Love Came Along

CHAPTER 1: THE OFFER

"Are you in for it, Miss Roosevelt?" Watson, a bulky man in his fifties asked. He carried a pair of glasses on his forehead as his intertwined fingers crossed on the bridge of his nose.

"Think about it well, Kate." Watson cajoled, one more time. He waved his hands dramatically and said, "You won't find any like this anywhere."

Kate sighed, unable to decide. What he was asking her to do was, if not inhuman, illegal. Yet, she was tempted to say yes.

Instead, she asked, "Sir, may I ask?"

When she saw Watson's almost bald eyebrow raise up in question, she knew he was still listening to her. So, she asked away.

"Why?"

Watson frowned at the redhead before him. She asked too many questions, sometimes he was forced to wonder how he had been able to work with her for three years without losing his sanity.

"Pardon?"

Kate readjusted her sitting and looked her boss straight in the eye.

"Why would you want me to do something like this? I mean, who in the world is so jobless - no offense..."

"None taken" Watson quickly replied to hear his most treasured writer nod and continue.

"... To want to slander someone else's name? It is childish and unreasonable. Whoever it is, if they have a grudge against the other, why don't they settle it amicably?"

She felt a gush of wind over her tiny pink heart after asking the one question that was beginning to haunt her.

Try as she would, Kate could not really understand why someone - a human - would want to bring someone else.

"Ms. Roosevelt, I believe that doesn't concern you. Your job, as I have stated before remains the same." Watson replied.

"Meet the man. A position would be secured for you once you accept this job so as to enable you work with him everyday. That gives you access to him and his daily life. It'd also give him the time to grow softer and loosen his guard around you.

"When that is done, you find secrets - ones you know would be able to end his career and reputation in Chicago - and that's it! Your job is done." Watson remind for the umpteenth time that day. It was barely noon and Amber was sure that Watson didn't mind going over the details of the job a thousand times again. As long as she would agree to it, he did not mind at all.

Kate sighed. Her eyes shutting and opening to reveal her black obsidian pupils.

Just when she opened her mouth to reject the job, Watson beat her to it.

"Your mother, I believe needs the funds."

Those were the only words it took for Kate's indestructible surface to crumble.

Her mother...

Her eyes shut close as her mind drifted back to her poor mother who was lying down in the house now. Probably sleeping under the influence of the painkillers she had been taking for months now.

The poor woman had been diagnosed with a faulty kidney and needed a transplant. As unfortunate as the family couldn't afford the cost of treatment, there had been no donor. Maybe because they didn't have the funds now.

Amber bit her cherry coloured lower lip to push back a sniffle. Her demeanor always crumbled when her mother was mentioned. It was no lie that the poor woman had seen all sides of life ever since their father went AWOL thirteen years ago.

Could he even be called a father?

His presence was akin to his absence as he was just invincible even when he was with the family.

"Miss Roosevelt? Miss Roosevelt?" Watson called out to her but it was as though she was no more in the room for she heard him not.

Watson sighed and banged his fist on the table loudly.

"AMBER!!!"

Kate almost fell off the side of her chair.

"Sir!"

Her hand flew to her chest in a bid to calm her racing heart and her head hung in - was it shame for spacing out or self pity for her predicament? Watson couldn't tell.

"I'd take the job, sir."

It could barely pass off for a mutter as it came out as a whisper but, Watson heard. Yet, he leaned towards her and raised a brow.

Kate bit her lip and looked him in the eye.

"I'd take the job." She repeated. Something shone in her eyes - a glow of determination.

Taking this job was against everything she had ever known or believed in. But, who did morals help?

Her poor mother was writhing in pain with the passing of every second. She had kept her morals and didn't sell her body, yet, nothing change.

Now, if she had to sell her sould to the devil to have her mother up on her feet, Kate would do it without batting an eyelid.

Watson smiled, pleased to hear her response. He'd always knew Kate was sensible and had the interests of others at heart - especially her family. It was no wonder he had mentioned her mother before she could reject the job.

"Nice choice, Miss Roosevelt. I knew you were not going to let me down." Watson seemed to be feeling beyond ecstatic at her choice.

"You may return to your cubicle. The contract for the job would be sent to your desk before closing hours. I expect it on my desk by morning."

Kate nodded. She pushed her chair backwards and stood up. A step away from the door, she stopped and turned to face Watson.

"What would happen once I sign the contract?" She asked, curious to know, although, she had her own high hopes.

Watson couldn't help smiling at the girl's curiousity. All the same, he did satisfy it.

"Once that is done, rest assured that your mother would be transferred to one of the best hospitals in LA. Also, you don't have to worry, your mother would be assigned a private nurse and residence in your name."

Kate bit her lips, feeling a little relieved at his reply. Without another word in reply to the smiling man she had called boss for the past three years, she walked out of his office.

Once in the comfort of her cubicle, Amber slumped into her chair and placed her head in the table.

She didn't want to do this but, she had no choice. Right now, she was at crossroads and has to make a choice.

'Whoever you are,' she thought, 'when all this is done and over with, I hope you can forgive me.'

*****

Kate busied herself in the kitchen, preparing dinner while her mother slept in the living room of their shabby little home.

She stood before the cooker where a pot of plain pasta was burning, but she wasn't aware.

A lot spiralled through her mind.

Did see really have to sign this contract? And if she did sign it, what would happen? Also, if she didn't sign it, what would happen to her mother? This young man, who did he offend? What did he do?

She was still searching for answers when a shrill cry crept into her ears.

"Idiot! What's wrong with you?" Mia screamed as she rushed to turn off the cooker.

Kate broke out of her trance and scrunched up her nose, coughing and going out of the kitchen.

She could have sworn she didn't perceive any foul smell when she was standing before the cooker.

Mia came out a few moments later looking pissed. She cocked her hips to the side and folded her arms afro her chest, demanding an explanation.

"Kate, what the heck just happened in there?" She yelled.

Kate shrugged with a faint smile. "I don't know, mi. I swear."

Mia sighed heavily. She grabbed Kate and led her to the bedroom and closed the door.

"Talk to me, Kate. You haven't been yourself since you came out of Watson's office." Mia said sadly. "Did he do something to you?"

Amber smiled faintly but it came out too awkward. She didn't even know where to start. Mia needed to know.

Mia was her only friend and colleague. She was a woman who loved, and cared for Kate liked a mother hen.

Mia hissed, starting to get frustrated by Kate's silence and constant spacing out. She grabbed Kate's shoulders and shook them violently.

"Would you talk to me, you idiot!?" She yelled. "Don't keep me quiet for heaven's sake, I'm worried about you "

"You know you can tell me anything right?" Mia's voice had softened and was laced with a certain kind of warmth and comfort.

Kate nodded.

"Good! So, start talking!" Mia snapped once again.

*****

"Do you have to go?"

Kate smiled softly. She took her mother's palms in hers and squeezed them lightly. Her eyes closed for a while to push back the tears that stung her but that didn't help, they still fell.

"Yes, mum," Kate replied, lightly brushing her thumbs against her mother's skin.

"When would you return?"

"It won't be long but, by the time I return, you'll be fine and all better."

Her mum smiled. "Thank you, child. I love you."

"I love you too mum," Kate replied.

Just then, the door opened and m entered with a few bags of takeout. Since Amber decided to ruin dinner, they had no choice but to have takeouts.

Rhea placed the food on the table and yelled, "it's time for dinner people!"

CHAPTER 2... ONTARIO

It was a bright and sunny day when Kate's flight landed in Ontario. She came out of the airport gates wearing a simple sleeveless white gown, a pair of sandals, and a beach hat to keep the sun at bay. White, fluffy clouds drifted slowly across the clear, blue sky. The weather looked beautiful.

Kate pulled her large suitcase with one hand behind her carefully. In her other hand, she held her phone and dialed a string of numbers. Watson had arranged a cab driver for her before she left LA and it was the driver she was trying to reach now.

After a few rings, the call connected. An elderly man's voice greeted her from the other side and he asked if she had arrived. She replied that she had and he told her where he was waiting before Kate ended the call and made a beeline to where he had said.

The man helped her put her suitcase in the trunk and started to car to take Kate to the apartment that had been arranged after she signed the contract. According to Watson, the apartment was only a seven minute walk to the company.

That way, she wouldn't be late to work.

That was actually very thoughtful of Watson because Kate was almost always late to work. It was either her alarm didn't ring, or it did at a wrong time: or it rang and she turned it off: or she couldn't get a cab quickly. Whichever it was, Watson had given her solutions to them.

***

The cab driver's voice reached Kate and she opened her eyes to see that had come to a stop in front of a one floor bungalow that was rounded by a very short iron fence. Surrounding it were exotic flowers and well groomed trees.

Kate was just about to ask whose house it was because it couldn't be her temporary home when the driver spoke again.

"Mr. Watson says to drop you off here, ma'am." He said and shoved his right hand into his pocket to fetch a single key. He stretched his arms for her to take the key but Kate only stared at him with wide eyes. "He also said to give you this."

Kate broke off her silly trance and grabbed the key from the man and examined it for a while before looking up at him. "Who else lives there?"

"I do not know, madam." He replied, shaking his head. "I'm sorry."

Kate nodded with a smile and opened the door to come out of the car. The driver also came out and removed her suitcase from the trunk. He handed it to her with a smile and turned to return to his cab when Kate halted him.

"Wait!" She called and he turned to her. She opened her handbag and pulled out all the cash in it to give to him. It wasn't much, maybe only a hundred and fifty dollars. She would just find an ATM later.

She handed the money to him. "Here it's not much, though."

The man shook his head and smiled. He replied, "All expenses have been covered by Watson, ma'am. Thank you."

Kate's brows rose. What exactly did Watson stand to gain in all this?

All the same, she shook her head and held out her hand even more. "Take it as a tip. From me."

"I insist" she added with a little pout.

The driver smiled, amused by her reaction. She seemed very open; he thought and took the money from her.

"Thank you." He whispered and Kate's smile widened as she waved the man off into his cab.

Once he was gone, she turned to face her apartment –maybe mansion- and sighed.

After a few seconds, she trod forward and let herself past the fence. The pathway from the fence gates to the main doors of the house was decorated with marble stones and she walked on them till the front doors when she inserted the key, turned it, and pushed it open only to freeze at the spot.

Immaculate.

That was the first word that came to Kate's mind when the living room came into her view. The room was sparkling as if it had just being cleaned. The furniture and electronics were covered in pieces of white fabric to keep the dust off them.

Kate took a rasp breath and let it out slowly before walking inside slowly. The door closed behind her with a small bang. As she walked further into the room, she ran her fingers on the covered furniture. She was still overwhelmed and unable to comprehend why someone who go this far to ruin another person's life.

With a very small shake of head, she dismissed the thoughts and looked around the room. Far behind, there were three single doors. She opened the first one to find a well equipped kitchen.

"Mum would kill to have this," she muttered, her voice drooping to a husky tone when she thought of her mother. She couldn't call as her mum might be sleeping. Later, she decided and closed the door to open the one a few meters from it. That one was a large bedroom, painted white from floor to ceiling with a large bed in the middle of the room. In a corner of the bedroom were two doors and she opened to find a bathroom and closet. The third door at the side was a bedroom too.

Kate dropped her suitcase in the bedroom and returned to kitchen. She wanted to get familiar with the house before taking a quick nap. Then later, when the sun was setting, she would take a stroll outside to get familiar with the street

***

An hour after she had taken a shower, Amber decided to call Watson. It rang for a few minutes before Watson picked. His voice was cheerily joyed when he spoke.

"Arrived?" he asked and Kate hummed, wondering why he sounded happy.

"Yes, sir,"

"Good!" Watson greeted her with a small laugh. "Get settled in. Tomorrow's Monday and I expect you to be at the office before eight am, Kate Roosevelt."

Kate let out an inaudible sigh.

"Better than having to come in at seven, sir" she replied with a smirk on her face. "Will do sir. Thank you."

"Keep me updated." Watson said and ended the call.

Kate tossed the phone aside before closing her eyes and in a matter of minutes, she had drifted off to sleep.

*****

When she woke up, it was almost seven in the evening. Kate showered, changed into a pair of sweatpants and stepped out of the house.

She had promised herself an evening tour of Ontario when she landed and she was going to do just that.

As she strolled along the pedestrian slowly, Kate made sure to keep in mind her way home. It was her first time in Ontario and getting lost was definitely not in her Todo list.

Kate came to stop in front of a restaurant. It looked simple and classy so, she decided to go in.

Taking a seat by the glass window, from where she could see the roads clearly, she relaxed. A waiter came afterwards and she made a simple order for a cup of chocolate coffee as some cakes.

While she was waiting, a young lady approached her table with a polite smile on her face.

"Hi," she greeted warmly, "can I sit here?"

Kate nodded with a smile and watched as the lady made herself comfortable.

"I'm Lara. Lara D" the lady said, introducing herself. "I'm sorry to inconvenience you, I just had a bit of a problem."

K shook her head and replied, "it's okay. I'm Kate, nice to meet you, Lara."

"Can I help you? Your problem?" Kate said, offering to help.

Lara smiled faintly and shook her head.

"I just needed a place to lay low for a few minutes. At least until he leaves."

"Who?" Kata requested.

"My boyfriend." Lara replied, "I came out with someone else, his brother. So, I can't let him see us."

Kate's eyes went wide.

"Oh, I understand."

They say in silence until the waiter delivered Kate's order. She politely requested for it to be packaged as she had something to do.

It was a lie, she just didn't want to be around the lady. Everything about her screamed trouble and that was the one thing Kate so desperately wanted to avoid.

The waiter got back to the kitchen and packaged the cakes and coffee. A few minutes later, he returned.

Kate paid her bills and made to leave. She turned to Lara with a smile.

"I'd take my leave now"

Lara nodded and pulled out a black and golden card from her purse. She handed it to Kate.

"Do reach out to me, thank you"

Kate took a look at the card.

Lara Devon, Legal Affairs, it read in block letters. She nodded and turned to leave.

"Hope we meet again." Lara said.

'hopefully not,' Kate thought to herself.

When she arrived at her apartment, she changed into her pajamas, had her cake and crashed on the bed.

The morning was going to be long and very interesting.

CHAPTER 3... FIRST DAY AT WORK

***

Kate woke up to the breaking of dawn. The sun was just waking up and so was she. The only source of light in the dim room came from the little spaces among the window curtains.

Standing up, she yawned and stretched before turning on the bedside lamp and walking off to the bathroom.

A quick shower, little –more like invincible- makeup, and coffee for breakfast, she was out of her 'very comfortable' apartment fifty five minutes later. She didn't want to paint a bad picture of herself on the very first day of her work.

Today, she was going to begin a new job at the Sylvian Co. Not just any random company, but the Sylvian Co. The Sylvian companies, for the last thirty years, according to her research last night, had held the coveted title of Ontario's biggest and largest company. Recent records even showed that the company's income had massively tripled in the last four years.

The media went on to depict the CEO, Kevin Sylvian, as a business god who held every other person in the business world at his fingertips. According to them, he made the rules in the business world and others followed at the unbelievable age of twenty nine.

Kate grabbed her white bag, picked to match the dazzling white of her crisp white shirt and the pencil knee-length skirt she would be wearing. She grabbed her framed glasses and slid them on her face before walking out and locking the house securely.

The company building was just around the corner across the street. Kate covered the distance in a short while and came to a standstill before the tall building.

She threw her head back to read the words that were boldly written at the far top of the skyscraper:

SYLVIAN CO.

A nervous sky escaped her lips and she pushed her glassed up the bridge of her nose before walking into the enormous and nerve whacking glass door.

Her heels clicked until she came to stop before the receptionist's table. Behind the solid wooden table, a perfectly dressed, red-head sat with a pleasant smile on her face. She stood up when Amber reached the table.

"Hello," Amber greeted, returning one of her own signature smile. "I'm here to see Mr. Sylvian."

"Miss Roosevelt?" The receptionist asked and Amber nodded.

"Excuse me, Miss."

Kate stood at the side and watched her make a call before turning to face her with her smile still on.

"He's waiting." She said and turned to come out. "Come with me."

Kate followed her in silence as they mount the elevator. Her mind worked in different ways. She could literally feel her heart thumping in her chest.

Kate clenched and unclenched her fists, feeling nervous. Her feet tapped silently as she watched the numbers of the elevator count.

The receptionist noticed and turned to face her. "Nervous?"

Kate nodded and let a smile on. An awkward one.

The red-head chuckled and turned to face the door as the elevator door opened on the fourty fifth floor. Kate trailed behind her, letting her eyes roam about.

She stopped when Miss red-head came to a stop before a closed door.

"Miss Roosevelt, being nervous on the first day of work is perfectly normal." The red-head whispers. "Just be yourself. Mr. Sylvian doesn't bite."

'I bet he doesn't' Kate thought inwardly. Shw whispered a thank you to the red-head and proceeded to knock on the door.

A baritone voice responds from within, telling her to let herself in. Kate took another one of those raspy breathes and gathered her wits before pushing the door open.

"Here goes nothing" she whispered and stepped in to find the man standing by the window. He was staring outside the floor to ceiling window as he muttered a few words over the phone.

Kate took the time to assess his body from behind. His body was well hidden inside that intricately designed three piece suit he was wearing and she was sure they had been tailor-made to fit him. His legs were long, she could tell he was about 7'5 ft or 8'2ft.

Just when she was about to inspect his black hair that had been trimmed to a short, conservative cut, he put the phone away and turned around.

"Do have a seat, Miss Roosevelt" He extends a hand to the chair across his desk and shoved the other into his pocket but poor Amber was standing. Wide eyed.

'young and attractive' Kate thought as she stared into his intense blue eyes that looked empty and dark. For a moment, she couldn't breathe until he spoke.

"Miss Roosevelt?"

K broke out of her trance and brings her head down, her knees suddenly going weak at his baritone voice.

Masking her nervousness, she stretches her hand out to him. "Mr. Sylvian, hello."

The man shook his head before taking her hand in his. "Call me Austin. Do take a seat."

This time, she took the seat and watch him take large powerful strides -each full of confidence. As his tall and muscular body folds into the swivel chair, Kate sighs silently and push all awkward thoughts away.

"Mr. Watson sent me." She said, looking above him. His face was intimidating. "For the new personal assistant position."

"So I was informed." His voice melts into an amused tone. Yet, his expression remains -impassive.

"So, Miss Roosevelt..."

"Kate..." Kate cuts in quickly. She wasn't used to being referred to as Miss. The whole thing was strange. "It's kate. Sir."

"Kate..." he drawls out with a nod. His lips curl up, not so noticeable though, at the top. "Would you like to tell me why you took the job?"

Kate froze. Her eyes widen at the thought of an exposed secret.

"H-how do you mean, sir?" She stuttered. He couldn't know. He doesn't know. Right? She fidgeted with her fingers that were placed on her legs.

If he knew of the whole plan, that would mean the end of it all. That would also mean her mother's intented treatment would be forfeited.

Nah! That didn't sound good at all. Very bad.

"Your records, if what I got were correct, show that you have never worked as a personal assistant before." Kevin said, leaning back in his seat. "So, that leaves me wondering why you would take a job that you have no idea how to deal with. You studied law in school, right?"

Kate nodded rapidly, still hoping he wouldn't see through her. She couldn't lose this job now. She'd already come far.

"But, you never practiced. Instead, you worked as a waitress for five years. Why did you take the job?"

*****

"But, you never practiced. Instead, you worked as a waitress for five years. Why did you take the job?" He asked.

Kate's racing heart started to slow and she finally let go off the breathe she had been holding in.

He had been talking of the lie in the fake resume. He didn't know. He had no idea. He was oblivious and that was a good thing.

At least for her. She couldn't say same for him.

"Yes sir."

"Why?"

Kate bit her lower lips and sat straight. "Well, I've always wanted to work as in a more business setting but I couldn't get in to a business school. So, I took the law opportunity. Even after school, I couldn't get a job and had to manage with a waitress's post for five years."

Kate bit her tongue when she was done. The lie rolled off her tongue way too easy. It started to become uncomfortable when the man before her remained silent even after two minutes.

He finally let out a sigh and stood up. "Come with me, Miss Roosevelt."

Kate followed him further into the office and watched as he pushed open a door.

"You'd be working from here." He said and stepped aside to let her in. "There's a door that brings you in here directly. This one is to link both offices."

Kate nodded and stepped into the well furnished office. There was a two-seater couch at an angle, a coffee machine on a table in another corner. At the back, there was a set of shelves with different files on it. Her desk and chair were in the middle of the room, directly across the main door.

"Settle in today, tomorrow is a long way down." Kevin said to her and turned to leave.

Kate watched him leave and the door closed behind him. She walked round the office before coming to sit on the chair.

After she had successfully programmed the system to her taste, she pulled out her phone and called Mia, her colleague and friend with whom she had left her mother's care.

***

She had just gotten off the phone with Mia when she heard a timid knock. Wondering who it could be -seeing that she had only being there a fee hours- she opened the door to find a beautiful woman, -about her age- looking at her with a smile on her face