Executing the Plan

Maria arrived 10 minutes before sign in time. Today she wore a tie neck vintage bodycon pencil cut dress in black and opted for nude peep toe pumps to balance her look. With a smoky eyes and nude lipstick her look’s completed. She already did the necessary inside the President’s office and started working in her office. At exactly 8:30 am the

elevator opens and Joshua stepped out.

“Good Morning Mr. Elliot” She greeted and follows him in his office.

“Morning” He responded with a smile and thought to himself 'what a beautiful creature tailing me'.

“Breakfast Mr. Elliot, before you start your day?” She asked

“Hmmmnnn….what do you suggest then?” He asked her

“American breakfast with café noir” She suggested

“Okay, that’s fine” he replied then faces his Computer

Maria left his office and quickly calls Marco to prepare American breakfast and café noir.

After he had his breakfast they work together with the files that he had brought from home last Monday. Maria makes the final draft into black and white, constructs an email, and enclosed a calendar meeting where all recipients are mandatory to attend. Rest of the day went well at 11 a.m. Maria went to his office to check whether he

will have lunch outside or prefers food in the canteen or delivery.

“None, I am a bit tired. I will rest in the lounge. Go for your break.” He said

The President’s office has its own private lounge for sleeping.

“I am having lunch outside, I’ll be back before lunch break is over” She informed him before leaving his office

As soon she’s back from her break she went directly to his office but saw no one there. Probably still sleeping in the lounge as he must be very tired from working late last night she thought, so she didn’t go inside instead went to her office and resume where she left off before going for a break. At 4 pm, her office phone rings.

“Mr. Elliot?” She answered

“Hey, I need you in the office later, I have something to discuss with you. But before that, kindly order Caesar salad with croutons and a soda with glass full of ice. Thanks” He said

“Okay Mr. Elliot.” She replied with creased eye brows.  After ordering she went inside to check on him as he sounded sick.

“Are you okay, Mr. Elliot? You sounded sick.” Maria said with a concern look on her face.

“I am fine, thanks. After I have my lunch, I need to talk to you.” He smiled weakly at her.

But Maria was not convince that he’s fine, so she went on his side and touched his forehead.

“You have fever Mr. Elliot” she ran out of his office and went to the pantry to get some ice packet and opened the medicine cabinet and took the bottle of Advil.

Why she run away? Am I that disgusting to touch? He tries to get up though feeling lightheaded and almost lost his balance. Then Maria returned in his office with the medicine and ice packet in her hands. Seeing him unstable, she quickly put the items down at the nearest table and approached him. She guides him inside the lounge where he can lay down on the bed and rest comfortably. She laid him in bed and left to get the ice packet and medicine. He put the ice packet on his forehead first.

“This will help subsides the fever, I’ll check on Marco if he’s back with your food so you can eat and take your medicine.” She said and left the room again.

She called Marco to buy thermometer also to save time then fishes out the ‘Axe oil’ in her purse. When Marco came back with the food and thermometer she took them and went back to Joshua.

“Where’s the soda?” He asked.

“Water is better; eat now so you can take your medicine.” She said

“Okay Doc” he said sarcastically to her

Maria just smiled at him not minding his sarcastic remark. Joshua ate all his food and took his medicine as told. After he had his food, she asks the half-shut-eyes Joshua to unbutton his shirt so she can put the thermometer under his armpit where he obediently did and after 5 minutes she removes it. And saw that his temperature was 38° C.

“Yup fever! You’re temperature is 38° C” She told him

As she saw him rubbing his head, Maria rubs some axe oil on his temple and start massaging. Occasionally, she’ll pull some few strands of hair. This trick helps alleviates the pain, she knows this as she has bad migraine.

“When you pull some strands of my hair, it lessens the pain?” He said eyes still closed.

“It does! I have bad migraine, and that trick always work” She answered him

Joshua had fallen asleep during the massage. After an hour, she went back inside to check on him when she heard his phone rings. The call awakens the man who took his phone out from his pocket and handed it to Maria who was standing at the side of the bed.

“Please, answer the call. Thanks” He said simply and closes his eyes again.

“Okay” she replied and took the phone from him.

“Joshua honey, are you in the office still? Remember you said you will drop by here tonight?” His Mother said on the other line.

“Good Afternoon Mam, this is Maria….”She hasn’t finished her sentence when she heard the caller shouts with excitement.

“Maria? Are you my son’s girlfriend? Ohhh am so happy! Where is Joshua, sweetie? By the way I am Lisa his Mother.” Lisa said to her.

Maria looks at Joshua, who suddenly opens his eyes learning that it’s her Mother who called.

“Oh, I am not his...” Joshua quickly snatches his phone from her.

“Mother, how are you? I will call you back later. Okay?” He told her Mother while modulating his voice.

“Okay Son, I am so glad we would finally meet your girlfriend. You are full of surprises!” Lisa was so happy on the other line. Then hang up the call.

“Maria, about that discussion I was saying earlier. It’s not related to work, kind of personal request actually. My Family rather my Mom particularly wants me to have a girlfriend. And I don’t do relationship right now, but Mom’s not very happy with my decision. So, I thought of asking you to pretend as my girlfriend. What do you think?” Joshua asked her a bit uncomfortable.

“What? You are going to give false hope to your Family chiefly to your Mom. Is that a good idea? Like why not date a woman you really like or contact one of your many exes” She said though coming that advice from her mouth hurts her. Because she knows that she’s attracted to him.

“I understand your point, as I said I don’t do relationship right now while exes are history! And I would understand if you don’t feel helping me out but I really hope you would” He said then buried his face in the pillow. Why she sounded jealous mentioning my exes he thought

“Can I think about it first? And you have to rest too.” She said to him.

“You are right, I need rest. Thanks” He said

“Can you drive? If not I will drive you home? We’ll leave your car here.” She said

“No, I can manage. I’ll drive myself home. Thanks! But please think about it.” He said then had another nap and after one hour he went to see Maria in her office.

“I think I am okay now, we can go home” He said

“Okay, let me just switch off my computer and I’ll be with you” She said

In the parking lot, she walks him first in his car to ensure that he really can drive, But he insist that he can so Maria didn’t push it. She then went to her car and slide in the driver’s seat but glances at the direction of where Joshua was parked. Head resting on the car seat’s headrest slightly tilt and eyes closed. Worried, she drove her car and stops in front of his and got out

“Okay, let’s go. You are not driving. I am taking you home with me” She said then guides him off his car and put him on the passenger seat of her car and left for her place.

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