a cleaner?.." he asked with a secret smile and slowly, she shook her head sideways.

"I'll try coping as your secretary," she replied sadly.

Her response made Harrison feel somehow guilty. He walked over to her with steady strides..

"Do you hate me?.." he asked in a voice that was barely above a whisper.

"Huh, No.." She shook her head sideways, picking on her white nails.

He smiled.

"I'm sorry, but you're slowly getting ensnared in my life" He thought, allowing the dominion of silence for the next few seconds.

"Do you want me to arrest your father who tried taking advantage of you?.." he suddenly asked and for the first time in about ten minutes, she looked up..

"Seriously?.." she asked surprisingly.

"You seem too uncomfortable around me so I want to do things that please you. Tell me if you want that man to spend the rest of his days in jail.. I just need his name and just a call will do it.." He said and she found herself smiling inwardly.

"He truly cares.." She thought.

"No, it's fine sir. Karma will surely catch up with him soon" she replied.

"Can you just call my name?.. I hate unnecessary regard" he said.

"But sir –" .

She got interrupted.

Not with his words this time but with his forefinger on her lips, shutting her..

"No buts when I make requests" he whispered and she nodded.

"Good girl.." he smiled, with his forefinger still on her lips.

It seemed so soft and his finger was quite hesitant to let go of it..

And then..

The door opened..

Right.

It's as if the heavens are always planning this because each time they are in a position that seems intimate, someone always comes in..

Is that coincidence or fate's creepy intentions?..

They turned towards the door immediately and Harrison's brows rose on their own when he saw his guard.

"And what happened to knocks?.." he asked surprisingly while Iris quickly brought his finger from her lips.

"Another awkward moment" she thought, turning to see the guard properly.

"I'm sorry sir.." the guard said, looking so weak and tired.

Harrison scoffed, walking over to him.

"What happened to your left ear?.." he narrowed his brows, pointing at the bloody bandage around his ear.

"I got into an accident.." the guard replied, still looking so uneasy.

"What sort of accident would have someone's ear almost completely chopped off?.." Iris thought in surprise.

"What –"

The guard spoke quickly before Harrison could, almost interrupting.

"Regarding the apartment you asked me to get, I've gotten a suitable one sir alongside Greenville estate. It will surely suit your taste sir and according to the agent, the owner and former occupant left the country for India just last week so she's putting it out for sale" he said.

Harrison turned to Iris immediately who was still focused on the guard's bloody ear.

"Would you like to go see the house now?.. to see if you like it" he asked gently.

"Yeah, sure.." she replied with a smile.

"No form of regard?.." the guard thought in surprise.

"We'll meet you in the car, you can leave" Harrison said, turning back to the guard.

"Alright sir" the guard replied hurriedly, bowing a bit before rushing out of the office..

"Do what's necessary, we're leaving now.." Harrison said, walking back to his seat.

"Okay.." she said slowly. Her gaze was still on the office door and she wasn't even listening to Harrison.

"I just feel like something isn't right.." she thought.

"Velvet?.." Harrison called, noticing her absentmindedness.

"Oh, sir.. I mean, uhm" she stuttered, jolting out of her thoughts.

"Are you okay?.."

"Yes, I am." She responded.

"We'll be leaving now, I'm sure you heard that" he said and she nodded.

"Can I know who that man is?" she found herself saying out of curiosity.

"My private guard and driver, why?.." he asked.

"And how long has he been with you?..."

"Two years. Why?.." he asked again.

"Nothing. I think I'm assuming wrongly here…"

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