Chapter 32: Chapter 32
ANGELIQUE SLOAN’S POV
It took me quite a while before I was able to process what Austin was trying to say. I stared at him blankly, still waiting for him to properly explain what he wanted to say. However, I was the one who broke the silence, seeing that he doesn’t have any intention to speak.
“What do you mean, Austin? I’m going to have my first interview here? It’s not like you’re already a hundred percent sure that I’ll apply to become your secretary,” I voiced out my concern and curiosity.
Instead of giving me a direct answer, Austin walked behind me, placing both of his hands above my shoulders, then pushed me towards the room that he pointed to after he swiftly opened the door for me. The inside was completely a mess.
Consecutively blinking, I started to have an idea about what he wanted me to do. “I’m pretty sure this is nowhere near a real interview, Austin. You’re just going to ask me to clean this room up and make it tidier, aren’t you?” I heaved out a sigh of frustration, which was mixed with disappointment.
“You know exactly what I want,” Austin responded with a snicker. “I know that I have a lot of employees down there that’s going to do this for my sake without any complaints, but...”
“But what, Austin? Did you think that it would be much more convenient for you to have me as your secretary if you see that I can also become your maid or servant?” I muttered, rolling my eyes.
Austin shook his head at the same time that he removed his grip on my shoulders to step in front of me. “Even if you’re already my secretary, there’s no way that I’m going to exhaust you with such heavy tasks. It’s just that... I haven’t brought anyone else on this floor before,” he replied, gulping. “You’re seriously the first one that I permitted to step onto this floor,” he continued.
I furrowed my eyebrows in disbelief. “Those are the common lines that a man usually tells a woman they want to be in a relationship with,” I said, laughing.
“You’re doubting everything I say and do. Trust me this once, alright?” Austin uttered as if he were begging to be trusted. “I swear that this wouldn’t happen again. Just clean up this room once, then I won’t ask the same favor from you ever again,” he added to make his statements much more convincing.
It seems like I have no other choice but to give up. I guess there’s no way for Austin to surrender; he doesn’t seem like the type of person who’d accept defeat as a result.
I didn’t give him any other response. I went to the corner of the room to fetch the cleaning materials that I would need and did what he wanted me to do. Austin gave space for me to clean; he was just standing still on the door’s threshold this whole time, and judging by the sweat that’s rolling from his forehead, I bet that he’s already exhausted.
“I’m already done with my business here. Shall we take a rest now?” I asked, dropping the broom on the floor just right beside the trash bags that I’ve gathered.
However, contrary to what I expected to happen, Austin shook his head. “Why are you anticipating that I’ll let you rest, Angelique? Didn’t I clearly mention earlier that your first interview would be conducted here? You simply cleaned the room, mind you,” he said, as if he was trying to mock the shit out of me.
My face heated up. Not because I was embarrassed or blushing, but because of the extreme vexation that rose from my chest. This man really knows how to get on my nerves.
“I’m being serious here, Austin. If you won’t get straight to the point, then I’ll just go back home,” I replied, glaring at him with such a fierce look.
Instead of taking me seriously, Austin snickered. “You don’t even have a place to return to. Where are you heading off?”
“I can just go back to Greyson’s side if I want to,” I said with no hesitation.
Austin raised an eyebrow, and it was too late for me to realize that I mentioned another man’s name right in front of him. I still haven’t told him anything about Greyson and my relationship with him, and mostly about the fact that he’s the one that I’m ‘married’ to.
“Oh, you don’t have to think too much about Greyson. He’s just a childhood friend of mine who I still keep in touch with,” I reasoned out, though I know that he wouldn’t even buy it.
“You’re so easy to read when you’re telling an obvious lie,” Austin coldly uttered. “So... Is this Greyson the one who gave you that wedding ring? That’s what my guts are telling me, so I’m a hundred percent confident that I’m right,” he added.
This is exactly one of my weaknesses. I don’t have any idea how to come up with an excuse right on the spot, so I’m always forced to say the truth instead. “Yeah, Greyson’s my husband... or maybe not. I don’t know either,” I answered with a frown.
“Are you dissatisfied that Greyson has let you down? Shouldn’t you be glad that the two of you didn’t last for decades?” Austin interrogated. “I mean, look...” He approached me with both of his hands cupping my cheeks. “I have a higher chance to become one with you. Discard Greyson for good and forget about him, Angelique. Just choose me,” he murmured, almost coming out like a whisper.
I gulped, confused about how I should react. “A-Austin, let’s not rush too much, please? We literally just met, and it hasn’t even been a month,” I honestly replied, pushing his hands away from my face. “I’m sorry, but I can’t see myself living together with you under the same roof. I can’t even pretend that I’m happy with the thought that you’re going to be the father of my children in the near future,” I coldly continued before I stepped out of that room.
After all that Greyson did to me, I still can’t deny the fact that I’m... in love with him.