Gerard rode Choice back to the company after doing as Ray had ordered.
On the way back, she decided to break the outstretched silence between them with a little chat.
They did get off on the wrong foot but she figured that with her life intertwined with his boss's, she needed to make peace, somehow.
And she felt he was nothing like his arrogant boss.
"Is your boss always that cold?" She got the question past her throat.
She was a big fan of his and had always dreamt of seeing him in person, to get his autograph signed on one of those magazines he was featured as the cover artiste, and when she finally met him, it was a disaster, she couldn't believe she idolized a pervert all those years.
Gerard glanced at her through the rearview mirror. She was beautiful, and that fact couldn't be denied. "Not at all, ma'am. The big boss is a good person, he has a good side."
Good side.
Choice almost scoffed. An arrogant peacock with a shitty attitude has got a good side?
She felt he was just being nice. The ever loyal assistant. Ray's fandom knew him well, some fans even had a crush on the ever efficient, no nonsense lead bodyguard. His duality was insane; fierce when it came to protecting Ray out there and efficient serving under him in the company.
What did he just call her...
Ma'am?
The realization hit her.
That sounded weird to her, it made her feel old. She was only eighteen and the man seated behind the steering wheel was obviously older than her. "Please don't call me ma'am, just call me Choice."
"I can't ma'am, you're now the President's wife and should be regarded as one." He protested.
He made sense, she thought. How reasonable.
"I'd really appreciate it if you only called me Choice. I know you're older than me so, I should be doing the formalities here."
Gerard smiled, a broad one. "Even as the wife of the big boss, you're this humble. Others would take it as an advantage to step on people. I think you're awesome, ma'am."
She felt honoured seeing a side of him that people out there barely got to see. Soft and humble, topping up with sweet.
His smile an assurance of ease.
A smile lit her lips. "There you go again with the ma'am." They chuckled and silence embroided the atmosphere of the car. She stared at him through the rearview mirror, a smile still lingering on her lips. "Thanks Gerard."
At Ray Kee Entertainment building, Gerard stopped the car in the driveway and asked Choice to remain in the car while he went to get Raymond.
Choice nodded in agreement.
He pressed a button and the engine went dead, and he stepped down. He headed into the building, through the elevator and up the fifth floor where Ray's shoot was taking place.
His birthday was around the corner, 'March 21st', the coming month and the month of February was only a week to be over.
Gerard quietly walked into the studio with a glass and a can of water.
Ray had texted him earlier to get those, he was standing in front of the mirror getting ready for the shoot for next month's Ray Kee magazine. He was going to be on the cover, not only on his company's, but also on more than fifty magazines worldwide.
Gerard kept the glass on the table and poured some quantity of water into it and gave it to Raymond.
He took two sips and gave it back to Gerard.
Out of all fifty companies that emailed him, he chose to appear only on ten of them and he made sure they were the best, not just on the cover but also under cover.
The photography team was set and the photographer stood with the camera hanging around his neck. Ray slowly put his feet into the black leather shoes and walked to the background; it was plain, sparkling white.
The team of the shoot was 'a kingly gift'. Ray's white shirt wasn't buttoned up fully, two buttons were left to reveal part of his manly, smooth, and bronze-skinned chest. He held the coat of the retro suit in his hand.
However, Choice got bored and tired of sitting in the car; Raymond had that habit of keeping her waiting for too long, so she left the car and went into the building to a lady seated behind a desk, working.
"Excuse me." She called her attention.
The receptionist lifted her head to stare at her. "How may I help you, miss?" She asked, politely.
"Please, where can I find the President of this company?" Choice asked.
The receptionist replied with a question. "Do you have an appointment?"
"No, I'm a friend of his. I came in earlier with him, I don't know if you remember." Choice replied.
Of course she remembered the lady that sparked a controversy in the company for hours, with guesses and rumours flying in the air.
The receptionist took out the receiver and dialed a number. "Sir Gerard, there's a lady here asking to see the President."
Gerard slightly moved away from others in the room and asked. "A lady?"
"Yes, sir, she said she's a friend of the President."
Gerard already guessed it would be Choice, but still asked just to be sure. "Her name?"
The receptionist made an inquiry face at Choice. "Your name, please."
Gerard heard Choice say her name from the other end. "Give her the phone." He ordered.
The receptionist gave the receiver to Choice.
Gerard gazed at the man who was standing in front of the camera. He didn't know how to call his attention and inform him that his wife was asking of him.
Suddenly, Ray looked in his direction, he noticed Gerard was tensed.
"Your wife." Gerard mouthed without making a sound.
Ray was good at reading lips too; he gave Gerard the go-ahead to let Choice come up.
"Come to the fifth floor, ma'am," Gerard said into the phone.