"What are you doing here?" Ingrid could not hide the irritation in her voice.

"I'm the new model for the new product in your company." The man shrugged his shoulders.

"That's unbelievable!" Ingrid exclaimed.

"Well, believe it or not? I am now…" the man appeared playful as he grinned then he s.h.i.+fted his gaze to Clifford whose expression is starting to get darker.

"Mr. Briggs, it's nice to meet you again. Look, I'm sorry for the way I acted in Maldives. I was just being playful that time. I didn't mean those words, really…" the man showed sincerity in his voice.

"You better be, or else you'll regret showing your face ever again before us."

Sheldon raised his hands as an act of surrender. "Okay, okay! I get it. I won't get in the way, I promise…"

"What's more, you cannot talk or appear before my wife, unless I am around, or I'll make sure your name will be wiped out as though it never existed." Clifford's cold demeanor shoots like a dagger to Sheldon's being.

"Your what?!" Sheldon's expression is full of shock.

"You heard me. Ingrid Howard is MY WIFE." Ingrid grips tightly to Clifford's hand. "… need I to explain myself?" then the elevator door opens.

Sheldon was left in trance that he did not notice that he already reached his destination.

"I believe it's your floor, Mr. Mesley. Should I push you or you'll walk out on your own?" Clifford's dark expression grows every minute.

Sheldon looks up to check the floor and his ears went red out of embarra.s.sment. He mutely cursed.

"Sorry, that's shocking news! But I cannot promise not to appear or talk with Ingrid in the future since I'm now working here."

"Regardless… am I making myself clear?" Sheldon nodded, but Clifford isn't finished speaking, "one more thing, don't call my wife her first name again. You should address her as young madam beginning today."

Sheldon got out from the elevator with a sullen face and left with downcast eyes.

When the door closes Ingrid spoke, "Cliff, why did you tell him about our marriage?"

"It's a warning for him not to mess with you again." He replied and gently caresses her jaw line.

Noticeably, many employees are lurking outside their offices each with folders and papers in their hands pretending to discuss something important with their colleagues.

They're still holding hands as they went out from the elevator. The employees greeted the couple as they pa.s.s by but their eyes takes secret glances at their bosses' intertwined hands. However, the couple just ignored all of them.

"Hey! Do you remember our bet before something like if there's a possibility that our bosses will develop a romantic relations.h.i.+p?" a man suddenly speaks up the moment the couple disappeared from their view.

It was when they saw Ingrid and Clifford walked together for the first time and Ingrid did not recognize that it was Clifford Briggs she was escorting.

"Oh yeah! I remember and I betted YES!" the female employee laughs triumphantly. "..and the two of you said NO!" she referred to the other two female employees.

The man who remembered the bet won as well. They agreed to place their bet for two hundred bucks each and the two who won jumps up and down for winning. The other colleagues who heard their bet went to their side and listened to their chitchats.

Unknown to them, Clifford and Ingrid was about to separate ways but Clifford could not easily let go of his wife's hands.

"Hey! I need to go now…" Ingrid chuckled.

Clifford looked around to see if someone's looking. And then he pulled her towards his office. Luckily, Freya isn't around.

"Hey! Why are you taking me here?" Clifford strides faster and when he opened the door and locks it, he hurriedly cradled Ingrid.

"I won't let you go unless–" Ingrid interrupted Clifford with a kiss on his lips.

The kiss his wife gives him is tempting, luring him to respond with intensity. His head went crazy and out of control as they're lost in that world shuttering kiss. Different from the kiss they shared that morning. This is more wanting, hungry for more.

Then someone knocks the door.

Ingrid chuckled in between their kiss when she heard the knock. She drags herself slowly away from her husband and wipes his lips because it's stained with her lipstick.

"What the! Who's there?" Clifford shouted. But no one answered, so he went over to the intercom.

"Freya! Who the heck is knocking??!" his voice thundered over the phone.

"I-it-s me, sir, Gary…" Gary stuttered.

"WHAT DO YOU WANT?" he roared.

"Ahhh.. I-I'm here to confirm your appearance regarding the TV interview this coming weekend, sir. And to give you some doc.u.ments regarding your marriage certificate, sir." Gary's forehead is sweating profusely now.

Clifford heaved a long sigh before he answered, calming his raging emotions. "Come back later…" then he hang up the phone.

Ingrid chuckled at the sight of her annoyed husband. "Oh love, what is happening to you? You look so agitated.." Ingrid teased.

Instead of getting annoyed, he chuckled. "Gary is out of timing ever since!" he said as he walk back to her side again. Ingrid's heart went wild as Clifford approaches her and slowly she walks backwards.

"I should better go back to my office now before we do something…" Ingrid gulped as her husband neared.

"Something what? Nervous, my love?"