Chapter Twelve

"I'm sorry,sir,but we were just talking. Nothing is wrong," Kristine lied.

James nodded but didn't believe a word she said. He threatened her with her job if he found out she was lying to him and went to his office. Joyce didn't follow him. She stayed behind. It would be better if she avoid being questioned. At least,for now.

"He did not mean that," Joyce assured her friend who was obviously scared.

"I pray so," Kristine hopefully said.

Joyce thanked her and went straight to her office. She started to pace her office with her index finger in her mouth. She wondered what could be wrong for a man to have a female as his assistant. They were not doing anything wrong. She couldn't understand why the person who spread the rumour did. She pondered and kept pondering.

Peter Andrew went into his brother's office and was welcomed by a broad smile plastered on his face. He had noticed,as he entered the building, that something was wrong as some works were whispering something to one another. He was known to be quite sensitive. He paused and listened to some workers gossiping what he could interpret as the something that was wrong. He smiled and went on his way.

Peter returned the smile and sat before him.

"Today is a working day. What makes you come here? You're a car dealer so you should be in your office by now,supervising," James pointed out with a teasing tone.

"I have a manager who can do that. Moreover,I came nearby to meet a customer so I decided to pay you a visit," Peter replied,then decided to change the subject. He cleared his throat and asked James what the reason was for his workers to be gossiping. He knew the reason,though,but he wanted to hear it from him.

"Brother,I don't know," James responded as he Peter started pondering on the issue.

"You must have fallen in love with Joyce and made it obvious to your workers to gossip about. You should be -," Peter was saying but his words were cut short by James whose voice was wrapped with the mixture of anger and confusion.

"What do you mean? In love with Joyce?" James managed to ask but impatiently as he couldn't wait to get his brother's explanation.

"Why were you with Joyce late last night? And alone in the office? What else do you want them to think?" Peter asked in aplomb.

"So,that's the rumour," he said more to himself than his brother. His anger eased and his confusion was replaced with understanding. He felt the urge to smile broadly at the thought but he dare not. Doing so would only confirm that the rumour was true. It wasn't false in the first place, anyway.

After a while of chatting with his brother, Peter left the office but met Joyce on his way. She smiled at the sight of him and followed him outside to where his car was. It was a different car this time, not white as snow but red as wine.

"You sure get a lot of cars,don't you?" Joyce teased with a smile. Though,they may be friends, she didn't know he sell cars.

He faced her with his hands folded and answered,"I'm a car dealer,you know? "

"Really? Wow! That's great," she uttered and squealed in happiness.

Peter noticed she wasn't talking much like she used to. Perhaps, it was about the gossip. He dismissed the thought and smiled genuinely at her. He was really fond of her but that was all. He was happily married with two kids. Joyce didn't even know and he could sense she felt something for him but wasn't sure. Maybe that was how she glow whenever she was with her friends. Nevertheless, he should tell her.

"I'm married,Joyce," he muttered but enough for her to hear. The instant change in her expression convinced him he was right. She had feelings for him and he was deeply sorry for that. She had to retard her feelings. It's better late than never.

Tears welled up in her eyes but she forced it back,sniffed and smiled broadly enough to convince anyone she was okay with the statement. The smile worked because Peter silently heaved a sigh of relied which only broadened her smile. "Oh! I see," she exclaimed, not knowing what to say. She was having an internal squabble with her her body to stay calm and not feel abashed.

"I'm sorry I told you late. I thought it wasn't necessary, Joyce. I'm sorry," he apologized.

She didn't like the way he pronounced her name. James always pronounce it better than anyone else,but unlike James,Peter still have manners. "It's okay. You don't have to be sorry. I'll take my leave now. Take care," she said and when he nodded,she had her way back into the company. She was obviously hurt,but the sooner for her,the better.

★★★

James watched as his P. A left his brother through the blinds in his office. He saw them discussing but couldn't hear what they were saying. He could only watch from the top floor that he was. He went back to sit on his chair when he heard a knock on the door.

Joyce opened the door and went inside. She greeted but remained standing. She didn't look herself. So much had happened in just a day.

James looked at her and hit the nail on the head. "Do you also know the reason for this rumour?" James questioned. It was obvious she had found out but before she could even form a reply,he changed the topic. "Forget that. It doesn't matter. What were you discussing so seriously with my brother?" It wasn't his business but he wanted to know.

"Is that important right now? How are we going to ameliorate this rumour, James? It matters to me,a lot," Joyce said,almost in tears but didn't cry.

"How does that even matter to you? I should be the one worried," James retorted. He was the one with the image that could be tarnished if the rumour leaked outside of the company.

"It matters to me because it can tarnish my relationships with the workers. I don't want them to see me as an opportunist or a slut. I want to maintain good relationships with them so,we need to clear this," James found herself shouting. "No matter how in need I am,I hate being seen as an opportunist or a slut," she added. Though, she doubted that. Since the believed they were doing dirty things,the probably see her as both now.

"Joyce,what?" Her boss exclaimed.

Now, she loved how her name rolled off his tongue even though there was a hint of anger in his tone.

"You believed them? You're minding them? Well,you shouldn't, since you don't even want me to know," he paused for her to say something but she was quiet. "Kristine -," he suddenly said,remembering she had lied to him.

"Leave Kristine out of this,I beg you. I didn't want her to tell you. You can punish me instead," Joyce pleaded.

Turning deaf ears to her words,he called his secretary and told her to gather the staff in his office.

"James,what for?" Joyce questioned.

"To warn them," he replied briefly before his workers started arriving one after the other and greeted him but he made no response and waited till they were complete before talking.

He rose from his seat and went to stand before them. "Who spread the rumour? "He asked directly.

His workers stared at one another and started murmuring but didn't say a word to him.

"Quiet!" James ordered and there was perfect silence,even the drop of a needle would be heard at that moment. "Should I say you are immature to listen to and believe such rumour? What exactly is your concern even if the rumour is true? I can marry her if I choose to,it's none of your business," James cleared. He was obviously annoyed.

Joyce didn't say a word nor move. She just stared at his back as he talked to his workers.

When they thought he was done chastising them,he proved them wrong by adding,"I am not paying you to gossip about me. You're all just annoying. Did we do something wrong? Even if we did,does that or will that have anything to do with you?"

He dipped his hands in his pockets and stood straight. "I owe you no explanation on the reason we were together last night. And -," he paused briefly and then continued. "Let this be the last time I will ever hear this rumour. If I hear it outside this firm or in public, you're all doomed," he threatened with the expression that he would follow through with his threat if anyone disobey,then dismissed them.

They apologized to him and went outside silently. They dare not murmur in his presence again. They had really stepped on his nerves and they knew it. He was jovial towards his workers, so for him to act that way,he must have been really pissed off.

James sat on a couch and exhaled heavily. He turned his his head and look at Joyce. She stood still,tall and straight.

"Thank you," Joyce said,smiling.

"For what?"

"Everything," she answered and he smiled broadly. She sure had lightened his mood.