It's been a week now since Audrey drop that bombshell and my dreadful encounter with the creep, Chris Anderson. I haven't mustered the courage to give him a call, that one step that will change my life, so he says. I'm just torn between my desperation to find out what the hell is happening in my life and my intuition clearly warning me to stay away from that devil. I'm scared my desperation will win and make me take the wrong decision.
And of course, Mr. Smith, another trouble wrecking up my mind throughout the week, confiding in the same room with him practically the whole day has been kind of torture. Seeing his face every day has worsened my dilemma, my feelings for him. My stupid heart keeps glowing for him.
Even though at the moment, Mr. Smith isn't in the office with me. I keep glancing at his desk, a weird feeling grips me, it is like he is still in the office with me. I sighed slumping my head on the desk.
Thankfully being his secretary comes with a great ton of work making my day very hectic, and also getting me distracted from all the crazy stuff cultivating in my brain.
I suddenly remember something I forgot to do. With panic, I jerk out of my seat. There was one meeting I forget to squeeze into his tight schedule. My heart flicked in panic. I can't afford to make mistakes. What if the client is very important. I'm going to be doomed. My nervous habit set in, biting my lips, rubbing my forehead.
Calm down April, I inhaled in a deep breath. I just need to ask Phoebe, the receptionist. Without hesitating, I rush out to the last floor. I saw her bag on her desk, looks like she is stepping out. I glanced at my phone. It was lunch break. I paused recalling she has been persistently pestering me to go for lunch with her. I kept making fake excuses to decline her offer. She is nice and all and the only one here with a friendly face. But I'm not ready to be her work buddy. It comes with a lot of drama and gossip I got no time for.
Reluctantly I walked over to her.
"Can you spare me a minute of your time?" I said with a charming smile.
She smiles back. " okay"
"There was a client that called late afternoon, it skipped my mind….." The telephone on her desk rang interrupting us.
"I need to take this" she apologetically said. Picking it up.
Whilst she was still on the call, her phone suddenly beep, getting my attention, unintentionally I glanced at it. A recognition hit me. I glanced at the phone wallpaper again. It was a picture of a teenage girl with blonde hair. I racked my brain. I feel like I have seen her somewhere, but the memory is blurry. I kept on glancing. My eyes flickered making me gape. OMG!. I recall her now. The girl who was pushing Mr. Smith's granny in her wheelchair. This unbelievable!.
I just hope she is the one. I'm good with face recognition, that's one geeky thing about me, it doesn't matter the time or period I spend in the company of that person. Once my eyes scrutinized you, the image of your face is printed in my memory forever. It could be due to my artistic nature.
A flare of hope flicks in my heart. I can't believe my luck. I just hope she is the one.
Phoebe ended the call. "April you were saying?"
Huh, I blinked my eyes at her. What was I saying? Jeez, the image of that girl has blurred out my memory.
"Oh right, yeah about a client, that called in yesterday, late afternoon I think I forget to schedule a meeting.."
"Oh you mean Mr. Kings, he called back to cancel. Sorry I forgot to tell you"
Thank God, I sigh in relief.
My eyes glanced at her phone again.
"She is pretty" she followed my gaze, a smile drawn on her face.
"Yeah, that's my kid sister" she proudly said.
"Lucky you"
She laughs. " I guess so, do you have a sister?"
I shook my head.
"That's my plight, I'm the only child"
"Aww poor you, might have felt lonely growing up" she console sympathetically
"The sadness of being an only child"
I flash her a weak smile. feeling jinx inside. I was contemplating how to drop that question. It will be weird to bluntly ask. But the thought of trying to get close to her because of her sister, makes me feel evil. That is so not like me.
I'm so eager to know the exact location of the home she works at.
How does one prop out Information from someone without the person noticing? I have watched a lot of mystery detective movies and none of it is helping in this situation. I decided to take a shot.
"She looks familiar, is she a babysitter" I intentionally ask trying to confirm if I got it right.
"Nah, she works part-time in a home for the elderly"
"I think that's where I saw her with an old friend of my Nana. I have forgotten the exact name of the home my Nana's friend is staying at" My precious Nana I know you must be stirring up in your grave, me using your name to lie. But hope you understand my reason for doing so.
"Queens nursing home" that was it. She bluntly revealed. I smile with satisfaction. My detective skills aren't all that bad. Gosh, I'm a natural-born liar.
Excitement and relief swept over me. I thank my lucky stars for this day.
"Must be proud of her, working in a home for rich senior citizens" I remarked.
"I'm one lucky sister, she keeps making me proud, You know she got accepted to MIT "
"Wow, you got a genius for a sister, I could love to meet her someday"
I suddenly caught a glimpse of Olivia the goddess, she just walked in, heading to one destination I'm so sure about, Mr. Smith's office.
I sigh, I'm not in the mood for her sharp snickers. I got to escape, there is no way I'm going back in there, for another face-off with her.
"Phoebe are you ready to go for lunch?" I asked, this is my escape plan.
"Yeah," she said with a puzzled face.
"let's go"
Her eyes widened.
"S...Sure" she Stuttered. She couldn't hide her excitement. I don't blame her. Working in an alienated confide world like Lynx can make you desperate for any chance for company. Because you are surrounded by human robots throughout the day.
Fate lead me to her desk today using Mr. Kings. Now I can put Chris Anderson on hold whilst I unwrap the mystery surrounding the Camilla name.
My problem now is how I can get into the home without the Smiths finding out about it.
Brad's POV
I stood up to shake the investor's hand after he finalize the deal with his signature. It took ages to obtain that from him. I nearly miss my last chance, He was about to fly out of the country in his private jet. Out of desperation, I drove straight here like a mad racer to intersect him. He was marveled at my determination, contributing to him giving my company a shot.
I got out of the jet with one thing on my mind. My new secretary. It has been a staring contest between us for the past week now. Without must words spoken between us. The silence is killing me inside. I miss her babbly words, that jolly smile of hers. I even miss her glares at me when she gets irritated with me. Now all I could see is her blank solemn look on her face. It's like she is shading herself from me. Just when I finally had an intimate moment with her I had to blow that off with my chauvinistic egotistical nature.
I wish I could take back my words but damn I made my anger and frustration of protecting her, get the better of me. Deep down I know I meant the words and it made me feel worst. I'm angry at her for falling right into my mother's trap. She is so naïve and gullible for living with total strangers she knows nothing about.
April doesn't deserve the malicious plans we have for her. My guilty conscience cries louder anytime I stare into that innocent grey eyes. I wish I can relieve her of the stuff in-store for her, but I made a promise to my late father on his death bed. A promise I must fulfill and unfortunately April had to be the medium to achieve that.
The clock is ticking, nine months left to her next birthday and I am yet to court or even gain her absolute trust. This could have been a lot easier if she was just like a treacherous mother or like her reckless father, But she is different from her parent, her innocent heart is making it difficult for me.
I have to admit she has proven me wrong. She is the best secretary I have ever had. She works with much swiftness, completes any task I give to her efficiently with no error. I feel guilty describing her as indolent
I got into my car and drove straight to the office
My heartbeat in anticipation excited about seeing my wild hair girl.
My face dropped as my eyes made contact with Olivia's she was sitting behind my desk. With her legs crossed on top of the desk
I glanced at April's desk, it was empty. Where is she?
Olivia shoots me a seductive smile.
"Brad"
"Olivia" she stood up, walking up to the spot I stood. She placed her arms around my neck. She was about to kiss me on the lips, I swiftly turn my face making her land her lips on my cheek.
She grunted, glaring at me. I gently took her curled hands off my neck.
"What is with you Brad, don't you want me," she said with her usual pleading eyes I'm accustomed to.
"Olivia I'm not in the mood for all this crap, why are you here?" I asked wishing to get rid of her.
She chuckles, Her gaze travels to April's desk. Her eyes stop at the lady's bag, which belongs to April.
"But you got time for this huh, Brad, who did you replace with that slut, Alice Montgomery" My ex-girlfriend, Olivia never liked her, I now understood why.
I prefer Olivia the stalker when we were kids to this. The little girl with the ebony black hair, piercing blue eyes follows me around like a lovesick puppy. I thought she was over her stupid childhood crush. That is why I tolerate her constant presence in my life, turning deaf ears to Veronica's advice about her newfound obsession with me.
Out of rage, she threw April's bag to the floor making me snap. Anger filled up in me. My fist clenched, ready to throw her pathetic ass out of my office. But that one act can cause me a business deal with her father, which I can't afford to lose.
I rasp in a deep breath.
"Olivia you acting weird what has come over you," I said trying to sound calm.
Her eyes got glassy with tears.
I'm sick and tired of her using tears to emotionally blackmail me, which never moves me.
The door flung open revealing April's pretty face.
"Am I interrupting"
"Yes you are" Olivia sneers at her
"Oh Sorry" She flash a small smile at her that didn't reach her eyes.
Olivia turned her attention to me
"Brad I'm sorry I lost control, have been dealing with issues and I need you. but it seems you don't have time for me" She pouted with a grim expression. Not affecting me anyway it rather made me more irritated with her.
Christ, why can't she leave me alone? If she got issues she should rather go see a shrink.
"Let's go on a dinner date, it's been a while we did that" she suggested
April suddenly clear her throat.
"Sorry Miss Parker, Mr. Smith isn't available. He got a business dinner to attend to today."
My eyes flickered in surprise. I narrowed my gaze down at her. A sly smile creeps across her cheek.
That was a lie.
"You heard my secretary, I'm sorry Olivia, I got work to do" I gently place my arms around her guiding her to the door.
She turns shooting snares in April.
"You can't easily get rid of me" She shot me a smile kissing me on the cheeks and striding off.
I turned to meet April on her knees on the floor picking up the items in her bag littered on the floor.
"Sorry about that" I offered her an apology.
"It's not your fault Mr. Smith," she said with her back still turned to me. I wonder if she heard our conversation.
I crouch down to help her, she froze keeping her head down. My fingers brushed hers when we both decided to reach out for the same item. My eyes fell on her Lips remembering our passionate kiss. My throat clogged.
She quickly picked up the remaining items into her bag and walk back to her desk avoiding my gaze.
Her solemn expression is back on.
I wanted to say something but the words couldn't come out.
"Miss Jackson"
Her head shoots up
"Thanks" I managed to say, grateful to her for getting rid of Olivia the stalker.
Her brows crinkle in amazement.
"You are welcome"