CHAPTER 16: BOSS’ DAY OUT

She fixed the collar of her blouse for the last time.

After having a long break from work, Jade is ready to go back to work. She knew she has a lot of work to do today and might be extending a few more hours since Jasmine notified her about the piled papers in her desk.

It was 7:30am when she rushed to the bus station. She must be at the office at 8am in the morning if she doesn't want to be scolded by their monstrous' assistant manager.

She should have asked Marcus if she can ride with him but she couldn't bring it up since he gave a stern warning before about keeping their relationship private. For sure Marcus will turn her down.

Meanwhile, a man visited the chairwoman after having her breakfast. She was reclining at her mini garden at the back of her mansion when a man came and handed her some pictures.

"Are you telling me that they both went to the grocery store yesterday?" Her eyes sparkled with joy.

"Yes madam. And after the grocery, they bought snack at a milk tea store then stroll around the mall after." he reported while the old woman browses the pictures in her hand.

"Whoa, they look good together." She giggled. "I never thought that Marcus would agree to things as this. Do you know how he hates to go with me to the mall? He couldn't even stand a few minutes, let alone half day!"

Suzette held a specific photo and blink for a few seconds since she couldn't believe her eyes.

"What is this?" She asked further. Did they go the department store? And what is this? looks like they were involved into something.

"Uhm, that…." the man hesitated.

"Tell me more about their day." she asked blissfully.

FLASHBACK:

Marcus parked the car at the special space allotted for VIP personnel like him at YuHei Mall. One of the best mall that his family owned in the City.

Jade, on the other hand choose to wait for him at the near entrance. After a few minutes, she saw the man in a casual shirt rushing to her side.

Yeah, she asked the man to wear a simple outfit and change his hairstyle for today so people won't notice him. Having the freedom to roam around the mall is something they both must enjoy.

Basically, Marcus opposed her suggestion but after specifying the perks of concealing his identity, he immediately conceded.

"Well you don't have a choice. Look, don't interchange fear from respect. Making the employees fear you doesn't mean they respect you. I think this is the best way to see if your employees are really doing a good job even if the boss is not around." She challenged.

Marcus may have seemed busy doing something but he was actually listening to what the woman was saying.

"It's easy for employees to do their best when the boss is around but the real and faithful employees are determined during the owner's absence! In addition, you don't want people to know about us so don't you think you'll attract people's attention if you go to the mall as a boss. Besides, You'll have a scandal by merely being around a beautiful woman like me." She joked.

Marcus jeered annoyingly. Well, the woman is right. But why does he need to go with her at the mall? He can just stay home and let his personal driver accompany the woman wherever she wanna go. But the woman refused his idea since it's the driver's day off as well.

The woman grinned victoriously when she saw how the man rolled his eyes in defeat. Now she knew that she successfully convinced the man to join her today. 'Don't worry honey, I'll make sure you'll enjoy our date!' she giggled at the thought of having a quality time with her husband.

The man looked like a normal husband among the crowds. People should not notice that he is the great CEO since he usually wears an expensive business suit wherever he goes, even during his day-off. But his great physique still catches every woman's attention and Jade had notice it first when they were at the mall's supermarket.

She could see how the staffs smiles from time to time while stealing some glances at the man wearing an expensive shade.

Marcus was about to bring out his black card to pay for the groceries but Jade held his hand and shook her head. "You don't want to blow your cover, right?" She inched closer and whispered. He understood what she meant but letting her pay for their household needs seemed not right for him. His ego cannot accept it.

"I'll make sure to pay you after." He whispered back but Jade only chuckled in response. Paying for their supply is not a big thing for her at all.

They're all set now and Marcus was expecting to go home as soon as they placed the groceries in the trunk. However, Jade insist of staying at the mall for a few more hours.

"Pretty please?" She blinks like a puppy pleading its master. "I just need to buy some more things and I'm starving so let's have a snack for the meantime, hmm?"

Bingo! She jumped like a little kid when Marcus agreed.

Apparently, Marcus opposed Jade when she insisted to have milk tea at the mall's food court, but she's pretty persistent until he gave in.

"You won't regret it, I promise!" The woman grinned sweetly. She bought two with the same flavor. The man doesn't have any plan of drinking it but seeing how the woman enjoys it, he couldn't resist until he tried it himself.

He must admit, it was good. They were walking around the mall while holding the milk tea. However, when they were about to step inside the department store, the guards stopped them saying that food and drinks are prohibited inside the store.

Marcus looked frustrated and was about to reprimand the security guard but Jade was quick to stop him. She kowtowed apologetically to the guard and pulled the man outside.

"Are you planning to defy your own rules and regulations?" She blurted.

"Can't the boss do anything as he pleased?"

"No." She strongly opposed. "You are the boss and all the more, you should set an example for your employees to follow. So better finish your drink here before we enter, hmm?"

Marcus raised his brow unbelievingly. "Miss Arria, did you just opposed your superior?"

"Mr. Hanes, you are here not as my boss but as my husband. So please behave accordingly." She hissed.

Dang it! this woman is unbelievable! Marcus held his anger. Doesn't she fear him at all? Since when did he gave her the authority to scold him? Isn't he supposed to be the head?

Marcus frustratingly drink his milk tea and threw it on the trash bin. Then once again, they entered the department store. The guard smiled at them but Marcus held a defiant and cold gaze all throughout the round, giving a familiar chill to some staffs.

"Don't you think your scaring the people around?" Jade frowned.

"I don't care." He blatantly scoffed.

After buying some stuffs, they both fall in line at the cashier, however, one particular customer was holding them up. They heard an old woman arguing with the cashier staffs. Even the manager came to hear her out.

She was arguing with the staffs about getting a cheaper price for the items she took since she's been a loyal customer for such a long time now. However, they could only give her the standard discount. The manager carefully explained the situation in a gentle manner but the old woman is stubborn and was demanding for a higher personnel aside from him.

"And I don't care if I have to talk to the owner of this store!" She blurted in frustration. Marcus and Jade had been waiting for a few minutes now and they could hear the old woman blabbering nonsense things.

The male manager could have lost his patience but he still tried to maintain his composure. Looking at the cueing line, he gently asked the old woman if they can speak in his office so the others can proceed on their payment but the old woman insist of talking to another person higher than the store manager.

Marcus furrowed his brow and he completely lost all the patience he's been bottling up since a while ago.

"Can I help you, madam?" Marcus kindly approached the old woman.

"And who are you, young man?" The old woman raised an unruly tone.

"Marcus Yoseph Hanes, the CEO." He immediately shifted from normal guy to a superior king!

All the employees and shoppers gasped in surprise upon hearing the man. Slowly, he removed his shade then looked at the old woman intently.

What?! It's really the CEO! What is he doing here? Even the manager trembled in dread upon seeing him.