Stand By Me Darling
Chapter 292: Entering The Sinclair Mansion Again

Chapter 292: Entering The Sinclair Mansion Again

Arthur came to the little break room in the second floor where Talia. It was where most of the temporary low level data-entry workers who are mostly straight out of college are working. And a good percentage of them are the ones who are supporting the nationalisation of Northern Star since they think their hardwork isn’t rewarded and they are working for peanuts.

But anyone who became a permanent worker knows the benefits that comes with working in one of the biggest conglomerates in the world.

As Arthur got out of the elevator, he heard one one of the new recruits murmuring to the one near him that Talia was with them to pander to them and that she, the piranha doesn’t care about them plebs. If she cared, it is because she was hungry and wants them for food.

Arthur walked past him not minding the gasp he heard behind him. If only she, or Brunton really thought that way, their meetings with the board members would be smooth.

Some of the men were whispering in groups with their face filled with admiration and some women with a mixture of emotions with jealousy being prevalent stared at Talia who was laughing and talking with some of the senior secretaries. Arthur need not hear to know what they are talking about.

Why is she so beautiful? Every man is staring at her and the women are jealous. Sigh!

"I see no one working," he walked in the room with a smile as hearing the sound of his leather soled shoes, everyone moved aside and let him pass.

"It’s five p.m. already," one of the interns spoke hiding behind a senior secretary.

Arthur didn’t even turn to look at the source of the voice as he was focusing on Talia.

"Guess, I’ll have to hold back your salaries for two hours this month," Arthur had a sly smile.

Talia noticed some of the staff getting pale put if fright seeing their big boss in front of them, while the senior staff had a stiff expression.

Some younger women checking their makeup and clothes didn’t escape her eyes either.

He runs the company with fear of him? What a silly guy!

" You should blame me, Mr. Sinclair. I held them back." Talia stood up, with a smile.

"Are you taking the blame for their incompetence, Ms. Brunton?" Arthur raised his brows and he looked evil.

Like that would scare me?

"Looks like someone’s a grumpy boss," Talia murmured and walked past him, shoving him gently with her purse making everyone gasp.

She actually pushed our boss - The King out of her way!

"I’m not grumpy," Arthur mumbled staring at her back. "Celebrating the return of the granddaughter of our past Chairman and welcoming the new Chairman of Northern Star, bonuses for everyone! Details will be sent via email." Arthur announced and Talia smiled as she walked to the elevator.

The entire floor was filled with cheers. Talia heard the chattering of the delighted staff.

’I can buy the belt I wanted!’

’I can buy the latest PS!’

’Aww... How cute... Get married you two bosses and give us another fat bonus!’

’No!’ another one refuted. ’ If both of them marry someone else, we’d get two bonuses!’

’But then those two look good together!’

’No he’s mine’

’She’s mine’

’Haha... Delusional much? Would they find any of us attractive?...’

The chatters went on.

"Seriously? New Chairman?" Talia asked after thr elevator door closed.

"You have two votes in the board. You are the Chairman," Arthur stated as a matter of fact.

Talia rolled her eyes.

"Yeah righ-" she yelped mid-sentence as she felt the strong pull by her waist. She was pulled towards Arthur by his big, strong arm at the same time she was pushed against the wall of the elevator.

Arthur bent for a kiss while Talia placed her hand over his mouth. Her chest was rising up and down by the sudden fright and his breath that was falling on her hand was hot.

"Not here..." she said gritting her teeth. It was hard for her to refuse him seeing his eyes.

She couldn’t blame him. Who wouldn’t want to have a little affair in their office elevator with the boss? She knew she wanted to.

"My clothes will wrinkle, my makeup will smudge and anyone with an ounce of commonsense will know what happened in the elevator." she needed to be the rational one in this situation.

"But..." Arthur spoke with her hand still over her mouth and his warm breath tingled her palms.

"No!" she refused sternly.

Arthur rolled his eyes and took a step back releasing her waist. "Mean woman! I will get you in this same elevator after we are married... Here, in my office, at my table throwing everything down, on the couch, against the window, in the-"

"Oh shut up, Fred!" Talia closed her ears and her face heated up imagining everything.

Arthur smirked evilly.

Just you wait, my Iris... Just you wait...

Talia after meeting the board members formally, returned back to the castle to change her clothes for dinner.

" What should I wear?" Talia showed a bunch of her clothes and asked Arthur who frowned.

"Anything," he really couldn’t find the differences between those dressed. Everything was of dark colour and looked simple. Even the necklines look the same.

"I’m meeting your father for the first time. Shouldn’t you help me? All you can think of is where you can do me and nothing else. You don’t care about me a bit..."

Talia started mumbling and Arthur felt like... Smiling.

Here he is sitting on the bed in his boxers and there she is, in the closet, talking to him. Some months ago, he wished for this to be a reality when it was his dream. And now it has become a reality.

How wonderful is this?

" Stop smiling like a fool, you dummy! "Talia threw the dress she was wearing at him and he chuckled and plopped on the bed. Lying on his bed with her dress over his face, he really felt blissful.

Talia after much deliberation wore a navy blue dress with a round neck and three fourth sleeves. After doing her makeup to look sweet, she walked out to see Arthur still in his boxers, napping.

What an idiot!

"Get up, you dummy! It’s getting late!" she kicked his leg and pulled her dress covering his face and threw it in the laundry basket.

Seeing him still not awake, she walked up to him and pinched his arms. It was hard to pinch, but she tried hard. She wondered how much he works out to have biceps this strong.

"Ahhh!"

Arthur woke up shouting and Talia chuckled seeing his dishevelled look. "Go on, get ready."

She pulled him up and Arthur walked to the closet with his shoulders drooping.

Talia sat in the bed with her legs crossed. She smiled as she thought of her closet. Even after all these years, she still had a place in the closet.

He kept her closet space free, but most importantly, he kept her in his heart always, didn’t he?

As they walked through the garden to the end of their estate Talia felt her heart beat rise remembering that day. The sound of the creek could be heard and she had heard it in most of her nightmares in the past ten years.

She subconsciously held Arthur’s hand and she was stunned sensing his hands cold too.

"Let’s go," he nodded at her with a smile and she nodded back. With their fingers intertwining, they walked towards the creek.

Talia could see the differences made in the past ten years. The bridges across the creek were all illuminated brightly and since it was private property, no one else was around and there were some men in suits who were the protection officers of Gregory Sinclair - the President.

"It is our protocol to check out visitors but we were advised by our President not to check you, Your Royal Highness." one of the man in suits said with a frown.

"Well,gee...thank you." Talia said with a smile and walked past him. Mr. Ed would have caused a bugger fuzz if he had to break the protocol.

Talia had left Mr. Ed in Rosandale to have a loyal person to spy the Courtiers on her behalf in the Palace. She missed him... A little .

As she walked past the bridge and through the rows of trees, she remembered her past as there weren’t much change in the Sinclair mansion.

Ah, I tried to kill the Sinclair family the last time I walked through here... Fred’s father is being gracious letting me in without checking me this time..

"Did you notice? This bridge is built in the exact same place I crossed when I met you first... There is another bridge where you crossed when you were a child too." Arthur explained.

Talia wasn’t sure about the exact place, but it was surprising that Fred remembered it all well.

As she got closer to the mansion, she felt more nervous and her grip on Arthur’s hand became much tighter, his hands went pale.

" Iris.. It’s okay, I’m here..." Arthur stopped and hugged her.

"Yeah, I know... I know..." Talia took a deep breath taking in his scent.

She didn’t hold his hands tightly anymore and went to the door.

Surely she didn’t expect Arthur’s father welcoming them by the door. He was all smiles and welcomed Talia warmly.