The Devil and His Secret

.Chapter Nine.

I feel my blood run cold as I see William becoming paler by the minute and how he start to froth in the mouth. If something bad really does happen to him because of my cooking, even though it is unintentional, I could really go to jail. Actually, I'm also quite insulted that my cooking is actually this bad.

I have already tried looking for hidden cameras and wait for Ashton Kutcher to leap out of nowhere and say, “You're punk'd!” but I have given up on the thought because of two reasons:

First being the fact that William Byrne will never get himself involved in anything that will require him to look anything less than umm... a rich, sexy, successful man and require him to get help from lowly people like me.

Second, The show, Punk'd, ended years ago. So yeah, I'm all alone in this.

“Hang on! I'll get help as soon as we reach the next floor!” I assure William as I pound on the elevator keys.

“Quit that! The--” He squeezes his stomach in pain before continuing, “ The elevator might break down idiot!”

He has just called me an idiot.

I try to calm my self down despite feeling a nerve crack somewhere and my increasing desire of strangling him so he'll choke on his vomit. Okay that's just creepy.

“Look, let's not fight here shall we? You still have the guts to insult me when you're in such a state? Give your self a break! I mean, really.” I say a matter of factly as I approach him to help him prop himself up.

He glowers at me before he turns his face away as another batch of puke came.

“Umm...I said those with good intentions.” I add just to clear misunderstandings as well, what I have just said sounded well, nasty.

As he cough like he has a soccer ball stuck in his throat, he glares at me before saying, “You're really going to ge...” He pauses and he starts to look at me like he wants to flay me alive. All I am doing is pinching my nose as the vomit's smell became unbearable. What's wrong about that?

“Sorry. It's the smell. Please continue what you were saying.” I smile and I think my kind gesture has only made him angrier.

“Forget it.” He mumbles.

Ding.

Light emanating from the large, floor to ceiling windows of the 19th floor rush in the dim elevator and fresh air fill the four corners of it as well. I have never felt so blissful.

“Okay, I'll get help no-” Just when I am about to run out to call for help, I see a familiar figure which is made effulgent by the rays of the sun seeping through the window behind him.

Now I'm sure Eric's definitely an angel disguised in a business suit.

“Here's my chance!” I tell my self as I quickly open my mouth to say, “Eric! I need your help! Willi--”

He smiles when I smile at him as well but as he walk closer to the open elevator, his eyes widen and he quickly looks away. I catch his peaceful expression dramatically change to that of a person getting his innards rotated at a roller coaster ride.

“Ugh..what's that sme-” He says in a low voice as if trying not to show me that he's disgusted.

He catches my expression of embarrassment and being the nice guy that he is, he quickly bears with the pungent odor and try to look as if he's not bothered by it.

“Is there anything you need?” He stops just before he steps in the elevator and looks over my shoulder.

Looking at how his eyes widen and how he has quickly rush to William's side, I figure out there's no need for me to answer.

“What happened? Hey, are you alright?” Eric looks up to me after he helps William stand up by supporting his back and letting him put his arm around his broad shoulders.

I pick up William's briefcase as well as the proposal I have given him this morning and then I answer Eric's question, “I think it's food poisoning--” I gulp as a sudden pang of guilt hit me knowing that this might have been caused by my own apple cobbler.

I was oblivious to the surrounding that only when William has gotten out of the elevator have I realized how we are now completely surrounded by onlookers.

“Someone call the ambulance.” Eric says as I follow them closely behind.

William has told me not to call the ambulance but he doesn't protest this time. He must be in so much pain.

“Is that the marketing director?” One office lady asks loudly.

“What happened? Is it fatigue? I heard he's been having long overtime at work lately.” Another onlooker mumbles.

Amidst the buzzes of the crowd mumbling, William's distinctive, deep voice and authoritative tone roaring from his emaciated body has made everyone hush down.

“Get back to work!” He growls.

I catch glimpse of his face – cheeks lucid, lips chapped. His eyebrows are furrowed and his long lashes gently line his closed lids. He looks nothing like the powerful boss everyone fear. Yet, despite the evident look of suffering on his beautiful face, I can see an expression of disappointment.

I couldn't blame him. After all, the meeting with the board today is very important to him. He has been preparing for it for days and then he just falls ill. It just sucks that even I sympathize with him even though he's my most hated person next to my Aunt Caroline and her daughters.

“Sam, are you listening?” Eric reiterates and I find my self oblivious to what he has been saying.

“I'm sorry. I was just--” I try to explain but as Eric help William sit on a couch in the hallway, he quickly speaks again.

“I was just asking whether you're okay. You looked like you were out of it.” Eric puts his hand over my shoulder and smiles, “If it's about him,” He pauses and points to William. “Don't worry. He'll be fine. Simple food poisoning can't take him out.”

Eric looks at me like he has just seen a ghost and I am about to wonder why until I felt tears streaming down my eyes.

“Hey, it's all fine. Don't cry! You did what you can to help him so--” Eric look flustered but I couldn't see his face clearly anymore as tears make my vision blurry.

Why am I crying? I want to ask my self but I know that in the back of my head, I know the answer. None of these would've happened if I never left my cobbler in his fridge which is highly likely to be the cause of his food poisoning.

I have planned to be on his good side but I might have as well rose in ranks of people he hates the most and I am probably the next employee he will fire. This day is a very important day to him and I just ruined his chances of seizing that opportunity to close whatever deal he has to close about that stupid proposal he made me do.

“Thanks Eric. I'm fine now.” I say as I wipe my tears.

Eric smiles and soon our stolen moment together ends when paramedics arrive and start to put William on a stretcher. Along with them are some eminent figures in the company who hover over William and bombard him with questions.

“William, my good friend! What should we do with the meeting with the board later? Can you make it?” One old, bald man asks.

“Where are the proposals? The meeting's in five minutes, we have to-” The other old man with thinning hair is cut mid sentence when Eric interrupts and tells them off.

“Now is not the right time for that. Pardon me but that's insensitive of you to prioritize those things over his health.” Eric darts them a cold stare before following the paramedics carry William out.

I run after them with the briefcase. I know I have to apologize for being insensitive to William just now as well.

“William!” I yell over the shoulders of the paramedics as they carry him in the ambulance.

“I'm...” I hesitate for a moment but gets on with it, “I'm sorry!” I yell.

William opens his eyes lightly and glares at me. “I don't want to see you right now. Just,...” He grimaces in pain before continuing, “just.. get lost.”

I stand there unable to believe that it would hurt so much to hear such thing from someone I hardly care about.

“What the he--” I want to shout back but I keep my mouth shut as the ambulance doors close taking William and Eric away.

I remember that I still have the proposal with me and his briefcase as well. That's when what the old jeezer has said just now start to resound in my head, “The meeting's in five minutes.”

I have read the proposal thousands of time and I know I should at least try to make it up to William. Before I knew it, I am already running to the receptionist asking where the meeting is held.

“Sorry but the meeting has started.” The receptionist, Steven, (Yes I know his name) says.

I raise William's briefcase as well as the folder. “These, someone forgot these. It's needed for the meeting.” I exclaim.

“Okay, okay. Easy there. The meeting's held at the 4th conference hall on the 28th floor.” He gives me this irritated look before gesturing at me to go away.

“Thanks.” I say bitterly as I run to the nearest elevator.

My heart is palpitating wildly as the ride up to the 28th floor felt like an eternity. I flip through the proposals and I read William's report again.

“Samantha, you can pull it off.” I tell my self as my hands start to tremble. “You will show him you can do it! He'll regret doing all those evil things like...like...asking you to get lost.”

I find my self suddenly becoming gloomy but the sound of elevator indicating the arrival on the 28th floor has made me pull my self together. I held the proposal folder tightly while my other hand carry William's suitcase. I stop in front of the intimidating large doors that lead to the conference room.

From were I'm standing, I can hear that it has already started. I feel shaky; nevertheless, I take a deep breath and push open the doors. Everyone in the room became silent and all eyes of the the smartly dressed, important-looking people all sitting around the long table are on me.

I feel my knees wobble as I see the colossal board where an incomprehensible graph is projected and realize how board meetings are no child's play. Okay so I miscalculated. I'm doomed and embarrassed.

No one is talking so I go ahead and break the awkward silence.

“Excuse me. I'm Samantha Meester from the sales department. I came here to--” I manage to say without stuttering.

I notice one middle aged man with graying blond hair rising from his seat and is about to approach me.

“Sorry but this is an important meeting and you are unauthorized. It would be appreciated if you leave.” He tells me with an unchanging expression on his face with the aura of aloofness.

“Umm...” I start to stutter. I want to show them William's work but I have just been told off by a high-ranking office guy.

“No, Richard. Let her speak.” I hear someone, with the same British accent as Eric, say. I search for his face and I see a frail looking old man clad in a dark suit with a genial smile that is very infectious.

I smile back awkwardly, appreciating his gesture of kindness. No one has protested against him and even the scary looking Richard acquiesced

“Thank you.” I reply to him and he nods his head gently in acknowledgment. “I believe you already heard what happened to Mr. William Byrne.”

I put down William's suitcase and my trembling starts to ease up. I hold out the proposal next and continue, “I have the documents which I believe is significant for him to show you all in this meeting.”

“Now, Miss Meester, can you tell me what is inside the folder?” The same old man asks.

I eagerly reply, “It's all the proposals for new products and improvements on the existing products of the company. Even Mr. Byrne himself has a proposal.”

I quickly flip through the proposal and read William's proposal for the Burn Power bars as well as others like the S.H.I.T. Kit or Standard Horseback riding Intensive Training Kit.

The old man's face lightens up and he nods as I read through the reports. I catch glimpses of other board member's faces - some are yawning, chatting with each other, rolling their eyes, checking their blackberries or just downright diss my speech by dozing off - clearly, they take my presence as a joke and I'm not one to blame them.

After finishing my short speech, a lone applause from the same old man reverberates in the room. His head, covered with thin white hair shine under the light and I swear it has made him look like some holy person.

“Very well then young lady. Thank you for your presentation." He looks at the other men and women in the room before adding, "I'll consider hearing those interesting proposals from William once he recuperates. Do tell him that I wish him well.” He stops clapping his hands and I grin at him.

“Thank you! Thank you very much!” I repeatedly say and soon, the Richard guy is escorting me out.

“You should be pleased that the president heard you out. It doesn't happen everyday.” He mumbles as he slips back in the conference room before closing the doors shut.

I still couldn't believe what I just did. Who knew the president's such a nice old man?

The feeling of satisfaction and relief kept surging through my veins. Now, my conscience is clear and I feel that I could have the courage to apologize to William again for stirring his life - finding out his secret and possibly causing his food poisoning.

Well, my hard work has paid off too - God knows how many times I had to re-do that proposal. I just hope William would finally see how I'm not the pushover and idiot that he thinks I am. However, right now I have to keep my fingers crossed and pray that he gets better and doesn't find out that I'm the one who made the apple cobbler.

A/N:

Wow. I updated after 10 thousand years!Sorry for the long wait. My exams are over after next week and I swear updates wouldn't take forever again.

This chapter's quite long but you get introduced to many characters that would be very important later on in the story. The next chapter will reveal more things about William and his adorable son, Lucas. Hmm...There's a surprise for you in the next chapter too!

Thanks to all faves, alerts and reviews! Tell me what you think :)