Chapter 5

“WHY don’t you take a leave to concentrate in your review?” Joshua asked Danielle; he doesn’t know why but he is contradicting what he just said.

“It’s too early if I take a leave, sir. I can still review during night time so there’s nothing to worry.” Danielle said smiling but her smile didn’t reach her eyes. “And besides, I will go insane being alone in the house. And not being able to see you—my inspiration is enough to make me go crazy.” She teased making him laugh. He really enjoys every little bit of time he spends with Danielle; he doubts that he would not feel this way with other women. Of course, with Danielle, you became another person, and she’s the main reason why you sudden lost interest on other women.

“Go back to your work or else you will be the next one to leave this room crying.” He slyly shook his head. “And thank you for these brownies.”

“You’re welcome, Sir. I’ll make cheese puff for tomorrow and I’ll make sure to put love potion on it so that you will be head over heels for me.” She winked before leaving the room making him smile.

It’s been five months since she become his secretary, and he didn’t expect that she would last long. During her first day, he showed her his worst side—he got angry with her even to the tiniest mistake, embarrass her to the other employees and even threatened to fire her. But those were nothing compared to her determination, he gave her a second chance without knowing it. There are things about him that gradually changed because of Danielle and he doesn’t know if it’s good or bad. The moment he saw her at the lobby, he knows that she’s trouble and he doesn’t know why he choose her out of all the applicants. There is something about her that pulls him closer to her. He doesn’t know! Maybe it is her hazel brown eyes that he’s drawn with.

And her parents trying to match-make him with her is not helping at all, according to his parents, Danielle is different from all the women he hangs outs with—he is well aware of that! Danielle is someone who is innocent enough to be compared those women and she’s too good for him. And according to his mother, there is something about Danielle that she immediately warms out to her. His parents treated Danielle as their own daughter and he can see the joy from his parent’s eyes every time they hang out together, that is one reason why he suddenly got close to Danielle.

“When will you two start to date?” Althea asked Danielle and Joshua when they once had dinner at their house, making the two dumbfounded. “Or the two of you are already dating?” she asked again while staring at them. Joshua and Danielle looked at each other and laughed out loud.

“We’re just friends, mom.” Joshua said making Althea frowned.

“I’m telling this, Joshua, I will not accept any one as my daughter-in-law unless it is Danielle!” She sternly said making Joshua laugh.

“I know, mom. I know. That is why I’m not introducing any woman.” Joshua said.

“Danielle, just tell me if Joshua’s fooling around, and I will put you two in a deserted island so that you two could develop feelings for each other.” Althea told Danielle making her blush.

“Dad, please stop mom from spouting nonsense.”

“But I really like to see the two of you being husband and wife in the future.” Hunter smiled making him sigh.

Ever since the start, Joshua’s parents are very vocal that they wanted him to marry Danielle, sometimes he even felt ashamed at Danielle. He once apologized to her, but Danielle just said that she knows that his parents are just fooling around.

His thought goes back to reality thanks to his phone ringing, when he saw who the caller was, he immediately answered it.

“Will you be there later?” His friend, Rafael asked from the other line.

“Yeah, was there a time that I’ve been absent?” He mockingly asked.

“Physically present, but mentally absent, bro.” He heard Rafael laughed.

“Whatever.”

“Let’s talk later. The gang is expecting you to show up.”

“So, we’re finally be complete again after such a long time.” He said, he can’t remember when was the last time their group of friends gathered together.

“Yes, and you better prepare yourself.” He said meaningfully before hanging up making him curious. He looked at the time and it was time for his meeting with the marketing team.

When he entered the conference room, and his employees suddenly become quiet. He looked at Danielle who just shrugged her shoulders.

“G-good afternoon, sir.” His employees greet him; he can feel the tension in the air. He secretly sighed.

“Good afternoon.” He said and took his seat. “Before we start with the meeting, I want you guys to loosen up! I don’t want to proceed with a meeting with you guys being uncomfortable because you guys surely will not function well and think well.” He said. “I’m not angry anymore, but I hope that this will be last mistake. Just present to me what you’ve made and I hope you guys made some improvement.”

JOSHUA entered MOONLIGHT bar, a bar that he and his friends own; he went to the room that they’ve been occupying exclusively for them. He was late with the appointed time since he sent Danielle home first and they’ve been chatting nonstop making him unaware of the time.

“Oh! Finally, you’re here! We thought that you will not come, we even decided to go to your house.” Jonathan, his cousin said.

“I just sent someone home.” He simply answered and took of his suit and took a seat on the vacant couch.

“Woman?” Phil asked, Phil Collen Monteverde, owner of Newly Trend Magazine, which is famous around the globe.

“Yeah.” He answered as he took a shot of brandy.

“See! He’s with a woman!” Phil told Rafael. Rafael is the owner of the famous MJ restaurant, and it has many branches across Asia.

“Is there something wrong that makes you two showed up?” He asked Phil and Lohan, among the group, the two will only show up if there’s something that sparks their curiosity.

“Rafa here is making a huge fuss.” Gabriel answered and drinks a shot of brandy. Gabriel is known to be a ruthless lawyer in the court; he is always on the top and there’s no case that he can’t handle. He can make the right wrong and vice versa. But his golden rule is to only accept clients that are telling the truth. He didn’t become a lawyer just to gain money; his services are for the poor and rich that were shouting justice.

“Fuss about what?” He asked and took a glance at Rafael.

“When was the last time you hang out with a girl?” Lohan asked, the photographer of the group and the owner of Venus Studio with branches around Asia. His studio is well-known among the show business industry since his photographers are all professional and the quality of the pictures are excellent.

“Is there a problem?” He asked, still confused.

“Just answer the damn question!” Lohan asked, he is starting to get irritated.

“I’m with Danielle before I came here.” He answered.

“That!” Phil suddenly blurted out. “That is the problem!”

“What is wrong with that?” He asked starting to get irritated. For him, there is nothing wrong with it. He is friends with Danielle, so what?

“What happened to you?” Gabriel asked. “Are you sick? You’re not usually like that; you’re used to date different women every time.”

“Wow! Coming from you, Gab!” Jon mocked his friend, unlike them, Gabriel doesn’t really paid attention to girls, for him, his work in more important.

“Shut up will you! This is not about me; this is about your damn cousin!” He hissed at Jon. They’re used to Gabriel’s sudden mood swings; it seems that he is handling a stressful case. “And you, Mister Levine, answer my damn question or I will handcuff you on your private jet full of explosives!”