CHAPTER 10
Days Later
~ Christian ~
'Sir, the interview is today' I was reminded by one of the workers who took upon himself the responsibility of acting as my Personal Assistant for the past six days. He mentioned he'd stop once I find one for myself.
I inclined my head affirmatively. 'When did you set the time to be?'
'It's starting by 2:00pm sir' he responded.
I took a quick glance at my wrist watch and frowned.
'It's two already'
He smacked his lips. 'It skipped my miind to tell you before hand. I'm sorry sir'
I wheezed out a breath.
'I'll accompany you there' he offered.
I adjusted my tuxedo and approached the room where the interview is to take place.
I have decided to personally handle this interview so I can get a suitable working partner for myself. If someone was to choose for me. I might not be so satisfied.
'How many people applied?' I asked as I settled on the chair.
'Four hundred sir but I picked out specific ones that are certified for the job, using their CV and experiences as a guide. So fifty are outside, waiting to be interviewed..
'That's thoughtful of you' It would have been extremely strenuous to have four hundred people interviewed when you're looking for just one person.
Two bright spots appeared on his cheeks and he shyly looked to the floor at the compliment. I scoffed lightly.
He soon got over it and handed me a number of documents.
'These contain the profiles of the potential workers out there. You might want to have a thorough look at it'
I rolled my eyes. 'How's it possible I have a thorough look at it right now. Please, start calling them in' I asserted.
…An Hour Later..
'Is that all on the list?' I asked, massaging my thigh to relieve my myself of the cramps that was starting to creep in.
'No sir. It's remaining one more'
'Call him in immediately. I'm exhausted as it is'
Few seconds after he departed the office, he came back, ushering the person in.
'Please, have your seat' he urged
'What's your name?' I asked, looking through the pile of profiles I was entrusted with.
A moment of silence passed and the only thing I heard were sounds of breathing.
'Your name, please?' I asked again.
'Lauren Palmer'
As if on cue, her profile appeared the same time she said her name.
My head shot up immediately and I froze. Consequently, her shoulders tensed, her fingers fondled apprehensively around each other as they leaned on the table. She had her face downwards and her blonde hair did a great job in hiding most of her facial feature. My heart pounded in my chest and I can swear that an amount of blood oozed in my ear. My hands tightened on the document I was holding.
'Excuse us for a moment' I told him, not taking my eyes off her.
He bowed slightly and obliged instantly..
I leaned in on my chair, stared at her as she continues to avoid eye contact..
'What are you doing here?'
'I'... I'm he…re for the j.. job' she stuttered.
'Here for what job? The post of being my personal assistant?'.
She nodded. 'You got that right, sir'
I shook my head unbelievably. 'Can you stop it already?!' I thundered. 'What do you think you're doing? You think you'll get a chance at the job? You're betrayed me.. you decieved me.. you broke all your promises! Did you even think about how I'll feel when I see you again? You piss me off, Lauren'
'Let's keep personal relationships aside..' she trailed off, avoiding to look directly at me.
I clenched my jaw, my resolve almost shattering at the sight before me and when she lifted her face, Darn it!! I had to remind myself how much pain she caused me. She played me.. broke me… ridiculed me. Good reasons I shouldn't let myself fall for her fake innocence.
How did she even get the guts to show her face up here?.
'Speaking of relationships.. Does he know you're here? Or did he send you here?' I grimly queried.
'He doesn't'
I slowly lifted myself out of the chair.
'Leave… I don't want to ever see you again. Ever!'
'But Dylan…'
'Not Dylan anymore. I am Christian Forbes' I cut her short, slammed her profile on the table and left the office. Tears streamed down my eyes. As much as I tried to hold them in, it just didn't work.
'Boss. Are you okay?'
I paused to face him. 'That woman in there'
'Miss. Lauren Plamer?
'She is prohibited from coming in here. Never let her in. No matter what her reason is'
'I understand, sir'
'Send her out of the office this instant'
~ Lauren ~I predicted what was coming next when he slammed my profile on the table, skidded his chair away and walked out. He was unpleased with my presence in his office or newly acquired company...'Ma'am, I'll accompany you out' the man who had called me in said to me, his hands pointing to the exit area. I said nothing more and obliged.I bowed my head in shame as I walked out of his office, a failure. Thinking hard, I wonder what could have changed with Dylan. He was such a naive, innocent. How did he change into this so fast??I had thought he loved me too much that he wouldn't be able to say no to me. I had assumed he'd welcome me back into his life with open arms despite my insecurity of what I've done to him. All this now is all the confirmation I need to know he hates me.How do I explain this to Gabe? That I could not convince Dylan to have me as his new personal assistant? I let out a small, bitter laughter. How would he react if he finds out I was specifically ordered o
~ Tiffany ~My hands lazily reached for the alarm clock as it blared loudly, momentarily disturbing my sleep, I turned it off, went ahead to bury myself under the covers again. It's supposed to be a free day for me, since I spent the last five days of the week in the hospital, attending to patients. Whatever Mr. Christain had done to tame the doctor after my complain was still unsure to me but one thing was certain, it worked.My eyelids fluttered closed and I started to drift off to sleep. A cuss word escaped my mouth when another buzz from my phone deprived me, yet again. As I reached for the phone, I quietly hoped it's not from the hospital. I don't think I can get my ass worked up today again.Without confirming the caller ID, I answered and spoke into the phone.'Tiffany Palmer. How can I help you?''Good Morning, Miss. I'm Roger. The chairman has asked to inform you about his birthday party, taking place at the resort today. He said it'd be of great honor if you acknowledge it'
~Christain Forbes~With one last adjustment of my carefully tailored tuxedo, I walked in. I instantly got sick of the attention I was getting the moment I stepped in. Although, I knew this was going to happen somehow but I wasn't prepared for it. I was never used to attention since childhood, especially ones like this. The gasps, distinct chatters, murmurs.. I quickly made my way to where my father stood, his right arm spread apart as he waited for me to join him.'He's really the son of his father... They look so alike... How were they able to find him eventually? He's so handsome...' the talks went on and on for minutes.Out of the corner of my eyes, I saw them stare at me with so much hostility, annoyed by the fact I'm getting so many attention from the public.... They had come in first when father tried to introduce me but were immediately pushed aside by some of the guests. Later on, father gestured towards them, allowing them the chance to join him. 'I understand you all are su
Few weeks later~Christian~'President, the same lady is here again, requesting to see you' I snarled angrily. 'Do you need orders to send her out?'He bowed slightly. 'I'll do that right away, sir'Before he had the chance to depart my office, she stumbled in, scurrying close to where I stood. She looked disoriented, unlike her usual self. Her hair was a mess, her face had sweat smeared all over it, and her eyes were red and swollen. The mere sight of her triggered memories I'd tried so hard to seal within me. To my irritation, she dropped to her knees and looked up at me with tear-filled eyes. 'What do you want me to do hunhh? To portray my remorsefulness? To beg for forgiveness? Tell me. I'll do anything you want' she clamoured.My expression turned cold. Few days before, this was what I wanted. Her kneeling before me, begging desperately with doleful tears in her eyes just like she made me plead but now, it angered me that she was doing this. I allowed my hostile blue eyes to p
Christian~~~~The events of yesterday replayed in my head countless times as I remembered how close I was to dying again. It worked out in my favour as I gained a strong ally, but it was another one of the many close calls I've had with death and it's beginning to irk me a lot.I already knew the people who wanted me dead but I can't do anything about that for now. If even one of them dies, I'll be blamed with good reason and I could end up losing everything. The fact that I'm powerless against them just makes me want to expand my influence even more. Now I understand what rich people mean when they say money without power is basically useless. I am as rich as Audrey now if not richer, but I'm still powerless against him because of his influence. "I need power.""You don't get that by sitting on your ass and reading papers all day," Donna said with amusement in her voice. She was sitting in the chair opposite my table and reading through some papers. She seems to have fit into the r
~Lauren~ I got a call from the hospital the umpteenth time in seventy minutes. Releasing a heavy sigh, I answered. The words that followed had me hitching my breath 'Ma'am, your brother has been transferred into the emergency room again. His stitches tore and this has caused more complications. We advice that you make in an instant payment so the treatment will be carried out.' 'Noo. You don't have to wait for payment to be made. Treat him immediately. I'll be there in few minutes' I yelped frenziedly, worry and anxiety settling in my bosom. Only few days ago, I sent a thousand dollars so he would get the surgery done... It was all I had on me... Nothing else. I couldn't ask Gabe for help. I hurried into my car and drove like a human possessed, only barely staying within the speed limit and begrudgingly stopping for the red light as a ticket would only delay me further. "Please, be fine. Please, survive," I chanted the words like a mantra as my anxiety grew even more. It was gett
Audrey~~~~"Fuck! Fuck!! Fuck!!!" I yelled as I smashed the mirror with my phone. "Why is that fucker still alive?!""Audrey, calm down," my mother yelled. "You're distracting me.""What the fuck is there to not be distracted about?!" I hissed. "I paid a huge sum of money to that broker and I got nothing in return. That idiot is still alive and I'm stuck in here hoping this shit doesn't blow up in my face any second from now!""Yelling isn't going to solve anything," she sighed."But it sure as hell is making me feel better," I retorted. "Fuck! I don't feel even a little bit better!""See?" she sighed. "This is just a waste of your energy. This anger is supposed to be directed at finding a solution to this problem.""And what solution do you propose?" I hissed. "Because I sure as hell don't see one. Just how hard is it to kill one stupid man?!""Calm your ass down!" she yelled, standing up abruptly. "I warned you to be sure of the people you hire in the first place. Just how stupid ca
Christian's POV Lauren looked like she would collapse at the sight of the men behind me, but I am not exactly concerned about how uncomfortable she might be feeling. I had come to check on a property of interest near the hospital and I saw her about to enter her car. It amused me, they say think of the devil, and it will rear its head. I asked for us to sit at the café opposite the hospital. Just when I was still thinking of ways to get my revenge on her and make her pay for the pain she caused me. Staring at her, a part of me feels some sort of attachment towards her. “Control yourself!” I cautioned myself. “Are you sick? Did you visit the hospital to abort Gabe's pregnancy?” I asked in amusement. Lauren blinked slowly, but she didn't respond to my taunt. Instead, she said. “I am surprised you called me here to seat, thank you for giving me this opportunity.” Lauren amuses me, why she thinks I would ever want to seat with her after breaking my heart and humiliating me. I am