Chapter 3 Trouble

"We'll talk about this in the office tomorrow," I said in a calm tone. I was trying hard not to snap at her again.

"In the office?" Her panic-stricken eyes studied me. "You are surely going to fire me, I know. Please, please don't do this. Cut my salary but don't fire me, please." She begged.

Well, I wasn't going to fire her as she was a very efficient employee and I could definitely get my car repaired in minutes but I had to teach her a lesson for her foolishness.

"Miss Hart, don't make me create a scene at a public place. I'll talk to you tomorrow," I said firmly and after rubbing the scraped part again I sat in the car and drove off.

Lauren Hart

Oh no!

"He's definitely gonna fire me." I panicked. I ran my hands through my locks, pacing back and forth. "I need to do something."

He already never saw me as a woman, he only saw me as his P.A -it's not that I wanted him to- but I lost even an atom size chance of it. I knew I had no chance with him but seeing him daily was like a treat to my eyes. And I was going to lose my job too.

And he too called me CRAZY! Everyone ends up calling me that.

My mind was running a marathon, trying to figure out how to save myself from my own foolishness. All of a sudden, my mind screamed a name that could definitely save me. Ariana Knight, my best friend. She means a lot to my boss and he would definitely listen to her. I was on the verge of calling her but I stopped.

"I think I should first talk to him tomorrow and if he doesn't understand then I'll involve her. Yeah, that's better." I satisfied myself by saying so but I was fearing of how would I face him tomorrow.

"I told you it was a bad idea!"

I gritted my teeth at Christy's voice. This traitor!

I turned and face her in rage. "Bad idea? I was doing it for you and what you did? You left me alone with the satan."

"Hey, I appreciate that you wanted to help me but I was against the idea of car scrapping from the start."

I sighed. I couldn't be angry at her. It wasn't her fault in the first place. It was me who wanted to quench my thirst for doing something crazy.

"It's okay, Christy. I'm not mad at you. It's me who is unlucky." I sighed.

"But hey girl, your boss is too hot. It was the first time I saw him out of the screen." She teased me as she punched my upper arm.

"Too HOT," I agreed to her but included sarcasm in my tone.

"Hot-tempered. He's gonna show me his hotness tomorrow by firing me. And I swear if I get fired tomorrow, I'll burn your boyfriend alive because I'm in this situation because of him." I yelled in annoyance, in one breath.

"Okay, I get it. I think we must head home before you burn this place down." Saying that she dragged me to her car and led me home.

I couldn't sleep for the whole night. I couldn't find peace. Whenever I tried to close my eyes, images of me being thrown out of the company flashed before my eyes l woke up way too early before taking my shower l kept staring at my work outfit for long.

I picked up my pencil skirt and rubbed the cloth with my palm. "I hope it doesn't turn out to be the last day I wear you."

I sat on the chair at our small four-seater dining table to have breakfast but the delicious sandwich before my eyes failed to lift my mood.

"Enough, Lauren. You're being dramatic. You are taking this too seriously. It's not you. Stop fussing over that might not happen." Christy said, placing the coffee mug near my sandwich plate.

My lips curled down. "Christy, you won't understand. I have been doing only one job since I have come here. I don't want to go back to my parents."

"Oh, come on, you're acting like you won't get another job! Your experience will provide you the best job in a prominent company, in case you lose this one."

"So much for making me feel good," I grumbled. "And I currently have the best job in the most prominent company in the USA. I don't think I'll ever find a job like this if I get fired and to be honest, I'm too much attached to this job, my post, my colleagues...and my boss." I mumbled the last part to myself.

I abruptly stood up from the chair, pushing it back with my leg. "I'm going to work. My skull will split into two if I stay here for long, thinking about my job." I marched out of the kitchen.

"But your breakfast?" Christy yelled.

"Eat it yourself," I yelled back.

"You should have told me beforehand. I wasted my time by preparing breakfast for you. And resources too." She yelled again.

"I'll make it up to you. If I don't lose my job, I'll cook breakfast and dinner for two days." I said as I came out of my room. taking my bag with me.

"I hope you don't lose your job otherwise I won't be able to forgive myself." She mumbled lowly.

"Don't worry, I'm not blaming you for anything." I hugged her. "You okay?"

"No, but I will be. I'll talk to him today and will clear the issues. I want to know the reason he broke up with me for. I want to know why he played with my feelings." She mumbled.

"Do that and if he doesn't obey then give me a call. I'll make him spit out the reason."

"Oh, you have done enough. Now go save your ass." She laughed, detaching herself from me. I too laughed and went out.

With sweating hands and biting my lower lip in fear, I stood outside his office, contemplating whether to knock on the door or not. I was trying everything that could delay my dismissal but sooner or later, I had to face him.

"Lauren, do it now and save yourself from mental misery," I whispered to myself. Taking a few deep breaths, I finally knocked on the door and entered his office.

"Good morning, sir," I chirped a little actively, hoping for him to change his mood by listening to my chirpy voice.

Oh, come on Lauren, as if it is possible.

"Miss Hart, The car..."

Oh god, he hasn't forgotten it yet.

I panicked. "Sir, I... please listen to me. It wasn't intentional and I told you I'll pay if you want me to, you can cut my salary but please, please, please do not fire me. I'm really-"

"Miss Hart."

"I'm really sorry. I won't do it again. Hell, I won't even look at any car ever again. I'll close my eyes before I could see any car. And if you fire me who would do your tie?-"

"MISS HEART."

Flinching, I abruptly stopped rambling when his booming voice pierced through my ears, making my heart drum louder. I gulped and stared at his standing form with wide eyes.

"The car accessories sales report I asked you to bring to me hasn't reached me yet. Where is it?"

Huh?

My wide eyes now narrowed and a frown graced my eyebrows in confusion and surprise. Confused at his question and surprised at his relaxed tone. Was I dreaming?

Running my already confused mind in different scenarios, I asked a dumb question that no one in a healthy state of mind would ever ask.

"A...are y...you not firing me, sir?"

Stuffing his hands in his pant pockets, looking more handsome and hot than he already is, he strode towards me and stood at two hands distance from me. His ocean blue eyes staring at me with no emotions.

"Do you want me to?"

"What?" I asked.

"To fire you?"

"What, No!" I exclaimed loudly. "Why would I want that?"

I was extremely embarrassed. What's with me and my mouth? Why can't I keep it shut when required? I always end up embarrassed in front of him. What he must be thinking of me? Crazy? Fool?

You don't have to worry Lauren as you'll have more embarrassing moments. This is nothing. Just wait...

"Then go bring me the reports."

I was snapped out of my dreamland and stared at his face, digesting what he said to me. He wanted me to bring him the reports means he surely wasn't firing me.

"Miss Hart did you listen to what I said?." He snapped fingers before my eyes.

"Oh, yes, sure." I didn't know why but I grinned as I said that and scurried out, bouncing.

Saying those words again filled me with excitement. The words I hated to speak were the only words that brought joy to me. In the end, I accepted that, yes sir, sure sir, okay sir, were the words I never wanted to give up on.

"I still have my job!" I did a little booty shake outside his office.

12:15 PMM

4G

51

Sean Peterson

"Then go bring me the reports."

After a moment of staring at me, she finally left to bring me the reports. It would be childish If I had fired her for her not so negligible mistake. Being an efficient employee earned her my forgiveness. I was mature enough to know what to keep and what to let go. I was running a business, not a circus.

"The reports, sir." Miss Hart came and kept the file on my desk. I picked it up to read but stopped when I saw her still standing in the same position.

"You want something?" I inquired, raising my eyebrows.

"Uh, I wanted to say thank you. Thank you for not firing me. The thought was giving me a headache and I was thinking where would I go if I don't have a job? I "

"Miss Hart, it's fine. You may leave." I said a bit louder because I knew she wouldn't shut her mouth till I do not say it to her strictly.

"Oh, yeah. Sure, sir. Thank you again."

I sighed in relief when she marched out. Why does she speak so much?

I again began to read the documents and a few moments later I received a phone call from the one to whom I hadn't talked for a long time.

"Hey, Grandma," I mumbled, rubbing my forehead because I knew I was going to get an earful.

"Sean, this kind of behavior wasn't expected from you. What have you become? Don't you care about this old lady who has her eyes stuck to the door, waiting for her grandson?" She rebuked.

Yep, I hadn't visited for years now.

"Sorry, Grandma. Work keeps me busy." I sighed.

"Don't give me excuses as I know your reasons. Listen, for the first time I'm asking you to not care about all that happened, and please come to see me. I have something important to discuss with you." She said softly almost tiredly. There was something unusual in her voice that made me worry about her.

"Are you okay?" I inquired.

She sighed. "I'm perfectly fine, for now, but this isn't about me. If possible, I want you to visit me today as this talk can't be delayed. I'm waiting for you. Don't disappoint me this time."

And she hung the call, leaving me confused, worried, and distressed. I hoped she's okay. I wasn't able to think straight. I loved my grandma dearly but she asked me to visit the place I detested the most. She asked me to visit the place once I called my home. She wanted me to visit the people who tossed me into the loneliness and most importantly, where I won't ever find the one dear to me.

The mere thought of them was enough to turn my mood sour. Sighing, I picked up the documents again to divert my mind but the door of my office burst open and I didn't have to raise my eyes to see who had entered without knocking.

"Oh, come on Sean babe, rest for a while. Too much work will give you grey hair."

I chose to ignore Daniel's irrelevant comment and continued to read the document.

"What's the document?" Xavier asked, sitting on the chair on the opposite side of my desk. Daniel sat on another chair beside him.