Unexpected Encounter: A Second Chance at Love

[Inside]

Rachael, Emma and Tina were huddled together for almost ten minutes now. They were busy stalking Andrew's instagram profile.

"Damn, he looks hot in pictures too," Tina exclaimed before hitting the like button.

Andrew's profile had many formal pictures of him from different conferences he had attended over the years and a few informal pictures too.

"His insta is neat—"

"He told me his company's PR team handles it," Rachael remarked.

"Why are you girls standing like that?" Reeta exclaimed. "Emma and Tina, come here and help me set up the table. Rachael go call Andrew, dinner is ready."

….

[Garden]

When Rachael entered the garden, she saw George and Andrew having a pleasant conversation with a big smile on their face.

When George saw her, he excused himself and went inside, leaving the couple behind.

"Did Ben leave?" Rachael asked.

Andrew nodded. "Yes, he left a long time back." When she did not say anything, he asked, "Do you wanna ask something else?"

"You and George—did you two talk?" When he nodded, she asked, "What did he say?" Rachael was very curious. She knew her brother wasn't completely okay with their marriage. She just wanted to make sure he didn't say anything offensive or rude to Andrew.

"We just had some healthy brother-in-law talks."

"He didn't say anything rude, did he?" Without waiting for his reply, she started defending George. "Look, he is a very sensible person but for the past few months, he has turned into a possessive big brother. So if he really said something rude or inappropriate, you have to understand that he probably did that to make sure I will be okay and because he cares."

"Well, he didn't say anything rude or inappropriate but—" He inched closer. "It's good to know you care about me."

"I-I never said that." She took a step back.

Tucking both the hands inside his pockets, Andrew remarked, "We should go inside—" But before he could take a step forward, Rachael stopped him.

"Wait—" she grabbed his hand. "I want to talk to you about something else too."

"Why don't we go inside and talk?" The weather was a bit chilly and she wasn't wearing anything thick or warm. He was worried she would catch a cold.

"It's pretty crowded inside." She wanted to talk to him in private when no one was around.

Without saying anything, he took off his coat and placed it on her shoulder. "What is it?"

Rachael was completely taken aback by the sudden sweet gesture. She was indeed feeling cold but it was tolerable. She never expected him to notice.

Pulling the coat closer to her body, she said, "I want to talk about your company—"

"Our company," he corrected her. "We are husband and wife now, everything that is mine is yours too." Andrew didn't like how she distinctly called the company only 'HIS'. He wanted her to know and always remember that everything that belonged to him was hers as well, including HIM.

The flirty yet overly heart warming and sweet statement he had just delivered so easily, made her blush. She could feel heat creeping through her cold cheeks.

"I-I want to talk about our company," she corrected herself.

"What is it?"

"I got the appointment letter today—"

"So uncle Michael finally told you? I thought he wouldn't do it and then I have to send you another appointment letter," he remarked.

Hesitating for a while, Rachael said, "Vice President is a very important and crucial post, are you sure you don't wanna reconsider?" She still felt she wasn't good enough for the post.

Crossing his arms in the front, he asked, "Why? You don't wanna work in our company?"

She vigorously shook her head. "It's nothing like that."

"Then? Do you have some other company in mind?"

"No. I don't know what dad told you about me that you gave me the job in one shot—"

"Rachael," he interrupted her. "I didn't give you this job because uncle Michael told me something or because you are his daughter. You got it based on your merits." Though he couldn't wait to work with her, he would never just hand over such an important position to someone who couldn't keep up with it.

"I didn't even interview for it—"

"So that is your complaint?" Andrew raised his brows. "Fine, I'll interview you right here."

Before Rachael could react, the latter started shooting his on-spot interview questions.

"What is your name?"

"Rachael Watson."

"What is your husband's name?"

"A-Andrew Collins."

"Is your husband handsome?"

Rachael frowned. "What kind of a question is that?" Who will ask if her husband is handsome or not during an interview?

"I am the one taking the interview, you are supposed to answer the questions," he stated. "Is your husband handsome?"

"Yes."

Satisfied by her answer, Andrew gently patted her head. "Good, you are hired."

Before she could retort, he started walking inside. "Let's go inside, I am starving."

…..