Mr. President’s

Chapter 16

Nathan yanked his hands off and glared icily at him, his teeth grinding. “I asked, what’s going on here?” Nathan asked the second time. It was gross disrespect for Dr Blake to be there unannounced and not to see Nathan but his personal assistant.

He instantly straightened himself, realizing he had just hit the president’s assistant in the president’s office. He had to think fast. He forced a smile, “I just came to return her blazer and she couldn’t say thank you. I’ll be on my way,” he turned to leave. The aura Nathan exhumed was too dire.

“Stop!” Nathan didn’t yell but even Mercedes felt uncomfortable. Dr Blake halted instantly. “Miss Winters, is what he said true?” He asked coldly.

Mercedes took a deep breath. “He was asking me for payment for returning my blazer and I told him to take it back but he-.”

“What kind of payment do you need?” Nathan cut in before Mercedes completed her explanation. Dr Blake could hear his fast heartbeat. He heard about what happened at dinner last night and thought she was favoured by the president but when she reported to his office, he maintained the fact that Nathan hated women and took advantage. How could he know that it was going to turn out like this? He only wanted to place a fast bargain with Mercedes but the girl was such a bitch. She made Nathan close in on them.

“That was just a joke, Mr President, your assistant here doesn’t have a sense of humour.” He tried to make light of the situation but Nathan wasn’t accepting it.

“Is that part of her job requirement? Sense of humour?” The frost in his tone made Dr Blake coil. He wiped beads of sweat on his forehead uncomfortably, “you misunderstand me, Mr President. What I meant was her sharp tongue. She just called me a ten seconds man, can you imagine that?” He tried to get Nathan’s sympathy. Any man would be offended if a woman called him a ten seconds man and as expected, Nathan directed his questions to Mercedes.

“Why is that? Have you tested him before?” His voice was cold. He recalled his $1 insult which happened after his one night with her so did something happen in Dr Blake’s office? He doesn’t know how long Mercedes spent over there. The suspicion put his mind on edge.

“No, I was just upset that he hit me,” Mercedes‘ pleading eyes met his cold one. He knew she was telling the truth due to the vulnerability in her voice. Besides, her red patched cheek was enough evidence. Rage boiled in him. Dr Blake has just messed with the wrong woman.

“Did you hit her, Dr Blake?” Nathan’s gaze darkened, bringing out the guilt in Dr Blake. Dr Blake knew the consequence of such actions and tried to debunk them. He wasn’t brave enough to face the consequence of the assault.

“That’s a remote lie, Mr President, I’ve never hit a woman in my life. She…she….she’s framing me,” he stammered.

Nathan moved close to Mercedes, the red patch on her left cheek. “So how do you explain the handprints?” Nathan’s features were deadly when he asked.

“Mr President, I don’t know how she got that,” Dr Blake fibbed. If he accepts his offence, Nathan will press charges or fire him, which would destroy his reputation and ruin his future. He had a wife and a son therefore, he couldn’t allow it to happen.

“I’ve never known you to be a liar, Nico,” he shuddered when Nathan addressed him by his first name. It meant he was appealing to his conscience to tell him the truth. Then he continued, “and neither have I known Miss Winters to be a liar but for the record, I will play the CCTV footage in this office,” he ascertained.

Dr Blake broke out in a new wave of cold sweat. Mercedes was slightly elevated but she was also uncomfortable with the CCTV footage in her office, which she didn’t know about. “Mr President, that won’t be necessary. It was just a slip of the hand.” The words left Dr Blake’s mouth before he realized he had just confessed.

Meanwhile, Nathan had already dialled a number. “Vincent, to my office now,” he ordered, ending the call immediately. He glared at Dr Blake, “We shall settle this her way.” Then he turned to Mercedes, “What do you want to do, Miss Winters?” His voice was calm when he spoke to her this time, after having cracked the truth.

“I want to press charges.” Mercedes adamantly said. Dr Blake bowed his head in shame. How can he appease her?

“What do you say, Nico?” Vincent had just popped into the office. Sweat beaded his forehead when he heard the president asking the director. Confusion masked him. What was the director even doing here?

“Come on Nathan, I have a wife and a son. You can’t do this. Besides, she’s a woman. Your hated species,” he tried to plead with him on a personal level but Nathan’s mind was already made up. The moment he pasted that note on the wall, he knew Mercedes was his by hook or crook. It was just a matter of time before she would understand his obsession, as she rightly exclaimed the first time she stepped foot in his office.

“A compensation then,” he glared coldly and said. Dr Blake was a bit relaxed. From what happened last night, Mercedes made over $30,000. Besides, he worked for Nathan so he won’t be hard on him like Mr Hayes right?

“Okay, five thousand dollars? He proposed. Nathan turned to Mercedes. “Miss Winters?” By now, she understood that Nathan was asking for her opinion. If she accepted, then she just sold herself too cheap. Nathan raised her value last night so she couldn’t settle for less.

173

Chapter 16

“Fifty. For my medical bills, the pain inflicted, and the trauma shooting through me for being abused in the place I should be protected,” she said calmly. The corner of Nathan’s lips curled. Mercedes never ceases to amaze him every single day. But Dr Blake was furious. This was a daytime robbery and the president was condoning it.

“You!” He yelled

Mercedes inched closer to him, “fifty or I press charges,” she reckoned the furious man before her.

“Fine, fifty,” Dr Blake gritted his teeth and said. Mercedes smiled and sat back in her chair. She couldn’t believe how things had gotten back to being exciting. At least this could take care of her father and brother’s bills for a few months while she puts herself together. Right now, Nathan was her hero.

However, she was stunned when she realized that Nathan wasn’t done. “Vincent, give Mr Blake his deserved exit,” he authorised and turned to the door that led to his office.

Dr Blake followed suit, “No Nathan, you can’t do this. I already settled her,” he pleaded.

Nathan turned abruptly. “Yes indeed you settled her as an individual but as the president of this company, I will not condone sexual harassment or assault on any of my staff. Now get out,” be chided coldly.

Dr Blake was in a daze. He would never get a company that paid as much as Legend incorporated. Regret washed him so much, he paled. Seeing that there was no headway with Nathan, he turned to Mercedes. “Miss Winters, Miss Winters, look, I have a son. Please, I need this job,” he pleaded. Mercedes only but turned her head to the side. She hated men like Dr Blake. Even with a family, they still went about their promiscuous ways, harassing young women. Vincent had received countless complaints about Dr Blake but couldn’t act because he didn’t have proof. With everything that happened now, he could exert full authority.

“Dr Blake, please be a gentleman or I’ll call security,” Vincent charred and hurled Dr Blake out of the door.

Mercedes facepalmed when Nathan asked, “do you need a doctor?”

“No, I’ll be fine, thank you,” she quickly composed herself. She hadn’t realized that Nathan had returned to her office.

“Come with me,” he ordered. She was dumbfounded but followed him. “Sit,” he beckoned to the sofa.

Mercedes obeyed. She didn’t have the strength to argue. Nathan went to the kitchen and returned with an ice pack. Mercedes was taken aback when. he pressed it on her still burning cheek. She shivered slightly and tried to move away. “Stay still,” Nathan gasped.

His closeness exhumed her, his cologne’s fragrance filling her nostrils. His dark eyes carried a warmth she had never seen in him, it made the ligaments in her body feel funny. “I think it’s okay,” she murmured. Nathan withdrew his hand, taking the ice pack back to the kitchen. Mercedes stood up to go back to her office when she bumped into Nathan.

“Where are you going?” He asked her.

“To complete my work,” she nodded.

“It’s almost closing. You can round up, I’ll give you a lift,” Nathan gently said. He hoped to see the Griff guy tonight.

“Thank you, but I brought my car,” Mercedes quickly said to Nathan’s dismay. Then she suddenly recalled something.

“The CCTV in my office. Can you take it down?” Her voice sounded rather as a plea for consideration. Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

“How else can I ensure your safety?” Nathan asked vehemently. He doesn’t spy on his staff but CCTV was everywhere in the building for posterity’s sake.

“But how did you know?” Mercedes asked. But Nathan was smart. He knew exactly what Mercedes was assuming.

“You think I’ve been watching you through CCTV? Wrong. You left your door ajar and the noise was getting uncomfortable. But if you insist I take it down, then you move in here with me.”

Silence lingered for a while, allowing Mercedes to weigh her options. To work in the same office as Nathan? She would spend the whole day admiring his handsome features. The thought made her cheeks turn pink. “It’s alright. You can keep it there,” she obliged. She was about to step into her office when she heard Nathan’s Velvety voice behind her,

“Can I ask you a question?”

She nodded, “yes.” At this time, she was ready to answer all his questions. She just made $81,500 in two days, thanks to Nathan.

“Who is Griff?” The question startled her but then, she recalled the call she received in Nathan’s car and everything added up but why was Nathan asking?

“My best friend.” The next question followed as soon as the answer to the first was released.

“And you live together?” Nathan, as experienced as he was with having a best friend of the opposite sex, his mood dulled.

“Yes. We’ve been like that for years. He’s like an overbearing elder brother with an annoying girlfriend,” Mercedes casually let out.

Hearing that Griff had a girlfriend calmed Nathan slightly. “I see. See you tomorrow, Miss Winters,” his voice returned to its usual deep velvety

tone.

Nathan knew his plan was working. He was seeing the changes around her and knows that she’s warming up to him. He will trap her so hard with kindness, she won’t have the nerve to refuse him when he places his demand. He might not be a playboy but he sure knew how to tame a wild chick like Mercedes because, on the horizontal front, they were the same.

“See you Mr Legend,” she responded casually.

Mercedes was about to step out of her office when her phone beeped. It was an alert of $50,000. She quickly transferred the amount to her mother. Somehow, she could breathe and get a secured apartment close to her office from her allowances. She realized that working with Nathan wasn’t bad after all. He might be a devil to many, but he was an angel to her.

However, when her phone rang, she saw it was her mum and didn’t hesitate to answer it this time. Perhaps, she just wanted to thank her. Her heart stopped when she heard her mum’s teary voice.

“Merce, I know that I promised not to call you like this but I have to. Your brother’s condition was deteriorating and just when I was about to give up, we got a donor but the amount involved is so huge. I’m sorry Mercedes, I know that you’ve done a lot already but we have a chance to save your brother now. We can’t let it slip.”

Mercedes was sorrowful, not because her mother was demanding more money but for the fact that she didn’t ask for her well being. Well, her brother was the sick one. “How much is it?”

“$198,000. I already used the 30 and 50,000 you sent me as a deposit and kept the rest for small expenses. We only have forty–eight hours or else, we lose him,” her mother sobbed at the end of the line.

Mercedes‘ heart ached, her mind wild in search of where to get a loan. “Can’t they start with what you have deposited? I will get the rest of the almost $120,000. I just need a little time,” she assured her mother.

“Your brother’s condition isn’t looking good, Mercedes. They won’t start till we make full payment,” her mother’s sobs had turned to wails. Mercedes was expecting this but she knew she would never be ready no matter how much she could save. The amount involved was just too huge. Despite everything, she still encouraged her mum.

“Don’t worry, I’ll get the money for you tomorrow.”

“But Mercedes, how are you going to do that? I hope you didn’t join a bad company?” Mercedes was beginning to have a headache. One minute, she’s asking her for money. The next minute, she was suspected to have joined a bad company.

She sighed, “you promised not to worry mum, Oliver will be fine,” Mercedes said and ended the call after.

She didn’t leave immediately. She sat back in her chair, her thoughts running wild. Where could she borrow such an amount of money within forty–eight hours? She heard movements in Nathan’s office when suddenly, a thought crossed her mind.