The CEO’s Substitute Lover

“Do you mean you’re picking me to work with you over at the head office, General Manager?”

“Yeah!” Eddison was afraid that Octavia would reject him.

“I especially want you to help me with this because I’d be the laughing stock of the company if I didn’t have a trusted right-hand man at my side when I transfer to the head office as Vice President.

Octavia Gills was hesitant because she had no reason not to go, except that if she were to leave Tredan Davi one day, she would need to leave this job as well.

“General manager, I would be happy to work with you over at the head office, but my qualifications are average and I am afraid I will drag you down. Look, do you want to consider someone else, I think that I …”

“This is a favor that only you can do for me, because not only am I moving to the company’s head office, my big brother, Tredan Davi, and my father will also be there. My brother and I have always had a very bad relationship since we were kids, and it takes a lot of courage for me to be near him. I used to think when I was a kid that it would be nice if my brother and I could love each other like brothers in a normal family! Octavia, I am particularly open and comfortable in your presence and I need you to walk me through this for a little while, I want to get through this bottleneck with my big brother! Will you help me?” Eddison knew exactly what Octavia’s Achilles’ heel was.Property of Nô)(velDr(a)ma.Org.

Octavia wondered if she could help Tredan and Eddison open their hearts to each other before she left so that Tredan would have a brother to lean on and would not be as lonely as before. It would be a good thing indeed.

“Octavia, do you not want to agree to do me this favor? And yes, who would want to get involved in such complicated family relationships!” Eddison said darkly and walked off to a corner to smoke a cigarette.

Octavia was stunned that Eddison was now acting like a particularly hurt little child. Octavia rushed up to Eddison and said, “Of course, I’d like to go over there and help you! But I’m genuinely afraid that I will be holding you back. That’s why I’ve thought about how to hit two birds with one stone. I will agree to go to work with you at the head office starting tomorrow, but you have to find an assistant who is strong in all aspects to help you. Once you find an assistant who is qualified for the job, I will willingly give up my position for him, is that okay?”

Eddison’s heart was finally at ease looking into Octavia’s eyes. He would agree to whatever Octavia said now, no matter what it was, and as long as she was willing to report to the head office tomorrow. Eddison’s goal was achieved!

Eddison decided to invite Octavia to dinner to thank her for helping him, only for Octavia to say that her mother had cooked a nice dish and soup for her and needed to be home for dinner tonight.

Speaking of Octavia’s mother, Eddison thought of the day her mother threatened Octavia to leave his big brother and break off their relationship, and Eddison felt he had to find a way to let Elda know that he, Eddison, existed! A man who could be a match for her daughter and that maybe Elda was Eddison’s chance to turn the tables.

“I’ll tell you what, to show you my extra special gratitude right now, let me give you a lift. If you can’t accept my offer to have dinner, it’s the peak hours for commuters and the traffic will be heavy, you’ll have a hard time getting a cab, and the buses and subways will be jammed! I’ll give you a ride back, be your exclusive driver for free, and go buy some fruit or handicrafts or something to take home!”

Octavia thought about what Eddison is saying, and it was indeed difficult to get a taxi, and her mother had said that since she was her daughter, she shouldn’t be late as a courtesy to Eldwin for preparing such a meal.

“It’s just that it may be too much out of the way for you, General Manager!” Octavia Gills felt that it would be convenient for her but not for Eddison.

“If you feel bad for me taking you to your home, you can make up for it by having a meal at your house!” Eddison’s plan was so well thought out that Octavia dropped her defenses. “I’ve never seen a big meal like this in a normal home, would you give me the honor of experiencing it?”

Octavia Gills had no reason to refuse! Besides, Octavia Gills has been taking good care of Eddison in every way since he took over as General Manager, so really, she should invite Eddison to dinner. But Octavia Gills had never brought a man home before, and with Eldwin here today, would it be a bit awkward to take Eddison? Oh well, it’s just a matter of inviting her boss over for a meal, and she’s already got a lot on her mind to think of where this might lead to. It’s so unethical!

“Let’s go! The General Manager is welcome to my home for a home-cooked meal!” Octavia Gills simply got into Eddison’s car and drove off together to Octavia Gills’ house!

“Mom, I’m home! Octavia saw Eldwin helping her mother outside the door to change her shoes, what a perfect match!

Eddison, who had trailed Octavia in, walked into the hall with two hands full of packages. “Hello Auntie, hello Uncle!”

Startled at the sound of a man’s voice, Elda turned around to look.

“Mom, Eldwin, this is the general manager of my company, my boss! He always takes care of me at work during the day, so I invited him over for dinner today!”

Elda was just glad it wasn’t Tredan Davi, “Oh, so you’re Octavia’s boss, come on, have a seat. Let me tell you that you’re in for a special treat tonight, all of Auntie’s best dishes!”

“Thank you, thank you, Auntie!” Eddison looked around and wondered where to put the things he had been holding in his hands.

Eldwin saw it and came over and put it down for Eddison, setting it on the coffee table.

“Octavia, you’re something too, how can you let a manager rob a bank by inviting him to your home for dinner?” Eldwin reminded Octavia Gills that Eddison was excited to buy a lot of things and when she wanted to pay it, he handed a card to the cashier who immediately smiled at Eddison and swiped his card into the machine before giving it back to Eddison. “Thank you, and welcome back Mr. Floyd!”

Eddison just dragged her away! Even Octavia Gills hasn’t figured out what this was all about yet!

“No, Octavia didn’t ask me to buy it, which is as it should be, if I came empty-handed, I’d be embarrassed to come so please don’t mention it!” Eddison is still one of those people who knows how to be polite.

“This herb chicken is ready; we can eat now!” Elda informed them from the kitchen. They were still having a pleasant conversation, and Eldwin sniffed and ran over to help. It’s time to eat.

“It smells so good; I’m getting hungry just smelling it!” Eddison inhaled the aroma that was spreading throughout the dining room with a steaming smoke blaze.

Elda looked at everyone who hadn’t moved, “General Manager, eat while it’s hot, or it will get cold… Eldwin, Octavia, come on, hand out the chopsticks so we can start eating!”

“Auntie, you guys can just call me Eddison! There’s no such thing as titles when you’re outside the office.” Elda chopped off a large chicken leg for Eddison.

“Eddison, try this! It’s my specialty, Eldwin craves it, he says it’s the best herb chicken ever!” Elda could see that Eddison had a thing for Octavia Gills, and on closer inspection, Eddison was not bad looking, not quite as perfect as Tredan Davi, but he is definitely a handsome young man. The key is that this man is well-behaved, polite, and knows how to respect the elderly.

“Thank you, Auntie, I’ll do it, I’ll do it. Auntie, hurry up and sit down and eat!” Eddison was enjoying the atmosphere now, casually gathering around a small table to eat a hot meal like family. Unlike the Davi Family, where the table was extra large and luxurious and expensive, the people were distant and inaccessible, and the only sounds heard at the cold table were the sounds of each other eating.

Eddison doesn’t know if he was really hungry or if he thought the food was particularly delicious, but the meal really tasted good and he was also in high spirits. Eddison felt that Octavia Gills brought him joy all the time.

“General Manager, everyone in my family is easy-going, just treat this place like your own home, pinch whatever you want and eat it all, my mum will be extra, extra happy.” Thankfully, things weren’t as awkward as Octavia Gills had previously thought.

“I will! I envy you, Octavia, you get to eat such good meals every day, I’m jealous now!” Elda watched every look in Eddison’s eyes and she was increasingly sure that her suspicions were true, the more Elda saw of Eddison the more she liked him. What a wonderful young man, and she couldn’t tell how comforting it would be for her as a mother if Octavia Gills got on with him!

“Elda, what’s on your mind? Eat, eat and think again!” How could Eldwin not see through Elda’s little thoughts, except that she had overlooked Octavia Gills’ inner feelings, that Octavia had no love for Eddison and Eldwin was worried that Elda would insist on forcing her child to make a choice she didn’t like, which would be the wrong attitude to take as a parent?

“Eddison, do you have a girlfriend? Next time you can ask her to come over and have dinner with us.” Elda still couldn’t hold back her thoughts and started prying.

“Gee, Mom, why do you ask that! It’s a personal matter for my boss, don’t ask!” Octavia Gills almost choked on Elda’s bold question!

“Yeah, it’s Eddison’s private life, we as elders can’t interfere with that!” Eldwin tried to help Octavia Gills avoid the awkward scene.

“It’s okay, I’ll answer whatever you want to ask, I don’t even have any secrets that I can’t disclose. Auntie, I don’t have a girlfriend now, I’m a bachelor, no one seems to want me, and I can’t help it!” Eddison himself could feel Elda’s enthusiasm for him tonight, and in fact, Eddison was already overjoyed. It seems that Eddison’s strategy was the right one this time. With Elda, he has already won half the battle to get Octavia Gills.

“Really! That’s so good…” Elda who heard Eddison say that he didn’t have a girlfriend was so happy that she almost jumped for joy. “No… no, what Auntie means is that you are so handsome and cheerful and understanding, I can’t believe it when you say you don’t have a girlfriend!”

“Ha ha… I’m only as good as I am! Auntie you have a good eye, I also think I am a very good man. It’s just that no one appreciates it, I’m baffled too! However, I am relieved to hear you say that tonight! I’ve met a great woman, Auntie!” Eddison is a smooth talker and has a high EQ!