Chapter 390 – Beginning with a Daring Encounter

“To being friends,” he said, and Celsie laughed softly at his enthusiasm as she shook his hand.

“So back to my question. How are you Celsie?” He asked again.

“I’m trying my best to be okay. Benne told me about your suggestion,” Celsie said, and Harry nodded.

“Why don’t we talk for a moment in your office?” Harry suggested since they were still standing by the hallway, and gestured with his hand for her to lead the way.

“Thanks,” Harry said as Celsie gently placed a mug of steaming coffee in front of him before going to sit behind her desk.

“You are welcome,” Celsie said with a small smile as she watched him raise the cup to his nose and sniff it before taking a sip.

Somehow this made her remember what Jade had said about Harry offering to share a mug of chocolate with her. That had sounded flirty even to her… She still couldn’t believe that a person as intelligent as Jade could have missed that.

Well, maybe it made sense that Jade had missed it. People generally seemed to have more insight on issues that are not directly connected to them. How else could she explain how she had not known that she was the one Benne was interested in yet had tried to play cupid and hook him up with Anita? Thinking about it alone made her sigh inwardly. She had been pretty dumb.

“So, how did you feel about it? My suggestion, I mean,” Harry said as he looked at her curiously. He still couldn’t explain what it was about Celsie that he liked, but for some reason, he felt protective towards her. In a brotherly kind of way.

Celsie shrugged, “I don’t think it’s a bad idea. I know you would not have suggested it if you hadn’t thought it through. And neither would Benne have agreed to it if he didn’t think it was our best shot. I trust both your judgments on this,” Celsie said, and Harry nodded.

“Of course, you should. We are your bosses, after all,” Harry said with a teasing smile, and Celsie smiled back.

“Yeah. There is that too,” she agreed and then cleared her throat as she looked at Harry with serious eyes.

“Can I ask you a question?” She asked, and Harry gave her a nod, wondering what she wanted to know as he watched her.

“I probably shouldn’t be asking this, but I couldn’t bring myself to ask Benne…” Celsie started as she adjusted her glasses on the bridge of her nose, and Harry raised a brow.

“How far did things go between Benne and Anita?” She asked, and Harry’s brows pulled together in a confused frown.

She shook her head, “No. I’m not talking about physical intimacy. I mean, you are his best friend, so you would know if he was really into her or something…”

“Celsie, believe me, I’ve seen Benne with a couple of women in the past, and he doesn’t follow any woman around like a lovesick puppy the way he does with you. And I’ve never seen him put any lady before the company either. He not only put you before the company, but he also put you before himself by revealing his identity the way he did. Benne adores you,” Harry said, and Celsie sighed.

“I get what you mean. And yes, I know he loves me. I don’t doubt it. I’m only asking because I’m trying to understand why Anita and her family are so confident to believe she stands a chance with him if they get me out of the way. I’ve been thinking long and hard about it, but it just doesn’t make sense. Maybe Benne was crazy about her and did similar stuff to get her attention, so maybe she believes she still stands a chance with him,” Celsie explained, and Harry nodded in understanding.

“I think I get your point now. However, I don’t think their craziness has anything to do with Benne being into her. Their plan is probably to get you out of the way and then find any means necessary to get Benne to be interested in her. That’s how people like them work,” Harry said, and Celsie shook her head.

“But it still doesn’t make any sense. Even if I get out of the picture today, there is no guarantee that Benne will look her way, so why waste so much time and resources on me when they can channel that energy directly into trying to get Benne?” She asked, and Harry raised a brow before sipping from his coffee.

“You won’t mind if she approaches Benne?”

“Am I supposed to mind? I love Benne, but this issue is between them, not me. I wasn’t there in the beginning when they had their thing, whatever it was, and I don’t particularly appreciate how I’ve been dragged into it this way either. Maybe she needs closure. I kind of wish Benne would just take it up with her directly and tell her off once and for all so that she would stop before things get out of hand.”

“You got involved in their ‘thing’ when you approached Anita and tried to set them up together. If you hadn’t done that, she possibly wouldn’t be trying so hard to get you out of the picture. It’s personal for her because she knows you,” Harry pointed out.

“And I wouldn’t have gotten personally involved with her if Benne hadn’t lied to…” Celsie let the rest of her words trail off in a sigh. She wasn’t going to blame Benne for it.

Yes, he had deceived her, but that was in the past now, and they were past that. This wasn’t the time to pass blame. It was time to get solutions. She needed to keep reminding herself of this.

“Don’t worry about it. We are handling it. Besides, maybe now that Benne has revealed his identity, she would approach him freely without pretense, and he would reject her once and for all,” Harry said confidently, and Celsie nodded.

“I hope so,” Celsie said, and Harry nodded as he watched her from the rim of his mug.

“Well, I’m sure we will find out today since we will be leaving for OmniGlobal airlines soon. I will keep an eye on them to make sure she doesn’t force herself on him, don’t worry,” Harry said, flashing her a grin.

“I’m sure you will,” Celsie said as she eyed him with interest, “Your girlfriend must be one lucky girl,” Celsie said, changing the subject even though she was aware that he didn’t have a girlfriend.

“Girlfriend? Benne told you I have a girlfriend?” Harry asked in confusion.

“No, he didn’t. I just assumed you have one. Don’t you?” Celsie asked, and Harry looked at her for a second before shaking his head.

“I don’t. You know, usually, when ladies ask me questions like this, they are often interested in me. I’m beginning to feel that maybe you want me instead of Benne, am I right?” Harry asked, blinking at her in a way that made her giggle.

I’m not, but I know someone who is, Celsie thought in amusement, “Maybe I am. Who knows? I just might be polygamous in nature and I never realized it till now,” Celsie said, batting her lashes at him, and Harry chuckled.

“About the question I asked you last…” He paused when his phone started to ring, “Excuse me,” Harry said politely as he took out his phone from his pocket and received the call.

“Yes?” Harry asked and listened for a moment before glancing at his wristwatch, “Oh, yes! I will be there. Thanks,” Harry said and hung up the call.

“Sorry, I have to leave now. I need to take care of a couple of things before joining the HR team downstairs to interview the shortlisted candidates and pick out the most suitable for the position of Benne’s assistant. Would you like to sit in for the interview?” He asked Celsie, who looked surprised.

“Today? So early? But we only just decided that he needed an assistant yesterday,” Celsie pointed out.

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