"Katrina, in my office right now".
Katrina heard as soon as she answered the phone. " Okay sir" she replied dropping the office phone and picking up her notepad. quickly checking to make sure her makeup is in place and her skirt in order. She walked to her boss office knocked on the door and entered
"Sir, you called for me?"
"Katrina how many times have I told you to call me by my name? Especially when it's just the two of us Like we have been working together for almost seven years now."
"Si... I mean Lucas it's just that it won't seem professional if I call you by your first name when you are my boss" and it will give me hope that the impossible might happen. Katrina added the last part in her head.
"Whatever you say, lady, I prefer it when people call me by my name especially people I am close with.
We are not that close, Katrina said in her head.
"Anyway, the reason I called for you is to tell you we have to go on a business trip by Thursday, I know it was not in our schedule but it's a trip that can't be avoided. I am telling you now so that you can prepare and also sort things out to avoid a reoccurrence of what happened on our last trip" Lucas disclosed
"As I would not want the both of us to be in a situation like that again"
He is never gonna let her hear the end of it. This crazy man, Katrina thought, just one mistake in six years and he keeps going back to it. She wished she could erase his memory.
"Are we clear Katrina? Kat are you still here??
" Oh yes sir, I mean Lucas"
He looked at her strangely and Katrina blushed inside, he called her Kat he has never called her that before.
Before she could dwell more on that he continued talking and she was grateful for the distraction though she knew she would go back to it when she was on her own.
"It's a one-week trip so you should know what to do though we are not staying at a hotel as Mr. Raven who is hosting us has a resort and he wants us to make use of it."
"Si.. sorry Lucas, I have a few questions if you don't mind," Katrina said when Lucas paused
"Okay, ask away sweetheart," he said
What is wrong with him today Katrina thought, first he came to the office bearing coffee which he bought for himself and her, secondly he is not his usual arrogant and bossy self now he called her Kat and sweetheart in the space of five minutes. Something is wrong Katrina thought. The last time he had been this nice to her she had ended up spending her whole weekend babysitting his sister's kids which was not bad because she loves kids and Leah's kids adores her. But her job is to be his secretary, not a babysitter. He better not make any silly requests again just cuz he bought her coffee. But then again they were going on a business trip so definitely not babysitting.
"Kat, I thought you had questions you've been silent for too long lady." He scolded bringing her out of her head.
"Yeah, Lucas what's with the sudden business trip and where are we going as I am not aware I figured this must be a new investment or merge. As far as I know as of Friday you are supposed to be on your way home for your sister's wedding rehearsals." And als...
"I already called Lilac," he said cutting her off "and she understands which is why we are going straight to Arizona after our business in California".
" wait, we are going to California? And also what's this about us going to Arizona together this is my first time hearing about it"
"Lady, you are my Secretary and my PA and as you know I am currently single who else would you think will go with me to the wedding? He asked looking her over
"Well.
"See even you agree with me."
"Nope, I don't agree. wait, is this the reason you have been nice to me??"
"Wow wow wow calm down miss I wasn't kind to you I was my usual self I am a caring boss."
"Really? are we gonna talk about you being a nice boss cuz I got loads of things to say."
"Oh, fierce I like that."
Okay something is not right Katrina thought cuz this is not the boss she has known since these years
"Okay, Lucas what is going on are you high?" Maybe he had a drink or two when he left the office. But he wasn't smelling of booze.
"Do I look like I am drunk? I am just talking to you."
"Dude, you never talk to me like this."
"Like what?" He asked
"Like this, as if we are close friends, real close friends. You order me around you are bossy you don't engage in conversations except those related to work you are telling me now that you prefer being called by your name. I called you sir Friday before I went home and you didn't scold me I called you sir this morning when you came in and you didn't correct me." Suddenly, this afternoon you are talking so casually with me. It's suspicious so Mr what's going on?"
She asked folding her hands on her chest. His eyes followed the movement of her hands and landed on her chest then back at her face she blushed and dropped her hands from her chest.
"This is not the first time I told you I prefer to be called by my name." He said after a short pause raising his brows as if asking her to argue.
"Okay, agree it is not the first time. Aside from that, today is the first time you bought me coffee that's always my job. The last time you were nice to me we ended up in your sister's house babysitting and I did all the work while you went about whatever you were doing then."
"I promise Kat you are not babysitting anyone."
"Oh, that too,"
"What?" he asked looking confused.
"You called me Kat you have never done that before."
"Oh yeah, I know why haven't I? I like Kat or should I call you Trina or Rina those sounds nice too but Kat is my favorite."
"Oh stop it, Lucas, be serious what do you want from me??"
Katrina asked getting annoyed and yet no knowing why she is annoyed. This was what she had wanted all these years right? For Lucas to give her his attention and for the attention to not be work-related but this must be work-related maybe that why she is annoyed one minute they were a boss and a secretary and the next they are talking as if they are close and he was making her feel different emotions at the same time hope excited annoyance and all that he was evoking different feelings in her feeling he won't take responsibility for.
"Katrina" he called
"Yes" she answered
"I am sorry I offended you I was just trying to be."
"See that's another thing you never do you never apologize to me or anyone," she said cutting him short.
"Okay, let talk about th...
The ringing of the phone on the table beside him cut him off he looked at the person calling.
" Excuse me Kat I need to take this call but we will continue this discussion later. He said as he picked up the phone and answered the call.
" No, we won't,"
Katrina said more to herself as turned and left the office.
Going back to her desk Katrina felt even more confused. what just happened? She thought. one minute they were talking about a trip and the next they were practically bickering. Who bickers with her boss?
She couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off. She just knew it, Lucas was up to something. And she is gonna find out soon.
She let the thought off and concentrated on sorting the applicant files and also making preparations for the upcoming trip.
When she finally, raised her head it was almost three o clock. Time for the meeting with the Dubai investors.
She saved her progress, picked up the files related to the Dubai deal on her desk, her tab, and walked to Lucas's office.
"Sir, it's time for the meeting with the Dubai investors. I mean Lucas." She added when he looked at her strangely.
"Hmm, I already did that," he replied casually.
"What? When??" She asked confused as f*ck. When did he start going on meetings without her??
"When I left the office ma."
"But the meeting was supposed to be by 3 pm, I don't understand." She said looking at him intently.
"It's simple Kat, you had a lot on your plate, and the team from Dubai called that they will like to move the meeting forward when I came to your office to tell you, you were so concentrated that you didn't even notice my presence. So I just opt for going myself since your presence wasn't required much and I figured it will be less stressful for you. Did I do something bad?".
He asked after explaining.
" No, you didn't it's just that...
"That what?" He asked when she didn't finish her statement.
That you being nice to me will fill my head with thoughts, thoughts that are not gonna be good for me in the long run. She thought to herself.
"It's just that you are being too nice to me this afternoon and I can't help but be suspicious."
"Okay, I do have a favor to ask." He replied with an offside look.
"I knew it."
"Yeah, you do but that's not the only reason I am trying to be nice I know I can be very overbearing but that's not a reason for you to quit." He said.
"Wow, wait, quit? Me? When? "
Katrina asked confused.
"I saw the letter you typed among the files."
He explained.
"Were you looking through my stuff?"
She asked. Eyeing him over forgetting the manners she hated when people look through her stuff no matter who it is.
"I wasn't looking through your stuff it was in the printer."
"What? I didn't print anything, if you bothered to check the date written on the letter you would have known it's not something that was written this year." I must have mistakenly printed it out with the files you asked for. But that still doesn't explain why you are nice." She said.
"Oh, it's not a new letter." He said as if he was relieved. "But the thought of you quitting doesn't sit well with me whether it was years ago or now." He added.
Katrina had forgotten such a letter existed, she had typed it three years ago when her feeling for him was taking over her and she felt confused. She had wanted to quit then cuz she didn't know how to handle knowing that she loved him but he was gonna marry someone else. She hadn't had the mind to submit the letter and he didn't get married to Susan either. But how the letter got among the ones she printed is what she still can't pick point.
"Okay, years ago I wanted to quit but I didn't so what's the favor that you want from me?" She asked
"Why?"
"What?"
"Why did you want to quit?"
"Because you were being so... Nevermind."
" I was being so what? Say it don't be scared," he replied. When she stopped talking.
"Can we forget about that? It's in the past. She said wanting him to give up the talk already.
" Okay, for now, I will drop it but just so you know I will still ask again." He said.
"Fair enough, so what's the favor? She asked in reply.
" I thought we were dropping the issue?" He asked laughing.
He has a nice laugh. And whenever he laughs she always finds herself smiling. She can't help it.
"Nope not that," she said catching herself and giving him a dirty look.
"Let's talk about it some other time we still have till Wednesday."
"Okay, if you say so." She replied not wanting to prolong the talk.
As she made her way out of the office he called her name and said something that stayed on her mind through the rest of the day.
"Kat let's be friends from now on."
She had been too dumbfounded to respond and had just left his office without saying anything.
"Hi, Jord what's up?"Kat asked as she answered the phone."Hey, bestie are you home?""Yes, I just got home.""Okay I am coming over""What I thought you will be spending today with Kel?"Katrina asked bewildered she didn't like the tone of his voice."What happened Jordan?""Kelvin and I broke up." He said"Oh my God Jord are you okay what happened?" She asked stunned.I don't wanna talk about it on the phone that's why I am coming over do you have alcohol in the fridge or should I get on my way there?" He asked"Jord you know you can't drink on weekdays.""I will get some on my way."He said ignoring what she said and hung up before she could reply. The sadness in his voice made her sad as well. Jordan was usually a cheerful person. He rarely let his sadness or emotions get the better of him, he had always been the rational and realistic
"When do you plan on coming in for work Kat?"Lucas voiced out as soon as she picked the call, she knew she shouldn't have drunk last night, she checked the time and it was about five-thirty and she did a retake to make sure she heard him right, why would he expect her to be at work by five-thirty am?"Hello, sir it's five-thirty in the morning why will I be at work already?""I know the time, we had an agreement remember?""What agreement and why does it involve me coming to work early,""Can't, don't you remember?""Remember what?"Katrina asked, she was feeling so low, hangovers were the worst shits to deal with and hers was always extreme, this is why you shouldn't have drunk. She mentally scolded herself while trying hard to remember what she and Lucas had talked about but nothing was clicking."Did you have an anemia cuz I sent you a text last night to get here early today and told you that I will get the driver to come to pick you up bu
Lucas watched her sleep, they both had work to do but he just didn't want to wake her, she looked beautiful even while sleeping, why was he just noticing her beauty, well not totally though, he had known she was a pretty woman from the moment she had come for the interview six years ago, back then he had thought she won't last a week with him cuz she looked so fragile and vulnerable but she had proved him wrong by withstanding him and even sticking to him for so long, she is hardworking and very efficient, she rarely made mistakes and when she does, she fixes it in no time, he wasn't sure he can work with someone else at this point, cuz she is the only one who can take all his shit without complaining.Before she came to work for him, he had over fifteen Secretaries who either quit or are fired by him, she is the only one who had worked for him for a year and above, it has been six whole years. The thought that she had considered quitting at a point didn't sit well with h
"What did you just say?"She asked in shock, she must have heard him wrongly, there is no way he just said what she heard."Kat, no need to raise your voice, hear me out first,""I am not raising my voice, I may have heard you wrongly that's why I am asking,""You heard what I said, I am asking you to be my girlfriend,"He said again, this time she was sure she heard him right, did he like her? Why will wanting her to be his girlfriend be a favor to ask, he could have just asked, she suspected there is more to this but it didn't stop her lovesick heart from doing a little, Nah scrap that, her heart did a major jump for joy but she felt she needed to hear everything he wanted to say first before all these dancing or jumping for joy."I don't understand, your girlfriend?""No need to look so disgusted or dismayed Kat, I am not in love with you or anything, I just need your help to...She couldn't hear the other part of what he was saying, her ea
"Come again, I didn't quite get what you said?"He said and she repeated herself "Lucas asked me to be his girlfriend,"She said much louder."Wow, girl, that so nice, wow, your dreams finally came true, he exclaimed with much excitement, too much excitement for someone who claimed not to like her boss. "You don't look happy about it though,"He said after a while when she didn't smile or react to his congratulations. "Well, that's just one part of it,""Well, spill girl"He replied even more concentrated "Well, the thing is he asked me to be his girlfriend for a week, not a real girlfriend but like a fake,"She said and trailed off when he gave her a pissed look."What the fuck Katrina Elizabeth Jones, tell me you didn't agree to that, I'mma go and wipe that mudafuckers ass right now, who does he think he is and why will he make such foolish request,""Calm down, Jord, and hear me out."."I finna wanna go and
Katrina woke up with a start, she had not slept well last night though she had gone to bed early, she had been toasting and turning in bed and had given up at a point and just ended up doing some work on her laptop which had not been easy cuz her mind kept going back to the event of the day and also the upcoming trip she was both excited and scared. She sluggishly got up from the bed and headed to the restroom, brushed her teeth, and washed her face before coming back into the room to put finishing touches to the stuff she had arranged the previous evening for her travel. Thankfully, she just had her period and it would be until early next month before it would come again but she still made sure to pack pads just in case. Not wanting to wake Jordan up, she tried to move her stuff to the living area as quietly as she could, the time was just past five am and she still had a lot of time since they usually use an eleven am flight every time they traveled, bookings for flight usua
"Do we need to do this?" She asked again for the fifth if not hundredth time and Lucas decided that she is one daring woman, she has been asking the same question over and over again and he wanted to seal that pretty mouth of hers with his, knowing that if he did that she would run away and not look back helped him keep his senses. They were at a boutique and she has been asking the same question with every new clothing she tried on."Yes, baby,"He replied which made her cringe."Stop calling me that," she mouthed over the lady fitting her dress, he laughed and shook his head.When he had woken up this morning he had wanted to wait till she come to him herself but the thought of her changing her mind had driven him out of the house and towards hers, though he had met a shocker there, he didn't know she lived together with the weird guy from the designing team, he knew they were friends but he didn't know they were that closed, he wanted to ask her why they
"Wow, this is one thing I love about these trips, the food,"Katrina said, savoring the food, they were on the plane, she had waited three hours more before she could eat, it was already past eleven am, this was the longest she had stayed without food in a while and she didn't want to repeat the experience. "Sorry it took so long for you to eat, I know how hungry you were,""I can tell you that you don't know the half of it, but it's cool, and I am just gonna get used to you saying sorry and also being sweet to me,"She replied before stuffing her mouth with food, whoever prepared this food needs a pay raise because God damn it they were doing a superb job."Once again I should defend myself that I have always been a sweet and nice boss,"Lucas said and Katrina eyed him before stuffing her mouth with food again."What? I am saying the truth and you know that,"He defended. "I didn't say anything though,""Yeah, you didn't but your