CHAPTER 2

I stared wide-eyed at the stack of papers that I held.

I started feeling drowsy after just a few pages of work were done.

This had to be done. I winced at the thought of Nathan's reaction if it wasn't done by tomorrow morning.

I proceeded to pour water on my face, not like it made much of a difference. I still felt really sleepy.

I needed to get the drafts done, I thought, but my eyes didn't seem to be obeying my commands.

The words on the pages started to swim, my eyes struggling to stay open.

Slowly, I nodded off.

********

Beep beep! My alarm suddenly woke me up from sleep.

I rubbed my eyes groggily; I'd fallen asleep on the carpet of my room.

There was a sea of papers scattered around me.

"Shit!" I jolted as I glanced at the time. I'll be late, and I wasn't even done with the drafts despite staying up for most of the night.

I winced at the thought of what Nathan would say when he learned the proposals weren't ready.

As expected… "Why aren't the drafts ready?" Nathan stared at the view outside.

"I…" I hesitated

"An excuse? Spare me, please." Nathan waved his hands. "Don't give me reasons to doubt your commitment and work ethic, Miss Rose."

I hesitated, "Sir, I really tried my best to finish."

"And your best wasn't enough," Nathan snapped.

Nathan tossed another thick stack of files. "Get these done too; I expect them to be ready by the time I'm back."

My eyes fell on the stack of files; they were even thicker than yesterday's.

I sighed wearily. How was I able to draft out dozens of proposals like that?

Nathan left the office; his meeting was scheduled to end at three; that gave me just a few hours.

I was knee-deep in papers when Justine walked in.

"Hey, I brought you those papers; Mr. Pascal's signed them."

I nodded wearily as I collected the files.

"Are you alright? You look like you didn't sleep at all last night, having fun with your boyfriend perhaps?"

Despite my tiredness, a chuckle escaped from my lips.

"Mr. Nathan gave me over five different proposals to finish up. I worked myself to the bone last night, but I'm still not done."

"What!?" Justine looked shocked. "Thats absurd; proposals are usually done by the department heads."

Nathan didn't care, obviously, I thought.

Justine pondered for a moment, "I have an idea."

"Tell me," I sat up. Justine would obviously know more ways to get things done. A faint hope glimmered in my eyes.

Justine hesitated, "But it's risky."

Now I paused too, "Would I get in trouble for this? In fact, never mind."

I shuddered at the thought of getting into trouble with Nathan again.

I was in enough trouble as it is.

"That's not it; we could get these drafts and forward them as circulars to the HOD's, but we're forwarding them as an order from Nathan."

My eyes lit up; indeed, that could work; they'd probably have their own secretaries and staff do it, which was obviously more efficient than me doing it.

"That's so smart."

We quickly drafted out the memos, each for every HOD. When that was done, I sighed in relief.

"Thank you so much; I don't know what I'd have done without you." I smiled gratefully.

"Its fine, you just have to think smart around him." I knew she meant Nathan.

I thanked her again before she left.

A few hours later, Nathan strode back into the office.

"Where are the finished draft proposals?" he asked, his eyes staring intently at me.

Someone's going to be in for a shock,I thought triumphantly.

"Here, sir," I placed a thick stack of neatly arranged files on the table."

For a split second, I spotted a hint of astonishment in his eyes.

I smirked internally.

Nathan read through the drafts and leafed through the files.

Finally, he was done.

"Wow," he slouched back in his chair. "I have to say, Miss Rose, I'm impressed."

I tried and failed to keep myself from smiling.

"But I don't remember sending a memo," Nathan's voice suddenly became cold.

I suddenly broke out in a cold sweat; how did he find out?

"When I give instructions, I expect them to be obeyed.

Is that too difficult, Miss Rose?"

I shook my head. "It isn't Mr. Nathan."

"Good, I'll use these; you may leave now."

I let out a huge sigh of relief. It seemed Nathan had no intention of pursuing the matter.

I met up with Justine at her office; she was seated in the office with three other ladies.

"See who's out from the cold dungeon guys." Justine chuckled exaggeratedly.

The other ladies joined her, and I laughed awkwardly.

"How'd it go? Well, I hope?" Justine asked after I'd taken a seat.

"He found out," I laughed awkwardly.

Justine's eyebrows shot up. "He did? What happened?"

I briefly explained what had happened.

"Pheww, I'm glad he didn't make things difficult for you." Justine remarked.

I nodded in agreement. Suddenly, my phone rang. I glanced at it, and it was Nathan.

"Come outside the company right now." Nathan's voice sounded curt.

I glanced at Justine. "He's calling me," I mouthed silently at her.

She nodded in understanding.

I felt a little nervous; by the time I got outside, I'd already thought up all kinds of scenarios in my head,each more ridiculous than the last.

I saw him immediately. I stepped outside; he looked handsome and elegant in his suit.

"Get in." Nathan entered the car, I nodded, and I skirted around the car to enter the passenger seat.

It seemed he wasn't using his driver today.

"There's been an emergency," Nathan started speaking immediately after I got in.

"There's been a change in the McGregor estate deal; the leaks have been proven false."

"What!?" I was startled. The McGregor estate was a deal the company had been surveying for months with the view to investing and expanding.

sudden leaks of unresolved murder cases and disappearances had held the company's hand.

Nathan had even asked me to keep an eye on happenings.

"I've just received word that the largest shareholder of the estate..."

"Mr Walker?" I interrupted, and Nathan's stare made me shut my mouth.

"He's holding a dinner this evening at his country manor,and most likely,the sale of the estate would be discussed. We can't miss this."

"Ball?!" I hesitated, "I'm not dressed up to attend a ball."

I looked at my white silk top, which'd by now become squeezed by the rigors of office work.

"You'll…" Nathan made to speak when suddenly the car engine made a stuttering sound and then went quiet.

"Sh!t!" Nathan cursed lividly, and he guided the car to stop beside the road.

Where were we? I wondered as I stepped out of the car. I stared at the desolate road that was slowly darkening into night with a hint of worry.

We'd driven down this road for miles without seeing any cars; would we be lucky to see another passing?

A raindrop suddenly touched my cheek.

It'd started raining... and we were stranded in the middle of nowhere.