6. Establish Closeness

The car started moving again after Jared sat down quietly. He looked calm, but his heart was working very fast. He could even hear his own heartbeat. This was the first time he felt so intimidated sitting next to someone else. Caroline was really giving him a feeling that he had never felt before.

Jared turned to look at Caroline. Over and over, he wanted to start a conversation between them, but he didn't know what to talk about. He had never been close to any woman, so he didn't know how to talk to women other than about work.

"Caroline." Jared called softly, his voice sounding a little shaky as his heart beat faster.

Caroline turned to stare.

"A-"

Caroline's cell phone suddenly rang.

"One moment, sir." Caroline cut Jared off. She reached into her bag to pull out her cell phone and took the call.

"Hello, Ma? It's on the way; I'll be home in a minute."

Jared could only sigh while listening to Caroline, who was talking to her mother. He wanted to get to know Caroline better. Meet her parents, then approach them. However, he understood very well if this seemed very hasty. Especially since her nephew dumped and humiliated Caroline in public. He was sure Caroline would think the wrong thing about him if he moved that fast.

"There's a little extra work. Mama, don't worry, I'm fine. Mama and Papa, just rest at home; I'll be there soon. Bye, I love you."

Caroline put her phone back in her bag after she disconnected the call.

"You're an only child?" Jared asked pleasantly to dispel the nervousness and awkwardness that were supporting him.

"I actually have one older sister, but she left Perth a few years ago. There's no news of her at all; I've been trying to find her for help, but I've completely lost track of her." Caroline answered as she was.

Jared tried to remember every little detail he knew about Caroline.

"Do you have a picture of her? Maybe I can help."

Caroline stared with a furrowed brow. "You want to help me find my sister?" She asked reassuringly.

"Yes. You're my assistant now, so I need to help solve your problem so you can focus more on work." Jared tried to make excuses.

Caroline looked pleased. She really didn't expect that working for Jared would bring her so much good. She really never thought that her workplace had a system that was very beneficial to the employees, without knowing that Jared was doing it all just for her. Jared did it because he was interested in Caroline, not because he was a good boss.

Caroline took out her cell phone again. She scrolled through the screen and showed Jared a photo. "Her name is Aayla; she's four years older than me." The woman explained briefly.

"Four years older? You mean 27?" Jared confirmed.

"Yes. She left home five years ago because of a fight with my father. I've looked everywhere for her, but she really didn't leave any traces. All her social media accounts have also been inactive for a long time. I really don't know where to look for her. My father is sick now; he really wants to see my sister. Our house has been seized by the bank, so I've taken them to live in an apartment that I rent. My father has a debt of 2 million dollars, and we have to pay it within a year." Caroline told a long story.

Jared just listened silently.

"I'm not telling you this because I want your pity. I just don't know who to tell. Jake is usually the one I confide in, but you know what happened between us."

"Send me a picture." Jared said then. "I'll try to help your sister any way I can."

"Give me your number!"

Jared copied her personal number, not the office number he usually used to discuss work. For him, Caroline was more than just an employee.

"We're here, sir." Thalius informed.

"This is the house? What files should I take?" Caroline looked at Jared for an answer before she went downstairs.

"Just tell him you want to take my files; I told him." Jared replied casually.

Caroline nodded and got out of the car.

"Donny, find out about Aalya. I sent you her picture. You take care of that, and let me know whatever little information you get." Jared gave orders to his confidant.

"Yes, sir."

Jared looked out of the window, staring into the distance at Caroline standing in front of the mansion. Not long after, the woman returned to the car with a folder of files.

"Should I file this?" Caroline asked as she sat back down next to Jared.

"I'll take it home; thank you for getting it for me." Jared took over the file.

Caroline just shrugged her shoulders. Confused that he was asked to go home together just to get the file? While Donny and Thalius were with him, Either of the two could go down to get the file Jared had requested. Or he could have even asked the lawyer directly to deliver the file to the car. However, she couldn't protest because Jared was her boss.

"This is a tip for you. Think of it as overtime because I gave you extra work outside of working hours." Jared handed Caroline a hundred dollars.

Caroline was wide-eyed. She couldn't believe she could get money so easily. A smiley knot appeared on her lips. She gladly accepted the money, as she really needed the money to pay off her parents' debt.

"Is there anything else I can do for you? If you need any help, just call me. I'm available 24 hours a day a day for you, sir." Caroline said it with a smile.

"That's enough for today. You should go home and have a good rest; come back to the office tomorrow during working hours."

Caroline nodded quickly.

"Where is the address of your apartment?"

Caroline showed him the way to where she lived. Jared tried to memorize the street so he could pick Caroline up in the morning.

"Thank you, sir. If you need my help, just give me a call." Caroline said it with a sweet smile on her lips as the car pulled up to her destination.

"You don't have to call me sir outside the office; it feels weird because you usually call me uncle." Jared protested again at the nickname Caroline gave him.

"It's more polite to draw a line between boss and employee." Caroline insisted.

"I'll fine you every time you call me boss outside of working hours." Jared threatened.

"But-"

"I'll fine you ten dollars every time you call me boss after hours." Jared emphasized.

"Fine, whatever you want." Caroline finally gave in.

"Call me uncle."

"Fine, Uncle." Caroline replied indifferently. "You'd better go home; I have to go in now. Goodbye." Caroline waved, then left.