The Fake Dating Game's
Past Lovers
AUTHOR POV
Declan had finally arrived at Parker Group after nearly an hour and a half of his journey from Daphne's farmhouse to his Daddy's office. Luckily the streets are not jammed even though today is the weekends.
Declan rushes upstairs to his Daddy's private room to study today's meeting materials. The goal is one, so that Declan does not look stupid during the presentation later.
"Welcome back to Parker Group Mr. Declan." said Benedict, who was none other than Declan's father's personal assistant.
"Greetings back, Uncle Ben! No need to be so stiff with me.." Declan opens the mask, then pulls Benedict in his arms.
Don't be surprised if the middle-aged man who is the same age as Daddy Wyatt is very familiar with Declan. Benedict has been with the Parker family for nearly 20 years.
"By the way, apparently Uncle still knows me well even though I'm wearing a mask." Declan said.
"How could I forget! This young master did not change much after 4 years of being invisible. Instead you are getting handsome and looking handsome!" praise Benedict who smiles with satisfaction.
"Uncle could've flattered me!" Declan chuckles.
Since childhood, Declan spent much of his time playing and vacationing with the Benedict family while his parents were on business trips to various countries.
As an only child who always felt lonely, Declan was always happy when invited to go to Benedict's house which was so crowded considering he had 5 children.
Benedict stretched out their arms and asked, "Master, what did you drive here? Why don't I see your car in front huh?!" the man dyed left right looking for the whereabouts of the young master's beloved Porsche car.
"I'm not here to ride in my car, Uncle. Except that!" Declan pointed to Daphne's BMW 7 series that he had deliberately borrowed.
It is not he who borrows. Because technically, Daphne himself offers. True, he said if in the farmhouse area rarely encountered public transportation.
Benedict seemed to think for a moment, "Who's car, sir? I'm sure it's not yours, because as far as I know you don't like cars of that type."
Benedict's theory is correct. "It doesn't belong to me, Uncle. I borrowed it from a friend so I could get here soon." Declan deliberately hides Daphne's identity from the surrounding environment except for her father and mother.
"Oh yeah how uncle, has Daddy's client come? I almost forgot about it." asked Declan.
The face of Benedict changed. A wry smile graced his face.
"The client from Belgium hasn't arrived yet, sir."
"Ahh.thank goodness then. I thought I was gonna be late. Means I still have time to study the contract files." Declan snorted in relief.
"But sir, actually one of the client representatives from Belgium has been present." said Benedict carefully which made Declan confused.
"Loh Uncle how the hell? Has the truth come or has it not?"
"Already, **-but only his assistant" said Benedict stammering.
Declan scrunched his forehead, "His assistant has already come first?"
"True sir," Benedict slightly lowered his head. "Mr Fitzgerald is still on his way. The plane he was on had a delay so he sent his assistant to come first."
"Yes Uncle, then let me meet him first. It's unethical to keep guests waiting." inevitably Declan had to meet his father's important guests.
"But sir, you should know that Mr. Fitzgerald's assistant is Miss Ingrid Tiffin."
Degh...
Declan was quite surprised. After so many years never heard from the woman who firmly betrayed her first, now the unwanted name just appeared again.
"Inggrid??" ask Declan once more to be sure.
"True sir, she is Miss Inggrid. Your ex-fiancee used to."
Declan's heart melos. He had hoped that the Inggrid referred to by Benedict was another Inggrid. Could anyone have a twin name? But it turns out the assumption was wrong. That inggrid was indeed the woman of his past.
"I'll keep seeing him Uncle." Declan said.
"Is Mister serious?" Benedict looked at his young master unconvinced.
"She is a client, after all. I will be professional and appropriate. So of course I'm serious, Uncle Ben." Declan said without a doubt.
"Okay sir, let me take you to the meeting room. Miss Inggrid is waiting there."
Declan nodded and walked behind Benedict to the meeting room.
***
Chequek..
"Declan.." the woman turned her head and immediately got up from her chair.
His face looked extraordinary, radiating a light of happiness when the figure of the man he had been waiting for finally appeared to the surface.
"Miss Tiffin, welcome to Clerk Kingdom" Declan said. His attitude was so cold and flat. It's hard to guess.
"There's no need to bother talking stiff like that to me Declan. Don't we know each other?" said the woman named Inggrid carefully.
Honestly, implied a sense of disappointment in the heart of England because the relationship with Declan is no longer the same. Especially when Declan was being formal to her. That's hurtful.
"When do you think Mr. Fitzgerald will get here?" ask Declan to the point.
"About an hour away" Inggrid replied with a faint smile.
"alright. Then you can sit back. Maybe I will start reading and studying the document submission proposal from your company. At least we can post a discussion for a meeting later." Declan invited Inggrid back to the meeting chair.
Unfortunately, Inggrid has other plans. Before Declan stepped towards his seat of greatness, Ingrid held the man's hand.
"Declan.mumpung Mr. Fitzgerald and the others are not present. Can we both talk for a second?"
The two look at each other. So clingy, so deep. Both of them dissolve in silence.
"Please keep your limits Miss Tiffin, let go of my hands!!" Declan threw Inggrid's hand in a jolt, leaving Inggrid shocked.
"M-sorry because I'm presumptuous.." said Inggrid stammering. "But really Declan, give me a chance to explain-"
"Explain what? Explain how you cheated in front of my eyes? Or maybe you want to explain how you betrayed me by leaking the secrets of the Clerk Kingdom company to a rival a few years ago?" Declan immediately railed against Inggrid with various statements that boasted.
Inggrid closed his eyes, holding back the puddles that had accumulated on the eye fertilizers.
Declan smiled mockingly. "Why silence? Can't answer?"
"Declan.ak-me.at that time I was stuck-"
"Listen well to the esteemed Miss Tiffin. Whatever happened between us in the past, I have buried all those memories deeply. The betrayal you once committed, to death I will never forget" Declan said with great emphasis in each of his words.
***
Meanwhile, at the farmhouse,
Daphne was in a daze looking for her cosmetic bag. The whole corner of the house has been traced, but in fact the pink purple glitter box bag has not been met.
Tired of Daphne walking around looking. He even deployed workers at his home to help him.
Instead of what, in the bag accidentally Daphne left a box of tiny jewelry containing her diamond necklace.
In the next few hours, the entire Harper family will gather together for dinner and Daphne desperately needs the necklace.
The necklace was considered important to Daphne because it was believed to be a necklace carrying good luck. Daphne always felt insecure if she didn't wear it. The woman had just realized that since this morning, the gift necklace from Papi and his mother was not stuck to the neck.
"How's Auntie? Have you seen my cosmetic box?" Daphne bit her fingers in panic.
"We're sorry Miss, but the box has not been found. Jilly and I have been looking for it all over the room and the results are nil" said Lisbet, who is his favorite personal assistant along with Jilly.
"Oh..how is this if I don't see you? I can faint Auntie.." lamented Daphne.
"I have a solution Miss, what if me and Jilly go to buy some new makeup? There's still plenty of time, miss."
"Can't be Auntie.not her make-up that's a problem. But in that box is my lucky necklace!" Daphne sat herself on the edge of the bed while massaging her temple.
"Let's just remember where she put it last time, maybe Miss didn't bring it here" Jilly said.
Daphne seemed to think for a moment. What Jilly said is true. Maybe Daphne forgot to bring. But that was impossible because in the car Daphne had time to wear lip gloss.
Degh...
Daphne's memory was refreshed. She remembered where the cosmetic box was placed. The answer is in his car. Yeah, in the car.
Unfortunately, the car is now being borrowed by Declan to go to his workplace.
"Good God.I have to how this is!!" Daphne patted his forehead slowly, condemning his careless recklessness leaving his precious diamond necklace in the car.
***