8 In the Name of Friendship

"Did you have an affair with Darius in the past?" Her shocked eyes met mine in the mirror.

Well, which secretary of the most sought-out bachelor wouldn't be?

No girl in their right mind would ask their fiancé's pretty assistant if they had a fling in the old days.

I wouldn't know since I had been away from Darius for ten years without contact without an idea of how many females Darius had screwed over—literally and figuratively.

Having no idea what I have gotten into, I was practically bringing a knife to this gunfight.

I leaned my back comfortably against the salon chair as I looked over my shoulder and asked her again with utter nonchalance, "Did this silence of yours meant 'yes', then?"

Islinda was taken aback at my sudden question that she stood up from her chair and bent her head forward as if she didn't hear me the first time.

Her eyebrows almost reached up to her hairline and just stared at me, with mouth hanging wide open.

"Miss Diana." She cleared her throat and said louder. "I'm not sure if I have heard your question correctly."

Eyebrows furrowing, Islinda shook her head in apprehension and continued, "Did you just ask if—if…" She stuttered as if she couldn't dare to repeat the question in front of her boss' fiancé. "—Mister Darius had an affair with me?"

Islinda pointed at herself and I replied, "Uh-huh."

She pursed her lips and stared at the wooden floor of the cruise salon.

"Miss Diana. That question gave me quite a shock." Islinda's face was as red as a tomato as she clutched her blossom and sighed, "No, Mister Darius and I had a strictly professional relationship."

"Hmm. If you insist then—" I smirked, my lips curling by itself. "--but that gorgeous blush on your face is kind of suspicious, Islinda."

I knew that Islinda was telling the truth because she had looked outrageously uncomfortable at my query.

Maybe she had never thought about a potential scandal between her and my future husband in her wildest dreams.

That must be it.

At the office study at the upper balcony of this cruise ship, I had observed each and every interaction like a hawk between Darius and his secretary and so far, there were no signs of chemistry in their body language--an indication that they had a sexual relationship before or a one night stand.

I stared back into the mirror when the hairstylist motioned me to face my reflection.

The hairstylist parted my hair in specific areas and rolled them into the large heated curlers.

"Do you have a boyfriend, Islinda?" I asked further to fill out the awkward silence, smiling at her in the mirror when her eyes met my piercing gaze once again.

I wasn't known as a 'shark-who-knew-when-to-strike-a-bloody-man's-leg-in-the-middle-of-the-ocean' in the workplace for nothing.

Once I start my line of interrogations, I was ruthless.

Nobody could ever stop me.

I was persistent that way.

I needed all the information I could get from everyone around Darius to secure my money and my place in his life for the meantime while I waited for their marriage negotiations.

The other reason was I was bored on this cruise without my future husband and I need potential friends as much as I could.

After a long pause, Islinda kept her face blank and answered curtly, "I would like to keep my relationship private but I guess there was no reason to hide that I was single."

Fighting the urge to smile because I could absolutely relate, I kept my face expressionless to maintain the aura of seriousness.

"Tell me the truth." Brushing invisible lint from my skirt, I kept my tone neutral and quite conversational. "Do you like my husband in a romantic way?"

I noticed Islinda narrow her eyes a little at my reflection and crossed her arms.

She was obviously disconcerted at my invasive examination and it made me want to taunt her more.

"I don't want to offend you, Miss Diana, but what are these questions you are asking me?"

"Why? Do I make you feel uncomfortable? You do like my husband, then." I goaded, smirking.

What had brought her panties in a twist if she really didn't have an affinity for my future husband?

"Do you want him as a boyfriend or you were just attracted to him sexually?" I straightened my spine and sat properly, my gaze not leaving her in the mirror. "I don't care what you tell me as long as it's the truth."

"What does this matter to you?" She asked and I knew I was so close to annoying her by the way she gritted her teeth, her fists clenching and unclenching.

"I need to make sure you aren't a threat," I replied simply and she sighed as if giving up.

"I admire Mister Darius as a CEO who had extremely good business sense and interpersonal skills when it comes to dealing with major clients and investors. He had the Midas touch in the business world, acquiring almost bankrupt companies and buying them cheap." Islinda explained and I listened to every bit of information she threw my way with rapt attention.

"Mister Darius was an expert at turning the tables around and altering bankrup companies to fit the current financial trends and analyze the global market with brilliant accuracy." Darius's secretary continued her wondrous tales about my future husband. "His intuitive strategies were successfully executed, bringing more profit to his company and gaining more assets. He knew when was the perfect time to strike and everything he touched turns to gold."

I nodded in agreement.

"I am more of a fangirl, marveling at how amazing he is. I wasn't on the CEO's level so being his girlfriend and secretary at the same time was out of the question. I am also not the type to mix business with pleasure because I would easily be distracted especially to a man like Mr. Darius in the same enclosed space, in the same vicinity." Islinda clarified and the calculated look in her gaze told me that it was the truth. "You don't have to worry about me, really. I am not a threat."

Hmm, she only desired to learn from him when it comes to the business world.

Islinda was a good source of information when Darius didn't want to tell me anything, keeping me blindfolded in this battle.

I would be ready for this mock marriage and equip myself with the necessary armor and weapons.

Clapping my hand once to get her attention, I told her with an amicable grin on my face, "Now, that we have cleared that out, would it be alright for me to request background checks of all the girls Darius had dated for the duration of ten years?"

I said further and pouted cutely, hoping my charms would work on my fiancé's secretary. "Will you help a fellow female out in the name of friendship, Islinda?"