My ?
?FUTURE ?
? WITH MR CEO ?
( A sweet pretence )
Genre: Fantasy and Romance
Written by Gbemi 
Chapter nine
“Are you still in bed Claire? You should get up or you will be late for work”Alicia said as she walked into Claire room.
“I don’t want to go to work”Claire replied as she turned her back to Alicia.
“Why? Is there some one you don’t want to see?”Alicia asked as she stood by the bed dressed in one of Claire pyjamas.
“I called him a jerk”Claire replied softly
“Who?”
“Andrew”
“You called your boss a jerk?”Alicia asked surprised
“He was saying hurtful things and was acting like he knew me, I got so mad at him and called him that,I doubt he would still want me as his employee”Claire replied
“Well I doubt that”Alicia returned as she sat on Claire bed
“Why do you say that?”Claire asked
“Who do you think told me where you were last night? You think am some sort of psychic who knows where you are all the time”Alicia said jokingly
“He told you to come find me”Claire asked
“Seems like he had followed you from the restaurant and when you stood at the convenience store to cry your eyes out, he called me telling me to come pick you up” Alicia said and this got Claire sitting up.
She hadn’t wanted to cry in front of him and knowing that he had been watching her while she cried at the convenience store, made her feel like a fool.
She had lashed out at him knowing he was saying the truth, she had even insulted him and the last thing she had expected was for him to follow her or for him to call Alicia.
“If he had been angry, he wouldnt have done that, so I suggest you get up, go to work and apologise and it’s also time for you to get Ben out of your heart, if he got back with Cindy it shows that he will never look your way”Alicia said
“I better go and take a shower and you should always bring your pyjamas each time you are sleeping over, you are stretching mine”Cēlaire said changing the subject
“What? Are you saying that am getting fat?”Alicia asked
“Think whatever you want”Claire said as she ran into the bathroom knowing Alicia would follow suit.
“Get back here Claire”She yelled after her.
***************************
“Why are you here? You should be downstairs for the party already”Mark said as he walked into Andrew office.
“Is there a way I can cancel it”Andrew asked
“What do you mean by cancel? This is a welcome party thrown by the employee and also by the former owner of the company, Luke have been preparing it for a while now, it can’t be cancelled just like that”Mark replied
“Fine then! “Andrew replied nonchalantly
“The party is not what’s bothering you right? What’s wrong? Did some thing happen to your date with Miss Claire?”Mark asked
“Stay away from me or better yet, pretend not knowing me and I will also do that”
Hearing Claire name made him remember what she said to him last night.
“What happen?”Mark asked as he sat in the empty seat
“I can’t believe she called me a jerk just because of that darn chef!”Andrew said suddenly
“A jerk?”
“Just because I told her some few things, she got mad and told me to stay away from her, If some one had to stay away then it should be him!” Andrew added
“Did you perhaps tell her those few things in a harsh way?”Mark asked and Andrew gave him a contemplating look before nodding gently
“That’s where you got the whole thing wrong! Miss Claire is some one who is deeply hurt by the man she love, you telling her those few things will certainly make her angry, you really don’t know how to console a woman right?”Mark asked
“Well I was a bit harsh but it was for her own good, she should wake up and know that that Chef would never look her way”He said
“So she can look your way”Mark added softly
“What do you mean by that?”
“You want her to look at you, you really have fallen for Claire”Mark said grinning
“I don’t believe in love and I certainly haven’t fallen, she would be the one fallen when I show her my charms”Andrew replied
“I think it will be the latter”Mark muttered
“Well will you be staying away or …..”
“Of course not, like I said she will be the one I take back to Australia as my wife and that wouldn’t change. She should be ready! Am some one who doesn’t give up easily”He said looking very determined.
“So will you be going to the party?”Mark asked again
“Sure! Is Claire there yet?”He asked
“She sure is and let me tell you that she looks exceptional, you will fall harder when you get to see her”Mark said as they both walked out of his office.
“I already told you that am not falling or anything”Andrew said as he gave Mark a punch in the back
“Fine then,I will believe you this……” They both kept walking until their voice drifted down the hall way.
Claire stood amongst the workers while they all watch Andrew Black giving his thanks speech to everyone.
Ever since he walked into the hall where the party was taking place she had been hoping he would talk to her so she can apologise but he hasn’t even acknowledge her presence.
He had ignored her while he spoke to her other colleague, could it be that he was angry, she had agreed to apologise to him and Claire had even made her pretty for the occasion.
But with him avoiding her, she won’t be able to do so, she thought as she stared into the champagne in her hand.
Well maybe it’s for the best, she had wanted him to ignore her and now that he is doing it, she should be happy about it.
Everyone shouting out cheers jolted her out of her thoughts.
She gulped down the drink in her glass and sat down watching everyone enjoy the party.
She noticed two people walking in and they turned out to be Ben and Cindy.
What are they doing here? She thought as she stared at the way Cindy was holding onto Ben arms possesively.
She could feel her heart breaking all over again,she thought as she looked away, pretending not to see them.
“Would you like to dance Claire?”Peter whispered into her ear
“What?”Claire asked
“Dancing will be the only way to avoid them, they are heading to our table, come on!”Peter said drawing her up and leading her to the dance floor.
“Why did you do that Peter?”Claire asked
“Isn’t it obvious”he replied
“You know about my crush on Ben?”She asked
“Who doesn’t? You have put it on display,though you tried to hide it, every one knows”Peter said
“I must have looked like a fool to everyone “Claire said feeling like the world greatest fool.
“Well to others but to me, Brenda and Grace you are some one who just fell for the wrong guy”Peter said
“Why do you think Ben is the wrong guy?”
“Because of the bimbo with him! How can he not notice you, how could he have ignored your beauty and confidence for that plastic doll with him”Peter said and some how that got her smiling
“If I wasn’t gay, I will surely have been pursuing you”Peter added
“But luckily you are gay and though you are annoying some times, you are a very good friend, thanks for not making it obvious how foolish I am”Claire said softly
“Don’t! Don’t ruin your beauty with that frown, At least don’t make it obvious that you are upset,Smile and outshine that plastic doll with him “Peter said again and that got her laughing out
“Mind if I dance with her now?” A voice said behind them and they both turned to see Andrew starring at them
“I don’t mind at all! She is yours”Peter said to Andrew
“He is a nice catch”he whispered for her ears only and then he walked off.
Andrew drew her into his arms and began to dance.
He was looking at her with a lot of concentration while she kept her eyes on his tie.
“You were laughing hard with him and now that you are in my arms, you are frowning ?”He said suddenly and that got her looking at him.
“Its not that! Its just that I feel bad”She said softly
“Bad about what?”He asked
“With what happened yesterday, I shouldn’t have said those things to you, Am sorry”Claire said
“Are you sorry for calling me a jerk or for telling me to stay away from you?”he asked
“Of course it’s for calling you a jerk”Claire replied quickly
“And what about telling me to stay away?”He persisted
“Well since have apologised for what happened with the date, I don’t think it’s right for us both to see each other. Let’s just maintain the boss and employee relationship”Claire answered only to be pulled more closely to him.
“Well I don’t think I will be staying away, I told you right! Am someone who holds a grudge, I won’t let you get away with it”He said into her ear.
He released her but still maintained a close distance as they dance.
Claire eyes drifted towards Ben and Cindy who were both starring at them.
Andrew noticed it and sighed softly “I called them here”He said and she starred at him
“Why?”She asked
“To make him see what he is missing and also to let him know that he is going to lose it too”He said softly
“What is Ben missing”Claire asked not getting his point
“You don’t need to know, all you have to do is to smile at me, smile and pretend to be very very happy in my arms” he said and pulled her close when she was about to protest.
She stayed in his arms until the song ended, as soon as it did, she went to the ladies room.
She was checking up her makeup when Cindy walked in.
“You’ve really gotten a good catch Claire”She said as she stood beside her, retouching her lips
“What do you mean?”Claire asked
“I mean that you really got yourself a good deal with Andrew Black, you know he is filthy rich”Cindy said softly
“Andrew is just my boss” Claire replied
“Andrew! My God you are even calling him by his first name, you really do work fast”She said giving Claire a look which showed how much she hated her
“What are you insinuating Cindy”
“You slut! You go around trying to seduce men with that innocent look in your eyes, You tried it with Ben and when he didn’t pay you any attention you decide to try it on your boss” Cindy yelled at her
“You are sick”Claire said as she walked past her wanting to leave the rest room only for her to be pulled back by Cindy
“You are the sick one here! You have no idea how much I hate you, you act like an innocent when you really are nothing but a slut ”
“Shut up Cindy!”
“No Claire! Have been quiet for a long time and that ends now. You have been around Ben for a long time don’t you think it’s time you get lost, I hate being compared to you by him, I hate it when he talks to you, I hate it when he laughs with you, I hate it when you are around him, why don’t you just leave us all alone, get lost while am asking nicely ”
“I thought you hated me because you knew of my feelings to Ben but am wrong! Youve hated me from the start”Claire said
“That’s right! I have hated you from the start and it’s because I knew of your feeling towards Ben that I decided to have him first”Cindy said feeling triumphant
“So Claire get it into your head that no matter how long you wait or no matter what you do Ben will never look your way”Cindy said
“I understand”Claire replied as she walked towards the door, she opened it only to find Ben there and judging by the look on his face,he certainly heard it all.
To Be continued 
What will happen now that Ben knows the truth ?
