Chapter 5 No.5

I woke up with a mild headache, my head felt heavy and whenever I try to move, the back part of my skull ached badly. Then I remembered that I cried till I fell asleep last night.

Only then did I realize too that I was in a different room, and consciousness kicked in, knocking my brain to remind me that I agreed to stay with my new boss since I wasn't just a secretary but also his personal assistant.

With that, I jolt up which made my head spin. I sat again and waited for a while before everything got back to normal. Then I looked for my phone which was just waiting on the bedside table. I checked the time and got alarmed when I saw that it was already 9:30 am.

My duty starts at eight! I'm late!

Carefully but also in a rush, I ran to the bathroom and turned on the shower, took a quick bath, and dressed in a black pencil skirt and white v-neck blouse which slightly showed my cleavage.

While in the shower, I remembered what happened last night.

I tried to start up my investigation about Caleb Craige, but I got caught and he shouted at me, he even cursed me. And when I went up here, I cried. I didn't know why I cried, to be honest. My tears just fell and then I felt my heart twisting in pain, my chest was heavy, and I had a hard time breathing.

Perhaps it was because that was the first time I got scolded and the first time that someone shouted at me again for years? The last time I got scolded and shouted for the same reason was when I was still staying with my mother- my mother whose blood was always at a boiling point when it comes to me. I shook my head to push that thought away. Now was not the time to dwell on my bad relationship with my mother.

Before opening the door of the room where I was staying, I took several deep breaths to calm myself. After what happened last night, I wasn't sure if I could still look at him straight and with the same confidence as before. And I didn't know if he would fire me or what.

He was furious last night, it was evident on his face and his voice when he shouted at me. One last time, I took a deep breath and stepped out of the room.

The quiet hallway leading me to the staircase greeted me. The silence of the place added to the nervousness that was starting to form in me and the air which was a bit colder.

My steps were cautious, as if I was trying to sneak out in the middle of the night, and was careful not to get caught. Even when I descended the stairs, I was watching each of my steps.

Halfway through the first floor, I spotted the empty living room, and just like last night, it was dim. Now, I observed that it also has a lonely vibe. The living room set was clean though, but it was apparent that they weren't being used often, as if they were just put there for a display.

I reached the kitchen where I found Mirna preparing something. I was silent, but when she sensed me, she turned and gave me a morning smile, and informed me that Caleb- Mr. Craige wanted to see me in his office on the second floor.

"Did he tell you why?"

She shook her head, "No. But he told me to make sure you take your breakfast first before you go to see him."

"Uhm..."

"Here, I made a waffle for you."

She then walked to the fridge and took out a tupperware where the waffles she made were and asked me what would I like to pair for it as a drink. I told her I'd like a coffee, and an Advil if there is.

"You have a headache?" she asked.

I nodded. Her mouth formed a slight 'o' but didn't ask anything and opened one of the cupboards and got an Advil. She handed it to me and I thanked her in return.

"Thank you."

Although we were in the same area in the penthouse, we didn't talk much. I was trying to enjoy my waffles and trying not to overthink, while she was busy with her thing. She was preparing a snack, I think, but not sure what it was.

It went like that for half an hour, until she broke the silence and asked me if I could bring the snack she prepared for our boss when I go to him. I didn't have a choice but to agree.

There were cheese sticks, garlic sauce, and a fresh fruit juice mixed with milk on the tray I was holding while ascending the stairs. I was on my way to the boss' office to bring him his snack and to find out the reason why he called me.

During my breakfast, I have already concluded possible reasons, but as they always say, overthinking will do no good to people. Hence, I tried to focus on the task and just hoped this won't turn bad.

But at the back of my mind, I knew that after what happened last night, it would be unlikely to bring everything back the way it used to be. And to make it worst, the fact that I was just starting with my job and then this happened, wasn't a good thing.

I could lose my job today, and with that, I would also lose everything. The chance I've been working hard to prove myself would vanish in a snap.

And whose fault was it?

Of course, it was no other than me. I wasn't careful last night. I should have looked for a better timing, but my curiosity pushed me into hell.

I reached his office, and before knocking on his door, I tried to cheer myself and think positively. I opened the door with one hand and carefully closed it behind.

Once inside, I took a quick scan of his office. It was the usual executive room, with bookshelves stuffed with thick books and encylopedias. There was a set of sofas in the middle, as usual, black leather, and a coffee table, and then there was his executive table and behind that was the swivel chair where he was sitting.

"G-good morning, s-sir-"

"Didn't I tell you to call me Caleb when it is only the two of us?"

His deep, masculine voice cut me off and made me gulp the lump that was starting to form in my throat. I walked slowly and carefully placed the tray on the coffee table. I, then, straighten my body and clasped my hands together.

"A-about last night-"

"I'm sorry."

Two words, both short, and it made me stop. I looked at him in utter shock, I didn't know what to do. His words played in my head, repeating themselves as if an old scratched music tape.

I was just looking at him while standing immobile, and I wasn't aware that he was already standing before me. He waved his hand near my eyes that made me blink and pulled me back to the scene.

"H-huh?"

There was his smile trying to slip on his serious expression, but then he cleared his throat and reached for my hands which sent electrics through my veins when our skin touched.

"I'm sorry," he repeated. "I got carried away last night, I was surprised to see you holding that black book. It was something personal, and one of the things I hate is someone trying to get in my personal well-being, depriving my privacy.",

Personal well-being. Privacy.

As a journalist, the word privacy, confidential, and personal doesn't work on me. I was trained not to mind those words, I was trained to know and get the facts no matter what it costs. To unveil each secret hidden, no matter how personal and confidential they are.

But I knew too well that, that attitude won't help me in this situation I was in. I was like an undercover journalist, and I have to watch each move I do so that I won't get caught, but I just did.

"You don't have to say sorry" I, then, said. "It was my fault. I'm sorry."

Finally, he smiled, "It was your fault for prying on my things, but it wasn't right that I shouted at you, I even cursed you. And I am sorry, okay?"

"Won't you fire me?" I asked.

He chuckled. "Why would I? It was just a mistake. I do understand that you were an ex-journalist, it's just normal for you to be curious and do something to feed your curiosity. But I know that in time, you'll be able to learn how to control yourself when it comes to things like this."

A couple of minutes later, we were okay.

I was holding my hand that he held when he walked back to his table. He informed me that he didn't go to the office because he was waiting for me to wake up, and he didn't want to wake me up, given what happened last night.

Knowing that, I have to get to work now and do some adjustments to his schedules. He informed me that we will come to the company at the afternoon to catch up on his schedules this afternoon. And it was my cue to start my work for today.

What happened last night gave me a hint that the kindness he was showing to everyone might not be fake. He forgave me easily, without a sweat. But that doesn't mean he wasn't hiding anything. The fact that he was able to shout at me like that last night proves it. And his reaction when he caught me with that black book only heated it up.

It wasn't just because he doesn't like it when someone invades his privacy, there was more to that black book, and that's what I would find out.

He was wrong when he said that I was an ex-journalist. I still am, an undercover one. I would still continue my mission to unveil his secrets even after what happened last night. After all, that's what I came here for.

To unveil the secrets beyond CEO Caleb Craige.