THE FORGOTTEN HEIRESS-Chapter 291: I Will Not Give Up On Us

"Tsk! What’s going on here?" Wide-eyed with excitement, Nuella whispered to no one in particular the moment she finally recovered herself.

Heads turned like synchronized dancers and watched as Shawn strolled through the reception area, drawing more gasps from the stunned staff.

Even Johnson was dazed by the sight of his boss holding the bouquet of roses so lovingly that he doubted if he was still his cold faced boss.

Unruffled by the attention he was getting, Shawn approached the president’s special elevator, and the entire staff seemed to hold their breath as he entered the elevator, shutting everyone’s gaze off.

Ariel was quick enough to give Johnson a hint and they took the other elevator and arrived at the presidential floor almost at the same time as Shawn. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Inside the elevator, Shawn smiled, "I love the effect I created just now. I bet no one would be in doubt of my intentions towards Kathleen now," he chuckled to himself.

As soon as the doors of the elevator were closed, the whole reception erupted into hushed conversations.

"Is it the boss’s birthday?" someone asked.

Nuella snorted disdainfully. "How come you are asking this kind of question? Are you new in this office?"

She leaned in, her voice barely above a whisper, "Let me tell you, there is hardly any day that passes without our boss receiving a bouquet of roses from President Hudson. It’s either he sends someone to deliver it or he brings it himself. And I bet today, he must be up to something big. Did you see those roses? And that suit! Tsk!"

She pulled back and crossed her hands over her chest with a thoughtful expression. "But one thing that baffles me is how he is always able to pull off anything he wears, that each time he appears he looks more handsome than the last?"

"I wish someone like that would suddenly come and sweep me off my feet one day."

"Here she goes again. Can’t you at least comport yourself for once?" Maya smirked in derision.

Nuella wasn’t even bothered about Maya’s contemptuous comment as the very next minute, she let out a loud shriek, grabbing the colleague closest to her.

"Do you think President Hudson wants to finally propose to our boss? Oh my, this is just like a scene in a movie," she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling like never before.

She was already fantasizing about the whole process of President Hudson going down on one knee and with a smoldering look in those sexy blue eyes, he would gaze up at their boss and as he extends the rose to her, he would ask, "Ms Janice Wyatt, will you make me the happiest man on earth by marrying me?"

’Then the boss, completely smitten by the President, would be too awed to say anything and would just nod her head and whisper a shy "yes" in her most alluring voice.

She was so engrossed in her fantasy world that she didn’t see the staff she had grabbed nodding in agreement, nor heard what she said afterwards.

"That is very much possible. Who doesn’t know in this office that President Hudson is head over heels in love with the boss?"

"I wish they would settle down as fast as possible," another said.

"It will be the best for both of them. They are so well matched that it will be a huge mistake if they don’t end up together," another colleague said.

"You think so too?" Nuela asked, finally back to the office world.

"Mm-hmm."

"I have a feeling that it will be very soon," Maya, who had not said anything else, added.

"I agree with you there," Nuella said and signaled with her head in the direction of the gift boxes.

"President Hudson is already sending in pre-wedding gifts. I wonder what benefits we will be getting when they eventually get married."

"Look at your greedy face. Are you not the one that is supposed to send them wedding gifts?" Maya teased.

"Hold your lips quickly, lest another ear should hear you. What do you think we can possibly give to them that they don’t have already? At best our gifts will be passed down to their lowest paid servants."

"I don’t think our boss is like that? She will not look down on our gifts," Maya countered.

"Remember the scarf I gave her some months back, though I was way cheaper than what I see her wear, I’ve seen that scarf on her neck on two occasions."

"Yeah, that’s right. I think Nuella is only trying to look for an excuse not to send a wedding gift to boss."

"You guys are here arguing about wedding gifts when there’s yet to be a wedding," another staff member chipped in.

"There will surely be a wedding," Nuella said emphatically. Turning to Maya she said, when will HR send someone to start distributing the gifts? I’m dying to see what our handsome President Hudson has prepared for us."

Seeing one of the staff from the HR department approaching her table, Maya said, "I think your wait will soon be over."

After a brief interaction with Maya, the staff worked together with his other colleagues and they moved all the gifts to their department where it would be easier to distribute to all the staff.

Not long after the gifts were removed, Kathleen, oblivious of the commotion Shawn had caused in Wyatt Corporations, stepped into the reception and headed straight to her elevator after responding to the overly excited greetings of some of the staff that were still at the reception.

She somehow felt that there was something strange about the looks they were giving her. They were not like the normal one, but she easily dismissed the thought as she exited the elevator on her floor.

She opened the door to her office and stopped short at the figure sprawled carelessly on her couch.

He was sitting so casually like the owner of the office who was taking a break from work.

’How did he even get in?’

’I think it is high time I had a serious talk with Ariel. It’s like she is gradually forgetting who her real boss is.’

"Shawn? What are you doing here?" She asked as she closed the door behind her.

"Isn’t it obvious, I came to check on my wife of course," he drawled naturally.

His lazy tone pulled seductively at Kathleen’s heart and she found herself melting under its spell, but quickly pulled out of it.

Shawn stood up and handed the bouquet to Kathleen.

"And what’s the occasion this time around?" she asked, a suspicious smile on her face.

Shawn replied charmingly, "No occasion, I just wanted to brighten your day."

"Really? You seem to be having a lot of free time lately, President Hudson," Kathleen smirked.

"It’s not my fault. Who told you to be so beautiful that I can hardly concentrate on anything. So instead of allowing those precious time to waste away, I decided to channel it for a good course."

"So shamelessly creating headlines in Wyatt Corps is now the good course?"

"As long as that headline has the both of us in it, I don’t mind," Shawn chuckled and stared deep into Kathleen’s eyes.

"How come I never knew you were this brazen?"

"There is more you are yet to find out about me, my love. All I’m asking for is a chance and you will be amazed at what your darling husband has in store for you."

"Keep dreaming, as far as I’m concerned, I am single and belong to no one."

"Kathleen..." Shawn groaned. "Why do you keep breaking my heart? How long will it take for you to forgive me?"

"I don’t know, maybe a month, years or a lifetime."

"But you know I have changed and I’m ready to do anything just to let you know that I’m sorry and regret my actions in the past."

"I know, Shawn. Just give me some time to think things through," Kathleen said helplessly.

"Really! Are you saying that there is a possibility that you will forgive me?" Shawn asked excitedly like a little boy who had been promised his favorite candy.

"I’m not promising anything Shawn," Kathleen’s sudden cold voice doused the light in Shawn’s eyes.

"Anyways, I will continue to wait. Even if it takes a lifetime, I will not give up on us," Shawn vowed.

There was a brief silence between them before Shawn said,

"I came here to also inform you that I’ll be traveling for a week, but I’ll be back before the banquet."

"Banquet? How did you know about that?"

"Did you intend keeping it from me? Well I have my own way of knowing things."

"I’m aware your father is throwing a banquet to introduce you to the public. It should have happened several months ago, but I heard you talked him out of it."

"I only wanted to keep a low profile, but as you can see, my father can’t wait any longer, so I have to give in to him."

"It’s good everyone knows so that they will give you the respect and honour you truly deserve."

"I guess so, but it’s going to give me a whole lot of pressure. I’m still trying to manage the few attention I get from those that already know my identity. I wonder how I’ll be able to cope when everyone knows my real identity."

"Why bother your pretty head about that? I’ll always be by your side to support you in every step of the way.

"I think your time is up, President Hudson." Kathleen said out of the blues.

"Wait, What’s that on your head?" Shawn said, looking all serious and before Kathleen could know what was happening, her lips were captured in a passionate kiss that left her breathless.

Just as suddenly as he had kissed her, Shawn pulled away.

"Alright Babe, I’ll be seeing you soon and I hope to get good news. And please, don’t miss me too much, but when you do, remember that I am just a call away."

"Shameless."

"That’s my babe," Shawn winked seductively, leaving Kathleen weak in the knees.