Throughout that day at the office, people were either congratulating her or telling her how they were happy for her. Of course, there were some who gossiped about why she had to be the one that got Tom’s heart.
“She is the closest to him and she has always been a competent lady. Tom is also a brilliant man so naturally they think alike and that must have been what linked them together” one of the ladies working on the CEO’s floor remarked
“Well, I cannot deny that fact but it makes mad” another spat out from the corner and the lady scoffed. “Why are you pained over someone else’s relationship? It’s not like the CEO was ever in your league. It was never anyone’s fault that you have a crush on someone you can never have” she slammed her and everyone burst into laughter making the other lady pained.
She stomped her leg on the floor in anger but the lady was not fazed, she had only said the truth.
** *
Amber finished her work for the day and went to tender the documents to Tom for review when he found him also packing up to leave which was unusual because he leaves the office late most times.
“You are clocking out already, sir?” she asked looking at him grabbing his bag and coat.
He nodded as he replied, “Yes, I am done with work and I want to go on a date with you. I feel so good today, is it because I can now openly claim you?” he stated making her blush.
“These are the documents that needs your review before I process them” she said handing it over to him but he just drew her closer by the arm.
His eyes roamed around her face and the look he was giving her was making her melt in his arms. She could understand the gaze roaming her body and she didn’t hesitate to play along. She looked at him with a grin and wrapped her arm around him.
“Do I suddenly look beautiful? You look like you want to devour me” she said with a smile and he leaned to whisper to her, “I really want to devour you right now like you have said, am I allowed to? If yes, then I won’t hesitate to bend you over the table and do things that will make you scream my name”.
Those words were dirty but arousing at the same time. She opened her mouth in shock as she gazed at him and his eyes were filled with the lust of her, she knew she has to control the situation before it gets out of hand and he actually bends her over right in the office.
“You should calm down a little mister, we are not in a rush” she remarked adjusting his crooked tie with a smile lingering on her lips.
“Let’s get off work together since you are done” she added and detached herself from the hug to pack her bags.
They both walked down the lobby, through the mall and down to the park where they departed. The gazes of everyone was obvious but she was enjoying it rather than getting shy or scared, her man is the boss and that is a flex for her.
***
Everyone were busy carrying out their dating rumors and didn’t even remember that Tom dating Amber means that he was Umbra until someone at the mall pointed it out and they gasped.
“Our CEO is actually artist Umbra? Wow! How can he be good at everything? He dresses well, does his job excellently and he paints too, what a perfect gentleman” Helen blushed and they all laughed at her funny pose.
“She must have been representing him because he didn’t want to expose his identity but I wonder who revealed that on the TV” the other person with her remarked
“Whoever sent something like that out is surely an enemy of the CEO or Amber because it was never needed. They are just jealous and vile, people who looks for the downfall of others are beasts in human form and they shouldn’t even be allowed to stay in our midst once they are fished out because they are rotten. If left to mingle with us, they will make our lives rotten too and we don’t want that” she shouted with all her might because she couldn’t understand why someone would be willing to destroy a successful person.
Joseph happened to be passing by at that time and hearing the words he was being described with made him speechless. He was frustrated that he couldn’t even get angry towards her because that would only come off weird.
He turned to them and shouted “You should face your works before you get fired, are you getting paid to do this?” in order to shut them up but they only passed a look of disgust in response. It was obvious, their gazes were telling him that he didn’t have to get worked up for a company he’s not working with but then he’s the brother to the CEO.
He marched to Tom’s office after scolding them and they scoffed at him, “He seems to be guilty” they remarked and chuckled.
Joseph strolled into Tom’s office and when he saw that he was the one, he just returned to what he was doing without giving him attention.
“I get ignored now? You are really doing too much over just a win” Joseph commented as he walked towards the table.
“You will save more time if you state what you are here for instead of beating around the bush. I am very busy as you can see and I don’t have time to exchange childish banters with you” he replied without sparing him a glance.
Joseph walked closer to him and etched his buttocks on the table before picking a pen to spin it. “How long do you think you can last? I wonder what happens when father divorces your mother or wait, they were never married, and you were the only one that got registered in the family. If he decides to send her out, I wonder what your choice will be. Will you give up on everything and leave with her or will you greedily clutch to everything and send her out on her own, all alone” Joseph remarked and Tom stopped for a bit to look at him.
“You keep trying to rile me up all these while and I have always tried not to let you get the best part of me because you are not worth it. I will have no choice but to come for your head if you keep bothering me. Also I have told you never to threaten me with people that are dear to me, you are looking for trouble if you do that” Tom stated with a cold tone, he was not in the mood to accommodate his bullshit and he was tired of Joseph always coming to pick a fight with him.
Joseph dropped from the table and walked closer to his chair, “You know what I hate about you? Your gut! You have always believed that you have a right when you should be grateful for the crumbs you were fed and just do as you are told to avoid going hungry” he said before leaning on the handle of the chair, his face in Tom’s face.
“I am really getting irritated because you want to fight me over something that actually belongs to me. I already told you that you were just put there temporarily and now that I am back, you should willingly give it up but you are trying to be a smart ass right now? What a joke! If you don’t step down while I am being nice, I don’t know what I will do” Joseph gritted but Tom only smiled.
“What? When have you ever hold back? Ever since you came back, you kept launching attacks at me from all sides and it’s not my fault that I know how to handle and manage them. If I don’t step down willingly, will you go on TV to announce my identity? You sure love to bring in many spectators to witness your stupidity” Tom slammed him and the words seeped through Joseph’s skin to the deepest part of his emotions where it pained him.
Joseph pushed Tom’s chair suddenly to jerk him backward but Tom was faster and grabbed unto Joseph’s tie to drag him along. As soon as the chair hit the wall, he pulled him closer and slammed his back to the wall.
His eyes turned cold and his breathing were heavy, anger was ravaging through his body and he was losing control of his temper. “I am warning you, don’t ever let me go at it with you because I will not stop until you are crushed” he growled but Joseph scoffed.
“Does she even know that you are an illegitimate child? You will never have the courage to tell her because you are such a coward” Joseph spat at him and he was about replying when he heard Amber’s voice from the back.
“What is going on here?” she asked and he turned around to look at her in shock, he didn’t know she was there all along.