APATHETIC (Mafia and Roses - # 2)

Chapter 4

Pulling my short mid-thigh length gown which is of no use as pulling it down doesn’t make it any longer, I walk towards Colton’s office with the cup of coffee he requested for to start his day as I could barely stop by his apartment as usual to pick his dress for the day because his fans are lurking around the neighborhood and as I had promised myself years ago. I won’t let any one step on me or use me just like five years ago.

Approaching his office, I meet some of the staffs including Emma sticking to his door. More like trying to eavesdrop on whatever is happening in there. Walking towards them, I tap Emma’s shoulder and she turns to look at me. A sheepish smile creeps its way to her lips and she gently tugs on one of the male staffs’ shirt, thereby calling his attention and disrupting the rest from their silliness.

“You won’t tell us now that you have been announced as the rock star’s fiancé, right?” One of the female staffs, Aria says and I force a smile to my lips.

Just before I part my lips to reply, Emma pushes her shoulder playfully.

“She isn’t someone like that.” Emma whispers as the rest walks away.

“Oh, whatever!” Aria says as she walks away.

“Do you have a boyfriend apart from, Mr. Gilliam?” She asks and a fake smile finds its way to my lips.

“I am with Colton, so I can’t have a boyfriend. PS, I do not cheat.” I whisper as I step closer to her.

“Well, if you say so. But still, I think I have seen the guy who is having a heated argument with Mr. Gilliam with you before. He has come to see you a few times, but he has never really walked into the reception. He had always told the receptionist to call you out for him.” Emma tells me.

Nolan is the only male who would come looking for me here and he has walked into this place a few times…

“Thank you. I will just drop the coffee he requested for on his table for now.” I reply and she shakes her head.

“You are his fiancé and you still do the secretary errand job of delivering coffee to his table when Ree is always here to take all our orders and leave it on our desks including his. I am just saying, but he recently employed a female receptionist who can also do this for him.” She says and I tap my index finger silently on the coffee cup’s cover.

“I make this coffee myself. He probably likes it a lot.” I reply.

“Well, if I were in your shoes. I wouldn’t be satisfying him in bed and still run coffee errands as his secretary in front of other employees at work.” She whispers and walk away, leaving me slightly vexed.

Transferring the cup containing coffee to my left hand, I walk closer to the door and I raise my free hand to knock when Nolan’s voice hits my ears.

“She is not an object!” I hear him shout and I knock.

Without waiting for Colton’s response to let me in, I walk in. Taking my hair held in a high pony tail away from my shoulder, I drop Colton’s coffee on his glass desk and fold my arms beneath my breasts.

“Why is the air in this office so thin? I feel like if a muster seed drops, it will be heard. Were you two talking about me? and Nolan, why are you here?” I ask as I shift my eyes between the both of them.

“It is nothing, it is just your protective man fighting for you.” Colton replies as anger seems to have taken over his expression.

“Nolan, please step out and wait for me in my office.” I say and Nolan shows his reluctance before finally walking out.

“You didn’t tell me you have a boyfriend and whatever fake engagement we have was supposed to be confidential if I recall our agreement. A third party shouldn’t be involved.” He raises his voice and I shut my eyes close before opening them again.

Nolan claimed to be my boyfriend?

“Firstly, Mr. Gilliam I am doing you a favor by complying to the rumors created by your mom.” I reply calmly, which is an opposite of how I want to react right now.

“You did not comply because you want to help me. You are getting paid heavily too.” He retorts.

“How about I just continue my usual secretary work and you go out there to tell the press that those were rumors? I do not want the money. I have always respected you as my boss and even as you were and still my boss, you never raised your voice at me while I worked for you. Now, you are raising your voice at me. Have you probably thought that I am risking my future to help you get your mom’s industry? Have you ever thought that after we announce our break up the whole world will think of me as an unstable gold-digger who can’t keep a man?! Has it ever crossed your mind that anything can happen and I can decide to get married to another man, but I would get criticized by the crowd? And I am still with you risking all the bad names and accepting the assault your fans passed across to me on Saturday to which you have said nothing about. Then you are raising your voice at me. While you remained quiet and didn’t even try to call or check up on me, my best friend was there to defend me and you blame me? I do not want the money, nor the fake position of being your fiancé.” I retort back and he sighs.

“I am sorry. I got carried away by my emotions. The way he walked into my office and began to give warnings to me about you. Telling me to make sure my fans which I have no control over stay clear of you or he would ruin my career. I am sorry about what they did to you and I am working on it with some bodyguards that would be assigned to you whenever you are going out without me. I am going as far as buying the apartment next to yours so that the highly trained bodyguards would live next to you.” He says calmly this time as he moves to gesture to the seat in front of his desk.

“I am still not agreeing to the rumors out there anymore. I am no man’s property or fiancé.” I reply firmly as I sit and he sighs.

“I am sorry I raised my voice at you, it won’t happen again. I am also sorry for telling you that you are doing this for the money. You won’t back out, right? Do this for me, think of it as helping a man who has worked hard inherit the industry that rightful belongs to him rather than his mother’s sister’s son.” He says and I look at him.

Nibbling on my bottom lip, I refrain from saying any other word.

“I will give you all the respect you deserve.” He adds and I stand up.

“Okay.” I reply and move for the door.

“Thank you and you deserve to be paid heavily for this I am sorry. Can I make it up to you after work today?” He asks and I turn to face him.

“Okay. Also, the coffee must have been really cold by now. You should pour it away or have me take it back now.” I reply.

“I will do that myself and I am still very sorry.” He says and I nod before walking out.

Shutting the door behind me, I walk towards my office. As soon I step into my office, Nolan stands up from his sitting position.

“Nolan, why did you do it?” I ask.

“I hate to see you hurting. It is bad enough that you struggle daily to stay active despite your depression and I won’t  let your boss take you for granted because you pity people easily. I didn’t come here to fight, I just wanted to make my points across and I have made it. He shouldn’t treat my best friend however he wants. If you roll up the sleeve of your gown, there’s a plaster on your arm as a result of the assault from Saturday and I hate to see you hurt after everything you have been through in the past five to six years.  I am sorry, but I am not sorry.” He finishes and I nod.

“Thank you, Nolan.” I say and move to hug him as tears stream down my face.

Alejandro never ever raised his voice at me, even when we argued…

“You will be fine, dinner with me after work?” He asks as he pulls me away from him slightly in other to see my face.

“I can cancel the date with Colton to go out with you for dinner.” I answer.

“No, if that asshole you call your boss wants to take you out to compensate you and apologize then you do not have to cancel. I will just come to pick you up tomorrow so we can go out for dinner tomorrow.” He replies and I nod.

“Yeah, it is fine.” I reply.

“You are still not happy.” He says as he scans my facial expression with his eyes as usual.

“I am just upset a bit, I am fine and it’s nothing that wouldn’t dissolve soon.” I reply and he moves to give me a kiss on the cheek.

“Be fine, I will drop by your apartment later tonight. Lady Tee promised me a box of her sweet cupcakes.” He tells me and I smile.

“More like Lady Tee, I will see you later then. Right now, I will get back to work. It is good to be a CEO of your work place, you are about to walk in late to your own office.” I reply and he grins.

“For my best friend. Make him fall for you, but do not fall for him.” He tells me.

“I will not fall for Colton.” I reply and he raises an imaginary wine glass.

Raising mine too, we both clink our imaginary wine glass and burst out laughing before he walks out.

 ***

Colton gets off the car before me and before I can open the door to get off myself, he moves to open it for me and I mumble a ‘thank you’ before getting off. He shuts the door and put out his hand for me to take to which I oblige as I see the staff of the restaurant watch us.

“I know right now, you do not want to see my fans. It is why I have brought you here, to a restaurant with just three other decent couple and then us.” He tells me as we walk into the bright restaurant.

A female staff walks towards us and lead us to a table for four situated next to the transparent glass walls of the restaurant. He pulls out my seat for me and after her has made sure I have settled down, he moves to seat in front of me.

“Vos invités seraient bientôt assis avec vous et votre fiancé.” One of the restaurant’s attendant says to Colton and I shift uncomfortably.

“Is there something I am supposed to know that I don’t?” I ask and he nods.

“I am sorry. I ought to have told you about this earlier at the office, but we both had a little misunderstanding. I need you to talk to this Italian business associate. He wants to record a song with me, but you know I only speak English and French. You are the fluent one in six languages and you have lived in Italy before. The thing is, I have better proposal and I want you to talk him into agreeing. Use your lucky charm.” He answers and I choke as I hold scoffing.

What?!

“You just want me to talk to them, right? You didn’t discuss this with me earlier, Colton. You want me to read through whatever proposal you have with you right now and expect me to discuss with them impromptu? This isn’t some commercials I am doing where I would have read through my script to act as your model or something. I don’t even look like a secretary right now. I mean you requested that I stop with the shirts and skirts… and I did. I have to appear official to your associates since we are here for business.” I finish and he taps his index finger on the file placed on the table right in front of him.

“You are actually very intelligent and I know you would do well. Let’s talk after the meeting with them, I am trusting you.” He replies and hand over the hardcover blue file in front of him to me as the Italian man and a man I assume to be his secretary walks towards us.

As soon as they get to where we are seated, I rise up to my feet and give them my best smile.

“Buonasera” I greet him and his secretary and they both smile richly at me.

“Colton the rock star, you sing so well. I feel so happy to have a collaboration with you.” The man says as soon as he settles down and I sit back.

Scanning through the papers in the file quickly, I raise my head.

“Oh are you his secretary or his wife?” He asks and I clear my throat.

“Roberto, she is my secretary and fiancée.” He replies and I sip whatever drink I have in my glass.

“Awesome. Mettiamoci al lavoro. Let’s get to business.” Roberto says and I nod.

“Quoi?! Vous n'allez pas apporter vos émotions à cela, vous ruineriez une autre opportunité d'augmenter vos fans.” I say to Colton and he frowns.

“What?! You are not going to bring your emotions to this, you would be ruining another opportunity to increase your fans.” Roberto’s Secretary translates and I suck in my inner cheek.

We have a problem.

“Is something wrong?” Roberto asks.

This man speaks English, so what has my Italian part got to do with this meeting?

“No.” I reply.

“Il signor Gilliam propone un altro genere di canzone. Invece di cantare una canzone d'amore, ne suggerisce una che non includa l'amore.” I tell Roberto and he laughs, making Colton look at me weirdly.

“Brother, your secretary just talked about you not wanting to sing a love song. C’mon man, she was right when she said you do not have to bring in your emotions. Although singing with emotions attached would make the listeners feel the song more, you know what I mean. You believe In love, don’t you? I mean look you have your beautiful fiancée as your secretary. It means she will be us at the studio. Just by looking at her, you would sing the love song so well.” He replies in English again and I choke on my own spit.

First, talking about love in front of Colton is a total waste of time. He doesn’t like that word and as for I, this feels so awkward. Would I be able to stay as both Colton’s fake fiancée and secretary or one would have to stop for the other?

“Mr. Gilliam, your fiancée’s presence even in the music video will send more messages to the listeners and viewers. Just with that, you would also have more fans from Italy and that’s a bonus plus an increase in net worth for you.” Roberto’s secretary says.

“Well. I would not be the only one benefitting from this, Mr. Regio would also be benefitting from this. As I get fans from Italy, he would also have fans from France.” Colton replies and I adjust in my sit.

“Well, you are right but if you are going to change the concept of the song entirely then the agreement between us would be breeched.” Roberto Regio’s secretary answers.

“Well I do n…” I cut Colton off with my index finger and he stops midway.

“Well, he will do it. He will sing the love song and also play the guitar. He will also add some rap lines and I also want to use this medium although not quite nice but still okay to welcome you to France. A designated driver will pick you two up soon and drop you off at the hotel we booked for you.” I say and excuse myself.

Walking away fast even in my pumps, I unlock my phone to book two VIP rooms in the most popular five star hotel and also call a designated driver who promised to be here in seven minutes as he is not far from the restaurant’s venue.

Adjusting my hair, I walk back in with a forced smile.

“I am sorry.” I say as I sit and Roberto nods.

“Tomorrow, 10am I will be at your studio.” He says to Colton as he and his secretary stands up.

“Very well.” Colton replies as they both shake hands.

As soon as I accompany them to the car, I wave them off and return to inside the restaurant where Colton is seated.

“I would sing a love song or you will sing?” He asks as soon as I sit.

“I did what I think is good as your secretary. If I am not able to handle matters properly, then you wouldn’t have asked me to do it even though it was impromptu.” I reply.

“You know I do not sing love songs.” He raises his voice a bit.

“It is just a song and it doesn’t mean you have fallen in love or your music concept as changed. This time, it’s not just you singing. Also, I would appreciate if you stop raising your voice at me. A thank you, you did a great job would have been better.” I say to him.

“At first, I wanted to punish you for…” He starts and I raise my index finger to stop him.

“Punish me? Over what? If this is who you truly are, then I can’t be your acting fiancée. Let me just be your secretary. Go and tell your mom that you lied to her because this your secretary you see sitting in front of you isn’t someone to be shouted at because it tells her many things. If I knew you were like this I wouldn’t have accepted your mom’s rumors.” I reply and walk out.