SIMP

JAMES'S POV

"Have you seen the new personal assistant to our boss?" One of my colleagues asked, and as I was about to answer her, Vivian stepped into the office. Everyone of us kept quiet and shifted our focus towards her.

"Good morning, guys," she greeted us, and we headed straight to our boss's office.

"Damnnnnn! Holy shit! She is too pretty," I said, as I couldn't stop looking at her until she entered the office.

"Pretty? More than I am?" Angel said, and I looked at her with a sideways eye.

"Don't even go there. Don't! She is way prettier than the two of you," I said to her, and she frowned. I already noticed that she was crushing on me, but I never gave her the green light.

"You dressed like a housemaid to my office again today? What's really wrong with you?" I heard my boss's voice as he was probably talking to Vivian because there was no other person inside the office with him, or was there someone I didn't see?

"Angel, is there anyone in that office except Vivian and the boss?" I asked her, but she responded with a sarcastic laugh that made me angry.

"Yen Yen Yen Yen Yen. Why not go inside the fucking office and ask your boss?" She sarcastically said

"Just mind your fucking business. Bitch!" I said this to her and headed to my office.

"Bitch? Me?" I didn't respond to her again.

"This weekend, I want to see you at the shopping mall by 11 a.m. Did you understand what I just said? Or should I speak in a poor man's language?" I heard my boss talking to Vivian as I was about to enter my office.

As I entered my office, my mind was a whirlwind of emotions. The encounter with her earlier left me feeling both sympathetic and apologetic. I wondered if, with time, she would grow accustomed to him or perhaps choose to resign like others before her.

Lost in my thoughts, I glanced at my phone and noticed five missed calls. It was from my ex, or that's how I refer to her now. The pain she inflicted on me during our time together had been a catalyst for me to move on within these mere three days. My phone displayed an array of messages from her and her friends, all pleading for a second chance.

I had poured my heart into the relationship, sacrificing my time and even neglecting my family, all to ensure her happiness. Yet, what did I receive in return? Betrayal, as she cheated on me. She had done it before, and when I confronted her, she brushed it off, claiming I was merely nagging without any concrete evidence. Fortunately, her evil secret was exposed by her own friend.

It perplexed me why she was calling me again after boldly stating that she was pretty enough to attract any man of her choosing. My parents had warned me that she wasn't my mate, but love had blinded me, and I chose to overlook the warning signs.

Unable to hold back my emotions any longer, tears welled up in my eyes as I gazed at her photo on my phone, memories flooding back. However, I made a silent promise to myself, affirming that I would heal and move on from her.

Before I could dwell further on my thoughts, my boss's voice called me back to reality, snapping me out of my reverie. As I turned to respond, I realised that this was just the beginning of my journey to find happiness and inner peace.

"I need you to go with her because I want to get something quickly. I might join you guys later, but don't let her mess up anything," he instructed me. I listened and demanded some extra details because I know him as someone who doesn't take any shite.

He gave me all the details I needed, and it was pretty simple because it was investors that I was already used to.

Okay, sir, let me get my bag," I said to him and excused myself.

"Please! I am working, and you need to stop calling me. If not, I will lose your number," I said to my ex as I entered my office and saw my phone ringing. I put my phone on silent because I knew she was still going to call me back.

"Vivian, are you ready?" I asked her as I met her sitting in the receptionist's office.

"Are you going out for lunch?" Angel whispered in my ears, and I looked at her with a sideways eye.

"No, we are going on a date." I said it out loud in such a way that I knew Vivian heard me too but acted like she didn't. Maybe she was still in pain from the way our boss spoke to her.

I signed out of the receptionist book because I knew we were probably not going to return to the office again.

"What's the problem with you?" Vivian's voice, like a sweet angelic melody, vibrated in my ear.

"You mean me?" I asked, and she looked at me and looked away.

"Yes!"

"Nothing, I am very fine," I answered her, and she said it's fine, but I wanted to know why she asked.

"Why did you ask?"

"Nothing; I guess it's not my business, so I think we should let it slide," she said, and we had already gotten to the location, so I couldn't pressure her further.

At the meeting, she presented herself as a professional. I guess she must have been doing that for years. But her CV said it was her first experience because I was personally the one who viewed her profile.

The investors were impressed by her presentation, and they signed the deal. I was very happy for her to win her first deal.

As the investors left, she rushed and hugged me. I was surprised and didn't want her to stop hugging me because her embrace was like a safe haven.

"Mmmm, I'm so sorry....." She actually found it hard to say a word, but I let her know that there was no problem.

I congratulated her and also congratulated myself.

"Are you rushing somewhere?" I asked her, but she said no, and I seized the opportunity to ask her to have dinner with me.

"Mmmm, I don't really know... I guessed I was actually getting her, and I knew that was a yes, but she didn't want to accept so easily.

"Is that a yes?"

"Okay, if you have already concluded, so be it." I smiled as we left the place and headed to the restaurant.

After dinner, we settled in and started talking about work. Since it was already the last day of work for the week, we decided to take our time.

I had the opportunity to tell her about our boss and the things she should be expecting.

It was already getting late, and I didn't mind because she rested her head on my shoulder.

"I have to start going now," she said, and it was like a shortened joy, and I quickly thought of what to do.

"Can I take you home?" I offered.

"Take me home? You are funny."