Emily's POV
"Mr Williams, let's get married!"
My boss's cold,dark maroon eyes zeroed in on me.
"What?" He blurted out the only word he could manage in shock, dropping the folder in his grip on his desk.
"Miss Brown, are you unwell?" He interrogated me as I trembled all over like a pup left out in a snowstorm.
"Actually sir…" the speech I had drafted in my head failed to pass through my lips, and as shame overwhelmed me I wished for nothing more than for the Earth to just open up and swallow me.
Did I really just ask my boss, the CEO of a multi billion dollar company to marry me?
"I-it was a joke, sir!" I stammered out awkwardly.
He cocked an eyebrow at me, "A joke?" He asked, despite my expectations while he was surprised, he didn't appear particularly annoyed.
Should I just take back what I just said and make my offer once more? This time more enticingly…
"S-sir…" once again my word's failed me and he just waved his hand irritated.
"Forget it, just tell me what's on my schedule today,"
"Yes, sir." I said resignedly, feeling defeated. I had gathered an apparently used to all of my courage at once.
But I guess it didn't matter, why would he even say yes to me? He was the most eligible bachelor in California and I was just his wallflower secretary.
He had models,heiresses and the likes falling over themselves to get a flicker of his attention but he was too driven and business minded to give them the time of day.
I would have been one of his mindless fan girls if I didn't know first hand just how cold and stern he was.
"I had to reschedule your meeting with the potential investors to 2 o'clock,"
I said cautiously.
"Why is that?"he said giving me a pointed look, I shivered slightly. How could someone so good looking be so mean?
"I had to, your mother called me yesterday…"
I could see the exhaustion slipping into his face.
"Don't tell me she arranged another blind date,"
I nodded affirmatively.
"She did, Mr Williams."
He groaned, stretching his long legs and leaning back on his swivel cushioned chair.
"This is such a pain, can't you schedule the blind date for two o'clock instead?" he asked me, and I had to shake my head in refusal.
"My apologies, sir…your mother insisted–"
"I'll call her," he said sharply, cutting me off, then he dug his phone from his pocket and rang out his mother's line.
She picked up on the second ring and skipping pleasantries Mr Williams went to the point.
"Mother, I've told you that I don't have time for all these unnecessary blind dates!" He complained.
He was so upset that he even put the call on loudspeaker and didn't care to change it back.
"If you want to stop going on blind dates, then just pick one of them and give me grand babies!" His mother wailed from over the line.
"All the girls I pick for you are so pretty and nice, especially the one you are meeting today,"
His broad shoulders slumped.
"Fine, but I'll have to meet her at 2 O'clock,"
His mother was silent for a while.
"Don't fret, you won't be meeting her at all today. She had to cancel because her grandmother's health had worsened and she wanted to be there as soon as possible,"
"Oh, well extend my sympathies, I'll pay for a first class ticket when she comes back–"
"No need," his mother interrupted him. "Her family owns a private jet,"
Hearing the words *private jet* being casually said made me shrink with shame. We were worlds apart…why did I think he would ever say yes?
I just embarrassed myself for nothing.
"I see, I'll talk to you later, mother, I have to get back to work," he said, ending the call then lifting his eyes to stare at me.
"Is there something on my face sir?" I asked when I could no longer be the tension of his gaze.
"I almost wish you weren't joking earlier,"
My entire face was flushed.
"Mr Williams!"
He squeezed his eyelid shut as if he was battling an ongoing headache.
"Nevermind, it looks like neither of of us are cut out for comedy,let's just stick to what we're good at; reschedule the meeting for the original time,"
"Alright, Sir."
When the workday ended, I asked Mr Williams if I could stay overtime.
"Why?" He said, his face scrunching with immediate disapproval.
"I thought I could get ahead on work and–"
"Miss Brown your work hours ends at 5, you've been asking for overtime every day for the past week. Is there something I need to be aware of?"
I fiddled with my fingers behind my back.
Should I tell him? Would he answer positively to my proposal if he knew why I had desperately asked him to marry me.
"No, Mr Williams. Everything is fine." I lied.
He sighed.
"Then we have nothing else to discuss, leave."
I turned around to do as he said, wishing someone would just slap me over the head and knock out the words I truly wanted to say.
The weight in my chest grew heavier as the cab parked in front of my home, but I still stepped out and paid the fare.
Looking at the house my feet were glued to the front yard. I knew what was waiting for me beyond that door and yet I couldn't run away.
I made several reluctant steps towards the door before pressing the doorbell, the door was yanked open and the next thing that came was a slap aimed at my cheek that left me seeing stars before my step mother stepped into view.
"So you thought I wouldn't find out?"
I pressed a palm on my bruised cheek, looking up at her with bitterness.
What was going on this time?