Chapter 63: Shameless kiss.
CEO Augustine scoffed. "Just drive," he mumbled, shaking his head slightly as a faint blush spread across his cheeks.
Charles, slightly taken aback by the secretary’s question, pulled his phone from his trouser pocket, opened his messenger app, and began typing.
’I thought you came alone?’ Charles typed and within the next seconds, he sent the text message to Augustine.
*Beep*
A sudden beep echoed from Augustine’s pocket, drawing his attention.
With a slight furrow of his brows, he reached in, pulling out his phone.
Augustine’s fingers glided over the screen with practiced ease, scrolling until Charles’s message appeared before him.
His gaze lingered on the words, his expression unreadable as he absorbed the message in silence.
Reading the text message, Augustine’s lips curved into a seductive smile as he quickly replied to Charles back with a text message.
’I had my secretary drive me because I’m still weak from the injuries I sustained in the fight,’ Augustine typed, his fingers moving slowly across the screen.
He hesitated for a moment before adding, ’Also, I want us to have some alone time together.’
With a deep breath, he pressed send, his eyes flickering toward Charles, anticipation stirring within him.
Charles read the message with a frown, a loud sigh escaping his lips.
His fingers hovered over the keyboard before he finally typed, ’Are you aware that your secretary saw us hugging? I thought our relationship was supposed to stay between your family and us alone?’ Charles typed, then hit send, his gaze shifting toward Augustine with a mix of concern and frustration.
Augustine ran his tongue over his lips, his expression thoughtful.
With a deep sigh, he raked his fingers through his hair, his grip tightening for a moment before he finally let out another breath, his gaze fixed on the phone screen. ’My secretary understands the importance of discretion. He signed a confidentiality contract, and he knows better than to break his end of the deal.’
Charles rolled his eyes and turned to Augustine, arching a brow as he snapped his fingers to grab Augustine’s attention.
Augustine turned to Charles, noticing the deep frown on his face. "Why didn’t you warn me earlier?" Charles whispered, his voice laced with frustration.
He leaned in slightly, his fingers gripping the fabric of his trousers. "Don’t you think your secretary will start assuming things about me? I’m not... I’m not a gay person so don’t you think he would start seeing me as one?"
Charles voice wavered, barely audible, as if he were convincing himself and his words were so low that Augustine couldn’t make out any words from Charles mouth.
"What are you trying to say?" Augustine asked out loud, prompting the secretary whose gaze was focused on the road to slowly avert his gaze over to the back. "Sir, I didn’t say anything." The secretary stated, confused as to why Augustine was questioning him.
"No... I wasn’t talking to you." Augustine explained, and his secretary slightly nod his head before averting his gaze back to the road.
Charles sighed, his shoulder dropping down in exhaustion.
He turned on the screen of his cell phone as he proceeded to send a text message to Augustine.
Charles hesitated for a brief moment, his fingers tightening around his phone before he finally typed, ’Augustine, don’t you think that since your secretary saw the way we hugged, he might start assuming that I’m gay? Which I’m not.’
With a sharp exhale, he pressed send, his heartbeat quickening as he awaited Augustine’s response.
"Hahahaah!" Augustine bursts out in laughter as he bites his upper lips. "My secretary is not like that, so you don’t have to worry," Augustine uttered, prompting Charles’s eyes to lit wide open in surprise as he slammed the shoulder of Augustine.
"Pookie! Have you forgotten that I am slightly injured?" Augustine declared with pouted lips as he massaged the area where Charles had hit him.
With an embarrassed glare, Charles eyed Augustine from head to toe. "Stop it," he seethed with clenched teeth, trying to make sure that his words won’t be heard by the secretary.
Augustine let out a soft chuckle, amusement dancing in his eyes as he reached for Charles’s thigh.
The moment his fingers brushed against the fabric, Charles sneered, shoving his hand away without hesitation.
But Augustine was persistent—his hand found its way back, only to be met with another firm push.
Augustine continued his teasing, his fingers persistently trailing back to Charles’s thigh despite being pushed away each time.
Meanwhile, the secretary, catching glimpses of the playful struggle through the rearview mirror, bit his upper lip to stifle a nervous smile.
He knew better than to let his amusement show—one wrong move, and he’d be on the receiving end of a sharp reprimand from the CEO.
Minutes later, as they neared the company building, Charles quickly tapped the back of the secretary’s seat. "Can you pull over by that restaurant?" he requested, his gaze fixed on the familiar establishment where he worked.
Augustine arched a brow. "Do you need to use the restroom?" he asked, as it was the only reason that came to mind.
’That must be why he wants the secretary to pull over,’ Augustine thought to himself.
Sigh!
Charles shook his head. "I can’t be seen getting out of the same car as you," he said, his tone urgent.
His gaze flickered to the secretary. "Please, pull over."
Augustine frowned, a deep line forming on his forehead.
His confusion was evident as he tilted his head slightly. "What’s so bad about being seen getting out of the same car as me?"
"Augustine, do you hear yourself?" Charles coldly questioned. "You’re the CEO of Gyapm Corporation, and I’m just a cleaner. Do you really think people won’t notice how strange it looks? A mere cleaner arriving at work in the same car as the CEO, at the exact same time? It’s suspicious, and I can’t afford to deal with the gossip that would follow."
Charles’s explanation made Augustine sigh, his displeasure evident as he exhaled loudly.
He understood Charles’s point—employees would always find it unusual for someone like Charles to share an elevator with the CEO, let alone arrive at work together.
The mere thought of the rumors that would spread made Augustine’s jaw clench in frustration.
"But..."
Augustine parted his lips, grasping for a defense, searching for any argument that might convince Charles otherwise.
But no matter how hard he tried, no suitable reason came to mind.
His fingers curled into his lap, frustration simmering beneath his composed exterior as he struggled to accept the reality of their situation.
He swallowed his saliva hard and shut his eyes while taking in a deep breath. "Please, pull over," Augustine ordered the secretary who immediately did as he was instructed.
"I’ll see you later then," Augustine purred, forcing a smile to his lips.
Charles nodded. "See you later, too." He whispered, before opening the car door as he stepped down from the car. "Hmm, can you... I have to resume work before you, so can you stay over here for some time?" Charles politely requested.
Without having to fully explain, Augustine knew that once more it would be awkward for him to resume work before his cleaner.
"Alright then, I’ll," he mumbled, winking at Charles.
Just t as Charles was about to turn away, Augustine called out for him.
"Umm... before you go," he murmured, his voice softer now, almost hesitant. "Can you check if my bandage is in order? I don’t want anyone noticing that I was in the hospital yesterday."
Augustine’s fingers instinctively brushed over his abdomen, a flicker of vulnerability passing through his eyes.
Charles hesitated, his gaze flickering to Augustines stomach before meeting his eyes.
Charles scoffed.
Augustine’s request caught Charles off guard, but he chose to go along with it, knowing it would only take a moment.
With a small sigh, Charles slid back into the car, closing the distance between them.
His gaze flickered to Augustine’s stomach before he arched a brow. "Lift your shirt," he muttered, his tone laced with mild impatience yet tinged with concern.
"Can’t you do it for me?"
"So do you want me to assist you in taking off your shirt–"
Before Charles could finish his sentence, Augustine closed the distance between them in an instant.
His movements were swift yet deliberate, his breath warm against Charles’s skin.
And then, before Charles could react, Augustine’s lips pressed firmly against his—claiming, insistent, and utterly consuming.
Augustine sucked on Charles’s lower lip, his teeth grazing it in a teasing bite.
A shiver ran through Charles’s body as his eyes fluttered shut, his fingers instinctively curling against the seat.
He surrendered to the kiss, tilting his head slightly, allowing Augustine to deepen the moment and take full control.
Gasped...
The secretary gasped in shock, his grip tightening around the steering wheel as his eyes flickered between the road and the rearview mirror.
He couldn’t believe what he was witnessing—CEO Augustine, without hesitation or care for his presence, shamelessly capturing a man’s lips in a bold, unrestrained kiss.