CHAPTER 13: THE PRETENDER (CONTINUED)
MARYANN'S POV
At exactly 10:25 AM, I returned with a tray carrying two mugs and a bottle of water on a sleek silver platter.
I wore a calm expression, but my heart was still trying to convince my body that this wasn't some kind of cosmic test.
Everything about the way Henry moved, spoke, and even breathed carried a weight of control.
It was as if he had made up his mind to be made of stone, and was determined to make me believe it too.
I entered his office without knocking, just as he had instructed earlier, "No need to knock unless the door is shut."
Henry glanced up briefly from his chair but quickly returned his eyes to the document in front of him.
"Set the tray on the small table near the lounge," he said, voice clipped,
neutral.
"Yes, sir." I replied.
I arranged the items carefully, placing the black coffee in front of his usual seat and the green tea beside Mr. Anderson's name tag. I was about to leave when Henry's voice stopped me.
"You'll be sitting in on the meeting." He said.
I turned, surprised. "Me?" I I asked.
"You're my assistant, aren't you?" asked Henry.
"Yes, I just, wasn't sure if I should" I replied.
"I'll need you to take notes. Keep track of points raised, especially during the Q&A. You'll summarize everything afterward and send it to me before 3PM." He said.
I nodded. "Understood."
Henry looked at me directly for the first time since I walked in. "And
relax," he said, though his voice didn't soften. "You look like you're going to choke on your own breath." He said.
I blinked, startled. "Oh. I'm fine." I said.
"Good. Then look it."
He turned away just as the door opened and Mr. Anderson strolled in, followed by three other board members.
Henry's mask slipped on like a second skin.
Professional. Distant. Unbothered.
I greeted each guest with a small nod and quickly took my place at the far corner of the room, a digital tablet in hand and my stylus ready.
The meeting began.
For the next hour, Henry spoke with the calm assurance of someone used to commanding rooms. He navigated complex figures, strategy maps, and shareholder concerns without so much as a stutter.
I couldn't help but admire him. He was confident, but not arrogant. Every sentence had purpose, every pause was intentional.
Still, I caught him sneaking a glance at me. Twice.
And both times, he quickly looked away, continuing his point as if nothing had happened.
When the meeting ended, the board members stood, some chatting lightly, others checking their watches. Henry walked with them toward the door, shaking hands, exchanging pleasantries.
I gathered my notes quietly, preparing to leave.
"Maryann," Henry said from across the room, without looking at me. "Please stay back." He said.
My, heart skipped.
I stayed where I was until the last guest exited. The door clicked shut.
And for the first time in an hour, the room felt still again.
Henry walked back to the center of the room, stood facing the tall windows overlooking the city, his hands in his pockets.
"You did well," he said.
"You didn't fidget. You kept quiet.
You listened." said Henry.
I was still standing. "Thank you." I acknowledge.
"But next time, raise your head more. You're not hiding from anyone." He said.
"I wasn't hiding" I said.
"You were," he said, turning toward her slightly. "And I don't want my
assistant to look afraid to be in the room." He explained.
I swallowed hard. "Noted." I said.
He studied her for a beat, then added, "You're smart. You learn quickly. That's good." Said Henry.
"Thank you," i said, surprised again by the sudden compliment.
Henry nodded. "You're dismissed."
I lingered, unsure whether to say more. But I quickly thought better of it and left the room.
Hours Later..., By 2:45 PM, the summary of the meeting was complete, polished, and sitting in Henry's inbox.
I double-checked it thrice before sending. And then, I leaned back in my chair and stared at the ceiling.
It had been the longest, most emotionally loaded day of my life.
I didn't expect to feel… this much.
Yes, the job was demanding, but I was prepared for that.
What I hadn't prepared for was pretending not to care.
Pretending like I didn't feel his eyes on me. Like my stomach didn't twist
every time he walked by, his scent trailing behind him, clean and expensive. Like I didn't remember the exact way his smile tilted at that party.
And worst of all, pretending not to notice how hard he was trying to pretend too.
Because despite the professional walls he built, there were cracks.
The way his eyes lingered for a second too long.
The way his voice subtly changed when he spoke only to me, calm, but guarded.
Even the way he complimented me, sincere, but controlled.
It was there.
And it scared me.
I didn't want to be the foolish girl who fell for the boss. I wanted to be
the woman who earned my place, because of my skills, my brilliance, my resilience.
Not because my heart fluttered like a teenage crush.
Later That Evening...,
It was 5:00 PM sharp when I stepped into Henry's office one last time to submit a printed version of the day's summary. I placed it neatly on his desk. Henry looked up from his screen.
"That'll be all for today," he said.
I nodded. "Have a good evening, sir."
I turned to go.
"Maryann," he called softly, just as I reached the door.
I paused, hand on the handle.
"Yes?"
There was a beat of silence before he finally said, "You did well. Today.
You really did."
I turned slightly, my eyes meeting his.
"Thank you." I said.
Then he looked away again. "See you tomorrow." He said.
I opened the door and stepped out without another word.
But as the door closed behind me, Henry leaned back in his chair and let out a slow, quiet breath.
What the hell are you doing, Henry?
He told himself it was nothing. That she was just a new hire. A capable one.
And he would continue to pretend.
Because that was safer, for him, for her, for the company.
But deep down, even he wasn't sure how long the pretending would last.