Chapter 18 – Would you?

"Eric? Eric, wake up," they lightly shook his shoulders.

"What? Who?" Eric's eyes snapped open. "I was working, I swear!" His eyes trailed up the person in a skirted suit in front of him, and his eyes widened. "Char?"

She giggled. "I'm sure you were working before you fell asleep."

"What are you doing here? And how'd you find me? Where's Timo?" Eric scrambled to get to his feet and groaned because of his sudden movements.

"Timo told me what happened... and I've been informed of the articles going around now." She picked up his hand and held it between hers. "I'm sorry about this."

"It's not your fault." I'm not really the one hurt by this, anyway.

"It is though... I was careless, and let us be seen," she sighed. "I just wanted a normal date... I guess I got too excited about it."

I'm not sure it was a normal date. "Well, whatever happens, I'm here for you." And on another note, was that date real? Is she interested in me romantically, or just wants to date for fun? Am I a pet or something more?

Charlotte fidgeted as she thought about what to do.

"Is something wrong?" Eric asked.

"Look, I'm not sure how you see things, so it's hard to say... and I'm not sure what, or how to say this... or ask this rather."

"Are you firing me already?" I couldn't even blame her if she did. I got lost and fell asleep on my first day!

"What? No, not at all."

"Are you kicking me out of your house?"

"No, no, no; I'd never do that to you."

Eric lightly grabbed her hand. "Whatever it is, I can take it; just rip the band-aid off."

"Will you be my boyfriend?"

Eric froze. He never expected her to ask him that. Am I hearing things? Did she actually ask me that? I must be hallucinating.

"Oh..." She pulled her hand away. "I-I get it... I'm sorry I threw that at you. Um... Just pretend this never happened." She turned to leave.

Eric dropped his things and grabbed her wrist, pulling her towards him. With his hand on the back of her head, he kissed her.

"Mm..." Her eyes widened before she melted into him, her arms around wrapping around his back.

"Ha ha," Eric separated for a moment. "I'm sorry; my silence wasn't a no. I was just surprised. I wasn't sure you actually like me that way. I thought..." he trailed off, not wanting to say something he shouldn't.

"You thought what?"

Eric shook his head. "It doesn't matter." He pulled her in for a tight hug. "I swear I've wanted to do this the whole time." Never thought I'd be able to. Figured I was more like a pet, or a passing attraction, and she'd get bored with me quickly.

She smiled, her head resting on his shoulder. It had been a long time since she felt so happy and safe in someone's arms. "As much as I love this, we should go back to work before lunch is over and Timo thinks I got lost looking for you," Charlotte tugged on his hand.

Eric pulled back. "One sec," he picked up the papers and tablet, and reached for her hand again. Holding hands with a girlfriend... How many years has it been since I even did this much?

"What is that?" Timo pointed at their joint hands as they stood at the entrance of their building.

Eric tried to pull his hand away, but her grip tightened.

"He's my boyfriend; why can't we hold hands?" Charlotte frowned.

Timo glanced at Eric for a second and rolled his eyes. "The paparazzi might see."

"Does it matter now? We've already been seen together, and I also told the other businessmen we were together, so it shouldn't matter now."

Timo sighed, wishing they'd think things through more before acting. "Are you serious about this?"

"Completely."

"Be ready for scorn, the both of you, and be careful what you say," Timo warned them, knowing he was referring to how they met.

They both nodded.

"Now, onto the next issue." Timo held up his phone. "Mr. Belloff is waiting for you in your office."

The three of them arrived at her floor. "Um, I'm not really starting as your assistant yet, so should I wait out here?" Eric asked.

"Considering we told him you're my assistant already, he might expect you to be there, anyway," Charlotte said.

"Does an assistant usually work in your office or out here?"

"I normally stay beside her," Timo said.

"On that note, why am I here if you have Timo?" He's the super butler that I could never even imagine outdoing. Just learning from him is intimidating...

"I'm predominantly her butler, and she could use the extra hand either way. If anything, just look at it as relieving me of some of my duties, since she has me on overload."

"Has it been that bad?" she asked.

"Nothing I can't handle, but you wanted to give him a job, and instead of giving him a starting position, you wanted him with you. It's understandable you'd want him here, considering your real feelings."

"You suggested I work as your assistant a while ago... you didn't just want to keep an eye on me, did you?" Eric asked.

"What? No... Why would I?" Charlotte frowned.

"So I don't talk about... the incident."

"I don't think you will, so it's not that. I just liked you right away," Charlotte blushed. It was unusual to take to people so quickly, so she wanted to keep him close.

"Oh, I see..."

Timo rolled his eyes. "What are you two? A couple of middle schoolers? Quit blushing and acting all shy; you two are adults. Now, let's go. Mr. Belloff is waiting," Timo ushered them into the building.

The bushes rustled, and a woman covered in leaves appeared. "There is definitely something fishy going on here, and I'm going to get to the bottom of it."