Apparently, she miscalculated things when she agreed to be Desmond Claude's temporary girlfriend. It seemed she got no benefits, she regretted when she rejected the fee. Why did she just realized it?
There really was no use to cry over spilt milk! He was proficient at inducing someone, she should have been aware. He was a sharp-witted guy after all.
By the time Pheonix opened her eyes, the sun had shone brightly. She hurriedly went into the bathroom as she recalled Desmond Claude would come. After a she had her bath, she put on her skin care routine, and changed into a comfortable clothes, a long sleeves t-shirt and a skinny jeans. She went to the kitchen to make breakfast, when her doorbell rang. Just in time, it must have been him!
Pheonix Lou opened the door. 'Good morning, CEO Claude!'
There was no one and no answer. She definitely heard the bell just now, her head turned to the right and left.
'It took you forever to open the door, Pheonix Lou!'
The whining man was leaning on the wall behind the door, wearing a rolled sleeves shirt and a pair of trousers, dark expression couldn't be hidden from his face.
'I've been waiting here for almost an hour, rang your door bell several times, and called your number but couldn't go through. Are you doing this on purpose?'
Wait, she didn't hear the bell before this, She might have been in the bathroom. She forgot to charge her phone up last night, the battery should have been run out by now.
Pheonix apologetically explained to him as she welcomed him. The man pursed his lips in straight line, he didn't say a word, he strode into her unit, as if it was his.
Desmond Claude took off his shoes, sat on the sofa, crossing his long legs. Looking from head to toe, the man was probably better than a male model in the magazine, his straight tall nose, deep set of eyes, well shaped eyebrows, and perfect face shape, couldn't be missed.
Desmond Claude called out in overbearing tone. 'Why are you still standing there? Where is our breakfast?'
Pheonix Lou snapped out, 'Uh... Would you like me to buy it or make it for you, CEO Claude?'
Automatically, she acted like she was his secretary, she was used to do so.
The man frowned unhappily, 'I told you so many times, you're no longer my secretary!'
Right! She had a new role as his girlfriend, a temporary one. Still, she had to learn to act naturally with him around. What she supposed to do as a girlfriend?
'Sorry, I won't make the same mistake, Desmond.' Pheonix Lou took an initiative to personally cooked the breakfast, her legs speedily walked to the kitchen.
Pheonix was the type who always had urge to do her best wholeheartedly when she was doing something, she might be categorized as an ambitious person.
The man ignored her.
A few minutes later, she served two plates of breakfast on the dining table, which contained 2 fried eggs, a slice of toast bread, and 2 sausages on each plate. She wasn't a skillful cook to begin with, that's why, she always cooked an easy one to play safe.
Desmond Claude pulled the dining chair, slowly his bad mood faded away as he ate his breakfast.
Pheonix Lou learnt that his mood had to do with the fulfillment of his stomach. She studied his every moves, got to know him more in private, noting what he liked and what he didn't like in his breakfast. It might help her to play her new role well in the future.
'You've been looking at me. Are you mesmerized by my good looking face?' Desmond Claude sensed her intense gaze. 'I recalled you have a feelings for me.'
There was a time, Pheonix Lou found an outstanding man like him being ridiculous to a great extent, made her dumbstruck for a moment. To understand how his mind could conclude that way, was too challenging for her. No one anticipated, he was a self absorbed man in private.
'Desmond Claude, let me tell you, I never said I had a feelings for you!'
Desmond Claude smirked as he stood up in refined gesture. 'Even if you do, you shall not worry. I won't mistreat you although I may not be able to return your feelings. I change my mind a little about you, you should be grateful.'
Pheonix rolled her eyes, saying nothing, while in her mind, she stated 'I won't be in love with someone like you!'
Ever since Pheonix Lou interacted with Desmond Claude privately, she got to see a different side of him, the narcissistic him, the annoying him, the gentle him, and many more. It was surprising that there were so much about him than what's to see when he sat down behind his office desk, wearing his business suit with his serious and cold vibes.
Desmond Claude walked around the narrow living space, her home was not luxurious, but cozy enough and well kept. Not getting another thing to do, he sat himself on the couch and turned on the television.
Perhaps Pheonix Lou reminded him of Margareth, Desmond couldn't help himself not to steal a glance on her.
The girl was busy washing the dishes and cleaned the kitchen. She then placed her laptop in the dining table, checked on it for a while. Her side profile was exquisite, she had a small tall nose, a rosy pink lips, and her eyelashes looked even thicker and longer that they casted a shadow.
Looking through her beautiful feminine features, the man puzzled by the fact that everyone, including himself had failed to recognize her gender when she put on her disguise.
Pheonix Lou closed her laptop as she didn't get any notifications, regarding her job applications. Turning her head to the man who was watching the television, she had no idea what to do. With just the two of them in a tiny living space, she was reminded by the thing happened between them a few days ago. She instantly felt embarrassed, upset, and scared whenever the image came to her mind. In order to ease the awkwardness, she stepped to the tiny balcony, enjoyed the spring breeze.
As she was in the balcony, the man answered his phone which had been vibrating for some time.
'Mom...' Desmond spoke calmly.
'Desmond, what took you so long to answer? Anyway, your dating pictures are everywhere. If the public finds out she's your subordinate, whom you asked to act as your girlfriend, it won't be good. Trust me!' Madam Claude went on, 'After I think about it, I can see this subordinate of yours is beautiful so that it's reasonable to pick her, but instead for just a public image, you can consider a real relationship. Both of you look good together. Listen, your dad and I are an open minded parents, we don't care whether she's from a rich or poor family as long as you love her and know her well.'
Desmond Claude ran his hand through his hair. 'Mom, they won't find out. For your information, I don't have that kind of feelings towards her.'
'Then, why I sensed something in your eyes when you were with her? Are you really good at acting?' Madam Claude asked in curious tone.
'Mom, you're imagining things.'
Madam Claude scoffed, 'You never let the girl, I arranged or the other women, to spend time with you more than once, not to mention acting as your girlfriend. Why you specifically selected her? All women will voluntarily stand in her place even for a minute.'
His mother was undoubtedly observant, she knew her son's personality like the back of her hands.
There were many reasons he couldn't mention to his mother. Beside what had happened, the special reason Desmond Claude chose her from the beginning was her bright pheonix eyes, which resembled the girl named Margareth.
Desmond Claude didn't give any answers to his mother, he stayed quiet.
Hearing nothing from the other side, Madam Claude softly said, 'Well, I got to go. Think about what I said.'
Madam Claude ended the call.
Desmond Claude put his phone inside his pocket, stared at the girl in the balcony. The girl was closing her eyes, enjoyed the soft breeze as her silky hair were blown by the wind. She was at peace.
If he never encountered the girl with the pheonix pendant 10 years ago, maybe he would be in a relationship with another girl, he wouldn't had been bias towards Pheonix Lou, nor all of these would had happened. Regrettably, his heart hadn't forgotten the deceased girl yet.
'The weather is very nice, let's walk outside! I know a good place.' Pheonix Lou distracted the man who was drowning in his sorrowful thoughts.
No reply came out from his mouth but he did hear her.
'C'mon, you need it!' Pheonix Lou smiled sincerely.
Somehow, Desmond Claude sensed a familiarity through her words, yet he was unable to recollect it.
Still, he didn't utter any words. Yet, he let her know he approved her offer by his body language.
——
The two of them reached a secluded area not too far from Pheonix Lou's apartment on foot. Not many people came to this place as the route involved some quiet alleys. It was surrounded by trees, there was a small path in the middle.
They were strolling along the path while enjoying the great weather.
Pheonix Lou opened a conversation, 'I heard HL case has been settled down..'
'True, I should have done it from the very start.'
'It's great, then...'
Desmond Claude took a look at her right arms without her noticing. That time he was annoyed with his bodyguards that he scolded them harshly to let it happened. Why didn't he react faster as well?
'Don't do that again, what if it leaves a scar? I won't be wounded that easily anyway.'
Desmond Claude made her startled, the thing he was referring to, was when she defended him from the man with the knife. Why did he worry about her getting a scar?
Pheonix Lou carelessly said, 'I thought it was part of my job.'
'It's part of your job if you're a female bodyguard or a man. With such a low level skill, I expected you only to be able to defense yourself in needs, not adding a trouble by getting hurt.'
To think he was worry was a mere delusion. Pheonix Lou wanted to scratch him on the face after she heard him. What an ungrateful man! However, she controlled her emotion well.
'Um... Desmond Claude, I know you have someone you love, why aren't you be together?' She diverted the topic carefully. The question might be too private but she couldn't help not to be curious about it.
Desmond Claude halted his steps, his face turned solemn.
Pheonix Lou felt chills on her back, it turned out she pushed the wrong button.
'She's dead.' His voice was as cold as ice. 'Don't you ever mention this again!'
Even though he was displeased, Pheonix Lou caught a glimpse of pain in his eyes, caused her to feel guilty. 'I'm sorry...'
The wrong conversation drove them in an unpleasant silence.
Pheonix Lou headed to the supermarket afterwards. In Pheonix Lou's opinion, Desmond Claude was likely to go back on his own as the atmosphere had become dull.
Unexpectedly, she found him still following her when they got into the supermarket. Neither she dared to look nor talked to him, Phoenix Lou perceived herself like usual, putting things in her trolley.
She browsed around the condiments area, spotted what she wanted to buy, she tiptoed and raised her arm to get the thing placed on top of the shelf.
It was a shame, It was higher than what she had estimated. Her fingers couldn't even touch the thing.
A long arm passed her, a familiar fresh fragance got into her nostrils, taking the item, she tried to get, effortlessly. The tall masculine figure behind her had a strong aura that made her slightly nervous.
She spontaneously turned half of her upper body to the back, wanted to confirmed whether he was still upset or not, unawared of Desmond Claude was still standing closely behind her. Their face facing each other very closely, so close that their lips was only a few inch apart.
Pheonix Lou froze on the spot, her heart thumped crazily. Looking him in this distance, she couldn't deny his perfectly carved like face. His domineering gaze enchanted her, like a sailor to a mermaid.
'