Sitting ideally on her new desk, Clara kept glancing at Adrian who was busy focusing on his work. Forty-five minutes passed by since she moved into his cabin, yet the man didn't spare a glance at her nor did he assign her any work.
"Do you find me handsome Miss Mathew" Adrian's unexpected words made her stiff.
Closing the file in front of him, Adrian turned his attention to the side. His lips once again curled up into a mischievous smile. He forgot to remember the count of how many times he had smiled since the morning and the reason was none other than the girl sitting right next to his table.
Clara blinked her eyes the second he turned to face her and she quickly averted her face to look elsewhere. She was so dumbstruck by his words that she again gave the man to smile at her.
'Don't get swayed by that smile Clara. It's dangerous' she thought to herself and quickly composed her expression before looking back at him.
There was no way she would get intimidated by him, even if he kept flashing that charming smile of his.
Keeping her face straight, she asked," How long do I have to sit here doing nothing, boss"
Clara was getting bored by doing nothing but just keeping a watch on twenty-seven-year-old men like a guard. She knew her job was to look after him but didn't they mention in the contract that she would also work here as an assistant.
Adrian bobbed his head in understanding by rubbing his chin," You are right Miss Mathew, how about you help me sort these documents" he said pointing to the shelf to his left.
"It's been long since I arranged them" his words were clear but with a different meaning within them and that was he was asking her to clean the shelf.
Clara once again saw the same gleam of mischievousness pass through his eyes. Keeping her face firm, she forced a smile." Sure" she said and watched his face stiff.
Adrian was trying to test her. He wanted to see if she agreed to his every command or objected to him just like she did in the restaurant.
Getting up from her seat, Clara walked towards the file shelf and started doing her work.
Adrian could just watch her but deep inside he felt unhappy. He knew he was the boss here and had the right to instruct his employees, but he wanted to see the old Clara who would go against his words if she didn't agree to them.
He wanted to see her fight with him whenever he went on her nerves. But all she did was follow his words like an obedient employee.
'Hey, boy... what are you feeling sorry for? Did you forget you want to revenge her for breaking your heart' he heard his subconscious mind speaking with him and the next second he snapped out of the feeling that was making him feel guilty.
"This is nothing for what she did to me" he mumbled under his breath and quickly averted his eyes from her and resumed back with his work.
Clara started to arrange the file according to the shelf level. She started from the bottom slowly topping up. Once she finished the second last level, she tried to reach the last one the most stop but it was too high for her to reach.
"Damn, how should I take them" she muttered as she tried to stretch her arm high, but failed.
Dropping her hand in defeat, she turned around when her eyes found a small table next to the artificial flower stand. Sprinting ahead she picked up the table and placed it in front of the shelf.
Removing her sandals, she quickly climbed up the table and started arranging the files. Engrossed in her work, she forgot that she was balancing herself on a small table when she stretched her arm wide to her right side reaching out for the last file, and the table moved before she lost her foot and fell.
"Ah..." screaming her lungs out loudly, Clara waited to reach the ground but fell straight into Adrian's arms.
"What the hell were you doing?" Clara didn't get the chance to get out of the situation when she heard Adrian's roar and her eyes snapped open, slowly growing wide.
Adrian's face had turned red due to anger and his eyes blazed fire as he glared at the girl in his arms.
Instead of comforting her, he chooses to shout at her, and that makes Clara gasp like a fish, opening her mouth to speak but then closing it back watching the deadpan eyes.
Ignoring her dumbstruck face, Adrian turned and dashed towards the cushioned couch before he carefully placed Clara down. Without wasting a second she started examining her as if he was scared that she might have got hurt somehow.
Clara sat there staring at Adrian as he showed concern for her. Though his eyes stared at her furiously, his action was gentle. He made sure he didn't touch her harshly but rather be softer with her as if he was afraid of hurting himself.
Watching him getting worried for her reminded Clara of the time, she once burned her hand while cooking for him. She was so engrossed in drooling at him that she forgot to turn off the stove burning the paste she made for him.
She saw the same concern in his eyes and her chest turned heavy feeling the same emotions running back.
'Why show concern, make the person feel special, and then throw them away' she thought to herself and cleared her throat.
Composing her breath, she stood up." I am fine" her voice cracked as she looked away avoiding his shocked gaze.
Adrian looked at her and watched her avoid meeting his gaze. His jaw clenched soon changing his expression from gentle to aloof. Giving her a final glance he adjusted his suit and returned to his seat, sulking.
Once Adrian was back in his seat, Clara walked toward the shelf and wore her sandals. She then bent down and picked up the fallen table ready to climb once again when she heard Adrian's cold voice.
"Do you want to fall again" Turning her head in his direction she watched him glare at her.
"Or are you so desperate for my attention that you want me to come running to you and catch you in my arms, saving you"