"Okay?" I responded, confused, before regaling him with the tale of my heroic act of smashing a phone onto the bastard's head and how Jesse restrained him after. "Anything could have happened. You could have gotten badly hurt but you acted anyway. That, my dear, is heroic. In any case, well done. I'd recommend you get a raise but I'm sure you don't need it. Say hello to your father for me," he said as he walked away. I froze and stared at him wide-eyed. He knew who I was. This whole time, I thought my identity was safe, that no one knew. Who else knew? It suddenly felt like all eyes were on me but when I looked around, everyone was going about their business. Why was I alarmed? It wasn't like a big shot board member would go around spreading gossip about me. I exhaled my tension and silently giggled. Of course he wasn't going to tell anyone. If he actually knew my dad, he knew not to mess with him. I sat back in my chair with nothing to do since my boss decided to throw his care
"He'd only been here a week and thought he was my boss. Technically he was but also technically he wasn't. After the stunt he pulled with Ashley, I had half a mind to take my place as CEO of Renard Dynasty just to see the look on his dumb face. I wondered if it would be more shock or fear. He should be scared. Leading me on like that just to throw his little girlfriend in my face. What a scumbag. These thoughts kept me coming back into the office which was hard enough having to work under him. My desk phone rang again and I rolled my eyes once I recognised the caller ID. "Hello?" "Do you have those files yet, Remi?" Even the sound of my name now felt annoying coming from him. "What files?" I asked just to piss him off. "The investor files. The one I asked you to get just minutes ago." I already knew he was good at hiding his emotions. He would break easily. "Oh those. They're in the file storage, I think." "Alright then," he said before hanging up. I shot a look a
"This is my secretary," Jesse said, gesturing me over to his side. " She should have been here earlier but I sent her on some errands." "I can come back," I said. I didn't know what my dad had up his sleeves but I knew I wanted no parts of it. "Nonsense," my father replied, smiling. "Join us. And what's your name, young lady?" I crossed my arms over my chest. "Remi." Jesse's eyes were boring through the side of my head. I wanted him mad all along. Who knew all I had to do was be mad at my dad. "This is Mr. Renard, the founder and recently retired CEO of this company," Jesse said. I rolled my eyes at my dad who was smiling like he'd just won the lottery. "Oh, that's great." "Yes, it is," Jesse gritted through his teeth. I should have been happy I was finally getting to him, or at least occupied with thoughts of his I couldn't catch Ashley in the act. But my father being here was a whole other thing to deal with. What did he think he was doing anyway? "Young man, I m
"Mom, where's my red scrunchie?" I yelled from two thousand feet away, hearing my voice echo down the too-damn-long hallway.Waited and waited but no answer came. It was Saturday and I wanted to rush out of the house before dad came and started nagging me about the CEO thing again. "What was that, honey," mom's voice came echoing up to me."Did you say something, love?" Dad called to her.Christ, I needed my own place. I went back into my room but dad's voice made me stick my head back out."By the way, Remi, I have a guest that I want you to meet. He'll be here soon."Nope. I picked up my phone but couldn't find my gym bag anywhere. Hearing dad's door lock click open, I darted out of my room and down the stairs. "Sweetheart, breakfast is almost here. And come say hello to our guest." She pointed towards the living room.He'd arrived? I don't think I'd ever have a reason to run that fast ever in my life again. I covered the expanse of the long hallway, across the estate, the garage
"Thanks," I said as I sat down on a mall chair on the first floor."No problem. That guy was such a creep. Are you okay?" Ashley said, standing opposite me, leaning against a massive flower vase.I'd just been shoved to the ground and on top of that, I was saved by my imagined office rival. No more mall trips for me for a while."Yeah, I'm fine. What are you doing here?" I looked down and noticed her uniform. "You work here?""Yeah, on the weekends.""Why? When do you rest?" I was shocked. Being the receptionist at Renard was no easy job. She constantly had to pick up calls, interact with visitors and she still managed to remember to keep a jar of sweets stocked up on the counter."Don't really have a choice. Family has to eat."I felt like an idiot for asking. I mean no one really enjoyed working that much. But she was so young. As curious as I was, I didn't want to pry. "Sorry. What about your parents?" I mentally facepalmed. Why would I ask that?"Oh they're there. At least mine a
"This is my daughter, Remi Renard," dad told him "Sit," he said to me, pointing at the chair next to Tristan. "Yes, yes, we've met. I must say, I'm surprised you let you daughter work a secretary position, Don," Tristan said, twirling his moustache. Dad grunted and sat back in his chair, rotating it from side to side. "Don't get me started. I thought it was a good idea, she convinced me it was."I sat there with my arms crossed. This was a conversation about me but if they didn't feel like my input was necessary, why was I there? "She convinced you?" Tristan asked with a chuckle. "That takes skill in itself.""Tell her that," dad replied. "If I'd known she wanted only wanted to shirk her responsibilities, I'd never had allowed it."I might as well have been invisible. If he didn't care about my input, how could he want me to lead his company? I'd probably just be a figurehead anyway. I loved my father but he could be overbearing at times."So why don't you want to take over?" Tri
"Have fun at work, honey. Oh, and your dad told me to remind you of some event a month from now." My mom's words as I left the house was a gut punch. My dad had given me a one month ultimatum. As much as I tried, I could muster any anger at him for it. All I could think of was Jesse, and Ashely and her siblings. Jesse had finally caught a break and Ashley's family depended on him. I couldn't let anything happen to them. I'd been throwing a tantrum about becoming CEO but the contrast really put things in perspective. I arrived at work and was cheerily greeted by Ashley. "Hey Remi. How was the rest of your weekend?" I was too lost in thought. Too distracted. I managed a half smile as I tried to swipe in. "Yeah, was great." "Great. In case you are thinking about your offer. I'm not a hundred percent but I want to do it. Don't worry, my siblings won't be coming with me so you don't have to worry about kids messing with your stuff." "Yeah, yeah. That's great." I barel
My mind was reeling. I'd put myself out there. Would he let me down?His cologne suddenly felt suffocating. Was he closer? I wanted to slightly open one eye to peek but I knew that would ruin the magic.It was only a few seconds but I felt like a lifetime, sitting in his car with my eyes closed, waiting for our first kiss. Sparks. I felt like I'd been electrocuted when I felt his hand cup my cheek. He grazed over my lips with his thumb. I felt like I was melting. He caressed my cheek and grabbed the back of my neck. I let out an involuntary moan. Shame rose to the top of my mind but I quickly shut it down. In the moment, I didn't care. All I wanted was him.With his hand at the back of my neck, he pulled me closer to him."Remi," he whispered, short circuiting my brain with his hand at the back of my neck."Sir," I managed with my trembling voice.He came so close, I could feel his breath on my skin. "We shouldn't do this," he said as he placed his free hand on my thigh, running up