CHAPTER 37: CHAPTER 37 WORKPLACE TENSION

I texted Tatiana.

William: (Miss Camille, I have arrived at the underground garage.)

Her response came shortly after.

Tatiana: (Hmm, wait for me a moment.)

Around twenty minutes later, a beautiful figure approached. It was none other than Tatiana.

"Good morning, Miss Camille!" I greeted.

"Good morning to you too," she replied, offering a soft smile.

I moved to open the passenger door for her. As she slid into the car, she noticed the breakfast. "How did you know my taste?"

How? How did I know?

Was I supposed to admit that I had spent the night scouring the driving recorder?

I smiled. "Really? I just bought them randomly. They looked appetizing, and I thought you would like them. You maintain such a good figure, I assumed you must control your sugar intake, so I ordered black coffee."

"Not bad," Tatiana remarked, "no wonder you can be friends with Edward, you have strong analytical skills. I’m even considering hiring you as my driver."

Her driver? The company usually arranged drivers for vice-presidential level leaders, but Tatiana didn’t have one. Was it for Steven’s convenience? If I really became a driver, Steven would be the first to get rid of me.

"It would be my honor to be your driver!" I responded.

Conversing with a beautiful woman always lifts one’s spirits. I chatted with Tatiana during the drive, occasionally cracking a joke to make her laugh. Watching her laughter ripple through her, my heart fluttered.

The morning sun was just beginning to cast its warm rays on the city when my car rolled to a stop in the company garage at eight o’clock. The day was already in full swing, with the parking lot bustling with the arrival of my colleagues.

Mia, with her penchant for the flamboyant, had driven in her pink Beetle. Philip, ever the sophisticate, arrived in his Audi A4. Melody, too, made her entrance in her sleek Lexus.

I parked my car and stepped out into the cool morning air. Mia, spotting me, waved with an urgency that was uncharacteristic of the early hour. "William, what on earth are you doing here?" she called out.

Philip, his brow furrowed in confusion, chimed in, "Do you even need to ask? He must have hitched a ride with some colleague!"

Melody, though silent, mirrored Philip’s puzzled expression.

I offered Mia and Melody a reassuring smile before striding over to the passenger side of my car. "Miss Camille, we’ve arrived." I announced, opening the door.

The sight of Tatiana emerging from my car was met with a stunned silence from the trio. Philip, in particular, looked as though he had seen a ghost, his mouth agape and his face a mask of disbelief.

"Miss Camille!" Mia was the first to recover, greeting Tatiana with a respectful nod.

Philip and Melody, following Mia’s lead, hurriedly bowed and offered their own greetings.

Tatiana responded with a curt nod, her gaze sweeping over them with an air of indifference. She hoisted her LV bag onto her shoulder and walked away without another word. I quickly fell into step behind her, relishing the opportunity to ride the executive elevator reserved for the company’s directors.

While my colleagues were still jostling for space in the crowded elevator, I had already returned to my workstation.

Not long after, Mia hurried in, her eyes wide with curiosity. "William, how come you got out of Miss Camille’s car?" she whispered.

I chuckled at her inquisitiveness. "Want to know? Call me ’master’ and I’ll tell you!"

She stomped her foot in frustration. "Oh come on, just tell me!" Her curiosity was insatiable.

I remained tight-lipped, enjoying her growing impatience. She blushed, bit her lip, and gestured for me to lean in closer. "Come here. I’ll call you so you can hear!"

"Go ahead!" I challenged.

"Mas... master, will you tell me please?" Her voice was a tantalizing whisper that sent a jolt of excitement through me.

Philip, who had just walked over, seemed to have overheard our exchange. His face darkened as he muttered under his breath, "Slut."

His words were barely audible, but both Mia and I heard him. Mia turned to look at him, her eyes narrowing in defiance. She then turned back to me, her curiosity now bordering on desperation. "William, just tell me, what’s going on? I’m dying of curiosity."

She leaned in closer, her hand tugging at mine in a pleading gesture. If it weren’t for her chest, no, genuine curiosity, I wouldn’t have indulged her.

"Actually, it’s nothing. I just temporarily became Miss Camille’s driver," I finally confessed.

Mia’s eyes widened in surprise, then sparkled with the thrill of a juicy piece of gossip. "You? Being Miss Camille’s driver? Is there a connection there?"

"There’s a lot you don’t know, do I have to tell you everything?" I retorted, my lips curling into a smirk.

"Oh, just tell me, or should I call you ’master’ a few more times?" she teased.

No matter how many times she called, even a hundred times, I couldn’t divulge the events of the previous night.

Just then, Melody, her face a picture of icy disapproval, intervened. "This is the company, what kind of behavior is this!" she scolded. "Mia, let go of him now!"

Mia quickly released my hand, sticking out her tongue in a playful show of defiance.

"Laughing? How can you still laugh?"

Melody’s face was as cold as ice. "William, I’m talking to you!"

"Melody, it’s only a quarter past eight, work doesn’t commence until half-past. At most, this is merely colleagues engaging in some harmless banter. Is there really a need to scold me?"

With Melody, I had learned to stand my ground when the situation called for it. It was crucial to never exhibit any signs of vulnerability.

After our encounter the previous night, I felt an enhanced sense of confidence when dealing with her.

Furthermore, she had a distaste for men who were submissive and compliant. Paradoxically, a hint of assertiveness might make her feel more secure.

"You—you dare talk to me like this?"

Melody was seething with rage, and Philip decided to intervene. "Melody, he’s clearly breached the company’s policies. We can’t simply let him get away with it."

I turned to face him. "Philip, after spending two days cleaning toilets, have your eyesight deteriorated? Which one of your eyes witnessed me violating the company rules?"

"Melody, look at how arrogant he is!"

Philip pointed at my nose as he spoke.