"Fair enough," Marius conceded, taking a step back to create space between them. "You are right. Our personal lives should not interfere with our professional responsibilities." He moved back toward his desk and sat down, picking up his glass of scotch but not drinking it. "Alright then, Secretary Miller. From this point forward, we operate strictly within the boundaries of employer-employee dynamics." He swirled the liquid in his glass thoughtfully. "Which means no discussing your relationship with Oliver during work hours. No sharing personal details. Just business."
"I am glad we are on the same page," Harper says professionally with a nod. "I will get back to work. Do you still want me to cancel your afternoon plans?" Marius's gaze lingered on her for a moment, considering her question. He took a final sip of his scotch before setting the glass aside with decisive click. "Yes, cancel them," he said, his tone retuning to business-like authority. "Tell her… something came up unexpectedly with Knox's campaign. That should cover it." He stood up and walked back toward Harper, stopping beside her. "And while you are at it, send an email to Knox confirming tomorrow's meeting time at eight AM sharp. No excuses." He leaned against the edge of her desk, crossing her arms as he watched her begin typing at her computer. "I expect you to be prepared for this project, Harper. Oliver may have given Knox free rein, but ultimately it is my department responsible for execution." His eyes scanned over her screen, reding the email she was typing:
Dear Mr. Knox,
I hope you are doing well.
I would like to confirm our meeting scheduled for 8:00 AM on 20 May. Please let me know if there are any changes to the time or location.
I look forward to meeting with you.
Kind regards,
Advertisement department
Marius returned to her desk as she opened up his social calendar to find the contact details for the person he has plants for and then drafts another email:
Hi Teresa Davis,
Marius hopes you are doing well. He wanted to let you know that unfortunately he needs to cancel your date tonight. Something has come up regarding a new campaign with the design department, and he will not be able to make it.
He is really sorry for the inconvenience and appreciate your understanding.
Take care,
Marius Zane
Fifteen minutes before five, the blond employee from this morning shows up and storms into Marius's office. "Really, Marius?" she says irritated. "You are cancelling out date via email sent by your secretary?" Marius's expression immediately darkened as Tera stormed into his office, his professional demeanour cracking under the sudden interruption. He stood abruptly, his chair scraping against the floor. "Tera, I told Harper to handle it," he said through gritted teeth, his voice carrying across the office space. "She is my secretary. That is what secretaries do." He moved around his desk toward Tera, his movements tense with irritation. "If you have a problem with how I manage my schedule, you can take it up with me directly. Not my employees." From her desk across the room, Harper watched the scene unfold with professional detachment. She continued typing at her computer, though her finger moved slightly slower as she listened to the heated exchange between Marius and Tera.
"Do not patronize me," Tera shot back, placing her hands on her hips defiantly. "I am upset because you are treating me like a business meeting. Could you not have texted me yourself?" her tone becomes softer as she speaks. Marius's anger softened slightly at her change in tone, though his frustration remained evident. He ran a hand through his hair, clearly exasperated by the entire situation. "Of course I could have texted you," he admitted gruffly. "But Harper is my secretary, Tera. It is her job to manage my schedule, not mine." He gestured vaguely toward Harper's desk across the office. "I have a campaign launch to prepare for with Knox tomorrow morning. My focus needs to be on that, not sending personal texts." Marius's eyes flickered briefly toward Harper before returning to Tera. "Look, I am sorry if it came across as dismissive. But this project is important, and I can't afford distractions right now." Tera crossed her arms, her expression still hurt but less angry. "So, I am a distraction now? Just because you have a big meeting with the design department?"
Marius's jaw clenched at Tera's question, clearly struggling to balance his professional obligations with her emotional needs. "No, Tera. You are never a distraction," he said more gently, his tone softening slightly. "But my job requires focus. And right now, that campaign with Knox is consuming all my bandwidth." He moved closer to her, reaching out tentatively to touch her arm. "Look, how about this? After the meeting tomorrow morning, I will make it up to you properly. Dinner somewhere nice, just the two of us." Across the office, Harper continued typing steadily, though her fingers occasionally paused as she absorbed Marius's reassuring words to his girlfriend. Her expression remained perfectly neutral, but there was a subtle tightness around her mouth that suggested she was processing more than just workplace tasks. Marius glanced toward Harper's desk again before turning back fully to Tera.
Tera lightly punches Marius on the arm. "I was going to get you to apologize and then bring you some late night take away," she said with a pout. "But now, I think I will go out with someone else and wait for you to come crawling back." Marius caught her first easily, his grip firm but gentle around her wrist. A wry smile tugged at the corners of his mouth as he listened to her treat. "Of really?" he challenged, pulling her slightly closer. "And who exactly are you going to find who can compare to me? Some boring accountants from finance? A sales rep who only cares about commissions?" his voice dropped lower, becoming more intimate despite their public setting. "You know no one makes you laugh like I do, Tera. No one makes you forget about work stress like I can."