To Be Yours Again

Chapter 3 Meet the secretary

The Smith's mansion has been deserted for many years. This shows in the wild shrubbery which were once trimmed to perfection but now, they looked overgrown.

Only on the iron gate which people use to get into the compound, was there an exquisitely carved flower pattern seems to show the status and fame of the owner of this place.

"Here we are." David stated as he stopped the car, he came down and after opening the door for them, he went to the trunk to get their luggage.

Rose took the little hand of her sleepy baby boy and got down from the back seat.

"David, thank you. You have been a great help all day. Go back, so you can rest early." Rose said with a smile when David pushed the luggage to her side.

"Won't you invite me in?" David gave a glance at the main entrance of the villa.

"Yes, Mommy, let him come!" Mark said while rubbing his sleepy eyes.

“Let Uncle David go and play with me before you sleep, okay? The Lego superman I brought at the gift store from the airport has not been assembled yet.”

His mother gave a valid excuse, one which he liked but he still wanted Uncle David to play with him. His small mouth pursed with indecision of whether he should agree with his mother or argue some more.  He looked really cute with his pursed lips, which made Rose and David to laugh.

As Rose rubbed her son’s hair affectionately, the lips of a man who was watching them from a car parked a little distance from them formed into a grimace. She has not changed for over seven years. Her mannerisms were still the same.

Just a little more maternal aura.

Joseph's eyes stared at the slender figure watching them from the rearview mirror, his grimace turned into a fierce glare when she gently hugged the man in front of her.

His fingers holding the steering wheel tightened slowly, and his lips thinned when he realized that he had no right over feeling possessive of her. They were over, have been for a long time. He had no reason even watching her like a stalker.

"David, this is my first time back here in seven years. My home has not been cleaned yet. It is not very convenient. When I am free another day, I will definitely invite you in."

At this point, David understood her heart, and he smiled, hiding the feeling of loss because she was certainly pushing him away. “If necessary, call me at any time, and I will arrive immediately."

"I will." Rose answered but David knew better. She would if only she didn’t have any other choice.

Nodding her head and smiling, Rose comforted Mark a few more times before her baby allowed David to go. She took the unhappy little boy, and went up the stairs.

David stared intently at her back while she walked away, and his thick long eyelashes covered framing eyes that spoke of his feelings for a woman who owns his heart and didn’t want anything to do with it.

At the corner, a black Corvette that was parked switched on and proceeded into silent night.

...

Rose spent two hours cleaning and the living room which was originally dusty, was now clean, and the hand stitched sofa which was covered with a white sheet to prevent dust from touching it looked good too.

She gently brushed away the dust on a portrait that was in her hand, carrying it like it was a beloved object before she hung the portrait in the most conspicuous position in the living room.

Mark, dressed in Superman’s pajamas, stood at the doorway, frowning at the portrait that his mother placed on the counter.

"Mommy, is that Mommy's dad and Mommy?"

The portrait was of a couple in their early fifties. The man has white sideburns and unique warm eyes. The woman wearing a beaming smile like it was the best day of her life. The picture captured the happiness of the couple and somehow made it to be felt by whoever saw the picture. They were snuggle together, close without any space between them and obviously husband and wife.

Rose put down a rag and took a deep breath. "Yes, this is your grandma and grandpa."

"Where have they gone?" Mark asked looking around. The huge house was empty, and there was no one but him and his mommy.

Rose turned and looked at Mark who had a curious expression on his face. She couldn't help laughing. She went to him, hugged him and walked to the bedroom.

"They went to a place far away, and maybe Mark will never see it in his life."

The fire seven years ago killed her parents and ruined her marriage.

She had to run away.

"Mommy doesn't miss them?"

"I do very much so." Rose whispered silently.

There was nothing she could do about it. Life and death have separated her from them.

And she will get her revenge against those who were responsible.

She grabbed Mark and took him to his bed as he originally came to find her because it was his bed time. Mark slipped into the bed and Rose tucked him in, then he looked at her with round eyes, as if hoping for something.

"It's like how I miss Dad too, isn't it?" He asked, drawing back the conversation they were having before they came to his room.

Rose was stunned, and her heart trembled slightly at the thought of the man he had just met in the restaurant, the man who was his father but who he didn’t know.

The pain spread little by little, was it better keeping him away?

All she did was release a gentle sigh. Rose kissed the head of her baby boy with a gentle smile on her lips. "Be good, go to bed quickly, and Mommy will send you to a place you would like so you can play tomorrow."

"...... Hmm!" Her bribe worked for her son because he settled down and closed his eyes. Few minutes later, he started snoring.

Rose leaned over and dropped a kiss on his forehead again. "Baby, mom loves you."

...

The next day, M&R Company-

"Linda, I may have to stay in New York for a while." Rose said to the person on the other end of the call that she was making.

That was when she saw the elevator door about to close, she hurriedly stopped it after rushing the last three steps. "Excuse me, please wait!"

After entering the elevator, the call was dropped by the other person.

Rose pursed her lips helplessly and stuffed her phone back into her bag.

A familiar and feminine female voice came to her ears "Joseph, I want to eat filet mignon from Maria’s Restaurant at noon today. Will you accompany me?"

The familiar male voice sounded, "Okay."

Rose shook all over. She glanced at the reflective steel of the elevator and saw them in a corner, behind the large group of men and women standing in the huge elevator.

Isabella, wearing a nude tight dress while she held the arm of the man beside her had on a pair of stilettos that looked more than six inches in length.

She and the man she was standing with looked perfect together.

Of course that man was Joseph.

The man standing beside Isabella, with an impassive face, seemed to not have seen her but she knew he was ignoring her, suddenly the people between them in the elevator was not enough to separate them.

Isabella pouted her red lips, and spoke in a delicate voice. "Then can you take me to the set after lunch?"

"Don’t you have a nanny or is it an assistant, and do I have to chauffeur you around?" When speaking, Joseph's big hand came to rest on Isabella's delicate shoulder, and his words and harsh tone effect was reduced by his actions. Because she didn’t seem to take his words to heart.

Isabella smiled and wriggled. "That's different, I just want you to accompany me."

Rose eyes burned with unsheathed tears but she swallowed it back.  She was clearly used to him acting like this to her before. Why does her heart hurts when she sees him with another person after seven years?

With a ding, the elevator door slowly opened.

When the former secretary saw Joseph and Isabella, he politely nodded his greeting to them. “Hello sir Joseph, Miss Isabella."

Then, his eyes turned to Rose next. "Secretary Rose."

"Secretary?" Isabella's footsteps stopped outside the elevator, and Joseph stopped with her.

She was surprised and turned to look at Rose. "This woman is a secretary?"

Joseph's face was cold, too. He stared at her with burning eyes, and his face seem to clench in anger.

"Sorry, it was so sudden that I didn't have time to inform you, sir." The secretary apologized and continued, "Rose was sent by Chinese investors to take my place and take charge of M&R in the future."

"I can't believe Rose, a surgeon, would switch to entertainment." Joseph's unimpressed eyes scanned Rose and seemed to be unimpressed with what he saw.

The secretary froze.

No way, the strong woman who was praised by the investor for the company used to study medicine?

Rose's heart thumped.

She took a deep breath and tried to calm her voice. "Does anyone stipulate that you should stick to only one industry? I like this change in work pace. It is not necessary to switch to the entertainment industry but I wanted to. Or, Joseph, do you doubt my ability?"

Atmosphere, instantly became tensed.

"Michelle, put Rose next to my office." Joseph suddenly said, "Be sure to hand over everything to Rose in a week, and she will take charge of the meeting preparation as from next week."

As soon as he was done dishing his orders, Joseph's long legs was already carrying him away, he didn’t want to spend any more minute in her presence.

"Okay, Sir." Michelle said respectfully in the direction which Joseph walked away in.