BILLIONAIRE SCIENTIST & HIS NEW SECRETARY

CHAPTER TWO

PART 3

Hello! Whew, it's been quite some time since I've updated. If you want me to reply to your questions in your reviews, do sign into or leave an e-mail address, etc.

Anyways, on the idea of a "sham" engagement, I was not inspired by any particular material, it just popped in my head when I was typing. Most of my ideas just come in that way. But it is in no way original because I think it is the most cliché plot bunny used since the beginning of time. Hee hee. "Sham" engagements and marriages can probably be found in quite a number of novels, especially romance. So, nope, was not inspired by the chocolate pot book, actually, I haven't heard read it yet. :)

Thanks very much for the reviews and words of encouragement. Was pleasantly surprised to see them when I finally returned back to the world of the living when my exams ended.

A bit short, but will update again pretty soon since exams are over.

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'Welcome tonight's game show!

Your boss and HR department has a bad impression of you.

It is now the crucial period where your boss needs a conducive environment to work. The grand date when he has to come up with some amazing product is two month's time.

He tells you that he is not to be disturbed under any circumstances. Lo and behold! His apparently old friend calls up! You think that there's a possibility that he may feel strongly for her.

So, here's the million dollar question. Do you let her call through?

Tick tock.

Tick tock.'

"Hello?" the voice gently queried, shaking Daine out of her thoughts.

"Yes," Daine responded automatically. "I am afraid Mr Salmalin is occupied at the moment, would you like to leave a message?" She wrote down the message on her palm top. "Hmm… yes, sure! I will tell him and get him to get back to you."

"Get back to me on what?" a deep voice suddenly asked. Daine jumped and looked up into the eyes of her boss lounging against her desk. Although Evin had earlier leaned against her desk, he just didn't dominate the area around him like Numair did. A small voice in Daine's head said, 'Evin doesn't dominate your thoughts like Numair does'.

Daine quickly looked down to hide a blush. "Varice Kingsford called to tell you that her e-mail should arrive soon and that she is going overseas for two months."

She was too preoccupied reading from the message that she did not realize that Numair had suddenly went still. Thus, it was to her great surprise when he slammed his hand on the desk and scowled, "Why didn't you put her through?"

Daine blinked, cowed and stunned into silence by the sudden air of sizzling anger around Numair. Their eyes held for a long moment, Daine found it impossible to shift her gaze away, she stuttered, "I, I…"

He growled. "I don't have time for this!" He whipped out his handphone and barked, "Call Varice." Apparently his handphone was voice activated and he put the handphone next to his ear after the sharp command while stalking out of the room.

He brushed by a chagrined Shalene who was holding a stack of papers near the door. "Oh dear," Shalene said. Daine blushed that the receptionist had witnessed what happened. She came over and placed the stack of papers on the desk. "Evin that silly boy forgot to mention was that Varice is Numair's soft spot. Apparently they go waayyy… back in university. Credible sources speculate that she was probably his first… you know… er hum… well, love. But, after university, she hooked up with someone else, went through a string of relationships. She's always kept in contact with Numair, especially in between relationships. That's when she comes around and pays attention to him, before hopping off to the next man."

Daine gaped, "He is her stand-in boyfriend?"

Shalene laughed, "That's one way to put it, though I think she views him as only a close friend. There was no re-enactment of their more than platonic relationship in university, though we, including myself, think that recently, he wants her as a serious girlfriend."

Daine queried, "So she just got out of a relationship?"

"Nope, her last relationship ended last year? So, this has been one of the longest periods of time where she was unattached. They have been communicating more regularly, that's probably why Numair think he has a chance with her and was a bit harsh with you," Shalene explained and patted Daine's hand. "But don't worry, I'm sure it will blow over soon when she contacts him again. Just remember that everything relating to her goes to Numair direct. They mainly communicate by e-mail… In fact, I think her latest e-mail just came in, so it should be in your e-mail sorter programme."

"Thanks," Daine said, and thought, 'Goodness, I can't imagine Numair as some pining lover.'

The telephone rang and Daine picked it up, "Good Morning, Mr Salmalin's office, how may I help you?"

A polished female voice answered, "We have just received the job applications for the research post. Mr Salmalin is supposed to review the candidate's application. Could you please come down to collect it?"

"Sure," Daine responded. "Where should I go to?" She took her pen, ready to scribble down the message on her palm top.

"Please proceed to Level B4, Room 58. They are in the boxes marked RA 3498. Thank you."

Just when Daine put down the phone, Numair stormed in, his face as black as a thunder cloud. Although Daine knew that it was suicidal to talk to Numair at this point of time, she had to remind him of the important research meeting that was in half an hour's time. She could not afford him not going to a meeting again or turning up late, especially when the research meeting was to thrash out ideas for the upcoming product launch.

"Mr Salmalin, you have a research meeting at 2.30pm," Daine said cautiously.

He abruptly stopped and glared at her, reacting as if she had just slapped him. "Very good Ms. Sarrasri, now if you only know how to properly handle calls," he drawled sarcastically. "Common sense. Common sense would tell you that if a person tells you she's going overseas for a month, she will be uncontactable! If you know that calls cannot be returned easily, you should let it through. Just like if my mother was to call me on her death bed, you let it through and not tell her to call back. Just like if the fire department calls to tell you that my house is on fire, you let them through and not tell them to call back. Common sense woman, common sense! Is that too much to ask from you?"

Daine's heart stopped during his rant and she stared at him nervously. Her blue-grey eyes blinked at him and Numair felt like he had just kicked a puppy. He sighed, she looked like such a naïve greenhorn that Onua had picked from off the country side. With strands of brown hair escaping from its restrictive bun and chunky black spectacles that had a tendency to fall down her nose. Dressed in simple work clothes that looked from the thrift shop. No wonder his mother was hard pressed to believe that she was his fiancé.

He stalked off to his office and snapped defensively, "At the same time, you're improving your telephone skills, improve your wardrobe as well, you are representing Tortall Inc."

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After Selda gently put down the phone, she smiled to herself. A timid voice queried, "I thought Level B4 is where they keep the confidential scientific records of their research findings?"

Selda shot a killer glare at the Office Assistant that was nervously clutching some papers for her to sign at the doorway of her office. "And when do you make it a habit to eavesdrop on people's conversation? Is your hearing as bad as your manners? I said level 44."