Chapter 5 Be My Secretary

Agnes was still worried, so she instructed a servant to bring Sophia back. Then, she exchanged glances with Richard before continuing to serve soup. On the other hand, Richard had a grim expression. He looked at Tobias and asked, "What do you think about it, Tobias?" Tobias was sipping his soup quietly. Due to his personality, he was not used to speaking when eating. However, he couldn't ignore the question since Richard had called him out directly. Hence, he put down his spoon and said faintly, "The company is currently in a growth phase. Having a child would be distracting. Besides, neither of us is ready for that. We'll consider it after things get better." "You've been saying that for three years," Agnes chimed in. "If I'm not mistaken, Aurelia is already twenty-eight years old. It's painful for women to have children as they get older…" At that moment, Cordelia felt the urge to tell them that she was actually only twenty-two. Aurelia was twenty-eight years old, not her. "Moreover…" Agnes hesitated. "Aurelia isn't working now, so she has time to take care of a child." As her words fell, no one else spoke. In the midst of the tense atmosphere, Tobias set his utensils down and turned to Cordelia. "Are you done eating?" Cordelia was startled by his sudden question. However, she quickly understood what he meant and nodded. "Okay." Then, Tobias stood up while grabbing a napkin. "Let's go home then. I still have work to finish," he said coldly. "Tobias, why are you leaving so soon?" Agnes tried to make him stay. Tobias glanced at them and said faintly, "Take your time. We'll head out first. Just give us a call if you need anything." Then, he grabbed his jacket and changed his shoes. Just as he was about to open the door, Cordelia realized what was happening and quickly followed suit. "Mom, Dad, we'll visit again." She didn't dare to look at Richard's expression as she quickly left with Tobias. The night was quiet, but she felt restless as she sat in the passenger seat. After giving it some thought, she broke the silence. "If you can't find her, are you planning to keep things as they are? No children? Staying in this marriage with me?" As the street lights shone into the car, Cordelia stared at Tobias' flawless profile as he gripped the steering wheel with one hand. His sharp features were perfect, and he held a cigarette between his fingers. She thought for a moment before saying, "To be honest, I don't mind. My mother is sick, and I need money. Thus, marrying you wasn't a bad choice. I can keep playing as Aurelia, but your parents want a grandchild. I can't fulfill that." As she spoke, she gradually fell silent when she noticed Tobias' expression turned grimmer. Soon, the car stopped in front of the villa. As Cordelia stepped out of the car, the wind blew her coat, and her long hair flowed. The blue earrings on her ears shimmered under the light. Tobias didn't get out of the car. It was clear he was only dropping her off. "Thanks for the ride. I'll head in now," Cordelia said nervously. Even though the car windows were tinted, Tobias could see her lips moving. Then, she waved awkwardly. At that moment, Tobias rolled down the window and put out his cigarette. Seeing his actions, Cordelia didn't understand what he meant and asked, "What's the matter?" Tobias frowned as he stared at her. After some time, he looked at her and said, "I need a secretary, and I've already informed HR about this. All you need to do is report to headquarters two days later. I'll have your records prepared." Although Tobias' words were simple, Cordelia was still shocked. In that split second, she felt like she couldn't keep up with his thoughts. "What did you say?" "Technically, you are my wife. However, this is only until I find her." "Your wife…" She had complicated emotions as she thought about these words. "A secretary handles sensitive matters, and I trust you more than anyone else. Don't worry; I'll continue to pay your mother's medical bills. As for my child…" As he spoke, he took a deep drag of his cigarette. "No one else but her can have it." Hearing his words, Cordelia froze. Although he seemed to be expressing how much he loved that woman, yet she felt as if he was venting his frustration. After some time, Tobias threw the cigarette away and turned the car around. The headlights flashed against Cordelia's face, and she instinctively shielded her eyes as the car sped off into the night, leaving her alone under the lonely streetlights. The villa was silent. Since Tobias rarely came home, Cordelia had dismissed the staff, leaving the house even quieter. She switched on the lights and slipped off her heels. Since she had to pretend to be Aurelia, she had to wear high heels. However, high heels were a troublesome thing, and her ankles throbbed from wearing heels all day. As Cordelia sat on the couch and rubbed her feet, she couldn't help but think about what Tobias had said. I can't believe he wants me to be his secretary. Does that mean I have to look at his face every day? As she thought about it, she sighed heavily. However, she had no choice since she had indeed not been able to find any suitable jobs for now. As she thought about being a secretary, images of office affairs popped into her head. She wondered if she had to accompany him everywhere and even deal with women who tried to seduce him. Though Tobias was a man of discipline, she couldn't ignore the fact that their marriage had never been consummated. Thus, she wondered how he had dealt with his sexual desire all these years.