“Mr. Kingston, please sit”. She placed the ice bowl in front of him and made him dip his palms inside. He felt nice and calm. She decided not to bring Lisa in the talks.
Julie started updating him about the mails. Mr Steve brought lunch to his bedroom. Julie stood up to leave, so he shall have some privacy while he eats. “Please serve for the 2 of us” said Henry.
She was thrilled and nervous at the same time. She was basically a slow diner, so she was anxious. Mr Steve served them appetiser, proudly announcing the name of the dish, “garlic shrimp crostini with creamy avocado”
Julie enjoyed the flavours of the dish but hesitant to express in front of Mr. Kingston. Henry said, “Steve is one of the finest chefs out there, no one stops with one serving if he shows his culinary artistry” motioning him to serve her. She smiled and thanked him. He then served, colourful mixed vegetable salad, followed by purple sweet potato cashew cream soup.
Henry discussed about the mails so that Julie won’t feel awkward eating with him. Mr Steve brought the main course and the aroma just filled the room. He stacked them up the way the food just fascinates you to eat more even when you feel full. If plating is an art, Mr Steve is definitely a master in it. There were roasted cauliflower steaks, stuffed eggplant roles, herb roasted chicken legs.
He served a small portion every time when Julie was about to finish.They have ended this heaviest meal with a small portion of strawberry cheesecake as dessert.
Later that evening, Mr Smith dropped a bombshell saying that tomorrow Mr Kingston has been invited to present the convention centre proposal in the State organised event. Julie could not think of the consequences if he suffered any complications during the meeting. Mr Smith was anxious as it was announced at a very short notice, also when Mr Kingston was unwell.
He came home to discuss it with Henry. “Mr Kingston, what shall we do?”
“Let’s see, can you ask the doctor to come?” asked Henry.
Julie collected all the files and quickly took notes. Mr Smith questioned her curiously, “what are you doing?” She gave a ‘isn’t it obvious?’ expression. “Apparently preparing him notes for the presentation?” Smith laughed out loud, looking at Henry.
Henry smiled and walked off.
“Mr Kingston neither need notes nor any preparation, he will just read the file once before any meeting, then he is good to go”
Anyways, you prepare a PowerPoint presentation and show him once, a copy needs to be submitted before the meeting. I will ask the doctor for a visit to discuss the precautions.
Henry did warmup and he put on his gloves to practise boxing. Julie kept glancing at the balcony through the glass where he was working out. His arm flexes, the sweat, his strength doesn’t help Julie to focus on her work. She was caught in action as Henry waved at her smilingly and motioned her to come.
She felt embarrassed for checking him out and caught red-handed. She walked slowly and looked everywhere but his eyes. “Like what you see..?” He said teasingly. She knew he is trying to lock her. She contemplated what to say ‘yes or no’, whatever maybe her answer is, she would be in trouble.
“..is a famous cliché, Have you heard of it?” he completed the sentence. She sighed out loud. “Now I am curious, what were you thinking?” He came closer. “Sir, nothing, tell me why did you call me? Do you want something?” She diverted the subject. “Ah! Can you get me some water?” He is amused at her antics.
She handed him a bottle of water. He pulled her wrist and shortened the distance between them. “Sir!”She shrieked. Her heart fluttered, along with butterflies in her stomach.”Do I make your heart race, Miss Juliet? He asked in a husky voice.
Her face flustered. “Sir, I.. I have so much work to finish, the presentation is only half done. We do not have much time left” she came up with an excuse to escape him.
“Okay, Miss Secretary, come work here in the balcony, the view is better” he paused, “i mean the city view and the fresh air is nice” he stated with a playful smile.
She brought the laptop and the files, hoping to enjoy a better and closer view. She kept stealing glances at him, he noticed, “keep your eyes on the ball Miss Secretary” Blood rose to her cheeks and she could not contain her shy smile. “why did you blush? It’s again a famous idiom that implies to concentrate on the work. But what did you think? You dirty mind” she laughed and said “It’s you who looked like that, with boxing you give a ‘bad guy’ vibe”
“Is it? But I don’t have any tattoos and piercings at odd places” he shrugged and added “oh,so is that true? girls have a thing for bad boys?”
“A big No for me” she fake shivered.
“What’s your type, then?” He asked curiously.
She stood up and walked to the glass railing, deep in thought. “A man who is confident” he did an air tick to her list, “charming…” he nodded and walked towards her, ” polite..” she noticed his proximity “and who sweeps me off my feet” he was about to lift her when she suddenly pushed him into the pool in defence.
The water was cold, he shuddered at the unexpected exposure. She quickly realised what she did and regretted it. “Sorry Mr Kingston, I reacted in an impulse” she extended her hand to help him up.
He smiled inwardly and tugged her hand and pulled her into the pool. She landed right on his chest. When the cold water hit her skin, she screamed aloud. He turned around from the shrieking noise leaving her hand.
After a moment, he turned back to find only bubbles on her spot. She had drowned and wiggling her hands inside the water. He quickly yanked her back, she was breathless and coughed heavily. He panicked and pattered her in the back.
“Are you okay? Can you breath? Do you feel any discomfort?”
She motioned him to stop worrying. She relaxed and shown him, thumbs up.
“Thank goodness” he said. Though he was not intentional in drowning her, he felt bad for being reckless. So he asked, “Shall I take you on a piggyback ride?” she smiled excitedly.
He held her elbow and pulled her to his back and locked her hands around his neck.”fasten your seatbelt”, he joked and interlocked her ankles on his waist. He swam along the water slowly.
She had always wanted to swim, this felt like she was actually swimming. She squealed in excitement. He reached the shallow side of the pool and unlocked her from his body. He let go off her hands but she hugged him in panic of drowning again.
He laughed and asked her to feel the floor with her feet. The water was just on her stomach level. “Did you like the ride” she nodded her head with a big smile. “I enjoyed a lot too” he said suppressing his smile and murmured ” for a different reason though” she was not sure what he said.
“Let me teach you how to float,come just open your arms and legs flat on the water level, I will put my hand underneath, lie on your stomach, hold your breath, put your head inside the water, just give a gentle push, you will reach the other end. I will come along with you, ready?”
   She trusted him more than she trusted herself in this. Because she knew his precision in decision making and that quality where he finds someone’ potential or strength or calibre which they themselves never knew they had, if he thinks i can then i shall blindly obey, she thought.
Also, she loved the feel of moving in the water. She glided like he had instructed her. Spending quite some time in the water, Julie started shivering. Henry came closer to her and found her lips trembling and turning purple. He slowly brushed her lips with his fingertips. His proximity and his sensual touch, just ignited the fire in her body, so she quickly turned around.
He locked his hands with her from behind. She tried to wiggle her body, but he held her firmly. “Sir, I don’t think this is…” “shhh.. I am just warming you up, just stay put” he literally back hugged her and rubbed his cheeks along her jawline.
She closed her eyes and tried to calm her burning senses. Her heart beat at the highest rate. About half a minute later, she felt something poking on her back. She looked back and found his b*ner. Her face turned red. He followed her line of vision and shrugged. “Told you not to wiggle” he gave a smug smile.
“I know better ways to warm you up” he came closer to her lips.
“Sir!” she looked sideways and said “No, I am all fine”
“Fine? but your body says otherwise” he raised his eyebrows pointing to her T-shirt. She looked down to find her buds visible over her T-shirt(facepalm!)
She pulled her T-shirt and swayed it.
“That’s.. thats because the water is so cold” she tried to cover up, feeling embarrassed that how her body betrayed her and reacted to his touch.
He smiled sarcastically and climbed up from the pool. She came up and he handed her a towel. “I will get changed in the guestroom and go down for dinner. Sir, what about you?” I need to take a cold shower. She looked at him in confusion. “Do you want to know why? Let me sh…” he touched his shorts to tease her.
She closed her eyes and ran off blushing.
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Notes:
*Its a little big chapter. Did anyone notice?*Thank you all for reading this story so far, every read brings me happiness
*Any thoughts about the storyline? Share it in the comments.
Spread Love,
SaphyLaw.
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