Miss Secretary Takes Charge Chapter 38

Recap

   Henry’s birthday video was playing, “Love you Hennie” his mom said with a proud smile. Baby Henry turned back to his mother, his dad side hugged his emotional mother and said
“Proud of you my boy” their eyes held so much love for Henry. With the giggles of Henry the video ended.

     Henry closed his eyes and replayed his parents words, he felt their presence around him. The lights were turned on, the overwhelming emotions were choking Henry. He took the Mic and said, “thank you so much” 

     Before he could break down in tears he left the place and gone into a nearby private room.
        
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     Senior Kingston took the Mic and said, “let us celebrate this evening with good food, drinks and music”. There was a loud cheer from the crowd. Clara walked towards the private room to check on Henry.
Mr Ben who was at the door, hesitated to let her in as Henry prefers to be private, especially when he is low.
Sr Kingston stopped her and said,
“He will join us soon”.
She looked at the door one more time and left reluctantly.

     Julie knew that he would be emotional, seeing his parents video, so she rushed to meet him. She saw Mr Ben near a door, “Julie!” said Ben.
“Mr. Ben, is Mr Kingston inside?”
“July???” They both heard Henry’s voice from the room.
Ben gestured her towards the door, signalling her to go in.
The moment she entered, Henry ran to her and hugged her tightly.
“Thank you” “thank you so much July”
Julie could feel that Henry was pouring in all his emotions through the hug.
She too needed this hug badly from the love of her life. She knew that this will be the last time she would ever hug him or even meet him.

     In the heat of the moment, she had decided to give up her job, but will she be able to give up her feelings for him? His scent, his warmth gave her the comfort and security that her mind was longing for. Her biggest concern was the uncertainty of her future, she was distressed that will she be able to find a job before her bank balance dries up?
She wanted to cry out loud and find solace in his arms, but she was tongue-tied.

     She controlled her tears and released the hug. Looked at his eyes, held out her palms, he placed his hands in hers, she took him to the couch and both of them sat. She wiped his moist cheeks,
“Like I have said, they will always be proud of you sir, today when the United Nations have identified you and honoured you with this post, they would have said the exact same thing from the video, it’s unfortunate that they are not with us today but no one can deprive you from their love”.
Henry kissed her forehead and said,
“You are healing my inner child, which I did not realise was hurt these many years”

     Julie noticed the diamond bracelet in his hand, her focus lingered on it for few seconds and took a step back, realising her place. Henry belong to the elite society, she is nothing but an employee in his office.

     She is a no one, she shouldn’t stay by his side, which will only bring him disgrace like his grandfather said. She remembered the harsh truth stated by Sr Kingston, his words may be hurtful, but the reality has to be accepted. Truth is always bitter Julie thought.

     “Sir, it is your felicitation party, you can’t go missing, come, let’s go outside” he nodded. “Thank you for giving me this memorable and priceless gift no one can ever give me”
She smiled and both of them entered the hall at once. Clara did notice the calm and relaxed Henry, coming out of the room with a lady. She quickly went to him and asked how he was doing. He assured her with a smile. Julie left him when Clara approached, she went to the bartender, sat in the barstool and asked for a shot.

     She had focussed on Henry who was sitting with the guests. They have been served with drinks. She asked the bartender for a glass of soda. When he emptied the soda Can, she took it. She asked for a notepad and wrote, “No alcohol please, let’s celebrate with SODA” she had drawn the same butterfly like she did on the gift instead of her name. She asked the bartender to send the soda with the note to Henry. When Henry received the note, he looked at it intently, a smile spread on his face once he decoded the message, especially seeing the butterfly. He searched for the sender, he spotted her on the bar stool. He slightly raised his soda glass, she raised her soda Can in response and said cheers with a smile, he too smiled and sipped the soda. She could feel the butterflies in her stomach. She looked at him for a long time.

     Julie’s happiness bubble burst at once when she thought about her resignation. She could not take the fact that she is no more an employee of Kingstons and not ready to leave them all. Her mind was tangled with so many confusions, emotions, and pain, it was haunting her, thus she wanted to forget all this temporarily and get a momentary break. So she had countless glasses of alcohol, until she felt dizzy.

     She looked at her friends happily dancing on the dance floor. Henry was talking with Wilson’s and other guests. Clara was sitting next to him, someday he would choose someone like Clara, as his girlfriend or wife, that thought hurt Julie so much that she asked for a refill.
She was sitting all alone and far away from them, unable to reach out to them, struggling with her own pain, her eyes glistened.
The bartender was concerned, “Miss, what’s wrong? I do not think you can take any more”
“I have nothing more to lose” she gave an empty smile. Mr Smith observed Julie, who stood up unsteadily, came to her, held her, and said, “Julie are you okay? You should go home, wait, I will arrange”
He called Mason, Henry’s chauffeur to inform Henry and drop her. Mason approached Henry while he was discussing with Mr Wilson, “Sir, shall I use the car to drop Ms…” Henry gestured okay before he could finish, Mason took the cue and did not interrupt his conversation.

     Mr Smith held Julie by shoulder and walked her to the car. It was surprising for him to see Julie drunk as she had never been reckless. He wanted her to reach home safely, so he had sent her through Mason, he thought to talk to her about this tomorrow.

     Though Julie’s mind was little foggy, she was aware that Mason was driving her home. Just then Julie’s phone rang, she took it out of her clutch, she did not notice that the clutch fell down when she kept it on the edge of the seat while she was focusing on the phone. Chelsea was calling, “I am going home Chels, talk to you tomorrow, bye” she ended the call.

     It was quite silent in the car, she asked Mason, “how long have you been working for Mr. Kingston?” Mason looked at her through the mirror and confirmed that she was actually talking to him and waiting for his reply.
“More than a decade” he smiled.
“Do you like working for him?” Mason laughed at her question.
“Of course I do why, don’t you like your job?” He questioned her.
“I love my job, it’s an honour to be a Kingston employee” saying that her face turned sad.
Mason did not pry on it, in next two minutes, they reached her apartment.
She thanked him, took her phone and got out. She did not remember her clutch, she left it in the car and walked off.

     Mason waited until her apartment light was turned on. He knew why Mr Smith had assigned him to drop her, thus he made sure that she had safely reached her home.

     Julie in her safest place where no one will be watching her or where she need not have to pretend anymore, screamed her heart out,
“I don’t want to do this”
“Yes, I love him”
“I don’t want to leave”
“Its hurting me so much” tears rolled down her cheeks uncontrollably.
She thought she could meet him one last time and save the beautiful memory in her archives but that has brought her immense pain and longing instead. She could feel that her heart had broken into pieces beyond repair.

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*The next update is expected to be posted by 29th June.