10

Jennifer.
After we arrived at Mr. Tomas’s house, I retreated to my room. I didn’t want to talk to him; I was feeling guilty for lying after he had trusted me with something so personal. I simply wasn’t brave enough to face him at that moment.
The weight of my deception hung heavy on me, especially after learning about his true intentions and the way he treated his employees. I felt entirely wrong, and I blamed myself for not knowing how I would manage to sleep that night.
That night felt like a bad dream. I tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep, my mind racing with thoughts of him. Should I tell him everything about my past? Or should I keep it to myself for now?
Early the next morning, at 8 AM, someone knocked on my door.
“Miss Jennifer?” a servant called.
“Yes? Please come in,” I replied, allowing her entry.
She stepped into the room while I was still in bed.
“Ouch!” I exclaimed, jumping up and instinctively checking my head to ensure my wig was still on. Thank goodness it was.
“Miss Jennifer, Mr. Tomas and Mr. Carl are waiting for you on the first floor. They’re ready to leave,” she informed me.
“What? Ready? For what?” I asked, shock evident in my voice.
Her eyes widened. “To go to the office building, Miss Jennifer,” she replied.
I glanced at the clock beside my bed. “What? Work? It’s already 8 AM?” I was incredulous.
“Yes, Miss Jennifer. Please don’t be late; they will leave in five minutes,” the servant urged.
I blinked, jaw dropping in disbelief. “Five minutes? Oh my god!” I looked at the clock again, feeling a wave of panic wash over me. “I’m coming!” I told the maid.
She left my room and closed the door behind her. I quickly grabbed a towel and dashed to the bathroom, splashing water on my face. There wasn’t time for a shower, which felt frustrating. I mumbled to myself, annoyed that I didn’t even have a moment to rest.
Why is this man so energetic? I wondered, feeling overwhelmed.
I threw on some mismatched clothes, aiming for a quirky, unnoticeable look-especially after last night.
Rushing downstairs, I caught Mr. Tomas giving me a strange look, one that hinted at disappointment. Oh god, he could sense something; I was sure of it.
“Good morning, Jennifer!” Mr. Tomas said coldly, turning his back to me.
“Good morning…” I began, but he cut me off.
“You’re late, Jennifer! This is work; don’t ever be late again,” he warned sternly.
I gulped nervously and nodded politely. “Okay, Mr. Tomas, I’m sorry.”
Mr. Carl looked at me. “Good morning, sweetheart…”
“Good morning, Mr. Carl,” I replied, quickly correcting myself. I remembered the day Mr. Tomas had taken offense at being called “father.” I coughed and added, “Good morning, Mr. Carl.”
Mr. Tomas led us to the limo, and we followed him. I was supposed to sit in another vehicle with Mr. Carl, but as expected, Mr. Tomas called me over.
“Jennifer! I told you before, you will stick by me like my shadow. Never do anything else. Now sit next to me,” he reminded me.
I nodded, stammering an apology. “Yes, sir, I’m sorry. I thought… um… okay, I’m sorry.” I took my place in the back seat beside him.
Mr. Carl sat in the other limo with the guards. He didn’t say much to me, but his gaze felt heavy, making me anxious. He was scrutinizing my glasses and long skirt.
Then Mr. Tomas began speaking. “Jennifer! With that strange look and those mismatched clothes, you could work as-” He paused, raising his eyebrows at me.
“Oh god, never mind,” he frowned.
We arrived at the company, and the driver and guards opened the door for Mr. Tomas. Mr. Carl and I followed him inside.
As we walked past the employees’ desks and offices, everyone stood up. We took the elevator to Mr. Tomas’s office.
“Jennifer?” Mr. Carl said, turning to me.
“Yes, Mr. Carl?” I replied, paying attention. It was my first day, and I had no idea what to expect. I was waiting for his instructions.
He leaned closer to my ear, placing his hands on my shoulders. “Your real work begins now. You’ll need your wits about you. I can’t be with you all the time, but if you need anything, just call me.” His words made my heart race. How could I handle Mr. Tomas on my own? He had said he’d always be there for us.
“What? What are you talking about, Mr. Carl?” I asked, clearing my throat.
But at that moment, I neglected to acknowledge Mr. Tomas calling my name, frozen in place, waiting for Mr. Carl to elaborate.
“Jennifer, go to Mr. Tomas,” Mr. Carl instructed before walking away.
I let out a long sigh, attempting to calm myself. “Okay, I can do this. Mr. Tomas isn’t a monster. He’s a decent person, and I think I can handle him,” I muttered to myself.
With hesitant steps, I walked toward Mr. Tomas’s office, forcing a wide smile to mask my worries.
“Yes, Mr. Tomas?” I asked politely. After all, he was my employer and the CEO. I shouldn’t hold a grudge against him, considering his reasons for firing me from my last job. I aimed to clarify my heart and start anew.
“Where have you been, Jennifer?” he asked, annoyance etched on his face, his voice low.
“I was talking with Mr. Carl,” I replied casually.
He slammed his hand on the desk, anger radiating from him. “Don’t ever do that again, Jennifer! I told you to stick by my side. You are my personal assistant. I really hate repeating myself,” he shot me a deadly glare.
Okay, I couldn’t help but feel a surge of resentment when he started yelling at me. I despised his bad attitude.
Keeping my composure, I lowered my gaze to the floor and said calmly, “Mr. Tomas, please don’t use harsh words with me like that…” I stopped short, not finishing my thought.
He raised his eyebrows and nodded. “Okay, I’ll try,” he said, though his tone remained arrogant. At least he made an effort to act civil. I appreciated that.
“Anyway, for now, you’ll work inside my office instead of with the other secretaries,” Mr. Tomas informed me.
I rolled my eyes, incredulous. “What? Why and how?”
He sighed heavily. “I’ve told you a million times. I’m the one who gets to ask questions; you have to obey. Don’t ask me anything again,” he snapped.
And just like that, the monster reemerged.
I couldn’t help but wonder, how could someone with a kind heart also speak so cruelly? He must be insane. It felt like a demon was controlling his tongue. I muttered under my breath, but I must have spoken louder than I thought because Mr. Tomas interrupted me.
“What did you say, Jennifer?” he yelled.
I trembled and blushed with embarrassment. I had just insulted my employer in front of him. “Sorry, sir. It was nothing. What do you need me to do now?” I asked.
“Get me an espresso now,” he commanded boldly.
I dropped my jaw in shock. “What?”
He scoffed. “Oh my God, Jennifer! Do you really think that just because you were the reason we closed the deal last night, I’ll treat you like a princess? You’re just my personal assistant. Since you won’t be filling my other needs, at least fill my stomach. Or have you changed your mind?”
Nervously, I gulped and waved my hands in the air. “No, thank you, sir. I know I’m not attractive. Remember? I’ll go get your espresso.”
I chuckled awkwardly. “Alright, sir. I’ll get it for you,” I assured him.
“Try not to be late, Jennifer!” he chuckled, clearly enjoying my reactions.
I hurriedly left his office, nearly running. Everyone, including the secretaries and employees, stared at me, gossiping. I was certain they were talking about how unattractive I was. At least, that’s what I thought.
I didn’t engage with any of them; I didn’t know any of them yet. Ignoring their curious gazes, I went to the cafeteria and ordered Mr. Tomas’s special espresso. Then, I rushed back to his office.
I didn’t bother to knock on the door. It wasn’t rude since Mr. Tomas had made it clear I was to stay in his office temporarily.
But what I found inside shocked me. A woman was sitting on Mr. Tomas’s lap, playfully kissing his neck.
My eyes widened, and my mouth fell open in disbelief.
Mr. Tomas scolded me fiercely. “How could you barge into my office without knocking? Have you ever heard of knocking and asking for permission?”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “I’m already your personal assistant, Mr. Tomas. Do you remember that?”
He furrowed his brows angrily. “Even so, it doesn’t mean you can enter my office without my consent,” he replied, the woman still shamelessly perched on his lap.
I glanced at her, ignoring his words. “Who the hell are you?” I demanded.
“I’m one of the employees here,” she giggled, shrugging her shoulders.
“Oh, I see. Well, get the hell out of this office now!” I commanded her, pointing toward the door.
She blinked in shock, realizing I wasn’t joking. Quickly, she stood up and hurried out without looking back.
I slammed the door behind her.
With my hands on my hips, I raised an eyebrow and scolded Mr. Tomas as if I were his mother. “What do you think you’re doing? This is an office!”
Annoyed, I placed the espresso cup on his desk, causing some drops to stain his suit.
“What do you think this is? This is work! You can’t do this here! You can’t behave like this with your employees. Stop acting like a child. You’re not a kid anymore. Take care of your reputation as a businessman.”
He glanced at me, unfazed. “Come and clean this mess now!”
I grabbed a paper towel and tossed it at his pants. “Clean it up yourself, Mr. Tomas. I’m not your babysitter!” I raised my eyebrows defiantly.
Mr. Tomas narrowed his eyes at me and threw the towel on the floor. “Get out of here now, Jennifer!” he shouted.
I grinned teasingly, feeling triumphant. “As you wish, sir,” I replied as I left his office.
—
Mr. Tomas’s POV.
That night, after Mr. Donatello spoke with Jennifer and I heard her voice and piano skills, I realized she couldn’t deceive me. She played like a professional, even to someone with hearing or vision impairments. I was determined to uncover why she had kept this talent a secret.
The next day at work, I planned to make her feel envious, not to make her fall in love with me. I wanted to show her my charm. I have a reputation as a womanizer, and I know how to make women strive to impress me. As one of the most attractive employees, I had asked Jennifer to bring me coffee. However, when she arrived, I found her confronting another woman who had been on my lap. I was taken aback by her jealous and angry reaction. She kicked the woman out, sounding furious, as if she wanted to harm her.
For the first time in my life, I felt a different connection. Jennifer acted as if she didn’t care for me, contradicting her words. I admit that her personality attracted me, but I still didn’t understand why she hid her true appearance from me. I didn’t even know what she looked like, but something inside me was drawn to her. I could easily hire a detective to investigate her, but this time I wanted to discover the truth on my own by talking to her.
Clearly, Jennifer is not like others. She is trying her best to hide her feelings toward me.