Chapter 5 – Beginning with a Daring Encounter

“I don’t doubt that. Yesterday was her birthday so I guess that was why she ventured out. She did seem like a fish walking on dry land. And I find her intriguing.” Benne said with an amused expression.

“You find her intriguing already? And what about Anita?”

“I broke up with her just before you walked in,” Benne said disinterestedly.

“You did? Why? Because of Miss Miller?”

“I was going to do that last night, but then she stood me up once again.”

“You didn’t happen to talk to Miss Miller, did you?” Harry asked, making Benne grin as he remembered last night. He hadn’t wanted to deflower her, so he had taken his time to take a long walk outside, and by the time he had returned, she had dozed off as he had known she would. He had helped her take off her contact lens, even though it hadn’t been very easy getting her to cooperate with him, and then he had dressed her up.

“I even danced with her,” Benne said, leaving out every other detail he knew might embarrass Celsie.

“You danced with her?” Harry asked in surprise.

“Yep! But she has no idea who I am, and I intend to keep it that way. So you have to help me keep an eye on her.”

“Does this mean you canceled the meeting because you knew she was going to be late? Wait! Don’t tell me you spent the night with her!” Harry asked in alarm.

“Don’t be ridiculous! She had a lot to drink last night, and I figured since it’s her first time going that wild, she might find it difficult getting out of bed. So can you not give her a hard time over it? Scold her for being late, but don’t be too hard on her.” Benne said, making Harry look at him with narrowed eyes.. He nodded his head even though he didn’t believe what Benne had just said.

Celsie knew she wasn’t just late, she was very very late. She was resuming at the office by past 11 AM, for a meeting she was scheduled to have by 9 AM. She could only pray that a miracle would happen and save her from this embarrassment. No one at her former office would believe it if they heard she was resuming work two hours late. She always prided herself at being at least thirty minutes early to every meeting. She was that principled.

She had never felt more self-conscious in her life as she walked into the company building, dressed in pristine navy blue suit pants, her hair tied neatly in a ponytail and twisted to form a bun on the center of her head, and her thick round glasses sitting on top of her nose.

“Good morning, how may I help you?” One of the female receptionists at the front desk of the building asked, with a polite smile.

“Hi! I’m Celestia Miller. I’m supposed to be resuming at the fashion unit today. I need directions.” She said with a polite smile as she showed them her identity card.

“Oh! You’re welcome. Please take the elevator to the third floor and then take a turn to the left-wing. That’s where the fashion unit is located.” The receptionist said with a polite smile, and Celsie smiled back in gratitude before walking away.

Immediately Celsie walked away the receptionist dialed Harry’s number, “Hello sir! The lady you talked about, she just came in.”

“Thanks,” Harry said as he hung up. It was time to see this lady that had left quite an impression on his friend, Harry decided as he walked out of his office and headed for the third floor.

Inside the elevator, Celsie desperately prayed that she wouldn’t see a sack letter on her desk when she gets to her office. She had not been able to think of anything else since she walked out of Benne’s bedroom that morning. How would she explain to her parents that she had had a wild night out to celebrate her birthday and her promotion, and had ended up getting fired because she had overslept?

Immediately the elevator dinged and the door opened, her heart started beating really fast when she realized that she was yet to come up with any story that would at least make them pardon her. Her brain started working really fast as she stepped out of the elevator and turned left as directed by the receptionist.

“Miss Miller?” Harry called out making every story she had just come up with fly out of her brain as she turned to look at him. Did someone know her already? Oh great!

Celestia flashed him a polite but confused smile as she wondered who he was, “Good morning Mister…?”

“Harry Jonas.”

Her eyes widened in surprise and she raised a hand to her lips to mute the gasp that had just escaped from it, “Mr. Harry Jonas?” Of everybody to see her right now, why did it have to be him? Everyone at her former office knew him as the boss since he was the one who always visited there for inspections. He was known to be ruthless and mean when he wanted to, and he had a reputation of always firing at least one person whenever he visited.

Harry didn’t need anyone to tell him what was going on in her head, so he flashed her a smile to calm her down, “I see you’re just coming in at… What is it by your time?” He asked, looking at her wristwatch.

“I’m sorry I’m late. My fiance got involved in an accident last night, and I had to be with him at the hospital all through the night while he fought for his life. I only just arrived in the city a few minutes ago. I would have called, but I didn’t have the office line, and I didn’t know who to call.” Celestia lied, making Harry raise a brow.

“Your fiance? And you were there all through the night?”

“Yes. It was really horrible.” She said and broke into a false sob, raising her hand to cover her face.

Harry looked at her and decided it was either Benne had met the wrong person at the club, or the lady before him was a world-class liar and actress.

“I guess I understand. But we won’t tolerate any form of laxity after today. The meeting was canceled, so I’ll show you to your office now and introduce you to your team.” Harry said as he led her towards her office.

The meeting had been canceled? Just like that? Why had she been so worried all morning over nothing? If she had known the meeting was going to be canceled she probably wouldn’t have been in such a hurry, Celsie thought and sighed when she remembered she had left her thong behind at Benne’s house in her hurry.

Enough about last night! It was time to forget the past and focus on the present and future now.. Celsie decided as she hurriedly followed Harry.

“She really said that?” Benne asked, howling with laughter as Harry recounted the lie Celestia had told him.

“She is really not what I expected. I had to let her off the hook just because of you though, or maybe it was because she looked pretty nervous when I introduced myself to her.” Harry said with an easy shrug.

“Thanks. Hope she settled in well?” Benne asked curiously after his laughter settled down.

“She did.”

“Good. So after you left earlier, I was thinking.” Benne said with a look on his face that had Harry shaking his head.

“Not good. I’m sure whatever you want to say isn’t good.” Harry said making Benne chuckle.

“Well, I need a job and a house,” Benne said making Harry frown.

“You have a mansion, and you don’t just have a job, but you own the most successful company in the country.” Harry reminded him.

“Sure. Find out where Celsie lives, and see if you can get me an apartment very close to her…”

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