Two days later, around noon, Watson was discharged from Heal Care Hospital. By two in the afternoon, he was already seated at work. Everyone was happy to see him there and not in the slightest bit surprised. They were used to him being committed to his work. No one who knew him had even ever seen him with anyone, apart from his boss. Natasha was headed to give her big boss some files when she saw Watson seated at his desk going through something on his computer. She stopped in front of his desk and looked at him.
"Margret?" She called out to the woman who was busy sorting something in her diary.
"Yes Ms. Cl… Natasha." Margret answered, smiling sweetly looking towards where Natasha was standing. Watson looked at Margret then at Natasha.
"Employees in the company, who is their superior? Who handles their affair?" Natasha asked, still maintaining her look at Watson, who smiled back at her.
"The human resource department."
"And the HR department reports to which office?"
"The office of the General Manager. That is, you." Margret replied and looked at Watson, then they both understood where she was headed.
"But, Watson is under the CEO."
"Why? Is he still not an employee of this great organization?" Natasha asked as she finally looked at Margret, smiling. Margret did not respond but looked at Watson. Natasha walked towards her. Margret looked at Natasha then looked at the CEO's door then back at Natasha, who stopped halfway, looked back at Watson, smiled, then headed straight to the big boss' office.
"Enter." Brandon answered as soon as he heard a tap on the door. He had been waiting for her.
"Mr. Brandon. Here are those files you requested for. The project in DD City has already been settled and Mr. Jacob called to inform me that the land is ready for us to use. The construction of our branch will begin next week. Though he asks that you go and visit the piece of land and the family we got it from. Says it is very important." Natasha said as he handed him the documents.
"We shall go to visit the land mid- next week." Brandon replied without hesitation. He looked up from the file he was reading and looked at Natasha, who was standing before him. 'Beautiful as always.' He though inwardly. "Ms. Claire, always seat down when you come to my office." He said as he smiled at her. He looked at her blush for a few seconds before she managed to have it under control. "Interesting." He thought, then he realized he was still smiling at her sit. He got back in control.
"We, Sir?" Claire asked after she sat down and crossed her legs.
"Yes. From next week, I told you, you'll begin getting involved in the interior affairs of the firm. Is there a problem?" Brandon asked, trying to focus on her face but got distracted by the light skin thighs he could see from the slightly short dress of the woman seated before him. She was dressed in a dark green fitting dress whose length ended at an inch above her knees. When she sat, it went up even further.
"I do not have the right travelling documents. Then I still have the keys to the jeep, I shall return them to Margret today." Natasha answered, unaware of the battle being fought by the man before her.
"As for the travel documents, Watson will sort that out for you Ms. Claire. As for the jeep, you can have it." Brandon watched as Natasha's face was covered in shock.
"I… I... can have the jeep?" Natasha struggled to confirm.
"Yes. You have nothing to bring you here from wherever it is you reside. And that is an extra car lying around in the parking lot. So you can have it, before you can get yours. Watson will also take care of the handing over process of the car under your care."
Natasha could not believe what she was hearing. She looked at Brandon trying to get a hint of him joking. Seeing none, she nodded shyly. "Thank you Sir. Talking of which, Sir. Mr. Paul. He just got out hospital today. I was surprised to see him here today." She said with her voice lowered. Brandon was still going through the documents in his hands, for he could not look at her without getting distracted. He looked at her and unbuttoned the one button on his coat. Natasha looked at him and felt that it was very erotic. He looked like a model.
"What is on your mind?" Brandon asked.
"Well, Sir. The employees are under my office, thus my responsibility. And though Watson, Mr. Paul, is under you, he is still under me, hopefully. I ask that he be given some time to rest and recover." Natasha managed to reply with effort. Brandon just looked at her. And though his face showed no emotions, his head was spinning with thoughts.
A few minutes later, Natasha came out of the office all smiles. Watson and Margret observed her as she walked past them. She paused midway and looked at Watson. "Mr. Paul, you have twenty-four hours off for rest. Compulsory. Starting now." She ordered and walked away, leaving the two people behind her surprised. Watson looked at Natasha until the elevator shut with her inside then opened without her.
"She is going to be a change to reckon with very soon." Margret said to herself, though loud enough for Watson to hear. The latter just looked at her and smirked. He knew from the moments his boss had sent for her that that marked the beginning of something one could never fathom. Suddenly, his desk telephone rang and he knew it was his big boss. He rose up and went straight to his office.
"What are you doing here?" Brandon asked without looking from his computer.
"You called for me." Watson said as he got into the office. He was a bit confused.
"I know. But what are you still doing here?" Brandon asked as he insisted at the word 'still'. He was looking at the files he was given by Natasha. 'For someone with no experience, she sure knows how to do her job.' He thought to himself. He then looked at Watson who was still confused. "Wats, the longer you stay here, the more hours I will add to the twenty-four already given. Then for every day you will be absent, I shall deduct from your salary."
"No Sir! I was just leaving." Watson immediately snapped out of his confusion and defended himself. He turned around to leave.
"Good. While at it, get Ms. Claire all that she need to travel both within and out of the country."
"Yes Boss." Watson nodded as he walked out. He smiled as he shut the door behind him.
Brandon was still looking at the file when his phone rang. He looked at the caller ID and his face suddenly flashed in anger. He frowned as he picked it up. "Speak."
"How have you been my love?" Came a soft voice at the other end of the line.
"Love was never part of the equation between you and me. What do you want?"
"I miss you."
"That would have been believable if you had not up and left. But then again, Ms. Ann, what do you want? And I would appreciate if you did not make me ask again."
"Come on Brandon. Since when did you stop calling me Julie? I am sorry I left. But I am back now. There is no time like the present and I want to make it up to you. I was foolish. I…" Before she could finish, Brandon had already hung up his phone. Then it rang. Over and over. He ignored it as if nothing was happening.
At the floor below his, the same thing was happening. Natasha had been ignoring William's call for a long time and she decided to pick it up
"What?!" She snapped.
"Is that the way to answer your boyfriend?"
"You are not that, not even close. What do you want?" She was almost shouting.
"Come on! You have been avoiding me for a long time now. I have not seen you for almost two weeks now. Where have you been?"
"None of your business!"
"Tasha, please."
"Tell me something, Will. Did you go to the interview I had scheduled for you last week? And the one after? Or the one the previous day?" Natasha asked as she stood up and went to the window. There was no reply at the other end. "I don't even know why I bother. You know what, when I come back home today, I better find all your stuff packed out of my house and you gone." She added as calmly as she could, though there was a slight tremble in her office.
"You can't do that! I am also an owner of that apartment!" William shouted at the end of the line.
"Yes. True. But tell me, when was the last time you actually paid mortgage for it? I have strived all those years to pay for it without you chipping in even in the slightest. When you do remember when you paid last, which I highly doubt you will, please let me now. For now, pack your things and go!" She finished and hung up her phone before William could respond. He called back, she did not answer. She did her best to keep her emotions in place. She then called her friend Sasha and asked if they could go out that evening, which she agreed.