It was at that moment I caught Damion lean in to whisper something to her ear and she laughed while placing a hand over her mouth as if to control herself.
Without realizing how tensed my body was, my hold tightened around my silver purse.
"Yes, she's the one," Clifford confirmed and I gritted my teeth.
"By the way, you look stunning."
At his unexpected compliment, I faced him and gave a forced smile because I was expecting that from someone else.
"Please excuse me."
Without waiting for his response, I left his side and looked for the nearest exit because I felt suffocated.
On getting to a quiet hallway, I leaned against the wall and exhaled loudly.
If Damion truly knew about my feelings for him then he wouldn't behave like that with some other woman…but…who was I to hinder him from being himself in the first place?
Like Isaac said, he appreciates women who love to dress and among all the ladies I've met who were acquainted with him, Beverley beat them all.
I was nowhere near what they call 'his taste' when it came to women.
The painful truth was that I was just his secretary and nothing more.
At that thought, I closed my eyes and tried to control my emotions. It would've been easy if I fell for just his looks but as I got to know him, I fell hard for the person he was.
"Are you alright? Did I say or do something wrong?"
My eyelids snapped open as I looked around in shock because I was certain no one was around.
Not too far from me stood Clifford who wore a worried look with his hands buried deep in his trousers pockets.
"Did you follow me?" I frowned.
At my question, he bit his lower lip and scratched the back of his head while making his way to me.
"I had to."
"But I excused myself," I reminded him.
"You looked distressed," he finally paused in front of me and I had to crane my neck slightly as I narrowed my eyes at him.
"Does it matter?" I purposely asked just to hear what he would say.
"It does, especially when it comes to a woman." He became very serious as he observed me closely.
Not knowing what to say, I heaved a sigh and looked around just to keep my emotions in check.
"Are you here with someone?"
I shifted my attention back to him and noticed how hard he stared at me. It was…unwavering.
"I am."
"Is he your man?"
His question was twisted because it sounded like he knew who I was with so why then did he ask if I was with someone in the first place?
"Who told you it's a man?"
Now I was beginning to feel like he was stalking me because I never told him I was with a man so why would he jump to that conclusion.
"You're dressed in a way that says you're with a man." He answered effortlessly while still maintaining eye contact.
"What if I said I came with a woman?" Strangely, I was beginning to get interested in what he would say.
"I wouldn't believe and to confirm that I'm right, I noticed someone looking for you back there."
I blinked at him because it wasn't convincing.
"You don't believe me right? He'll be here soon anyway."
He sounded convincing but I didn't want to believe him. As he walked past me, he paused and whisper something to my ear and my eyes went wide.
And like he said, I saw Damion walk into the hallway with a look of worry. Our eyes met and he briefly shifted his to Clifford who was already on his way out the other way.
From worry it shifted to curiosity as Damion increased his pace before pausing some inches from me.
"Who was that you were with just now?" That was the first question that left his mouth.
"Someone I met randomly," I purposely replied.
"Someone you met randomly?" He repeated while giving me a serious look which meant he wanted me to elaborate.
"It's no one you should concern yourself with."
"I specifically told you not to go far," he reminded me and it was times like this that made me really think he was into me. But he was not.
"I was looking for the restroom." I lied.
"With a man," he gave me a look of incredulity and I felt like laughing because he reminded me of a mother hen.
"He was giving me directions," I lied again.
"By whispering to your ears at such close proximity?"
Now, he was really taking things too far, I thought to myself.
"It's not what you think."
"What do you think I'm thinking then?"
For the first time since I worked for him, he was showing a lot of reaction.
Did he feel threatened?
"That I left with him to do something intimate in private." I gave a suitable answer and waited for his response.
"Why would I think that? Your personal matters don't concern me. When we're in public together do the needful but when you're somewhere else, you can do you."
I felt like someone spilled a bucket of cold water over me. He was very blunt and it cut deep into my chest.
"I don't want unnecessary rumors about my secretary to spread in which I would need to pay for." He warned before taking my wrist in his hand and led me back to where the celebration was ongoing.
I felt stupid and embarrassed.
Stupid for not thinking of his reputation and embarrassed for thinking he was into me to react the way he did.
Throughout the grand opening celebration, I couldn't concentrate. I was tired, sad and embarrassed.
When it was time to go home, I didn't see Clifford anywhere, actually, the last time I saw him was at the hallway where Damion came to harvest me.
The drive to my residence was a very quiet one and I was thankful for it because I wasn't in the mood to speak to him.
It was a common thing for him to drop me off at home once we went for any occasion or event.
On arrival, I was about to step out when he held my wrist, stopping me from leaving.
Surprised, I faced him and noticed how calm he looked at me. Nevertheless, the question he asked was completely unforseen.
"Are you looking for a man to marry, Arleen?"