Chapter 8 "You Exceed My Expectations, Selena"

• Selena's POV.
• "You're the new secretary."
• That distant northern voice was enough to tell me who the owner of these expensive leather shoes I was staring at was.
• Taking a deep breath, I lifted my chin and looked up at the man behind my life's mess and the mysterious man who forced me to walk on this strange path.
• Maxwell Lawson.
• And with his sharp gaze intact with mine, a faint grin slipped on his lips as he called my name in a warm tone.
• "Welcome to the Zuiqe, Selena Moore."
• He's purposely doing it.
• Acting like this was the first time he got to know my existence and talked like he had nothing to do with me being here.
• Well then,
• "Thank you for the warm welcome, Sir Lawson."
• Let me join your act.
• One corner of his brows perked up at my hands that were asking for a handshake. Tracing his gaze back at me, his smile fell off.
• "Follow me," he flatly ordered before turning his back.
• I could feel the direct gazes around me as I retrieved my hand, which he blatantly ignored.
• What a rude jerk.
• Gluing the sides of my lips to my cheeks to maintain my smile, I followed him and his assistant from behind.
• As I stared at his back, I couldn't help but laugh inwardly at myself and my current situation.
• They said you will get better results if you work harder and apply more energy, time, and consistency to something. I believed that. But not now.
• For years of dedicating my days and time to working well at Mercian, for a month of giving all my efforts of assisting the chairman and Dwaine so that we can secure a deal with Mercian's greatest competitor, all of it, all my effort that I invested, only resulted of me becoming as Maxwell's secretary.
• Even now, as I walk in this unfamiliar hallway while I stare at his back figure, I still can't quite believe I'm now his secretary.
• "How is the preparation for the board meeting?" asked Maxwell while he tossed his iPad to his assistant.
• "The agenda was finalized and sent out to all the board members. Do you want to see the venue and catering details?"
• "Sent it to me later."
• "I understand, Sir."
• Completely ignoring me as if I were an air, the two continued their discussion even until we got inside the executive office. Ten minutes after their long discussion, my existence was finally noticed.
• "Are you going to stand there forever?"
• I looked at the owner of that cold voice. On his handsome face, a slight frown showed on his brows as he gawked at me. It was as if he was scrutinizing my entire being.
• Curving my lips, I smiled at him.
• "Please pardon my rudeness. May I ask you to repeat your words?"
• ….…….
• Third Person POV.
• "Are you going to stand there forever?"
• Maxwell's eyes were icy as he stared at Selena.
• Watching on the sides, Trey looked at her.
• Previously, several secretaries had always cowered themselves in fear and stuttered after being lectured by Maxwell. Nonetheless, Trey couldn't sense any trace of nervousness when he heard her reply, "Please pardon my rudeness. May I ask you to repeat your words?"
• Trey's brows raised at her. 'Deliberately ordering him. She's brave.'
• Working as an executive secretary for five years taught her how to stay calm in any situation. That's why, despite the cold sweats she has had since Maxwell's arrival, Selena was able to maintain her emotions well.
• Trey turned to his boss.
• Maxwell's eyes bore an apathetic look. He did not say anything and continued to gaze at Selena with his dark eyes.
• Seeing how he became quiet momentarily made Trey think, 'This is getting interesting.' He darted his gaze at Selena. 'Taking her as a secretary is really a great idea.'
• Selena caught how Maxwell's lips slightly tucked up in a small smile. It was the same smile that made her scalp feel numb. The same experience she had on their first meeting at the hotel.
• "Trey, leave," Maxwell ordered.
• And when Selena heard the door closed behind her, she was aware that she was now alone with the devil.
• "Why didn't you answer my call?" although it sounded like a question, his tone showed it was a warning.
• "Voice phishing and online scams are in trend. I won't dare to answer a call from an unknown number," Selena said. Making Maxwell's gaze hardened.
• Though she looks calm on the surface, on the inside, Selena can't help but feel how her blood runs cold. No matter how much she hated the man in front of her, it was still not enough to tell herself that what she did that night was not shameful.
• After all, she can still vividly feel the murderous gaze he had on her. Thus, all she can do is to play the 'Amnesia' game.
• 'You don't need to feel guilty about it. It was nothing compared to all the mess this man gave to you. Remember, you didn't come here to cower yourself before him.' She repeatedly reminded herself.
• The air was tense and dark.
• No one talked until the screeching noise from the chair filled the silence.
• With his one hand shoved in his pants pocket, Maxwell's towering shadow covered Selena. He watched how her amber eyes met and gawked him. Down to her red pressed lips and her hands that were balled into a fist and seemed ready to spring on him.
• He lowly chuckled.
• "How impressive. You even had the same expression with Dwaine when he decided to sell you to me."
• His words punched Selena straight to her weak spot. Forget the nervousness; anger swelled upon her.
• "I guess working for him for five years had made you catch his rotten personality." His long fingers reached her chin. Frowning, Selena moved her face away. However, Maxwell pressed his fingers harder and forcefully lifted her head as he leveled his chilly gaze on her.
• His tone dropped. "But don't worry. Unlike him, who punched me in my face, you're much braver. Not only did you publicly embarrass me, but you also dared to strip me naked." He grinned as he leaned closer beside her ear. His warm breath brushed against it. "Since you exceed my expectations, what about I reward you tonight?"
• "If he's rotten, then what do you call yourself? A garbage? No, maybe much worse than rotten garbage," Selena muttered, completely ignoring his last sentence.
• Selena felt how he turned his head to look at her. Although she's not looking at him, she can still sense the dangerous gaze he's emitting.
• Soon, his fingers on her chin drooped. Widening the gap between them, Maxwell stared down at her. The sharpness of his gaze remained. But in his lips resides a mocking grin as he spoke, "You can call me in whatever you want. It's not like it would change the situation you're in."
• "Also, I'll ask Trey to make a room reservation with Elcid restaurant this six in the afternoon." Maxwell lightly tapped Selena's shoulder and smiled gently, "I want to reward my new secretary with a welcome dinner party."
• When Maxwell leaves the office, Selena can feel how her fists and knees tremble. Shrouded with a mix of fear and anger, Selena could feel how her stomach churned.
• If she could only scream now, the words that would first come out to her mouth was this, 'Maxwell is a f**k**g devil! I swear I'll kill him someday!!!'
• Turning around, she glimpsed at his office door and then raised her hands and engaged a punch in the air.
• She swore in heaven, "Just wait, and I'll make you hate me. Enough for you to breach the contract and fire me yourself."
• Selena's plan will stay the same.
• Let the collaboration between the two companies happen and wait until it is released in the media. Once the foundation of the project was built, making the two companies unable to back out of the project, she would leave this place by making Maxwell chase her out.
• …….
• Meanwhile, after Maxwell came out from his office, Trey, who heard their conversation, followed Maxwell and asked, "Aren't you a little bit hard on her?"
• “…”
• "I mean, I know she's your secretary right now. But she is still-"
• "This is her workplace. I don't have time to treat a stupid woman with special treatment, nor do I need someone who's not attentive," Maxwell flatly stated.
• Tugging his glasses up to his nose, Trey dropped, "Or is it because you still hold a grudge on the day Miss Selena grabbed your hair and pants."
• Maxwell's feet stopped walking. But it didn't last two seconds, and he bent his long legs again.
• "..."
• 'He did hold a grudge. What a petty man.' Trey shook his head.
• ….……….
• The sky was now covered with a pale tint of orange, illuminating the bustling city as the streetlights lit up the roads. But unlike the aesthetic sun set, dark air hovered around a certain car.
• "Since you exceed my expectations, what about I reward you tonight?... I want to reward my new secretary with a welcome dinner party." This is what Maxwell said earlier. At first, Selena didn't take it seriously, thinking it was only his way to provoke her. However, when Trey stops her from going home, Selena realizes that Maxwell is serious about the welcome dinner party.
• 'Even though I don't want to, I have no choice but to go in order to know his reason for taking me.' Selena clutched the hem of her skirt. 'Still, the idea of him and me alone in a private room is scary.'
• A mix of anxiousness and fear gradually rose within her.
• 'I always wonder why, despite our products' success, Zuiqe still always defeats Mercian. Hovering the top place in sales and trends.'
• 'Now, I can't help but keep having this ridiculous idea. What if, just what if, he is actually managing an illegal prostitution and was now on his way to sell me? I mean, based on his personality, that's possible.'
• Now, it occurs to her that she remembered how Maxwell's staff measured her body.
• Her hands held her bag on her lap.
• 'It's a good thing I bought my electric shock flashlight in my bag just in case.'
• By the time she arrived at the destination, the restaurant waitress led Selena to the private room Maxwell had reserved.
• Elcid's restaurant was famous for its vintage vibe. However, despite its gorgeous interior, Selena doesn't have time to appreciate the classic interior of it. And that's because all her focus was directed at Maxwell.
• 'I must learn what his reason is today.'
• "Here's your room, Ma'am," the waitress said that snapped Selena.
• However, before she can even enter the room, the moment she lifted her gaze, she saw a man who seemingly stopped his pace in the middle of the hallway. Eyes slightly widening, she stared at the man in front of her.
• As the golden light from the chandelier cast a shadow on his ash blonde hair, his blue eyes intently gazed at her. However, it didn't last a second, and his gaze passed through her. Slowly, a knot formed on his calm and delicate face as he glared horrifiedly.
• "What are the two of you doing here?"
• When those cold words left Dwaine's lips, an arm wrapped over Selena's shoulder.
• The next thing she heard was his deep voice.
• "If this isn't a nice coincidence, Mr. Scoth." With his arms around her, Maxwell looked down at Selena and playfully smiled, "I've been waiting for you."
• On the other hand, Dwaine's ghastly gaze slowly pierced Selena and Maxwell.
• His tone was dangerously cold.
• "What's the meaning of this?"