Chapter 420 – Beginning with a Daring Encounter

“I was going to call you.”

“Now you don’t have to. I’m waiting outside.”

“Good. Can you wait at the lobby instead?” Celsie asked as she picked up her handbag and walked out of her office quickly, not wanting to keep him waiting much longer.

“Why the Lobby?” Benne asked curiously, but Celsie had hung up already, so he got out of the car and went inside the building to do as she had asked.

Once he got to the lobby, he stood there looking around and wondering why she wanted him to wait there when she very well knew that he preferred not to have any interaction with the staff.

The lobby seemed busy as most of the staff were already heading for the door, and when they saw him, they decided to hang around and see why he was just standing there.

“ACE!” Celsie called in a loud voice when she got out of the elevator and saw him standing there.

She raised one hand above her head to wave at Benne while smiling happily at him as she approached him, causing all eyes to turn in her direction.

Benne had a wide smile on his face as he met her halfway while wondering what had prompted her to behave in such a surprising manner.

“I missed you,” Celsie said as she embraced him and then pulled back to kiss his lips.

Most of the staff who had been hanging around before Celsie got their attention watched the scene with varying degrees of emotion. The elderly ones amongst them smiled fondly as the duo reminded them of their younger days. The single ladies sighed enviously, thinking about how lucky Celsie was to have gotten a man like Benne, while the guys tried not to envy Benne, who had not just the money but the looks to make all the women want him too.

“What are you doing?” Benne asked with an amused smile as he held on to her before she could pull away and kissed her in a way that made butterflies flutter in her belly before letting go.

Celsie tried to blink back the mist of desire from her eyes and focus on him, “Kissing my boyfriend, and getting kissed by my boyfriend.”

“I thought you didn’t like such public displays of affection,” Benne said as he continued to look down at her like she was his favorite dish.

She cleared her throat, “I didn’t, but I haven’t seen you for the past eight hours. I missed you,” Celsie said, but Benne didn’t believe her. He could tell there was more to it than she was saying.

Seeing how he continued to stare at her like he was waiting for the truth, she shrugged, “I also heard some ladies talking about me, so I decided to give them something more entertaining to talk about,” Celsie said, and Benne chuckled.

“I thought as much. I can’t complain. I like this form of entertainment,” Benne said as he took her hand, ready to leave, but he stopped and looked at her again when it occurred to him that he didn’t even know what they had said, “What did they say, though?”

“Nothing the CEO should worry about. Just silly stuff that jealous colleagues gossip about. And don’t worry, I handled them well,” she assured him with a bright smile, and Benne looked at her curiously as they headed for the door.

Everyone who had been watching them quickly went about their own business, pretending to be busy as the couple walked away.

“How did you handle them?” Benne asked, and she told him how she had threatened to report to the CEOs and get them fired, and Benne laughed.

“You should keep good your threat. What are their names?” Benne asked, and Celsie waved off the question.

“I didn’t see any need to get their names. I didn’t really mean the threat. I just wanted to let them know I heard them in a dramatic manner,” she said with a grin, and Benne chuckled as he held out the passenger door for her to get into the car.

“I’m still curious to know what they said to make you behave this way,” Benne said as he shut the door and went around the car to get into his seat.

Celsie shrugged, “They didn’t believe the story of how we met, and one of them said Harry probably sent me to seduce you so you would fall in love with me and make him the Co-CEO,” Celsie said, and Benne turned to her in disbelief.

“I can’t believe we still have employees that reason that way,” Benne said with a shake of his head.

“Don’t worry about them. I’m sure they will avoid me for some time while also having sleepless nights about losing their jobs. Every time your name is mentioned, their hearts will race, thinking it’s about the termination of their employment,” Celsie said with satisfaction, and Benne smiled.

“I’ve never seen this wicked part of you before,” Benne said, and Celsie smirked.

“There are many parts you haven’t seen, trust me,” she said with a wink making Benne chuckle.

“I look forward to seeing them all. Let’s go home. We have to prepare for dinner with Harry and his dad,” Benne said as he turned on the car’s ignition.

“What’s his dad like?” Celsie asked curiously.

“He’s witty, funny, and easygoing. You will like him,” Benne said, and Celsie smiled.

“That sounds like you are describing Harry. What about his mother?” Celsie asked curiously.

“She died while giving birth to Harry,” Benne said, and Celsie’s face fell.

“That’s sad.”

“Yeah, it is. How was work today?” Benne asked, wanting to change the subject.

“Work was okay. By the way, Amy needs to be away for some time. Will it be okay if I get a temporary replacement for her? I plan to get Harry’s approval too,” Celsie said, and Benne glanced at her.

“Why? Is something wrong with her?” Benne asked and listened quietly as Celsie explained the situation to him.

Benne sighed when she finished. Amy was the only member of Celsie’s team who he liked anyway. “That’s sad. You can do as you please. Just make sure whoever the replacement is, is female,” Benne said, and Celsie laughed softly.

“Sure, I will. Thank you. So what about you? How was work today? Were you able to meet with those ladies as planned?” Celsie asked curiously.

“Yes, I met with the CEO. She was more receptive than I expected,” Benne said as he told her about his meeting with Priscilla.

“That sounds too easy. It’s almost like she was waiting to backstab Anita’s mother. Could it be their plan to make us relax?” Celsie asked thoughtfully.

---