OPPOSITE ATTRACTION - Part 2 Episode 8

Clara’s POV

I let go of him and take a step back to get outof his hold and he does. I want his hands back on me.

“I will go down now.”

“You can’t walk in that condition.”

“Mr. Bryant, I am fine! It’s just a small injury.”

He looks like he was about to say something.

But he just nods and adjusts his suit before walking to his chair behind the huge desk before sitting down on it.

“You may leave then.” He says looking down at his files.

“Thank you.”

He doesn’t look up at me. “No need to mention.” He takes the file he was reading before and resumes signing it.

“You can take a day off, if you want tomorrow.” He still doesn’t look up.

“No. I want to start tomorrow.”

“Good, then.”

I frown at the sudden change in his behaviour. One minute he is hot and the other he is cold.

I try to hold in the pain as I walk to the door. I look back at him once again. He still doesn’t look at me.

Why am I bothered by it?! Opening the door, I walk out. I hear the door close behind me.

I sigh. Putting my face in my hands I sigh again.

Why?! Why am I so clumsy?

Why does my heart beat faster whenever he is near me?

What happened in there… Why didn’t it bother me?! Why am I so smitten by him?

The way he called me Clara, still rings in my ears.

The concern in his voice, eyes and face shocks me.

What is all this?!

What is happening?! Why does he make me fell all this?! Oh and the bonus… I am supposed to work as his assistant from tomorrow!

What is going to happen?! Oh Clara! May God help you!

Two And A Half Months Later

“Mr. Bryant will be here in five minutes.”

“Sure. Everything is ready.”

I smile at him and look through the interview questions once again.

Everything seem fine and there are no personal questions as far as I see.

It’s all about his business. So, this meeting is going to be boring.

Pouting I look up and see the staff of the magazine running around hastily to make sure all is perfect.

A week back Mr. Bryant was announced as the businessman of the year and that’s when shit hit the fan.

I started getting calls from all sorts of media to get his interview.

It’s been two and a half months since I started working as his personal assistant, but I have to say, William does most of his work than me.

Though William said it’s because I am still in the training phase.

The three month training program will end this month and I can decide whether I want to stay in this post or go back to my old job.

Frankly, I learned a lot from working under him. About business and… about him.

He deserves to win this award. He comes to office before eight in the morning and works till nine O’clock in the night.

Never loses his temper, always focused and determined. It was a pleasure working under him.

Anyway, William must be feeling even more pressurized, since he has been working under Mr. Bryant long before me.

William is currently with Mr. Bryant in the green room.

After so many calls, he finally responded to this magazine and he decided to give his interview to them.

Also, this will be helping in promoting the company and the shares value might increase that it already has.

Sighing, I take out my phone and text William asking if Mr. Bryant is ready.

“Excuse me.” I hear someone calling and I look up to see the camera man calling me.

“Could you please stand there?” He asks pointing to the photography area where Mr. Bryant will be photographed.

“It’s a trail run to make the lighting and background are perfect.”

“Um… Okay.”

Walking up to the area, I stand there awkwardly. What am I supposed to do now?

Should I pose? Maybe it would be too much. Forget it.

I will just stand here awkwardly with the file and cell phone I am holding.

“Could you move to your right?” I do as told. “A little more.

Yes, stop there. A little left.” I move again and stop.

“Put an X there.” He informs to the guys beside him who comes to me and does as told.

I move aside to let him do his job. “Ma’am, please stand on that X.”

The cameraman asks again. I nod. “Nice. Lights on.” He instructs and suddenly, I am blinded by the lights blinking brightly. I blink twice.

As my vision adjusts back to normal, there… I see him.

Standing there looking at me. I feel my heart doing the flips again, like always.

Everything around me fazes for a second. No matter what, this feeling… Whenever I see him… it didn’t change.

“Miss. Miss. Excuse me.” I hear someone calling and I come out of the trance.

I realize I have been caught staring. Oh my God! “Thank you. Would you please step out?”

“Sure.” I say walking out of the interview area. Walking past him, I go to William and hand him the file. “These are the interview questions.”

“Thank you, clara. You look beautiful today and even on camera.”

He says pointing to the screen beside him where I see a sample picture of me taken by the cameraman.

“Thank you, William.” I can’t help the little blush. He was about to say something, but is cut off.

“I didn’t hire you both to flirt.” Mr. Bryant stern voice breaks off the conversation and I look at him. He is looking at William sternly.

“Mr. Bryant.” We hear a voice behind us and see that it’s the interviewer, Ms. Brown.

“It’s nice to finally meet you.” She says extending her hand.

“Nice to meet you too.” He greets her shaking her extended hand.

“We would take a few pictures of you as mentioned before and continue with the interview next.”

“I have been informed of it.”

“Please.” She leads him to the X where I stood before for the photos.

They start taking photos of him while I and William just stand there and wait.

They are taking pictures of him in many poses. I just stand three gawking at him the whole time.

How can someone be so sexy? The name I gave him suits him perfectly though.

The Handsome Man. Oh Gosh! When will I stop swooning over him?! I want to hit myself in the head. Snap out of it!

His eyes catches mine and I quickly look away. This is the second time I got caught today.

I need to distract myself. I turn to William beside me.

“So, you saw the interview questions?”

“Yes, I did. All’s good. How is your training going?”

“Not as bad as I thought it would be. I thought I would screw up.”

“Naah. You are good. How is working with Mr. Bryant though?”

“It’s actually pretty good.”

“He is a good boss and he is good at what he does.”

I nod my head agreeing as he speaks. We both turn to look at Mr. Bryant. “No matter how good he is, he needs to rest too and he seems to forget sometimes.

I think he is very alone sometimes.” William says and I look at him.

Then I think it through. He is right! Both his parents have passed away and he doesn’t have anyone at home.

Maybe that’s why he over works himself. I stare at him.

I don’t know how lonliness feels, but I don’t want him to feel that.

Soon after Willaim and I start chatting and he cracks jokes so bad that I can’t stop laughing loudly. Oh God, he is so funny!

“Oh William, stop it! I can’t… I can’t laugh anymore.” I say in between the laughs. Suddenly I feel everyone’s eyes on us and that’s when we realize that we were too loud. “Sorry.” I apologize to the crew.

“Mr. Bryant, we are done with photos. Let’s start the interview soon.

Take a five minute break.” The director says and that’s when I look at Mr. Bryant.

Oh my God! Why is he so serious? If looks can kill, there would be a tombstone of William right here.

He comes to us and I just want to run without looking back. He looks at both of us. “Come, I need to speak with you.”

He says to William and I just keep looking down at my shoes like they are more interesting.

They both walk away and I release a huge sigh. Dodged a bullet there. Wonder what will happen to William.

:Soon it’s time for the interview and both Mr. Bryant and William arrive.

Mr. Bryant outfit has now been changed. He Godly in all of them.

William is looking at anywhere but me. I frown. I look back at Mr. Bryant and he is staring right at me as they both walk towards me.

“Is everything ready?” He asks me once they reach me.

“Yes, they arranged the seating for the interview.” I point to my back where the interview setting is.

“Good.” He says still staring at me. I can’t help but stare back. I don’t want to look away. He looks so perfect.

“Dalton. It’s time for the interview.” The cheery voice of the woman interviewer comes from behind me.

I frown. Does she have to be so flirty? He is still looking at me.

“I don’t like my staff flirting with each other.” He says out of nowhere.

His voice sounded so monotonous. Flirting? Is he talking about William and me?

“We were not flirting, Mr. Bryant.” I defend myself.

He just cracked a few jokes and I laughed at him.

He looks back at the interviewer and walks straight to where he is to be seated.

I quickly approach William. “What happened?” I can’t help my curiosity.

William looks at Mr. Bryant, who is still staring at him.

Even I take a step back from William. “Will tell you later,” William whispers and I nod my head.

They start interviewing and everything goes smooth.

It’s all business, business and business. William is not talking with me and I understand and stay away.

After the way Mr. Bryant looked at William, it is expected.

Even I would have done the same thing. But, why is he so angry though?

Is it because we laughed so loudly that it might bring a bad reputation to the company? That must be it!

“So, Dalton, I have one last question before we close the interview.

There is rumour that you had a girlfriend last year.” The interviewer asks and that when my interest spikes.

“Also that she had met with an accident.” Mr. Bryant quickly looks at me and then at William. This question was not in the list. “Are you guys still together?”

He had a girlfriend?

“It’s nice meeting you.” Mr. Bryant stands up and shakes her hand.

“We are done with the interview.” He walks past me and goes towards the room he will be changing.

I sigh. He didn’t say anything. Is it true or not?

“William.” I call him when he was about to follow Mr. Bryant.

He stops and looks at me. “Is it true? Does Mr. Bryant have a girlfriend?”

I can’t help it. I want to know. William hesitates to answer. Why isn’t he answering? “Please I want to know.”

“Why do you want to know?”

“Because I am nosy.” I give him a sheepish grin, but I just flat out want to pull the truth out of him.

He sighs and shakes his head knowing I won’t let it go.

“I am going to be in a pickle one day because of you.

” I wait for his answer. “He had a girlfriend and no!” He stops me as I was about to open my mouth.

“It was before I started working for him. I can’t tell you who it is.”

“So you know her?”

He looks at me for a few seconds.

“What?” I am confused.

“I don’t.” He looks at the wall in front of me while answering.

“You are lying!”

“No! I need to go to Mr. Bryant.” He walks away with that.

So he had a girlfriend, huh? Guess he is not gay after all.

But who is she?! Why should I care? Does he still love her?

Is he still in relationship with her? Stop it, Clara! Concentrate on your work!

“William! William!” I shout running to him. “Where is Mr. Bryant?!” I have wrapped everything with the interviewer and gathered everything to go back.

His schedule for today is free. William is packing up his laptop.

“He left.”

“Oh.” He left so early? That’s not like him. “Why?”

“Why? Clara, it’s Friday night. Give the man a break.

I am sure he will be back in the office tomorrow.”

Oh, yes. He works even on Saturdays. Seems like the girlfriend question really upset him.

“Hm. Don’t you think the interviewer was flirting with him a little?”

“I don’t think so. Why?”

“I mean, she was pretty close to him and touching his arm and stuff. I just thought…”

He laughs at my answer. I give him a look. He lifts his arms up in surrender.

“I can’t believe this! You both are jealous people!” He says laughing.

“Both?”

“It’s nothing. What are your plans tonight?”

“I am having dinner with the HR team. You want to join?”

“You mean your old colleagues?”

“Yep.”

“Wouldn’t it be awkward?”

“No. You will enjoy their company.”

He thinks about it for a second. “Sure. Since Mr. Bryant isn’t here.”

“Good.”

William came along and we all are having a good time. It’s one of those times.

Food, Fun and Friends. I have been laughing the whole night.

Nick wouldn’t stop cracking jokes. Tia is laughing at Nick and me.

William proved himself to be a fun guest. He even bought a free round of drinks.

“Excuse me.” William says getting up and taking out his phone. He puts it to his ear before walking out.

“I can’t believe it. Look!” Tina says pointing at Nick.

My grew wide. He has put all the French fries in his mouth at a time.

He is right! He can fit all the fries at a time. I quickly take out my phone and take a picture of him.

“You lost.” Kevin says to me. I pull out five dollars from my bag and give it to Nick. Totally worth it.

“I have his photo now.” I show the picture I have taken.

He looks embarrassed. Tia and I grin at him. “What do you think I should do with it? Maybe I can share it with few of our friends in the office.”

Nick coughs the French fries. “Yeah, that sounds good.”

“I have to go.” William says coming back.

“What happened?” I ask as I see the look on his face.

“Mr. Bryant has passed out in a bar.”

“What?!” Passed out?

“Yes. I will pick him up and drop him off at his house.”

“I will come with you.” I get up from my chair.

“No. I will take him. ”

“Please, I want to.”

“Clara. Mr. Bryant wouldn’t want that. Believe me.”

I stay silent. Why do I feel like I want to run to him to make sure he is all right?

“He will come to the office tomorrow, you can visit the office if you want.” I nod my head.

“I will leave now. It is nice meeting you guys.” He gives the gang a smile and walk out hurriedly.

I sit back in my chair, but I can’t stop thinking about him.

My mind quickly goes back to the girlfriend question.

He must have really loved her or he still loves her.

That’s why even a question of her affected him so much.

If he really loved her, why did they break up? I feel hurt inside that he loved a woman. Why am I feeling like this?!

I should stop thinking about this. But… Who was his girlfriend?

“Is Mr. Bryant here?” I ask the security guard. Today is Saturday and I have decided to come to office.

I can’t sleep all night. I wanted to know if he was home safe, so I called William and he said he has take Mr. Bryant home.

But his girlfriend keeps popping in my head. I wanted to pull out my hair to stop thinking about that topic.

But I was more concerned about him.

“It’s nine O’clock. He comes by eight, doesn’t he?”

“He usually does. But he didn’t come today.”

“Thank you.”

I walk to my car and sit inside. Why hasn’t he come today? Is he okay?

He passed out last night. That can’t be good. Taking out my phone, I call William.

He doesn’t answer. It goes on for another two times.

Did William pass out too? Maybe I should go over to his house.

I can’t live this anxiously without knowing if he is alright or not.

What has gotten into me? Why am I being concerned for my boss?! Urgh!

Driving to his building I park my car in the cellar and take out the files I brought along before going to the lift before clicking the button to his floor.

I take a deep breath. This is the first time I am going to his house.

What if he doesn’t like me there? I will just check on him, give the files I brought and go back. Yes. I can do that.

Getting out of the lift, I go the only door I see on the floor and click on the bell.

It dings and that’s when I feel nervous again. Oh God, help me!

Holding the files in my hand, I stand confidently.

The door opens and there he stands in his shirtless glory.

His hair unruly and he is only wearing track pants.

Okay. I agree. I wasn’t ready for this!

“Clara.” His voice makes me look up at his face. One word. Sexy! But his eyes are red. It looks like he just woke up.

“Good morning, Mr. Bryant.” I greet him and he looks really surprised to see me here. I did show up unannounced.

Then he suddenly closes the door on my face looking panicked. I never saw him panicked before.

What? He doesn’t even let me in?