The CEO's Assistant

"WHAT!!" If Martin thought he was angry before, William was completely furious now. He went from seeing red to black.

"I'm sorry Mr. Clair I don't know any more about the relationship between Miss Richard and your son. I was just hoping you could help, after all I did hear through the rumour mill, that Liam is getting engaged to Odette Whittingham." Martin put on a good performance, perhaps he should have actor rather than a businessman.

"Yes, that's right." William's expression calmed, as a cunning smile spread across his face. "I know just how to get rid of the bitch."

"Good to hear Mr. Clair, I will leave it in your capable hands." Martin smiled before leaving his business card on William's desk and leaving. He had planted the seed, now all he had to do was wait for hatred and anger to grow and let William Clair do call the work.

William watched Martin leave, as a million solutions ran through his mind. Remembering the promise to his wife, William Clair picked up his coat as he exited the room, informing his secretary he was heading to lunch. Suddenly he stopped, before looking back at his secretary. "Rachel, while I'm gone, find me everything you can on Arianna Richard."

"Joan Richard's daughter, sir?"

"Yes, you know what they say, keep your friend close but your enemies closer." He left with a cunning smile.

When he arrived at the restaurant, he greeted the Whittingham's and his wife. While putting on a polite smile, he met the gaze of young woman, with long golden blonde hair, sparkling green eyes and perfectly delicate features, she was stunning and would surely please his son.

"You must be Odette, it's a p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e to finally meet you." He reached out his hand to firmly shake his.

"Hello, President Clair, the p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e is mine." Her smile lit up the room as she shook his hand. "And may I just say I am a huge fan of company's main fashion line." She knew the way into getting this man's approval, flattery.

Camilla watched the interaction between her husband and soon-to-be daughter-in-law, an uneasy feeling arose in her c.h.e.s.t. The matriarch couldn't put her finger on it, but she wasn't so confident about this arrangement anymore. "Darling, where is Liam? I assumed he would be arriving with you." Camilla's soft voice directed at her husband. William looked around only just realizing his son's absence.

"Oh, I assumed he was already here. Hang on I'll go give him a call." William bluffed a smile, "he must be working so hard he forgot to check the time." It was such a fake excuse, but no-one said anything.

Fear filled Camilla's mind as she worried, he might be with… her. "Hang on dear, you've been working so hard, sit down have a drink I will call him." She smiled politely at her husband and their in-laws before excusing herself to private balcony.

"Hi honey, yes did you forgot you were supposed to meet your father and I at the restaurant to meet Odette and her family?" Camilla politely spoke into the phone. "What? No." anger rose up inside her at how disobedient her son was being. He had told his mother exactly what he promised Arianna he would, that he wasn't going to marry Odette.

As if on cue, William walked out to see what was taking so long when he overheard her on the phone, "I told you Liam, forget about her, do you know how your father will react when he hears about this? We've already made an agreement with the Whittingham family, she is a lovely, beautiful young lady who will make the perfect wife." Despite not truly believing what she'd said, Camilla was nothing if not a woman of her word. "This is some game we're talking about Liam; this is your future." William patiently listened, as he could hear the familiar murmurs of his son's voice through the phone. "I don't care Liam. She is daughter of your father's biggest rival, do you honestly think your father is going to be okay with it?"

Realising what his wife and son were discussing William became filled with anger and rage, as he stormed up to his wife snatching the phone from her. "Liam Clair, I don't care what you have to say, get down to this restaurant now. You will meet Odette and her parents, you will be respectful and polite, you will NOT mention Arianna in front of Whittingham's, or you'll never see your little lover again." William harsh whisper sent chills down Camilla's spine as he gritted his teeth whilst speaking to their son. "Do not test a tolerance boy, do you understand me?" Before quickly hanging up on him.

"Will-" Camilla gently reached out to console her angered husband.

"And you!" he turned to face her furiously, "you knew about this? About this affair with that wench's offspring? Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because I didn't want this to happen." She assertively spoke, standing her ground. "Joan and I were handling the situation. I knew if I told you, you would stress and with your health the way it is I was concerned about your blood pressure. If you're not careful you're going to overexert yourself, is that you want huh? To die?" Using an overbearing and rather intimidating tone, as if she was telling off a child.

"But-" the executive was lost for words, fully aware that his wife was right.

"No buts mister, now we are going to go back in there come up with an excuse until Liam arrives and be polite and friendly like nothing ever happened. Do you understand me?" She commanded with the aura of military general.

"Yes." He nodded obediently at his beloved wife, before taking a deep breath and following his wife back inside to join the Whittingham family.

"So sorry about that, Liam mixed up the times. He will be here shortly." Camilla spoke with gentle reassuring tone.

"That's fine." A tall curved woman with deep brown eyes and greyish-blonde hair spoke with a rather condescending smile.

"Yes, to be honest we're just grateful he has agreed to meet us at all." Her husband, who was an abnormally tall slender man with light grey hair and neatly trimmed grey beard, spoke more honestly.

"What do you mean by that Mr. Whittingham?" Camilla anxiously asked.

"Well we understand that the breakup between Liam and his ex-fiancée wasn't exactly easy on the young man." Mr. Whittingham spoke as if it was a delicate subject.

"Yes well..." Madam Clair looked awkwardly at her husband. The family had managed to keep Chloe's affair and gold-digging a secret, however the toll the breakup took on Liam was well-known gossip among society's elite.

"We decide it would be best to do this now, whilst he's still healing. Avoid anymore heartbreaks and gives, the lovely Odette over here, a chance to win his heart." He gestured towards the stunning blonde, who returned with a beautiful smile and cunningly sweet eyes.

"Oh, I'm sure I will President Clair, I'm sure I will."