Recap
   Julie stepped on the office space as the nostalgia hit her hard. The air around her charged her up, she felt home. It was always the feel for her, like being with her friends, stepping into her favourite place that gives her the homey feel. The same office floor, the smell that took her back in memory. She stood silently lost in thoughts.
  “Make way for others Miss..Secretary”
an amused husky male voice said in her ears that made her jump in shock and lose her footing.
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   Julie lost her footing when she quickly turned around in shock, bumping into Henry’s her chest. His quick reflexes saved her from falling flat on her face. His hand was gentle on her waist, holding her little longer until she studied herself.
  Just then a boy was holding a big bouquet and waiting to deliver it to Henry.
Henry turned towards the boy and gestured is it for me? He nodded, Henry received it and checked for the sender’s card. It had nothing but a blue butterfly. Julie was intently observing his reaction. His radiant smile turned his face even more handsome, he looked straight at the sharp blue hypnotising eyes of the person who had sent him the flowers and said “Thank you”.
   Julie’s breath hiked when his ravishing smile was directed towards her, it had happiness, naughtiness, a blush, making it more beautiful, attractive and adorable. Henry held the bouquet, looked around and said, “Come on, let’s get going” he walked towards his personal elevator. Julie hesitated for a second, but he was holding the door for her, so she quickly hopped in keeping all her inhibitions aside. Once the door had closed, Henry asked, “What are these flowers for?”
“Of course to impress you” Julie winked at him. He contained his smile and said,
“But do you think flowers can impress me?” He shrugged.
Julie came and stood in front of him,
“Really? You know these eyes of yours says a lot” she wiggled her two fingers in front of his eyes. She was lost in the depth of his caramel eyes that she had always admired.Â
   The elevator bell broke her trance, Henry chuckled at her realisation face. They both walked along the corridor, on the side wall, the gigantic golden inscription said,
“The Kingston Corporation”
Julie’s mind raced with too many emotions: Pride, happiness, comfort, gratefulness, thrill and so on. Henry could see the overwhelming emotions coursing through her.
“Welcome back to the Kingston Corporation Julie”
he smiled and extended his hand. Julie did not take his hand, but hugged him instead.
“Sir, finally my mind found its solace, this place means so much to me and I belong here.”
Henry rubbed her back, Julie sighed and took a step back.
“The flowers are to express my gratitude” she pointed to the bouquet.
“Sir, where do I start from?”
“Check the mail, make notes and get back to me, I will get you the access details now” with that Henry retreated.
“Sir, before I start my work, shall I go quickly visit Mr Smith?” She asked hesitantly.
He gestured okay.
   Julie rushed down to Finance floor where Mr Smith has just arrived. Once he saw Julie in his office, he engulfed her with a bear hug.
“Very proud of you Julie, I could not make it to the event, but I did not miss it, I saw it on the live broadcast”
“I owe it to you sir, if you did not refer me to Mr Ross, I wouldn’t have gone there. Like you said working for him would get me contacts, thats how I had been shown the path of a financial analyst by Mr.Dorris”
“Julie, you had the talent in you and.. Ben told me that you have taken up the Secretary job for Mr Kingston, is that true?” He raised his eyebrows questioningly.
“Yes, Sir, I have decided to fight back”
He looked at her in surprise.
“I am happy that you are finally focusing on your personal life”
“Thank you sir. It’s good to be back. See you later as I am going to stick around for so long this time” she smiled and left.
   Julie was back to work, after few minutes, Henry came out and he was on the phone talking in some foreign language. Julie was wondering how can he be so fluent in a foreign language. His voice was like music as she did not understand the words, she just listened to it like a song. That’s when Henry caught her staring at him. He came back once he ended the call. Julie could not stop asking,
“What language was that?”
“Russian”
“It sounds good when you speak it”
Henry smiled, “Focus..on the work” he gestured two fingers towards his eyes and turned it pointing towards her laptop.
Julie did a military salute and said
“Yes Sir!”
Henry laughed and got back to his office.
   Julie had lunch with her friends in the office cafeteria. It felt so good and refreshing, they had so much to catch up and gossip. They were discussing about how Clara could be a threat for Julie if she did not try and win his heart over quickly. As Clara was hanging out with Henry for a year now, there is a possibility that they have grown close naturally and she might have developed interest in him, giving his enticing persona. Julie was well aware that it is very easy to fall for his charm. She had decided to make him accept his feelings for her, but she questioned herself, does he really have feelings for her? How should she test it, she kept thinking on her way back.
   After sometime when she was in Henry’ office her phone kept vibrating. He asked her to pick it up. It was a call from a realtor because she was into hunting a place to stay.
“Okay, I will meet you by six, ping me the location, thank you”
“Who is that?” Henry asked.
“It was the realtor, I have asked to show me apartments to move in as I am staying with Chelsea now”
“Shall I come with you?” Henry asked curiously. Julie was not prepared for it and also what’s so fun in looking all the empty buildings, how would it excite him, thought Julie.
“I like investing in housing properties, so it will be fun checking them out” Henry answered her thoughts.
“I am looking for a rented place, not buying it sir”
“I have a meeting by five, once I’m done with, we shall leave together” Henry declared.
“Do I have a choice to say otherwise?” Julie asked, Henry shrugged in response.
She was hesitant to take him along as she would look out for budget friendly places, but with him around, it would be embarrassing if she had to bargain or leave the best ones because of its fancy price. She thought to sneak out without him when he was in the middle of the meeting.
   Julie came with the files for the meeting and said, “Sir here are the files, I will wait in my cabin” Julie turned around to leave, when Clara Wilson walked in with the aura of a powerful business woman. Her business suit and her jewellery screamed luxury. Until now Julie did not know that his meeting was with Clara.
   Now she had decided not to leave, she rummaged her brain for some excuse to stay back. Now that she had come up with a quick idea, she walked towards Clara, making it look like she was focused on her that she did not notice the side table, she had hit her toes, not so accidentally right when they were about to hug. Julie whimpered in pain, Henry rushed to her and examined her foot. She did not realise that she had hit harder than planned that her toe nail had broken and started to bleed.
   Henry made Julie to sit in the couch and quickly got the first-aid box from his table. The concern in his eyes made Julie forget all the pain. Although pain can be beautiful if you have someone to care for you, she thought. Julie protested when he insisted on taking her block heels off himself, however, she could not convince him or match his strength, so she let him tend to her wounds. She was touched by his affection and wanted to caress the soft locks of his hair that was so close to her, but she restrained herself as they were not alone.
   Clara was quietly observing the entire scene and looked at Julie intently. She had seen Julie somewhere before, but she could not put a finger on it.
   Once he dressed her wounds, he asked, “I shall ask Mason to drop you”
Julie quickly denied, “You promised to come with me” she whined.
Henry was confused at your antics, she was not so happy with me, tagging along her few minutes back when the realtor called, now she complains as if I have taken her favourite toy back.
“If you insist, we shall go together then”
“Sir, until then shall I work on my freelance project reports? Would you mind me doing it here?” She asked hesitantly.
“Not at all, go on” she gave him the warmest smile that felt like a hug.
   Henry got back to his table with a smile and carried on his discussion with Clara. In next few minutes, Julie was desperate to disturb their discussion. She called Henry quite a few times to help with some doubts and opinion on her analysis.
Clara said, “Now with the amount of Henry’s inputs, that analysis report costs not less than a million. Lucky are those start up firms to have The Henry Kingston personally draft their financial reports.”
   Clara was irked after being interrupted multiple times, but she wondered how Henry was least bothered about it, moreover, he runs to her every time without a complaint and comes back with a smile. They both were not using any flirty tone, but the way they both converse looks very domestic, all these days of knowing Henry, he was not at ease and comfortable with anyone like this that she had known.
   As the time struck 5:45, Julie reminded Henry, “Sir, the appointment is by 6” Julie just wanted to know if he would prioritise going with her.
“Okay then Clara, we shall work the rest of the calculations tomorrow” Henry stood up immediately. Julie’ heart fluttered in happiness.
   Clara was clearly disappointed and said, “Henry, I would like to have a word with your Secretary, alone”
Julie looked at her intently.
“Outside?” Clara paused, “Can you able to walk?” She added sarcastically.
Julie felt something was not right about her tone.
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* The next update would be in 3-4 days. Happy reading!!
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