The next day***
The bright glow of the morning sun seeped through the windows of Carl's bedroom and the light stung Carl's eyes. His long lashes began to flutter until his eyes flew open and he became fully awake. Carl groggily turned to the other side of the bed to sleep more and just then, his phone started ringing, alerting him.
"Shit" Carl cursed in his sleep. His hand searched around the bed for his phone until he found it.
Carl looked at his phone to see the caller who was disturbing his sleep and he saw that it was 'PI3' calling him. That was how he saved the number of the private investigator he hired for Anne. Carl has three private investigators and the other two were occupied which was why he asked this one to do the job.
"Hey, what's good?" Carl sounded sleepy that even the PI on the phone hearing Carl's voice could tell that he had just woken up.
"Sir, It seems I woke you up from your sleep, I'm truly sorry for that," the PI said.
"It's okay so far as you have something really important to tell me," Carl said on the phone.
"It's about Miss Stewart Sir," the PI said.
Carl's heart skipped a beat. He immediately sat down upright on his bed with a serious look on his face.
"What's with her? Is she okay? Did she get hurt? Where is she right now?" Carl questioned already feeling worried because the PI hasn't called him to report anything about Anne since he hired him.
"Sir, she's perfectly fine," He said and Carl heaved a heavy sigh of relief with closed eyes. As much as he wanted to move on from Anne, he still wants to protect her regardless. The last thing Carl wants in this life is for Anne to get hurt and he'll do anything within his power to protect her.
"So what is it you wanna say about her," Carl said still feeling curious.
"I don't think I can keep watching over her," the PI said on the phone.
"Why? What happened?"
"That young lady you asked me to watch her every move, embarrassed the shit outta me yesterday, I got humiliated like I was some kind of criminal" The PI vented and Carl could hear the anger in his voice.
Carl knew that Anne was capable of embarrassing any guy who crosses her boundaries because he was once a victim. She has also humiliated Carl just because she thought he kicked her on her butt on the subway.
"What did you do to her that made her embarrass you in the first place," Carl asked.
"Nothing! I was only doing my job and then she suspected that I was following her. She approached me and threatened to call the cops on me if she ever sees me around her"
"Well, you could've been more careful. Why didn't you play it discreetly? what did I pay you for huh? I gave you one job to do and you let yourself get seen by her" Carl said huskily on the phone feeling pissed already.
"you know what? I no longer need your services. I'll ask someone else who is more competent to do that fucking job!" he said and hung up.
Carl took a deep breath. He looked at the time on the phone and saw that it was 08:46 am.
"shit!!" Carl exclaimed loudly, looking at the time with shock. He couldn't believe that he overslept. Although, it was good for him because he needed it. He has suffered too many sleepless nights.
"shit shit shit how did I oversleep?" Carl facepalmed. He also had no idea of the time he slept off when he was with his grandmother.
But right now, he wasn't thinking about the time he slept, he was anxious because he was late for work. Work starts as early as 7:30 in the morning and now it's almost 9 o clock.
Carl quickly jumped from the bed and went straight to the bathroom to brush his teeth. After that, he took a quick shower and did all the morning routine he was meant to do.
In less than thirty minutes, Carl was through and he was prepared to go to work. He was seen rushing down the stairs already dressed up. He was putting on a plain black suit and he was holding a briefcase in his right hand. He looked dangerously hot and sexy yet formal like the CEO he is.
"Good morning my darling,"
Carl heard his grandmother's voice from the kitchen.
"Good morning Grandma," he said, hurrying to leave the house.
"Carl, aren't you going to have breakfast before you leave for work," his grandma voiced at him making him turn to face her.
"No, I'm not hungry and I'm already late for work so I'll have to skip breakfast," he said.
"Aren't you the president of your company? Who cares if you're late for work, no one is going to persecute you for that," Carl's grandma said.
"I know but that is not an excuse for me to come late,"
"I don't care! And since I'm your grandmother, you'll have to do as I say. You're not leaving this house until you've had breakfast," she said sternly.
"ugh," Carl lifted his head, groaning like a kid, and then his grandma walked towards him and grabbed his hand. She took him to the dining table and motioned him to sit down on one of the chairs.
"Seriously? Do I really need to eat?" Carl groaned softly.
"Yes! You know I wouldn't let you leave this house on an empty stomach so you must have breakfast no matter what," Carl's grandma said.
"Okay fine! I'm only eating because I love you" he said and his grandmother smiled at him.
Carl sat down and he started eating delicious pancakes that were prepared by his grandmother. She smiled as she watched her grandson eating with his mouthful.
"Careful so you won't choke," she said and Carl nodded. He was eating in haste not just because he was in a hurry to go to work but because of how delicious the food tasted.
"What about Richie?" he asked with his mouthful.
"he already left for school like two hours ago," Carl's grandma said.
"how about Mom?" he asked and drank his coffee.
"she already left for work," she replied.
Carl moved his chair backward and got up from his seat. He wasn't done eating but at least he was full to an extent.
"Are you full? Go ahead and eat up," Carl's grandmother insisted.
"No, I'm full. Thanks a lot, Grandma," Carl smiled.
"Wow, you look so cute this morning" she complimented, looking at her grandson in admiration.
"hmm… are you trying to say that I was ugly yesterday?" Carl said jokingly with raised brows
"No of course not!" she laughed "but I got to admit that you look more stunning this morning. Or maybe it's because you finally had a good night's sleep"
Carl paused for a while. He was also surprised at how he slept soundly because it seemed weird to him. He tried to remember what happened before he fell asleep and then he recalled when Richie offered him a cake. That was the last thing he ate before he fell asleep.
"it was the cake... Something was in the cake" Carl mumbled. He strongly believe that there was something in the cake that must've made him fall asleep for hours because it wasn't a coincidence.
"What cake? What are you mumbling about?" Carl's grandmother asked.
"It's..it's nothing," Carl shook his head. He looked at his Rolex wristwatch and saw that the time was 09:26 am
"Oh, my God! Would you look at the time? I'm sorry grandma, I gotta run" He said and hurriedly pecked his grandma on the cheek and left the house.
..
NYPD Company
Cassandra was all alone in Carl's office, rearranging the files on his desk. She was putting on a white corporate blouse and a black pencil skirt that made her wide hips more noticeable. She looked very attractive and she likes wearing clothes that show off her sexy curves.
'why hasn't Mr. McAlester come to work yet? Is he skipping work today?' Cassandra thought to herself feeling worried because Carl is not the type to come late to work.
She was just about to leave the office when the door barged open and Carl walked inside. He had just arrived at work.
"Uh… um… Good mo.. morning.. Mr. McAlester" Cassandra managed not to stutter out of shock but she did anyway. She was stunned by the handsome Greek god standing in front of her. She is still not used to this sexy strong face. It makes her heart beat faster whenever she was standing close to him.
"what are you doing in my office," Carl asked her.
"S.. sir, I am your secretary,"
"Substitute secretary," he corrected her just immediately.
"Yes sir... I was only arranging the files on your desk" She said.
Carl ignored her and walked straight to sit down on his swivel chair. Getting to his seat, he paused and looked at Cassandra who was still at the door staring at him.
It wasn't the first time Carl has caught her staring at him. Sometimes it makes him uncomfortable and that was why he was always harsh on her. He was just about to ask her what she wants in a rude manner but then he remembered what Noah said which was asking her out on a date.
"Miss Hills," Carl called.
"yes, Mr. McAlester" Cassandra answered with a bright smile on her face as she walked closer to him.
"Would you wanna go out on a dinner date with me?" he asked her.
"huh?" Cassandra's eyes widened with shock. Maybe her ears were playing tricks on her she thought so.