Monday.
Desmond Claude was walking down the stairs to have his breakfast. The smell of delicious breakfast had filled the air. One thing which wasn't the same as the past days, someone in man clothing was bowing near the stairs in professional manners.
'Good morning, CEO Claude! I hope you had a good rest!'
Desmond Claude slowed down a little bit in front of Pheonix Lou as he starred at her, then kept walking to the dining table. She had became his prisoner and he noticed she was less restrained when it wasn't her working hours, in her female clothing. Yet, this morning, she was like a different person. Yesterday matter didn't affect her at all. He admitted he was quite impressed with her professionalism.
Desmond made a cynical remarks, 'I can see you like dressing up as a man.'
Pheonix explained in profesional tone, 'I was recognized as a male employee, it would be troublesome if I came as a female employee out of the blue.'
Desmond Claude sipped his coffee, 'As long as you don't breach the contract, Pheonix Lou.'
'Yes, CEO Claude!' Pheonix gave a firm answer. 'Um, CEO Claude, I will go to the company now if it's alright...'
'No need! We'll be depart together.'
Pheonix bowed her head a little.
She thought a lot last night that she slept only for 3 hours. She commited to herself she would handle everything as usual. In spite of hiding her gender due to her personal safety reason, her dedication in doing her job was true. Hopefully, CEO Claude could understand her true motives and stopped this misunderstanding.
To perceive her professionalism, starting today, she woke up early to have her breakfast before anyone did, prepared herself, and brought herself to wait for her boss until they went to the company. Even she was his prisoner, she wouldn't mix it up that issue while she fulfilled her role as his secretary.
Considering the humiliation she received for her private life, she had her own opinion about her boss, still. Perhaps it was a little satisfaction for her, she changed her boss's caller ID in her phone from 'CEO Claude' to 'Mr. Jerk'.
——
Besides Luke Tyson and Desmond Claude, no one in the company knew that Pheonix Lou was a woman. Coming out from the same car with the CEO of Claude Corporation didn't attract unwanted comments. It was common for a secretary to be together most of the time with his superior.
The investigation about the Wright still needed some efforts. After all, there were so many people with the same name. In addition, to get their details information was not that simple. As a gigantic corporation, Claude Corporation was demanded to handle many kind of never ending projects. Everyday activities were varied from meetings, partnerships, locations checking, reports reading, social events, construction handlings, and many more.
Pheonix Lou has been walking back and forth between her desk and the CEO's. Even if she were very busy, her cheerful vibe did affect her surroundings. One could be energized by interacting with her.
She presented herself in CEO office again. 'CEO Claude, this week, our old partner, from Star, Inc. need your attendance at 8 tonight. Tomorrow, you are invited in charity dinner at 7. The day after tomorrow, partnership request from HL enterprise invitation in their club at 9. On Thursday, the 4th celebration of Fantasy City at 6. On Friday evening, President Lei's dinner invitation. I will keep remind you everyday and give you an update if there are any changes. Oh, these finished documents, I will collect them. Would you like another glass of coffee?'
Desmond Claude pinched his skin between his well defined eyebrows. He looked tired. Earlier, his phone never stopped ringing while his hands kept moving on the keyboard. Documents were piled up on his desk. Nevertheless, his focus had always been excellent. 'Noted. No, just get me a glass of water.'
Pheonix Lou quickly got a glass of warm water for him. As a well trained secretary, she was concerned and she wanted to help. Now that Desmond Claude knew she wasn't a man, it wouldn't be odd to give him a massage, right? She was hesitant to ask, though.
Would this jerk think, she wanted to seduce him if she offered it?
Aaa! Just ask him!
'I could help to massage your shoulders, CEO Claude.' Pheonix offered politely. 'If that's alright with you...'
Desmond Claude threw a sharp cold gaze. But then, he straightened his back and agreed for her to do the massage.
His shoulder area were very stiff. No wonder he felt uncomfortable. As Pheonix did the massage, she noticed he had a strong broad shoulders. She could tell his muscle was well trained. It was pretty hard for her to do the pressure. He was almost 190 cm tall too, Pheonix looked so tiny beside him. So did her hands on his broad shoulders. She kept doing her best massaging him anyway.
Desmond Claude showed no particular emotion on his face. However, he paid attention to many things that no one knew. He could smell the soft sweet fragrance emitted from Pheonix Lou, the fragrance of young woman. It was the same fragrance when she was asleep on his shoulder that day. It turns out it was her, indeed. It was like an ecstasy. He prefered it more than those expensive parfumes. It was so strange! Her tiny hands were a little cold, it provides comfort when she touched his neck. Truthfully, being near her was not that bad!
What was he thinking just now? She had lied to him. Nothing good came out from her other than how she did her job as his secretary.
'Alright, it should be better...' Pheonix voice broke his racing mind. 'I'll excuse myself, CEO Claude.'
Not looking at him, Pheonix directly got off his office with a pile of documents on her hands.
Hours passed by. Luke Tyson and Pheonix Lou followed Desmond to meet people from Star, Inc.
Star, Inc was an old partner of Claude Corporation. It wasn't a huge company but they had been acquainted for years. So far, their relationship was pretty good.
The atmosphere were relaxed, they chatted for a long time. In the middle of the conversation, the old and kind looking President Jay shared his thoughts about his company future.
'CEO Claude, you see... I'm already very old. I only had a daughter. She now has her on carreer to pursue. I was thinking about the future of my company. I remembered I established it from scratch like a baby of mine. Even though it can't be compared with Claude Corporation, I will feel very sad to see it disappear. We have been partners for so long... If CEO Claude interested, I'll be delightful.'
Desmond Claude asked casually after hearing his explanation, 'Isn't it more profitable if you put in on an auction, President Jay?'
President Jay smiled softly, 'In my old age, I don't care anymore about those things. I just want this company to be in good hands. For decades, I met lots of partners and people but I have a very limited choice regarding this, based on my experience. Unfortunately, one of them has gone away some years ago.'
Desmond Claude furrowed his eyebrows.
President Jay gave a soft chuckles as he kept quite for a while before he continued. 'Right... In City B, I used to have a good friend when I was young. He was younger than me but he had a magnificent ability, then we did a partnership. It such a shame, not long after that, I heard he died in a car accident. Then, his adoptive family took over his company. They didn't impressed me at all in many ways, to be honest. They are very different from him. Malicious. I even heard they caused his family disappeared. No one knows his wife and child whereabouts nor whether they still alive or not. Since then, I decided to cut off ties with the Wrights.'
Pheonix and Desmond's eyes were constricted. Wright Family of city B!
Pheonix bit her lips. It was his father's adoptive family! So, they had wronged so many people she supposed. They were indeed malicious! When her father had an accident, they didn't even give her mom an opportunity to be in charge. Instead, they chased her mom and her out. What Pheonix knew was they cremated him. Still, all of this was in the past. It was useless to get a revenge while the person she held dearly had already gone. What could she do in her current situation? As long as they didn't find her, she could live her life peacefully.
In his mind, Desmond Claude actually desperate to know if the Wrights in President Jay's past had any relation with the girl he had been looking for or maybe the just shared the same surname. Why didn't he probe this Wrights, if it wasn't the one he hadn't been looking for, there was nothing to lose anyway?
In unreadable expression, the CEO of Claude Corporation only uttered one sentence, 'Send the proposal.'
Desmond Claude and Pheonix arrived at 11 pm in the Jade Lake Villa. Luke had gone back the moment they got into the house.
Regardless her tiredness, she still ran her role as the CEO secretary flawlessly. She stood near the stairs with her blazer hung on her left arm as she let her boss to use the stairs first.
His step stopped in front of Pheonix Lou. She could feel chills throughout her body. What was he going to do?
'It was delightful to have an excellent secretary! I'm impressed with how you performed. Is it another method of yours to climb up my bed or to negotiate the contract?'
Climbing up his bed??!! He was always full of himself! Was that the only think he could think of? What a jerk!
Wasn't he tired?
'No answer? So, I take it as a yes. You know what, the man clothes you are wearing reduces the effectiveness of your brilliant method.' He took off her wig in a lightning speed and tore up her shirt violently.
She reflexively covered her chest area. She didn't expect it!
Her fair jade like skinned were partly exposed showing her fine collarbones. Her messy long hair framed her reddened face.
Unaffected, he grabbed her jaw towards him. 'See how I'll make you regret, Pheonix Lou!'
He then left her for his bedroom.
So, it was like this. He treated her just like usual while working and made her miserable when there was a chance.
Pheonix closed her eyes, trying very hard to suppress her emotions. She should have known whatever she did, she would always be considered to step out of the path. Nonetheless, her determination couldn't stop her from doing what she had to do no matter how hard it was.
Later on, she dragged her tired self to her bedroom and had a quick bath. She sneezed a little bit and felt ache everywhere on her body. She hurriedly forced herself to sleep in order to keep herself healthy.
Ting! A message notification.
'Tag along for the Charity Dinner. No cross dressing. Dress up well, don't embarrass me!'
The first thing in the morning Phonix Lou did was checking her phone. She got puzzled with the text she received from Mr. Jerk, not because she didn't understand, but why was he asking her to tag along?
As far as she knew, Desmond Claude had been by himself when coming to a charity dinner, not accompanied by his subordinates or a woman.
Reading the text once again, Pheonix Lou caught something on her brain. 'Ha-ha... this Mr. Jerk really know how to use someone for his benefits!'
Acccording to her prediction, the reason was to prove himself in public that he wasn't a gay and to prevent unwanted approach from the other women. By asking a random woman to accompany him, it was the same as creating trouble over trivial matters as a public figure and well known businessman. They might use the situation to make up gossips, get clingy to him, spying on him, etc. Frankly speaking, he was the most desirable eligible bachelor in this country. Countless women desperately seduced him in many ways. Due to this reason, at times, it was understandable that he had a suspicion of climbing his bed towards women.
On the other hand, no one else knew Pheonix was a woman, it was rather hard to recognize her on daily basis. Now that he knew her real gender, he wouldn't let go what he could use. What's more, as he took her as his prisoner, it was easier for him to take control.