Caught

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CHAPTER 3

Glancing around, Amber adjusted her reading glasses on her face before focusing on her computer.

She was lucky enough to arrive at the company and not get scolded by her boss and had successfully thrown the thoughts about Damian to the back of her mind when she arrived in front of the company's building.

As glad as she was about forgetting him and focusing on her task for the day, Amber's eyes caught sight of something on the news, mentioning Damian's name.

Immediately, the sight she had witnessed the previous day came flying back to her mind.

That thought alone, made her feel tired as she wondered what it might be that Damian was.

Lost in thoughts, she failed to notice the hand sneakily making its way towards her neck.

"Ms. Star!"

"Aahh!"

Rather than Amber getting shocked, the hand retracted and a shriek resounded beside her, leaving her tensed a bit as she turned her head in that direction.

Her eyes landed on the young man seated beside her, her work buddy, Dominic smiled shyly at her like a child caught in the act of stealing and hoping to bribe his way out with a smile.

Instead of answering and scolding him, Amber glared at him and rose to her feet the second her name was yelled out again.

'Heaven knows I am tired of this company.' She lamented inwardly and proceeded to the office.

Standing before the middle age pot-bellied man, Amber kept a straight face and waited or him to speak first.

"Hmm. You seem to love getting in trouble these days," he pointed out suggestively.

"Sir?"

'The CEO wants you in his office. Hurry over there within the next two minutes."

Her eyes went wide while her brain tried to do justice to understanding what was happening.

Worse, he never made mention of why she was late. Not only that, her major boss, the owner of the company wished to see her.

Of course, it was no reason why he said she had gotten into trouble again.

The man before her, his eyes dropped lazily as he draped a hand over his face. "You have barely a minute and 20 seconds. Run!"

Her heart flew into her chest at the sound of his yell and immediately she turned on her heels and made her way out of the room, heading straight for the elevator before she kissed her job goodbye.

All the while, her mind kept alternating between the few times she had gone late, the times she spoke out of turn and how Mr. Martins' shouting voice was there to put her back in place.

Not just that, everyone knew how the CEO was. He was even worse when it came to tolerating things like that.

Now that he sent for her, she could feel her heart jumping into her mouth and racing back down her throat.

In no time she was standing in front of the doors to the CEO's office. Drawing in a deep breath, Amber exhaled slowly before placing a knock on the door.

For some reason before her fist landed in the door, she heard a deep and clear voice call out from inside, bringing her to a halt.

"Enter."

She turned on the doorknob and opened the door. Keeping her gaze lowered, Amber walked into the office, closing the door behind her as she made her way a few steps in.

"You called for me sir. Good morning."

"I did. Lift your head and let me see you."

Hesitantly, she brought her head up but her eyes never settled on the centre person in front of her hiding behind the glass desk.

"Is this her?"

"Yes."

As soon as she heard that question and the follow-up response voice, Amber's eyes shook as goosebumps immediately appeared on her body.

Immediately she walked into the office, she felt her body shiver slightly and did not think much about it.

However, listening to that voice, she understood why she had that feeling a few minutes ago. Turns out her life would be in real danger.

Instinctively, Amber averted her gaze to the side where she heard him speak.

Promptly, she paled, watching the very man she had run from staring at her with a dashing smile and a mischievous grin on his lips.

"Hello, Ms. Star. How do you do?'

Shocked, Amber stared with her lips slightly apart while her brain processed so many thoughts within a minute.

It wasn't until the CEO spoke that she managed to get back her senses.

"Ms. Star."

"Yes, yes, yes."

Still her gaze remained glued to Damian, her new nemesis.

One look at him and she knew he would be trouble in her life, one she would not be able to escape easily anymore.

"Ms. Star!" The CEO yelled out, causing her to break her gaze from Damian and stare at him. "Better."

She pressed her lips into a thin line, not yet sure what he wanted now. Well at the very least she was happy it wouldn't be anything about her lateness at work.

"Sir, my apologies. I got a bit sidetracked."

"Of course, I know how you girls go lost when you see Mr. Stormborn here." Her expression became a bore instantly.

'What was he on about? Only a dazed fool would be baffled by him.' Amber thought internally.

<Author: I shall remind you of these words later, baby.>

"You have overthought, sir. I am not interested in him. On the other hand, I am more interested in why you have called me, sir. I have pending work that needs my time."

Although she looked nerdy in her baggy black trousers and long-sleeved body-fitted black turtle neck top, with her pair of glasses and packed-up hair, her tongue became generously sharp when someone mis-thought about her.

Just like now. She wasn't scared in refuting his words and stating how much her time was valued.

The CEO before her narrowed his eyes as he accessed the sharp-tongued lady. "Do you like your job?"

"Yes." A bitter lie. "Which is why I wish to get my work done on time," she stated and gave a weak smile.

"Well, your work just got elevated or should I say you have a promotion."

Amber blinked severally. Those were the last words she expected from this blonde-haired man with an indifferent air about him.

Unlike Damian, he seemed worse ruthless and wicked. If only she knew the truth.

"Sir."

"We need someone to cover outside the field and be a personal journalist to aid the growth of our organization."

"But sir, we have special journalists to do that job. Why…"

"Congratulations, Ms. Star you have been given this job. And your second employer is going to be none other than Mr. Stormborn here."

0_0

Her eyes fell open as did her lips, hanging agape as she stared at the man who wished to push her into the lion's den.

"What!"

"You heard me right, Ms. Star. You are on this job as a personal request. Isn't this an honour. You get to cover the number one star in the country."

"B-but…"

"Also, Mr. Stormborn has offered to pay you ten times worth your present salary if you accept his proposal. Not just that, the company would retain your pay as well."

Amber stared awkwardly at the CEO. There was nothing he could say at this point for her not to believe he had been bribed by the annoying soul seated crossed legged on the other chair in the office.

"Sir, I love indoor work," she lied.

Judging from the look the CEO gave her, she knew he never believed it. What kind of journalist loved indoor work. She needed to go out and get information.

This is something any person in her field would jump at but she had to reject it.

To her it was a Trojan's gift and not worthy of her peace of mine.

She cleared her throat and tried her next scheme. "Ten times my pay is not enough sir."

Before speaking, Amber calculated her pay. She was getting 2800 dollars as her pay but yet she called ten times that amount in a month as not enough.

Mr. Harvey almost choked at her audacity.

"My apologies, sir," she beamed a smile at the CEO. "I think for me dedicating my entire time to him, isn't worth it."

"Then fifty times more," Damian, chimed in. 

"Hundred."

She decided to up the price, hoping it would make him refrain from picking her and go for someone cheaper. Just the look of shock on Mr. Harvey's face made her understand her plan was working.

"You know what, I think it is best if we pick some…"

"Deal."

Both Amber and Mr. Harvey's eyes went wide at his agreement.

Never would they have imagined he would do so but here she was, having him agree.

"I…"

"Kyle," Damian called out fondly, interrupting her but keeping his eyes on Amber as though she would escape if he did otherwise. "Please, I would love to speak to Ms. Star alone for a few minutes."

"Sure."

Without any form of hesitation, Amber watched as her overall boss agreed to leave her to face the devil alone not for once caring about her thoughts.

It did not take up to two minutes, Kyle was already out the door. As soon as she heard the door close, Amber gulped and turned her head to face Damian.

Unfortunately, the smile on his face told her she was in for some serious shit.

"Finally caught you, Amber."