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Chapter 7 - The Rumour

"So," Joe asked, crossing his arms, "I heard you and CEO Schneider have been getting closer lately."

Laura frowned at her friend and colleague. Joe Parker, a cheerful young man, was the first friend she made at the company. Joe worked as the secretary for Christopher Smith, the Chief Financial Officer of Schneider Enterprises. Currently, he was on the 44th floor, seeking Mr. Schneider's signature on some files.

"What do you mean?" Laura inquired.

"Don't try to hide it, Laura Smith," Joe wagged his right index finger playfully. "I see you and Mr. Schneider coming in and out of the building together every morning and evening. So, spill the beans. Is he giving you rides to and from work now?"

Laura sighed. "It's not what you think. My car is in the repair shop, and I can only pick it up at the end of the week."

For some reason, Mr. Schneider insisted on offering Laura a ride instead of letting her take the bus. He claimed that their houses were close to each other. Moreover, he believed that taking the bus would make her late, hampering his own efficiency. With his demanding workload, Laura's assistance as his secretary was invaluable in optimizing his time.

"Do you know about the rumors?" Joe asked, a tinge of concern in his voice. "The rumors about CEO Schneider?"

"What rumors?" Laura inquired, growing curious.

"People say that Mr. Schneider never allows anyone to get close to him," Joe shrugged. "His previous secretaries didn't last longer than two months. And here you are, my dear innocent friend, almost completing a year."

"Well," Laura smiled confidently, "I suppose that means I'm good at what I do, right?"

Joe sighed and playfully pinched Laura's nose bridge. "Oh, you innocent creature. Just be careful not to get swallowed by the wolf."

Laura looked at her friend, utterly bewildered by his words. "Anyway," Joe clapped his hands twice, "I'll leave the files that need CEO Schneider's signature with you. I'll pick them up later before the day ends. You know Chris won't survive without me. I do everything for him, even helping him with matters of the heart. Can you believe it? Christopher Smith, the man hailed as this year's sexiest man, doesn't know how to make a move. Ugh, those useless rich bastards."

Laura rolled her eyes at Joe's remark. It seemed Joe was on a first-name basis with their boss, CFO Smith. They had been working together for years. Laura wondered if she could address the CEO by his first name as well. How would "Mr. Schneider" sound if it came out of her mouth? Matthew. She shook her head, dismissing the thought.

Just as Joe was about to leave the room, Laura called out his name. "Hey, Joe," she smiled and extended a candy cane, "Thank you for being my first friend in the company. I wouldn't have made it through without you."

Joe's eyes widened, exclaiming, "Oh my god! You're so sweet!" He showered Laura with hugs and pecks on the cheek, playfully ruffling her petite, fluffy hair.

Suddenly, a throat cleared behind them. "You're here, Mr. Parker," Mr. Schneider, who had just entered the 44th floor, acknowledged Joe while his gaze fixated on the candy cane in Joe's hand. Matthew's eyes twitched involuntarily.

"I'm actually on my way out now, Mr. Schneider," Joe bowed respectfully to the CEO, smiled at Laura, and swiftly exited the room.

Silence filled the air. It was evident that Matthew was in a sour mood, Laura concluded.

"What's on my schedule for today, Ms. Jones?" Mr. Schneider asked without bothering to look at his secretary as he made his way toward the main office.

Laura rose from her seat and trailed behind the CEO, clutching her iPad tightly. As she went over Mr. Schneider's schedule, she discreetly observed his face. The lines on his forehead had deepened, and his jaw appeared clenched—a clear sign that something was bothering him. He seemed distant, not even glancing in her direction, as he skimmed through the files he needed to read. Undoubtedly, he was in a foul mood.

Out of the blue, Matthew broke the silence, his tone formal and distant. "Is your passport ready, Ms. Jones?" The use of her last name felt strange, considering that he had been addressing her as Laura for the past few days. Just two days ago, he had reminded his secretary to prepare her passport, as they were scheduled to travel to Canada next week for a significant project with the Ryan family. The collaborative efforts had been causing a great deal of stress lately, which might explain Matthew's current disposition.

"Yes, Mr. Schneider," Laura replied, keeping her response brief.

"Good."

Silence enveloped the room, signaling Laura's cue to leave the CEO alone. It had undeniably been a trying week for the entire company, particularly for Matthew. Their plans involved partnering with the Ryan family, a prominent Canadian construction company. A privately owned island in Canada had recently gone up for sale, and Matthew saw the potential in transforming it into an exclusive island resort. If the Ryan family approved of the project, it would pave the way for Schneider Enterprises to establish a stronger presence in the Canadian industry. Given Canada's status as a leader in economic development, the business landscape there was currently flourishing. Matthew was determined to seize this opportunity and capitalize on the country's growth.

He was engrossed in studying the business plan created by his team when his phone suddenly rang. Seeing the caller ID as Jack Ryan, he answered the call.

"Hey, Matthew," Jack greeted. He and Matthew Schneider had been longtime friends and had both earned their MBAs from Harvard. If the USA had Matthew Schneider, Canada had Jack Ryan. Both men were renowned in the business world for their exceptional leadership skills. They were warmly welcomed by men and women alike.

"Are we all set for the Canada meeting next week?" Jack inquired.

"Yes," Matthew replied with a sigh. "Are we planning to stay on the island?"

"Absolutely. We need to survey the place thoroughly before finalizing the contract," Jack explained.

Matthew couldn't help but mutter under his breath, "Bastard." Jack was known for being meticulous, making him quite difficult to please. He was also one of the most stubborn individuals Matthew had ever met.

"By the way," Jack suddenly asked, "Are you bringing your assistant along? What's her name again? Laura Jones?"

Matthew paused for a moment, feeling slightly irritated. "You bastard."

Jack chuckled at his friend's reaction. Back when Laura was newly hired in the company, Jack had called all the way from Canada and happened to speak to her since she was Matthew's secretary. Jack, with his icy demeanor, was captivated by Laura's voice during that call. Ever since then, he would occasionally bother Laura with phone calls, simply enjoying the sound of her voice.

According to Jack, Laura had soothing and soft voice. Her emotions were clearly conveyed through her voice. When she was happy, her voice was bright and clear, and when she felt a bit down, it became low and mellow. Jack found it fascinating how Laura's voice mirrored her current emotions. It was like a breath of fresh air.

Thankfully (for Matthew), Jack and Laura had never met in person. Until next week.

"Come on, man," Jack said with a pouty face "Bring your secretary along. I want to meet the person behind that sweet voice."

"She's not someone to mess with, Jack," Matthew warned seriously. "Laura is as innocent as a nun."

Jack chuckled. "Honestly, I just want to meet her."

Matthew was almost ready to give in and inform his Canadian friend that his secretary would be joining them on their business trip when Jack interrupted.

"And maybe I'll triple her salary so she can work under me."

Without hesitation, Matthew hung up the phone.