Chapter 22
Dead! I Am Dead!
[Iris’s POV]
Through my closed eyes, I could feel the warm sunrays dancing across my face. I groggily opened my eyes and squinted against the light as I looked over at the clock on my nightstand.
“Oh, thank God! I can take my time this morning!”
Excited that I didn’t have to worry about being late, I stretched lazily in my bed and finally got up. Shuffling my feet down the hall toward the kitchen, I spotted the panty-litterer sitting quietly on my sofa flipping through a book. She was probably studying, but I was too mad to care. Noiselessly, I took four long strides and grabbed a fistful of her short hair. She screeched in pain as her wide eyes met mine.
“Daisy, my beloved little bitch, it was sure bold of you to return to the scene of the crime! How dare you keep bringing your nasty boyfriend to fuck in my apartment?”
Gripping my wrist to try and move my hand, she whined, “Iris—you know that I live in a girl’s dorm. I can’t very well take him there now, can I? It was only a few times this week! Why are you so upset?”
Upset?! Upset didn’t even cover the half of it! Even if I flayed her alive, it wouldn’t be enough to satisfy my anger. Last night when the president looked at the discarded underwear, I could see my reputation crumbling right in front of me. It was so fucking embarrassing!
“Are you serious?! Why do you always leave your damned panties on my sofa, huh? Christ! The president saw them and—”
She gasped, “Wait? What? The president was here last night? Really?!”
I finally let go of her hair and rubbed my aching temples. A migraine was on its way, I just knew it. Daisy started tugging on my arm for an explanation.
“Tell me the details, babe! How far did you two go? Wow, you work fast. Did he fall in love with you at first sight or something? Did you guys sleep together?”
“Shit, I didn’t mean to tell her anything—I was having such a nice morning too,” I mournfully thought as she bounced up and down on the sofa.
The pressure in my head continued to build and I snapped. Glaring at her I yelled, “Could you, please, just shut up! He just came inside for some coffee. So whatever you’re assuming happened, didn’t!” Through gritted teeth, I warned, “And if I EVER see your frilly ass panties on my couch again, I will throw you out along with them! Got it, pumpkin?”
Opening her mouth to talk some more, I held up my hand to stop her.
“Not another word, Daisy. I have to get ready and you’re not helping, so don’t forget to shut the door on your way out.”
She huffed as she stood up and strode toward the door. Turning around she flashed a wicked grin and while winking at me, she said, “Have a good day at work!”
“Lord, that girl is going to give me grey hair,” I said sighing tiredly. I went back into my room to get ready.
I chose a simple blue dress and pulled my hair back into a ponytail. Satisfied with my appearance, I went to the kitchen, stuffed some snacks into my purse and headed to work.
…
Arriving at the president’s villa, I went through the routine checks and continued toward the dining hall. I was expecting to find President Gray at breakfast. However, instead of seeing my employer, I was greeted by the sight of a woman in her forties holding the daily paper. She was charming looking, despite her apparent age and had an inviting air of grace about her. Being a total stranger, I wasn’t sure if I should approach her or not. But before I could utter a word, she lifted her curious gaze to me.
“I guess that you are the new secretary?”
I offered her a warm smile. “Yes. Good morning, Madam. My name is Iris Young.”
Patting the empty seat next to her, she said, “Please have a seat, my dear. I’m very pleased to meet you. I'm Xavier's mother.”
I was a bit confused. Why was she so excited to meet me? I was just the secretary. Wouldn’t be odd for someone like me to converse with someone of her status? But seeing the way her eyes lit up as she invited me to sit beside of her, I couldn’t refuse. As I sat down, she took my hand and leaned toward me like she was about to tell me the world’s biggest secret.
“Oh, my dear! Xavier can be the most overbearing and unmanageable man in the world, can’t he? Don't mind him though, if he bullies you just come to me and I’ll talk to him.”
I stared at the woman and absentmindedly nodded my head. Looking at her concerned expression, one would think I was the president’s girlfriend instead of his secretary. She then went on chatting with me about the weather and other random things that had happened throughout her morning. After a couple of minutes, a young girl who looked to be around eighteen entered the room. Marching straight up to the president’s mother, the girl wrapped her arms around the woman and gave her a huge hug.
“Mother, why did you wake up so early this morning?” Looking over at me she paused and then grinned. “Oh, I’m so sorry. I didn’t see that we hae a guest here this morning.”
She was asking about my commute when a phone on the coffee table started to vibrate. Stooping down to pick up the phone, she looked at the screen.
“Brother really needs to keep up with his stuff. Should I go give this to him?”
Mrs. Gray snatched the phone from her daughter’s hand and turned to me with a smile.
“Dear, Xavier is at the pool. Could you go and give this him? It might be urgent.”
I suddenly felt extremely uncomfortable. The pool?
Before I could respond, she urged, “Hurry up now, dear.”
After receiving directions to the pool, I trudged up the stairs. The phone kept vibrating in my hand and I quickened my pace. Locating the blue glass door, which indicated the pool area, I pushed it open.
I found him resting in a corner of the large pool. His eyes were closed and his head rested on well defined arms which were propped up onto the concrete side. Wisps of the president’s jet black hair fell across his forehead and I was truly awestruck by his beauty. The harsh sound of the vibrating phone jerked me out of my trailing thoughts. Not opening his eyes at the incessant noise, I wondered if he had fallen asleep.
“Mr. President, here’s your phone. It’s been ringing for a few minutes now.”
He seemed to be in a daze as he struggled to open his eyes. He was exhausted. Even with me in his private pool area, he didn’t seem to be surprised as he motioned for me to hand him the phone. Seeing as I had completed my errand, I turned around to leave.
However, I stopped dead in my tracks as I saw the biggest snake in my life coming towards me. It was nearly twenty meters long and its long black tongue darted in and out. The only time that I had ever seen an actual python was either on TV or in the zoo. Horrified, I staggered backwards.
“Dead! I'm so very dead!” I thought as I fell backwards.