'Pheonix Lou, are you having a day dreaming?' Desmond's voice made her fully awake.
Desmond Claude walked to her in his bathrobe. She could clearly see his firm chest and it made her face turned red. He got close to her face and pinched his chin, forced her to see him in the eyes.
'Don't forget about your punishment! You can't escape from me.'
Pheonix Lou could only accept her fate. In fact, no matter what, it was true she had deceived him.
He neither liked a scheming nor a pretentious woman the most, including those who did things to climb up his bed. To be deceived by a woman, he must have felt so pissed off.
Wasn't it obvious? That was why, those pretty women who met him only get a cold shoulder. No wonder, he thought she was the same to them. This thought made her very sad.
'Get changed and go down!' He released her as he got out from the room.
A big paperbag was hung on the door. Pheonix saw a light blue dress and a pair of shoes inside it, completed with woman's underwear. It had to be Assistant Tyson who prepared all of this. Did he also know about her gender? So, now, what will happen to her?
In 30 minutes, she went down to meet Desmond Claude. The light blue dress was perfect on her, making her looked bright and innocent. Her hair was tied in a bun to add the fresh impression. She was incredibly beautiful.
What she couldn't suppress was her anxiety. Facing her boss now felt different than before. How he treated her wouldn't be the same as well. How great it would be, if he didn't find out!
Desmond Claude had a cold personality but when Pheonix Lou was a little drunk last time, she thought he showed a gentle side of him, he wasn't a bad person. Was that only an act? Had he found out about her true gender that time? Did she mistaken? Since last night, she tasted how ruthless he could be. She couldn't recognize what kind of person Desmond Claude anymore. His impression on her has been wrecked too, what could she expect?
'G-good morning, CEO Claude!' With her normal soft voice, she kept the tone to be business like.
She bowed to him slightly, like she usually did as his secretary.
Desmond Claude ignored her greetings. 'Why don't we talk about how it's going to work, Secretary Lou?'
Pheonix Lou stood still.
'Luke! Bring the contract!' Desmond called out.
Assistant Tyson in his business attire was a little stunned seeing how beautiful Pheonix Lou, not in her disguise. She was bright and pretty like a sunflower in summer, even better probably. Regarding that he was on duty now, he quickly brushed off his thoughts and brought the document. He stole a glance at her for a little while before he stood up behind the CEO with his head down. At this point, he pitied her, to be honest.
'Read it and sign it here!' Desmond Claude instructed with low voice.
It was stated that Pheonix Lou could still continue her job as a secretary to the CEO as well as disguising herself as a man in the office. However, she had to submit to whatever the CEO requested her to do whenever or wherever as a consequence for her actions. This was due to the psychological damage she has caused. Resignation will be considered as an irresponsible action. Thus, either resigning nor ignoring the statements mentioned would be considered as breaching the contracts. The penalty amount was 1,000,000,000 dollars.
Her hands were sweating. Wasn't it the same as giving away her freedom or her life? At the same time, the penalty amount definitely trapped her to accept this contract. Wasn't it too much?
'CEO Claude, what do you take me for??! It's too much!' Her anger rised up.
Once again, a cold smirk appeared in Desmond's face, 'Too much? I always pay back 10,000 folds for what others did, whether it's good or bad. You deceived me to climb up my bed... you are such a woman, Pheonix Lou!'
Every word he said had trampled her dignity.
'It's true that I hid my gender, but I have my reason! Climbing your bed?? By only heard it, I feel disgusted!!'
Desmond Claud stood up from his seat. His cold eyes stared dangerously at Pheonix Lou. He got closed to her ear and said in mocking tone, 'Reason? Don't make me laugh! Whatever you say was a lie, Phoenix Lou!'
He wouldn't believe any reasons she had!
'Luke, send her to the Club if she doesn't want to sign!'
Desmond left her to his study room.
Pheonix Lou clenched her fist. Her tears flowed down. She felt wronged.
As Desmond Claude's loyal subject, Luke knew very well his boss temperament and how ruthless he could be. He believed Desmond Claud was a nice person, though. They just had to know him better.
'Secretary Lou... sigh... I think it's better for you to sign it. You can prove yourself later and maybe the CEO won't make it hard for you.'
After thinking about it for a while, Pheonix Lou signed the contract. She couldn't comprehend what was wrong and what was right anymore. Desmond Claude forced her with no option.
——
Pheonix Lou walked herself to Desmond's study room. When she opened the door, Desmond Claude was reading his documents. It was Sunday but he was still working, what a workaholic.
'CEO Claude, I have signed it. Can I go home now?'
Without looking at her, Desmond Claude responded, 'You'll be living here from now on. You cannot go anywhere without my permission.'
She had officially become a prisoner! She was too tired to explained herself and argued with him.
'Alright, I won't run away but I need to get something very important in my apartment.'
Desmond shifted his cold gaze at her. Somehow, he let her to get her thing, accompanied by Luke Tyson and the chauffeur.
At her apartment, Luke Tyson waited for her at the door. She speedily got into her bedroom, took some work related documents in a suitcase, a wig, some clothes, then she opened her drawer, and took the glass box where her pheonix necklace be kept in.
They got back to Jade Lake Villa. The maid took her to a bedroom where she would be sleep in from now on. Located near the master bedroom on the second floor, it was such a cozy bedroom with a small balcony. The bathroom was connected to the bedroom and it had been completed with toiletries.
She opened the wardrobe, many branded clothes of her size was already there.
'Miss Lou, those clothes are for you. They were sent here just now.'
'Thank you.' Pheonix gave a faint smile.
Yet, why she felt like these luxuries meant nothing?
The maid excuse herself and closed the door.
Pheonix tidied up her things she brought. Finally, she opened the drawer of the dressing table and put her glass box there. It was her only treasure, her parents left her with.
Pheonix gaze turned to her reflection on the mirror. What should she do in this situation? Somehow, she thought of something.
She encouraged herself by tapping her cheeks, 'Okay! Everything will be fine, Pheonix Lou! You are wronged in so many ways, but the truth will be revealed someday! It will be a hard faceslap for that jerk! Now, as a prisoner, act accordingly! This play will be over without you even knowing...'
It was her positivity that made her stood strong facing the hardships of her life. She rapidly gained her cheerful vibes. As if she was reborn.
Ting! A message notification appeared on Pheonix's phone.
CEO Claude: 'Serve the dinner!'
Hm...? Pheonix guessed she had become his secretary and his maid. Alright, she decided to not restrain herself. Bring it on!
She swiftly went to the kitchen and cooked some meals. Seeing the food got her realized she hadn't eaten anything since morning. Did her boss plan to starve her to death??! Dream on! His action had made her infuriated whenever she recalled it.
——
Both of them somehow ate the food together in a tense atmosphere and finished the dinner in silence. Pheonix cleaned up the table and washed the dishes like nothing happened.
She then tested the water, 'CEO Claude, by doing this, don't you worry that I would poison your food or leak any confidential information?'
Desmond Claude knew she wouldn't dare to do such things. He had checked and believed she wasn't a spy. In shorts, except for climbing his bed, there were no other reasons for her to deceived him in his opinion. According to his experience, there were a bunch of women who had the same motive. However, Pheonix was the only one who succeed to be close to him. He was quite impressed with her method, he should admit. It was such a shame that this promiscuous kind of woman was the one he detested the most. He would make sure she lived in a living hell.
The towering figure came to her. He placed his left hand on the kitchen counter, while his other hand pinched her chin. His manly body got her locked in that spot. His perfect carved face was very close to her. In his overbearing tone and cold eyes he asked, 'So, you have shown your true colours! You even have the bravery to threat me...'
Pheonix Lou looked straight at him in the eyes. She kept calm even though this ambiguous position made her heart race uncontrollably. She had never been so close to a man before. She didn't have any experience about relationship. It was natural for her to be nervous. She wouldn't show it, though.
She smirked, a mocking tone got out from her mouth, 'CEO Claude, I didn't think that you will be... so full of yourself. You are a jerk! You got that?!'
Hearing her mocking words, he was truly enraged. She got guts!
Desmond Claude was good at hiding his emotion too. He smiled dangerously. 'Such a sharp tounge you got...'
As fast as lightning, he pressed his lips against her. His tounge explored her mouth ferociously. Pheonix Lou was dumbstrucked and panicking at the same moment. She spontaneously pushed his body but failed. She continued by raising her hand to slap him, but he caught her hand. He violently pressed both of her hands above her head with one hand. He did it so easily and didn't let go his kisses.
Her breath was getting heavier. It was hard to breath. 'This is humiliating!' She screamed at heart. He stole her first and second kiss just like that. Her tears started flowing to her cheeks for she couldn't do anything. It was so frustrating!
The more they kiss, the more his desire awakened unconsciously. His hand gradually moved from her chin to her breast. Her body trembled as a cold sweat came out from her skin. She wasn't only panicking, but very scared too.
Immediately, Desmond Claude stopped what he was doing and went away with big strides from her without saying anything.
Pheonix Lou legs became weak. Her body slid down to the cold floor as she cried helplessly. She terribly scared!!
Desmond went to the balcony upstairs and poured himself a glass of whiskey. She infuriated him back then, but when he felt her trembled body, he just couldn't continue. Was it because Pheonix has the similar aura like the girl with the pheonix pendant? She definitely not that girl! Or was it something else about her? No, He had decided to made her lived a living hell already, he thought. She should experience the humiliation. He clenched his glass, 'I won't be this kind next time, Pheonix Lou!'
11 pm.
Pheonix Lou was trying to get some sleep in her room. Desmond Claude's ruthlessness kept playing like a movie in her mind. She regreted what she did. For this one year, she thought she knew her boss well. In fact, she didn't know him at all.
He was a jerk! A demon!
Still couldn't fall asleep, she turned on the lamp beside her bed and reached her phone. A news caught her sight.
'CEO of Claude Corporation Left His Date'
The picture seemed to be taken when CEO Claude excused himself from Miss Gardner the other day. Wasn't it too exaggerating to use the word 'date'? They were barely know each other. What a silly news!
Pheonix kept reading the article and comments. Likewise, an assumption that CEO Claude was a gay never disappeared.
'What gay? He is 100% a normal guy! A beast!'
What had happened this evening proved everything that he was not a gay!