Accidental Marriage With Mr Billioniare
Chapter 88: CHANGES IN THE OFFICE

Chapter 88: CHANGES IN THE OFFICE

Astrid stepped into the office, and all eyes instinctively shifted toward her.

However, the gaze that once pierced her with hatred now held a mixture of fear and respect.

Astrid sensed the change in atmosphere immediately, feeling overwhelmed by their sudden shift.

She couldn’t tell why they were acting this way but she loved it already.

She navigated through the room, her feet carrying her toward her familiar workspace.

There, she found Manny, whose expression hinted at a warm greeting. "Good morning," Astrid whispered, settling into her chair.

"Good morning to you too," Manny replied, her voice tinged with genuine warmth, a first in their interactions.

"Maybe she has thought of something else she has planned to do to her." Astrid thought.

But anyway Astrid’s lips curled into a gentle smile as she turned on her computer.

As her monitor flickered to life, her gaze fell upon a delightful surprise she hadn’t noticed at first.

A delicate vase held a bouquet of dainty flowers, their petals swaying gently in the soft office breeze.

Beside them, a plate of assorted snacks beckoned, each one carefully selected to soothe her senses.

Astrid’s eyes sparkled as she read heartfelt messages attached to each snack:

"Hope these chocolates lift your spirits!"

"Fresh fruit to nourish your body and soul."

"Your favorite coffee brewed just for you."

Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes as she unfolded letters from colleagues.

"Astrid, you’re an inspiration."

"Thank you for your resilience."

"Get well soon, we care."

One note scribbled in crayon, melted her heart, "Astrid, you’re awesome! Get well soon!"

Astrid’s face glowed with a radiant smile as she looked up, expecting Manny’s gaze.

Instead, the office averted their eyes, hastily returning to screens. The sudden change was a noticeable awkwardness.

It was the first time anyone had planned all this so she was ready to read all the letters.

She was still doing so until she came across Manny’s letter. "Astrid, I’m deeply sorry for my actions. Wishing you a speedy recovery and happiness."

Astrid’s smile softened, she glanced at Manny, who looked down, focusing on her system.

"Thank you, everyone," Astrid cooed, regaining their attention. They looked up, surprised by her warmth, expecting a cold attitude because of how they had treated her in the past.

Returning to business, Astrid tapped her laptop, killing time as she began sketching out ideas from Julian and Rowan on their next project they were about to work on.

Not until Julian approached her desk,

"Astrid," he said, his voice low and gentle, a rarity.

She felt chills, a weird sensation erupting within. Julian rarely used her name and anytime he did, it set a shiver down her spine

"Let’s talk," he said, walking away not waiting for a response..

Astrid nodded, following, her heart racing. Despite their improving relationship, she controls herself to avoid overstepping boundaries.

As they walked, Astrid sensed anticipation. What did Julian want to discuss? Work projects? Or something more?

She walked right into the office with Ryan tagging along and as they shut the door, she could feel the tension in the room already.

"Did I do anything wrong?" she asked innocently, her eyes flickering several as she stared at him.

"Meeting with the president," he answered and Astrid’s eyes widened.

"I put it in... did you miss it because of me?" She was genuinely concerned and scared he was going to get mad at her now.

"No, I didn’t miss the meeting but you are fooled to think the president had called for the meeting," she was too speechless to speak.

"Fooled? I asked about all the..."

"It’s not your fault you don’t have to be worried, but it is a tiny issue I have regarding your information being with someone."

She stared at him wondering who she was talking about, "I don’t follow what you mean," she let out and he sighed.

"Rowan.." he mentioned the name and observed her reaction before he proceeded.

"What in the heck of a relationship do you have with him that he had your details?" Then a small smirk appeared on her face and Julian didn’t like it.

"He is a fr..."

"Don’t you dare complete that statement," he interrupted and the smile disappeared from her face.

Julian dismissed Ryan with a gesture, and he departed without hesitation after showing courtesy.

"Give me your phone," Julian commanded, his eyes narrowing." As he moved closer to her.

Astrid squinted, drawing back. "No," her firm, stern voice countered.

Julian’s eyebrows furrowed in surprise. "What?"

"I am not handing you my phone," Astrid reiterated, her hands clasped behind her.

Julian’s expression darkened. "Are you going to force me to take it?"

Astrid stood firm, meeting his gaze. "Rowan has my details for work purposes. He’s sending ideas to collaborate with yours. There is nothing more than that between us."

Julian’s patience wore thin. "Hand me the phone now!"

His icy tone sent shivers, but Astrid refused. "I am your secretary, not your possession. You can’t have my phone"

Julian stormed toward her, turning her against the wall. He grasped her hands, retrieving the phone as she groaned.

"Hey! That’s an invasion of privacy! Return my phone!" Astrid yelled.

Julian smirked, pinning her against the door. "You are my secretary, I agreed. More importantly, my wife and you are disobeying my warnings about contacting men."

Astrid’s lips parted, speechless. She hadn’t refused due to Rowan, but because of her mom’s hospital expenses. She didn’t want Julian to see all that.

"Fine! Take it... I don’t want it anymore! Enjoy your stupid phone husband!" Astrid shouted, stomping her foot.

As she tried to leave, Julian pulled her back, shocking her the way she had gotten mad. If there was one thing he needed now was just to make her happy, he did not try to make her mad and stay away from him. He pulled her back now embracing her tightly.

"Let me go!" Astrid yelled, annoyed.

"Why?" Julian whispered his face inches from hers.

"You’re... possessive," Astrid struggled, trying to break free.

Julian’s grip tightened. "I hate when other men have access to you, not just me."

Astrid’s body jerked, but Julian refused to release her. His warm breath caressed her skin.

"I hate sharing your attention," Julian confessed, his voice laced with vulnerability.

"I would let this go and wouldn’t do so again," he handed the phone to her immediately and let her go.

She glanced back at him and glared, "I hate you," she grumbled and he smirked.

"That wasn’t what I heard," he replied and this made her face turn red.

She swallowed hard and ran out of his office, finding her way back to her space.

She giggled gently at his words, still reminiscing those few minutes a notification popped into her system.

"This is the file needed for the contract, so... draft out the rules," she smiled calmly at this.

She doesn’t know why he has so much faith in her but she was going to prove him right.

Her eyes glanced through the contract, as she read the blueprint given by her father.

The Daniels are known for their spectacular architectural works, but they begin to go down the drain ever since her father took over from her mother.

Gambling and cheating made him go into debt, he had his name soured among powerful men and made them ruin him.

His last straw was losing his company until he decided to seek his daughter to save the company which had led to Astrid getting married to Julian.

She glanced through the ideas given by her father and she could see some manipulations in it.

Though she might be a high school dropout she had some basic ideas regarding this.

She began highlighting all the mistakes so she could send them to Desmond when a message dropped on her phone.

She didn’t take it seriously and was so focused on her job that the phone buzzed continuously.

She picked up her phone tirelessly and placed the phone on her ear without checking the caller ID.

"Hi, Mrs. Logan... a guardian had come for your mum, he is identified as her husband." She could recognize the voice of the caller.

Her mum’s doctor.

Astrid jumped from her seat startling Manny in the process, "Never hand her over to him..." she grumbled almost in tears.

"You can talk to him," the doctor let out, and then the phone was handed to Josh.

"You underestimated me," came in Josh’s eerie voice.

"Don’t you do anything to my mother," she announced, a bit low as she found her way out of the company.

"Your mother’s life is in my hands... Make a mistake about that contract, and I will make you regret it."Astrid’s eyes widened as Josh’s threat hung in the air.

She was about to run out of the company when fear gripped her, memories of Manny’s betrayal flooding back.

She swiftly gathered her belongings, slamming her laptop shut and snatching her flash drive.

Without hesitation, Astrid rushed out of the office.

Meanwhile, Julian typed away on his laptop, until a message notification interrupted his work.

Curiosity piqued, he opened the file, revealing a shocking video.

The video displayed Astrid kissing a mysterious man, his face blurred by shadows.

Astrid’s face, however, was unmistakable. He could tell where this was in his parking lot and it was the same new car he had gotten for Astrid.

Julian’s face darkened, his jaw clenched. He replayed the video, analyzing every frame. The image of Astrid with another man seared into his mind.

"How could she?" he whispered, anger and hurt entwining.