Sitting opposite Ethan and beside Nicole, Valerie kept toying with the plate of pasta with her cutlery. She was too nervous to eat. I mean, who wouldn't be when she's sitting with her boss, who couldn't stop stealing glances at her. Likewise, she felt like she was going to choke each time she tried to eat. Nicole noticed how she was toying with the food. “Hey, Val. What the heck is wrong with you? Why aren't you eating?”Valerie turned to him swiftly, smiling nervously. “Toying with the food? Of course not. I'm eating”.“Valerie, how dare you think of lying to me? Have you forgotten that I know you even more than you know yourself? Is there anything bothering you? You can tell me, doll” Nicole patted her hair, and Ethan glared at Nicole. If the eyes were a gun, he would have shot Nicole dead with his eyes.Valerie saw how Ethan stared at Nicole. She slapped Nicole's hand, and rolled her eyes. “What's wrong with you, Nick? Don't you have a jet lag? You should go home”.Without hesitati
Valerie and Nicole sat on the couch eating their ice creams quietly. A lot was running through Valerie's mind. She still couldn't get it off her mind that she actually met her boss at the airport.Nicole turned his gaze to her, and saw how absentminded she was. “Val, are you okay?”“Yes… yes? Huh?” Valerie stuttered as she flinched. Nicole stared at her with narrowed eyes. “Tell me, what's wrong with you, Valerie? You don't look okay”.“What… What are you talking about, Nick? Of course, I'm fine. I just have a lot on my mind” Valerie forced a smile at him, and he shook his head.“Have you forgotten that I know you even more than you know yourself? It's obvious that something is troubling you, and if you can't confide in me, I wonder who else you will” Nicole held her hand, and she smiled nervously.“I'm just worried. To think that I might lose my job with what happened today at the airport. I just sensed that the President wasn't happy”.Nicole scoffed. “You're unbelievable, Val. I th
Ethan turned his face away. He was trying as hard as he could not to show how furious he was. Why was he furious? That's a question that he couldn't even answer.Faking a smile, he replied. “I just saw how close you both were. I'm just curious, you know”.“Truth is, I really love Valerie. If I have the chance, I'd like to date her, but she's a bit difficult so….” Nicole paused.Ethan reprimanded. “Stop messing around, you punk. Please keep in mind the reason you came back. You are bad because you need to take part in the family business, and that's why you shouldn't focus on women”.“Focus on women? Valerie is not just some woman, she's not just anyone to me. By the way, since she's working for you, I'd like to ask you for a favor” Nicole smiled.Ethan narrowed his eyes, dropping his cell phone on the stool beside him. “A favor? What is it?”“Well, you have to help me take good care of Valerie since she's working for you. She's a special person to me, and I wouldn't want her to have a
Valerie glanced at the mirror, and sighed sadly. The clown attire was so far the most uncomfortable outfit she had ever worn since she was born.“Are you okay?” The lady tapped her shoulder, and she forced a smile at her, and nodded her head. “I'm fine, ma'am. Let's go”.Valerie stood on the platform, and Audrey waved at her with smiles all over her face. She just couldn't wait to win the prizes, as she trusted Valerie so much. Not long after, the dance started. Audrey kept on cheering Valerie. To please Audrey, Valerie started dancing. It was funny, but the best among the others. Audrey was so proud of her. Even in the clown attire, she was still dancing really well. A little girl at the other sighted Audrey, and walked up to her. Tapping her shoulder, she asked. “The lady over there. Is she your mother?”Audrey turned her gaze to her. She felt proud again, and nodded her head. “Yes. Do you have a problem with that?”“Uhm… No! She's gorgeous, and she dances well. You're so lucky t
“Are you a clown?” The question got Valerie scared and confused. Why would the President ask her if she was a clown? She stared at him, still in his arms.“Are you done checking me out? Or you simply don't want to stand?” The President scoffed, and she quickly stood up properly.With that, she dropped Audrey on the ground. “I'm… I'm sorry, sir”.The President glared at her. She didn't need anyone to tell her that she's in trouble. “Are you deaf? Are you a clown?”Valerie blinked her eyes rapidly. Audrey chuckled a little, and tapped her. “Huh?”“The outfit, Miss old-fashioned. You're still in the clown outfit” Audrey whispered, and Valerie gasped. She bit her lips, embarrassed.The President snorted. “Why are you putting on this attire? And where are you both coming from?” Valerie gulped hard. Her heart skipped as she thought of a way to explain to the President.“Why do I always get into trouble? Now, how do I get out of this mess?”Valerie coughed helplessly. She couldn't think of
“What?”Valerie managed to say, even though it came out as a muffle, but thankfully he heard her well. She could even feel his breath on her face. Disengaging the hold on her waist, Ethan turned his back against her. He couldn't tell what came over him to behave the way he just did.“What the hell is wrong with me? Why do I have to do that?”Clearing his throat noisily, he replied. “I… I just want you to bear in mind that I'm the one you are working for, and… you're not allowed to flirt with my cousin's brother. It doesn't matter how close you are with him, what's important is that you should know your place”.With that, Valerie bowed her head. “I'm sorry, sir, it's just that Nicole and I are excellent friends. We've been friends for a long time, and that's why we are close”.Snorting, President Ethan walked to the couch and sat heavily. Why was he feeling bad after hearing that Valerie and Nicole are actually good friends? “I don't care how close you are with him. I just want you no
“You scoundrel!”Rebecca freaked out, and Valerie held her cheeks with her head bowed.Audrey gasped in shock, and staggered up despite her sprained ankle. “Why did you do that?”“Ethan, where the hell did you get this lady from? Just take a look at me, and my attire. She has the guts to spill the juice on me” Rebecca barked angrily.Valerie clenched her fist in annoyance. She was just a worker in the villa, and doesn't have any right to retaliate. “I'm sorry, Miss”.“Why are you apologizing to her, Miss old-fashioned? She doesn't deserve your apology, not after slapping you in the face. Daddy, why is Rebecca here? I thought you already left the house. I can take anything from her, but she should never hurt Miss old-fashioned” Audrey broke into tears.Rebecca scoffed, and turned to Ethan, who stared blankly at them with an expressionless face. “You little… Ethan, why aren't you saying anything? Are you just going to sit there and let this thing insult me?”With that, Audrey burst into
At the Watson's Residence, in the sitting room. Valerie was sitting opposite her stepmother and her father, who couldn't stop smiling.“Dad, what was so urgent that you couldn't wait for me to come over?” Valerie narrowed her eyes as her father stood up, and walked to her. He patted her shoulder passionately.That confused her even more because she was unable to guess why he would call her over urgently. “I know you are always busy with work, and if I didn't sound so urgent, you wouldn't show up quickly”.Valerie smiled a little. “What is it, then?”Claudia couldn't help but glare at Valerie in annoyance. She wished she could slap her hard on the face, and drag her out of their residence.“A minute please” Her Father smiled, and headed upstairs.Valerie was left with her raged stepmother. Even though she could see bitterness in her face, she knew Claudia wouldn't dare to hurt her again.There was silence between them until Edmond's footsteps were heard from the stairs. Valerie turned