Shadows of Desire A Night With Him

"Here's the man" He showed Irene.

"What!" Irene exclaimed in shock.

"What?" Harold asked, startled.

"Do you know him?" He asked, dropping his phone gently.

"I..i" Irene stammered.

She never knew the hate Ethan have for Harold is this much to the extent of hurting those around him.

She recognized that man as one of Ethan's bodyguards the day she had went to see Madam Perse.

But she can't tell Harold, can she?

"No, i don't know him. I'm just so shocked a responsible looking man can be that callous" Irene lied.

She's just so confused right now.

"Ohh..but he doesn't look responsible to me. He looks cruel" Harold shrugged glancing at the picture all over again.

"Well..i hope the FBI agents promised to find him" Irene said.

"Of course, only that they didn't get his face clearly enough to be scanned"

"Ouch!" Irene shook her head.

"But I'll be having another meeting with them tomorrow, I'll get back to you when you resume on Monday" Harold said.

"Okay, Mr Harold" Irene said.

"Why does that 'Mr' sound odd to my ears?" Harold raised a brow.

"Huh?" Irene asked.

"Yeah, you should stop adding 'mr' to it."

"What? No, i can't do that" Irene swallowed, wondering what Harold is up to.

"Why not?" He asked, smiling like it's no big deal.

"Other workers call you..."

"You're not other workers and it doesn't sound right to my ears when you call me that. I don't just know why but I'm not comfortable with it" Harold said.

"It'll be disrespectful of me to call you...H..arold" Irene said.

"Good! That sounds better"

"I can't call you that" Irene said.

"That's what i want you to call me" Harold insisted.

"You're talking like it's no big deal" Irene said.

"It's not" Harold said.

"Well..i don't think I'll ever get used to calling you that " Irene said.

"You will,the way you got used to calling me Mr Harold" Harold said air quoting the Mr.

"I...i can't, please Mr Harold.."

"C'mon! " Harold interrupted her.

"This is gonna be hard" Irene said, wondering what other workers would think.

She won't deny she loved how the name Harold flowed smoothly out of her mouth but she should consider her work state.

Calling her boss by his name isn't right, what would people think?

Though she's not someone who cares about what others think but...

"I'm your boss, i employed you. You should do what i want regardless of what others think" Harold said and Irene gave a deep sigh.

"Is it that difficult to do?" He asked.

"Yes" Irene said. "Who would believe nothing is going on.... between...us if i just start calling you by your name "

Harold laughed "Don't you want something to go on between us?"

"Huh?" Irene asked,her cheeks going red and her heart beating fast.

"Just joking" Harold said even though he really meant it.

"Ohh" Irene said deeply embarrassed.

It was a joke and her whole body had responded to it.

She's such a fool and a weak ass, she falls easily and her heart ends up getting broken all the time.

She had made up her mind and promised herself not to fall for anyone again after Harris broke her heart and she had kept to that promise until...

Until now.

"What's wrong?" Harold asked.

"Uh? Nothing really" Irene said.

"So, do we now agree that you should call me by my name?" Harold asked.

"Yeah" She answered knowing how to go about it.

She'll try not to even call his name in the presence of others but is that possible?

What if she wants to talk to him?

Would she refer to him as flower or grass?

Arrrhh!

"Ohh great!" Harold smiled. " I wanna hear you call Harold now"

"Huh?" Irene asked.

"Didn't we just agreed that you'll call me by my name?"

"Ohh..yes H..Harold" She said.

"Wow. Again" Harold grinned.

"Harold" Irene called.

"Again"

"Harold"

"Again"

"Harold"

"Again"

"Harold"

They both bursted out laughing..

"Shuu.. we're gonna wake others" Irene said, still laughing.

**

"We should go to bed now" Harold said when he heard Irene yawn .

They were reading in the library in front of the already lit fireplace.

"Yeah" Irene said closing her novel.

They both stood up and put their novels in their respective places...

"You're leaving tomorrow morning right?" Harold asked as they stepped out of the library.

"Yes" Irene said, closing the library door.

"My regards to your family, i might have gone to work before you leave tomorrow" Harold said.

"Why do you still work so hard even when you already have everything,if you don't even work at all, you still have lots of money that'll last you for a lifetime" Irene said and Harold smiled.

They were walking to their room.

"You're not the first person to tell me that but i think I'm used to work, i can't do without working. It's part of me already all thanks to.. Helena" Harold paused sadly.

"Helena?" Irene thought,she shrugged thinking it's one of his ex's.

" I can't rely on the fact that i have enough money to last me for a lifetime and then stop working. It takes just seconds for things to change. Anything can happen." Harold said.

"Thats true but how do you cope? You have so many companies. Don't you have a personal assistant or something?" Irene asked.

They were close to her door.

"I had several PA's in the past but they all ended up betraying me. I hate betrayals" Harold said with so much emotion that Irene glanced up to look at him.

He looked hurt, like he had been betrayed several times.

Her heart softened and she found herself holding his hands.

"I don't know why I'm saying this but... I'll never betray you" Irene said and Harold could see the sincerity in her eyes. His feelings for her doubled up and he had to resist himself from pulling her into a tight hug.

"Thank you" He said.

She nodded and slowly pulled her hands from his.

"Goodnight" She said opening her door.

"Harold" She added with a smile before closing the door.

He was full of smiles as he walked to his room.

He doesn't know how he's feeling,but he knows the feeling is definitely a good one and he doesn't want it to stop.

___🍂

"Irene!" Damien screamed happily as she walked into the living room..

She had deliberately decided not to knock.

She laughed as her brother pulled her into a tight hug.

He kissed her face over and over again while she just giggled.

Damn!

She really missed him.

"Dam" She finally said, grinning.

"I missed you" Damien pouted, he only get to act like a baby whenever he's around his sister or Mum.

"Me too" Irene smiled.

"I hope you haven't been disturbing Mum" she asked dragging his cheeks playfully.

"No, i've been the best Damien so far. " He boasted. "You can ask mum" He smiled.

"Where's she? In her room?" Irene asked.

"Of course"

"I need to go check on her, i really miss her" Irene said pulling off her shoes, she dropped her handbag too.

"We have a lot to talk about" Damien said and Irene thought he was joking until she glanced up at him.

He looked serious!

He had actually told her he had something to tell her over the phone.

"Okay, go wait for me in my room, I'll be quick with mum" she said.

"Okay sis" Damien said picking her bag and shoes.

___🍂

"Why didn't you told me about Ethan's offer? Have we started hiding things from each other?" Damien asked.

They were sitting on her bed after Irene was fully settled.

"H..how did you found out?" Irene asked .

"You haven't answered my question Irene" Damien said, he was so pissed Irene had hidden that from him but then he knew she can't keep telling him everything going on in her life.

"Well...Ethan did made that offer but i felt there was no need to tell you since i didn't agree to it" Irene said.

"Ohh"

"Yeah, how did you found out? Madam Perse told you?" Irene asked.

"No, she didn't. Ethan summoned me" Damien said.

"What!" Irene exclaimed, dropping the pack of cookies she was holding.

"Chill sis" Damien said, he picked the pack of cookies and placed it on her bedside table.

"What? How? When?" Irene asked.

"There you go with your questions. Now,sit let me explain it all" Damien said and it took a while before Irene sat back on the bed.

She knew Ethan was a dangerous man!

Why had he summoned her brother!

**

"What the hell!" Irene swore, getting to her feet once more.

Damien just finished narrating the ordeal to her and she could swear she was afraid.

Everything is starting to get clear to her.

They want her out of Harold's life so he could be sad!

And they had probably scared her with that gunshot so she could leave.

What the hell!

"We need to report him to the police" Irene said and Damien laughed.

"Police? He have them all wrapped around his fingers" Damien said and Irene sighed.

She's yet to tell him about the incidence, she doesn't even want to.

Damien would want her to stop the job cause he'll think her life is being threatened and if she leaves! Ethan's plan will be accomplished.

"Why does he hate Harold Marshall that much?" Damien asked.

"I don't know too, why does he want to hurt his fellow being" Irene said in wonderment.

"What do we do?" Damien asked.

"Do? Well..i think we should make sure i don't leave Marshall's building cause that's obviously what they want"

"Exactly but what about the threat. I don't want anyone hurting you" Damien said worriedly.

"C'mon, it's just a mere threat. The security in Harold's house is damn tight. Do not worry Dam, I'll be fine okay?" Irene said and Damien nodded.

"So how was your stay in the Marshall's building? I hope you weren't treated badly?" Damien asked.

"No. My stay in that Mansion was great! I never expected everyone to treat me that nicely. I learnt not all billionaires are the same. The thing is i can't wait to go back " Irene said, smiling happily.

"I'm glad" Damien said.

"There are still more to tell but that'll be later" Irene grinned.

"Can't wait" Damien said.

"Guess what" Irene said.

"What?" Damien asked.

"Ivory and Harold asked of you and they told me to say hi"

"Wow!" Damien screamed.

"Harold Marshall knows about me?" He asked to be sure.

"Yes, he even asked me to say hi" Irene said.

"Yaaaaay!" Damien jumped on the bed excitedly.

"Stop jumping on my bed" Irene laughed..