MY BADASS SECRETARY

CHAPTER 4

Ryke is the only heir and only son of the multi-company owner Mr. Wilson John. His mom passed away when he was five years old. Mr. Wilson loves him so much and gives him everything he wants but has limitations. Still, Mr. Wilson managed to control his very own son.

Ryke's characteristics were exactly his mom, that is why Mr. Wilson is treating him like a fragile and innocent one despite being stubborn, hard-headed, and carefree, an easy-go lucky person. On top of that, despite being one of the elite family members, classy life is not his cup of tea.

Ryke knows how to blend between rich and average people. For him, status in life is not important. When it comes to love, everyone is fair in the square. Your heart cannot choose which one your mind wants. Just like his dad who fell in love with a precious and lovely commoner.

Ryke lived abroad during his college days, so he is not aware and familiar with how his dad shoves some dollars for him to study in a prestigious school in America.

This is one reason why he needs to learn how to earn money of his own from Hendrick's company as a secretary. Ryke was exposed to liberated people living in self-service and survival. For them, these are some of the keys to enjoying life at the same time learning in the process.

Hendrick followed Ryke in the cafeteria to see how Ryke will blend with the other workers but to his surprise, Ryke is like a normal employee and eats like an ordinary person.

Entering the cafeteria is one of the bravest acts Hendrick had ever made, that's because of Ryke. And he is glad he made it today. Not bad, he said. Everyone is simple and the food is good, on top of that, eating with buddies and friends is enjoyable, which he has never experienced since he became CEO. Only Ryke let him step down from that cafeteria.

“So, do you like the food in the cafeteria, Mr. Walters?” Ryke breaks the silence and eases the tension between them.

“Y-yes..”

“Do you often eat lunch there?” Ryke asked, pretending he didn't know that it was his first time stepping inside the cafeteria.

“Ahem, no..actually...it's my first time eating there.”

“Really? So what makes you decide to eat there today, Mr. Walters?”

“It doesn't concern you.”

“Ha??”

Hendrick walked faster ahead of Ryke and quickly hopped on the lift and left Ryke dumbfounded in the hallway who was walking slowly and pressed the other lift button unconsciously.

What's with that lion? Tch.

Ryke reached the office and noticed that Benny was not there. He gets inside the office and continues his work. He arranges the files that Hendrick needs to have a signature today. One of the flies caught his attention as he read it. It's a Walters Corporation Foundation Day Celebration that will be held next month which is four weeks from today.

Hmmm, interesting.

He goes to Hendrick's working table and places the files neatly. It's already two o'clock but the CEO is not yet there. Ryke didn't think of it much because after all he is the owner and CEO of this company and he has his own control of his time. Ryke thought, being a CEO is not bad at all.

Ryke wants to have some coffee so he enters the pantry room and mixes his taste with the coffee. When he was about to turn, his heart jumped out of his chest from shock.

Hendrick is standing in front of him now.

“Mr. Walters! When did you get in?” Ryke sigh in between his heavy breaths.

“Is it my coffee?” Hendrick asked, pointing out the coffee that he just makes for himself.

“Ahaha, ah yes, yes, I made it for you.” Ryke lied.

“Thank you..”

Ryke wanted to escape and head out from the pantry when Hendrick spoke again while staring at him intently and walking slowly.

“Close the door.”

“Huh? Mr. Walters?” Ryke murmured.

“I said close the door.” Hendrick starts to walk closer to Ryke that makes the latter panic.

“Mr. Walters...I'm..I'm still...” Ryke puts both arms in his chest in a cross position like he is protecting himself while walking backward slowly. He is feeling nervous and his voice is trembling and his body is shaking.

Ryke's back hit the frame of the door but didn't move at all when Hendrick made a one-hand kabedon, their faces are inches apart and fanning each other's breath. Hendrick reaches the doorknob with his left hand and talks again in a very gentle cold voice.

“I said close the door when you get out.” Hendrick chuckles as he watches Ryke close his eyes while biting his lower lips. Hendrick enjoyed teasing his secretary and the mole under his lips caught by his eyes. He doesn't know but he wants to taste that mole badly. He starts to lean closer slowly...

“Mr. Walters, sir, we need to leave soon.” Hendrick snaps out of his thoughts when he hears his bodyguard called behind the door of the office. He pulled away from Ryke and composed himself.

“Move, I need to go.”

Ryke quickly moves away from blocking the door and lets the CEO open by himself and storm out of the pantry room. Ryke touches his own chest and releases a deep breath. What was that? Ryke thought it was just him who was thinking oddly about Hendrick so he shrugs his thoughts about it and acts normal when they meet again when Hendrick comes back to the office.

It's been a month now and the scene on the lift repeated every day. Ryke is determined and has no plan of giving up, hoping that one day, Hendrick will allow him to ride a lift together but Mr. Hendrick didn't let him give a chance, not even once.

It's become their game in the morning but sometimes Ryke is earlier than Hendrick. He always ended up queueing at the other lifts. But Ryke is glad because Aries and Adam always comfort him if he loses this game again for how many times. Aries and Adam are his buddies during lunchtime and they become real friends.

Mr. Walters didn't step into the cafeteria after that day he joined Ryke. Normally, he eats outside with the other company CEO after their meeting. He never planned to bring Ryke to his meeting. He doesn't want others eyeing on his secretary. Ryke can steal any attention.

For some reason, Hendrick doesn't want his secretary to be discovered by other company CEO's. Hendrick is an independent person so he can manage appointments outside without his secretary.

It's Monday, there is a newly hired staff in the Finance Department. The man is the same age as Ryke and looks friendly. Because it's been a routine, Hendrick secretly waits for Ryke to arrive in the lobby and slowly walks to the lift when he sees him approaching, it's playtime.

Hendrick thought Ryke would chase them again attempting to ride his lift but to his surprise, Ryke walked slowly and turned his attention to Aries and Adam who were patiently queuing up. Hendrick is about to step into the lift but he turns back when he sees Ryke is smiling and bowing his head, shaking hands to a handsome man. Hendrick and Benny stand for a while and watch them patiently.

Hendrick is not happy, he walks back in Ryke's direction and without warning, he grabs Ryke's wrist and drags him to the lift. Benny, who was waiting and stopping at the door of the lift, was shocked but didn't show it. When the two enter the lift safely, Benny gets in and presses the close button.

Adam, Aries, and the newly hired finance staff left dumbfounded, including the employees who are queuing. Since Ryke started to work in the Walters Corporation, they noticed that the CEO is not that grumpy at all, sometimes they will meet the CEO along the way nodding at them which is not a typical habit of their CEO. Though they noticed some changes, they are still scared and don't dare to look straight into the CEO's eyes.

Inside the exclusive lift, Ryke is caressing his wrist which Hendrick pulled earlier. They are not talking but Benny sensed it already, his boss is jealous though he is not sure.

Benny opened the door for them and closed it again and excitedly pulled the sticky notes and marked the score of the players.

Inside the office.

“Mr. Walters, why did you do that?”

“What did I do? You want to ride in my lift right, so I let you in.”

Ryke open mouth in agape. He knows Hendrick is playing dumb with him. Yes, he wanted to join them going up to the office to avoid being late but he just ignored him many times. But today, he forced and dragged him just like that.

Whatever the reason why he was suddenly snatched by Hendrick from his friends, he will find out soon. It's not the time to talk about it since it's time for work now. Ryke thought, when he was dying and exerting effort to join them on the lift, Hendrick didn't let him give a chance, now that he is comfortable with his friends and meeting new friends, he is dragging and forcing him just like that. Tch.

“Make it for my coffee and before you go to lunch, tell me first.”

“Yes sir.” Ryke hisses with gritted teeth when he turns his back and walks to the pantry room.

It's lunchtime, Ryke doesn't have the plan to inform Hendrick because he is really pissed off. He went down to his friends secretly and joined them.

They were eating happily with the new staff when the cafeteria turned silent again. The great and notorious CEO entered the main door of the cafeteria and looked for his secretary. When Hendrick spotted Ryke, he quickly walked in his direction.

“Ryke, you are doomed!”

Adam whispered pointing out by his mouth the approaching CEO.

“Don't you know how to follow instructions?” A loud cold voice echoed inside the cafeteria.

“Ahaha, Mr. Walters I am very hungry already and I saw you are still busy at your table. I checked the schedule, you have an appointment outside. You will not bring me outside so I decided to eat my lunch.” Ryke explained in long sentences without breathing at all.

Everyone is watching them, curious about their conversation.

“Let's go.” Hendrick ordered.

“Mr. Walters, sir, I am not yet finished eating.”

“Leave it.”

“Mr. Walters, that's not right. It's a waste of food if I do that.”

“I said, leave it!”

Everyone looks down and continues to eat their food and pretend there is no commotion happening around them.

“Mr. Walters....” Ryke controlled his temper and turned his fist into a ball.

He is losing patience suddenly. He wanted to protest but on the other hand, he didn't want to make things a big deal and make the situation worse or put Hendrick in a shameful situation. He bid farewell to his friends and asked the crew to pack his lunch and follow the fuddy-duddy CEO.

Both of them are not talking when they step into the lift until they reach the office. Ryke knows to himself that he intentionally escapes from Hendrick but even so, Hendrick has no right to interrupt his meal time and order to leave the food just like that. He hates wasting food. The mood swings of his boss are unbearable today so Ryke is ready to fight for his right.

“Why did you leave without telling me?”

“I told you I am hungry already.”

“Are you really hungry or you just want to join and flirt with that new guy?”

“What?”

Ryke was really shocked. He doesn't understand when he flirts with someone and he doesn't even know who the person he is flirting with is, according to his boss.

“Mr. Walters, did you interrupt my lunch just because you thought I was flirting with someone in the cafeteria?” Ryke asked nonchalantly.

“I asked you to tell me first before going to lunch right?” Hendrick asked him back.

“Why do I have to tell you if it's my lunchtime already?” Ryke is already starting to lose his patience and Hendrick is pulling his last string.

“Who is the boss here?”

“You! But that doesn't mean you have the right to interrupt my meal and order me to leave it just like that in front of the crowd!”

Hendrick gulped his saliva hearing Ryke raised his voice with an angry tone.

“Ok, I'm sorry. Calm down...I just want to have lunch with you....” Hendrick finally said. He feels and hears his own glass wall collapsed and scattered on the floor. He can't stand seeing Ryke fuming in anger just because deep inside he is feeling jealous since this morning.

Ryke's world suddenly stops spinning and his heart skips beating for split seconds. He doesn't know why but when he heard that Hendrick wanted to have lunch with him, he wanted to melt like ice cream.