Caroline
"It's Laurel.It's definitely Laurel,, Rebekah, my dorm mate, suddenly spoke up from her bed.I had my
class a while ago while Rebekah had just returned from her home.
Her home, which was only a fifteen-minute drive from campus.
She had only moved to a dorm because she'd wanted to experience what college was truly like.
I, on the other hand, would never understand how someone could choose some lousy campus over
their loving family.
I'd always choose to live with my family.
Not like I had much of it left, but still.
"Will you at least listen to the audio, Care?"
Her gray eyes narrowed, a frown forming on her lips as she tucked a loose strand of icy blonde hair
behind her ear.
"No thanks.
That dress from years ago was creepy enough: She sighed.
"Fine.Don't blame me when you have nothing to talk about at the frat party next week.’ "What frat
party?"
I frowned.
"The one we're going to.’ She gave me a toothy grin.
"No! I'm not going to any party.
You just get drunk and leave me alone, which sucks because I don't talk to many people.’ "Alright, fine.’
She sighed.
"This time, I'll hook you up with someone before getting drunk."
I narrowed my eyes.
"How are you even back already? Didn't you have dinner plans with family tonight?"
I asked.
"I did.But then my cousin showed up with her toddler.And when I realized that I was expected to
babysit that milk puking machine, I fled."
She shrugged.
I shook my head with a laugh.
"That's so impolite.
"Nope.Impolite would've been getting my new minion t-shirt soaked with my nephew's barf."
I grimaced.
Just then, my phone rang.
It was Blake, Rebekah's older brother.
"Mr.Andrews; I said.
Rebekah pretended to gag.
She always found it funny when I addressed her brother with respect.
It would be weird to call my employer by his first name.
"Caroline, first, I told you to call me Blake, and second, I know these are your college hours but I'm
gonna have to ask for a favour: "That's okay...Blake.
What can I help you with?"
"Great! Can you go to Sinclair Enterprises to collect those shipment files I told you about yesterday?"
"Sure.There was suddenly the loud cry of a child in the background.
More like a scream with some incoherent words.
"Oh God! Shut up, you—Listen, Caroline"
I heard him speak something about meeting someone but I couldn't exactly make out the words
because of the baby's cries.
It sounded something like: Meet Mr.Wee...zon.
And then, the line went dead.
Mr.Wee...zon? Guess I'll just ask someone at Sinclair Enterprises for Mr.Wee...zon and they'll send me
to the person with the closest name.
Rebekah was busy watching YouTube videos when I left our dorm.
It took me an hour to get to Sinclair Enterprises by bus despite it being hardly a twenty minute drive by
car.
I walked up to the receptionist in the lobby and told her that I was sent by Mr.
Blake Andrews to collect some files.
"Hi I turned around to find a woman with raven black hair smiling at me.She was dressed professionally
so I assumed that she worked here."I returned her smile.
"Hi.I'm Caroline Stewart.Mr.Andrews has sent me to collect the shipment files."
"Nice to meet you, Caroline.I'm Penny Woods, Mr.Sinclair's assistant.Please."
She motioned for me to follow her towards the elevators.
I kept thinking if I should ask her about Mr.Wee...zon.
She'd probably just laugh in my face.
But seeing as she was guiding me, maybe I wouldn't need to ask.
The elevators opened and we started walking down a corridor.
We turned a corner and a long flight of stairs going downwards were in front of us.
Penny's phone rang and she gave me an apologetic smile.
"Please go ahead, Caroline."
"Okay."
I smiled and climbed down the stairs to come across two office doors.
One said Mr.Wilson and the other said...Mr.Winson.
What the hell!? I looked back at Penny for help but she wasn't there anymore.
Where did she go? Taking in a deep breath, I turned to the door which was slightly ajar.
Mr.Wilson's office.
It had a swipe card lock right next to it.
Must be an important room.
I wondered why it was left ajar.
Without thinking twice, I pushed the door open and walked inside.
Lots of computer screens and files.
I'm not magically supposed to fish out the correct bunch of files, now am I? Wrong room maybe.
"Hey!"
I heard a loud shout from behind me.
Frowning, I walked out of the room and found Penny at the top of the stairs, watching me in horror.
"Thief!" she suddenly shouted.
I watched her in confusion as she ran down the stairs but her foot twisted on the middle step and she
tumbled down the other half of the stairs.
"Oh my God,’ I gasped.
Running over in her direction, I stooped down next to her.
"Are you okay, Penny?"
Her forehead was bleeding and before I could pull my handkerchief out, a guy came running down the
stairs.
"Step away from her.Now!"
Was he talking to me? I found myself stepping away as he dangerously advanced in our direction and
bent down to pick up Penny.
Another guy came up to us and spoke to the first one.
"Ryan, take her to the hospital."
And then he looked at me, "I'll take care of her: My heart started beating loudly in my chest.What did he
mean by, ‘I'll take care of her'? And what did I even do? Thankfully, ‘take care of her’ only meant ‘make
her sit in a waiting room until she dies of boredom: And the more I thought about it, the more it started
making sense.
They thought I was here to steal something important.
Didn't I tell them that Mr.Andrews sent me? I looked down at my hand resting on the leather chair.
My sweaty palms made a squeaky noise as I pulled my hand off the leather surface.
I wished I was only sweating because I was nervous.
Well, let's just say that ‘Sweaty Palms' was my official high school name.
Sighing, I wiped them on my stockings and looked up at the clock.
The door opened and the guy from before, whose name I learnt was Trent, walked inside.
"Mr.Sinclair wants to see you."
And my anxiety was back again.
Swallowing, I got up and followed him out of the waiting room, down the corridor and towards the
double doors at the end.
He motioned for me to go inside.
Letting out a breath, I knocked on the door.
"Come in, a deep voice rang in my ears.
Help me, God.
I pushed the double doors open and took a discreet step inside the room, keeping my gaze fixed on the
floor.
I could feel his eyes on me.
From what I could judge out of my peripheral vision, he was a fairly tall man, muscular, and apparently
really mad at me.
I slowly lifted my gaze up, only to lock my eyes with his deep blue ones.
His face had a sharp jawline and light stubble that gave him a five o'clock shadow.
His hair was a deep brown mess.
Damn! He was so young.
Nothing more than 24.
"Mr.Sinclair’ I finally muttered.
His frown wore off and he crossed his arms over his chest, flexing in the process.
I could easily picture a six pack....or maybe an eight pack under that business suit.
If he sornehow decided to smack me, I'd be on the floor, passed out in a second.
"I-I didn't come here to steal anything,’ I muttered.
His eyes scanned me for a moment.
"Please have a seat, Ms..."
He paused, realizing he didn't know my name.
"Stewart—Caroline Stewart; I blurted.
He nodded.
"Sit down, Ms.Stewart."
I seated myself on one of the chairs and watched him across the desk, sitting on his huge leather chair.
There was something about him, maybe his aura, that intimidated me and left me tongue-tied.
But I somehow opened my mouth to speak and hoped that I wouldn't stutter.
"I got a call from Mr.Andrews telling me that I had to collect files from your office"
I paused to make sure that I had his attention.
He was watching me discreetly, then nodded for me to continue.
"Because of some disturbance, I heard that I had to meet Mr.Wee...zon.
I thought I'd figure it out but when your assistant Penny left me to take a phone call, I was confused
between Mr.
Wilson and Mr.Winson since their offices are right across each other's.’ Recognition flashed across his
features and a slight frown formed on his lips.
"So when I found Mr.Wilson's door ajar, I went inside the room.That's when Penny thought I was a thief
and started running down the stairs, twisted her foot and fell.That's all the truth, Mr.Sinclair"
He seemed to be processing this and probably looking for the hint of a lie.
"Please believe me.I had no other intention—"
"I believe you."
He nodded.
I blinked at him.
Just like that? Wow! A smile formed on my lips.
Then, suddenly the door to his office burst open and I turned around.
Blake Andrews had just barged inside.
"Caroline, are you okay?"
He walked up to me.
I got up from my chair and nodded, then turned back around just in time to find a slight frown on Mr.
Sinclair's lips.
"Blake;’ he spoke in an addressing tone as he got up from his seat.
"Nick; Mr.Andrews said back.
So his name was Nick.
"Ms.Stewart here just told me what happened.
Turns out it wasn't a theft attempt; he said, cutting a glance at me.
I nodded.
Mr.Andrews smiled.
"I told you so—"
"But—"
Mr.Sinclair cut him off
"I'm still short a secretary: "What?"
he muttered.
"That's right.Penny fractured her foot and will be on bed rest for a few weeks."
I gasped.
His gaze fell on me.
"Since it wouldn't make any sense to hire another secretary for only a few weeks, I'd like
compensation."
A slight smirk hinted at the corners of his lips.
"Work for me, Ms.Stewart."
My mouth opened slightly in surprise.
"What?"
Mr.Andrews said as he turned to him.
"I think it’s the best way to make up for the loss."
"Make up? But I didn't do anything,’ I muttered.
"You know that, Mr.Sinclair
"Of course I do, Ms.Stewart.But the cops won't."
My eyes grew wide.
"Nick" Mr.Andrews scowled.
"I'm just saying that they won't buy a name mix-up story, Blake, and for all I know, an employee of mine
has already called the cops."
He shrugged.
I frowned.
I really thought he was a nice person.
And now, he's blackmailing me.
How could I ever work for someone like that? "So; he turned to me, "what do you say, Ms.Stewart?"
I bit my lip in thought.
"I'll even pay you,’ he said.
"But I'm at Mr.Andrews’ company..."I muttered.
"I'm sure Mr.Andrews doesn't have a problem, do you, Mr.Andrews?"
He smirked.
Mr.Andrews' lips pressed together into a thin line and he gave a curt shake of his head.
"Of course not, Mr.Sinclair’'
"Perfect; the devil said and looked at me with a rather vicious smile.
"Welcome to Sinclair Enterprises, Caroline.
You'll have a good time here.’ And from the way he said my name, I knew I was going to have anything
but a good time.
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