TCST 1: Secrets Beyond

"Sir, please. Give the chance this time. Please..."

My chief editor's expression did not change and remained stoic. I've been trying to plead him to give me this project for almost an hour now, but I got nothing.

"Hazel, I said someone was already assigned for this. Just go and focus on your designated work."

I shut my eyes tight and blew out a loud breath. I know exactly what that means, Stephanie, the chairman's daughter was already on this project. Again.

But it's unfair, really unfair. She has been covering this project and trying to make it successful for two years now and yet she got nothing. I tried to volunteer to do this and told them that maybe if the company will send a new journalist to cover this interview, it would be successful.

"Sir, Stephanie has been trying to win this one for two years but still, nothing. Why not try to send a new one and see what will happen?" I suggested.

Chief editor Padilla rubbed his temple, "You know that I don't have that kind of power, especially to Stephanie. You know who she is, don't you?"

I scoffed, "Ah, yea. I forgot. She's the daughter of the chairman, so she is privileged to do whatever she wants, to get whatever projects she wants although she doesn't have remarkable performance in this industry because she only knows how to flirt and flaunt her beauty without brain manner-"

"Hazel, watch your words!"

"--- she only knows how to speak flirtily but doesn't know how to speak professionally like a real journalist, and does not even know how to format a column. She couldn't write even one paragraph with right punctuations-"

"Hazel Quin!"

I stopped as soon as I heard him raised his voice as he called me by my full name. His eyes were wide and looked frightened when I looked at him which made me raised my brows.

"What?"

"I said watch your words, you are talking about the chairman's daughter."

"So, what? What I am saying is true." I justified.

"But still-"

"Oh gosh, chief. Stephanie and I went to the same school, the same batch, and we were classmates so I know what I am saying. Her grades were low and won't pass even a single standard for a journalist. She just graduated because of her father's connections."

He closed his eyes and sighed in resign.

"I know that, but, you should still be careful with your words or else, if someone hears you, you'll be-"

I cut him off, "I'll be what? Be fired?"

When he didn't answer, I laughed sarcastically. This is not surprising. Knowing how unprofessional they could be, I wouldn't be surprised if I get fired just because I was telling the truth.

"They don't have to fire me, sir. This company's unprofessional treatment to their employees is too much and I've had enough. I resign, sir."

He looked surprised by what I said. I looked at him in the eye one last time before standing up and storming out of his office, slamming the door behind me.

"Seriously, Hazel, you resigned?" Geraldine, my best friend, and workmate asked, her eyes were wide in surprise.

I nodded, "Yea, I did."

"And? What are you going to do now? Don't tell me you are going to apply to another company? After what you did and said, surely, they won't give an excellent performance as feedback for you, and instead, write something nasty about you."

I rolled my eyes as I put my things on the box. Our co-employees were watching me as I casually cleaned my table like I'm not losing a job.

"You think I don't know that? Of course, I do. That's just how unprofessional they are."

Geraldine sighed, "So, what are you going to do?"

"Find a new job," I answered casually.

"What job? Surely, after what happened, you won't apply as a journalist again. Well, not for a while, yes?"

I locked the box's lead and put my sling bag on and looked at her. I just smiled and walked, I could still feel her look behind me.

Opening the glass door of our department, I saw Stephanie standing in front of the elevator. But I'm sure she's not waiting for the elevator to come up, but for me. I put on my bitch mode and walked with my chin up.

Reaching her spot, I stretched my hand and called for the elevator. It was a bit hard because I was holding the box where my things were but I was able to press the button.

"So, you resigned, uh?" I heard her but didn't say anything. "You resigned because CE Padilla did not let you do the interview? Aww, sorry for that."

The elevator opened and I stepped in, she followed, still talking.

"You know, that's what you get for being too ambitious. Don't you think I don't know the reason why you want to cover the interview with him? Of course, I do. You are one hell of an ambitious woman, trying to take the chance to flirt with him so you would marry him, be rich, and get up from that filthy life of yours."

I looked at the red numbers where it indicates the floor where we were and it stopped on the eighth floor. Several executives came in, each one bowing at Stephanie and looking at me from head to toe.

When the elevator closed again, I took a deep breath and put on a mocking smile, and said mockingly,

"Stephanie, we all know that you've been trying to cover this interview for years but still not able to get even a single piece of information about Mr. Craige's personal life, even just a peek. Why is that?"

I wasn't looking at her but I felt her looked at me surprised. Even the executives turned their heads in our direction. I smirked and resumed,

"We both know what kind of a person you are. And we both know what you were doing. You're not up for the successful interview because you are just using this chance to flirt and have an affair with him, am I right?"

I looked at her and smirked, even more, when I saw her eyes widening,

"Unfortunately, you are not qualified for Mr. Craige's taste. So, sorry, shall I say?"

The elevator pings, indicating that we reached the ground floor. Before stepping out, I looked at her once more and winked annoyingly. She was left with her mouth hanging in shock with my audacity as I walked through the corridor, my hips swinging as if I'm walking on a fashion show.

The cab that I booked earlier was already waiting for me when I got out of the building. I checked its plate number first and when I confirmed that it was the cab that I booked, I rode in.

Once inside, I told the driver my apartment's address and looked CBNews' building one last time. I scoffed bitterly and turned my phone on and went on my browser's history where I saved the job article I was reading last night.

I've planned this one since last week; that if ever CE Padilla won't give me the chance I've been asking for again, I'll be resigning and apply for this job.

APPLICANTS FLOODED AFTER CRAIGE INC. ANNOUNCED THAT THE CEO IS LOOKING FOR A SECRETARY."

It was the headline of one of our company's columns.

Last two days, Craige Incorporation announced through media outlets that their CEO was looking for a new secretary since his former one retired. It only took several hours before another news came saying that applicants for the position deluged after the announcement.

Craige Inc. was one of the known companies in Sydney for its immediate success after a year of its opening and was able to acquire more than five successful companies after three years. And its carefree and kind-hearted CEO as they called him was also a reason for its well-known name.

Their CEO, Caleb Craige was known for being kind-hearted, his good deeds, and his humble personality despite his social status. He was helpful, especially for children and women.

And of course, when you are known, the public's eye will be on you. They will see and monitor your actions, and look for anything that they can use to attack you.

His separating his private life from work became some kind of disadvantage. The public wants to know his reason for being helpful to children and women, doubting if his actions were sincere or just a façade. There was even an article that became viral which said that his gratifying deeds were only to hide his illegal actions such as sex trafficking. That the women he was helping were sold out to rich men in other towns or abroad.

But even after some negative speculations, he didn't give even a single idea of his personal life and his past, making the public think and persist for an answer. That became a reason for new companies to send their best journalist or reporters to cover up an interview with him and try if they can get something.

They have been doing those one on one interviews with him whenever he's attending to charities event, but no one was able to get even a single information. Researchers also failed to get anything, his records were protected, it was as if he did not exist before.

I was willing to try and get a chance to talk with him because I believe in my abilities, but the company where I am working tolerates favoratism and using of connections. Hence, the unfair treatment to their employees.

And now that I've had enough, I resigned and decided to take this chance and apply for the secretary position, with a thought in mind that this might be the key for my success, to show them that I can.

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes.

"Wait for me, Mr. Caleb Craige, because I'm going to unravel your secrets. Your secrets that are key for my success."

I looked at my reflection through the mirror one last time, making sure that I will look presentable and professional enough, and perfectly fit for the position I am aiming for.

Yesterday was the cut-off for submitting applicants resume, and tomorrow will be the last day for the interview before Mr. Craige make his decision. I was scheduled for the interview today and because I found out that Mr. Craige was the one who does the interview, I practiced everything to be perfect.

Practicing for my answers in a job interview was not my style, even when I was in my internship as a journalist. I want to answer each question on the spot and honestly, but this one has to be done perfectly.

I need to make sure that I will pass the interview and be chosen to be his secretary. It needs to happen to be able to execute my plans.

The lobby of Craige Inc. was big, it has the usual vibes of a company building owned by a wealthy businessman.

I walked to the clerk and asked for the interview section for secretary applicants. The young man behind the desk looked at me from head to toe, then his eyes narrowed a bit before he flashed an all set of teeth smile.

"Oh, yes, miss. The interview will be held on the 3rd floor, hallway 2, Interview room 7. The elevators are this way,"

He then extended his hand to point a direction. I walked to it and it lead me to a set of elevators where a few people wearing executive clothes were waiting. Half of them turned their heads on me when they heard the sound of my stilettos and I cleared my throat to ease the weird consciousness I felt because of their looks.

Waiting for the elevator didn't take long. As long as the doors slid open, I immediately stepped in and waited for the others to come in and wait until the doors closed, then I punched on the floor where I was about to go.

From my peripheral vision, I saw realization registered in their faces when I pressed the third floor. Then I felt their stares at my back as if cold daggers digging on my skin despite the thick executive blazer I was wearing.

"Is this hiring for secretary thing really a big deal for them?" I asked mentally asked myself.

Luckily, the elevator arrived on the third floor in no time and I immediately stepped out of it. A sigh of relief escaped my lungs when the elevator closed and the arrow moved up.

That was something.

I blew out a breath and looked around me. I am in another lobby but this time, there were a set of sofas around with people sitting, holding folders and envelopes. I looked at the plate beside the elevator where the words, INTERVIEW FLOOR were written.

My sight caught a blonde woman walking in my direction while holding a tablet. I readied myself and smiled when she reached me when she smiled in return.

"Hello, miss. I'm Hailey Valdez and in charge of assisting applicants for Mr. Craige's secretary. I assume you are miss Hazel Quin, as stated here?"

She then showed me the screen of her tablet where my infos were shown. I nodded and she informed me that the interviewees will be called alphabetically, and they're already in letter H.

I looked at my watch and saw that it's just 9:18 am. I guess some interviewees came here too early. I followed miss Valdez as she led me in the second hallway.

There were still a lot of applicants waiting, each of them holding a brown folder. Noise filled my eardrums as each of them practiced their answers for the possible questions that the CEO will ask.

I sat on one of the sofas, beside a tanned woman in black executive uniform. She too was holding a folder where the questions she was expecting to be asked were printed, and silently practicing her answers.

After a while of staring at her, she finally looked at me and I met her emerald eyes. From the looks of her, I know she's nervous. Her hands that were holding the folder were a bit sweaty despite the air conditioner.

"Hi," I greeted her in a low voice.

She offered me a slight smile and greeted me back with, "Hello. You're an applicant too?"

I smiled back, "Yes. And I just got here. Does this seat taken?"

"No, it's fine. You can sit there all the time that you are waiting."

Her voice was a bit raspy and her vibe gave me the feeling that she's not straight. Even the way she sat with her stilettos told me that she's not straight, so, I just smiled and let her practice her thing.

Unlike them, I don't have a folder with me where the questions that would possibly be asked in the interview were. My requirements were submitted and evaluated online.

So, I fished my phone out from my bag and scrolled through it, not minding their voices. Normally, I would put on my earphones but that would be a wrong move since we're being called alphabetically. I might not hear it when they call me.

I spend my time browsing through the net, reading new articles that were published by my previous company, and I had to admit, I'm missing my job as a journalist. It's been a week since I resigned, and truth to Geraldine's words, the company didn't give me a good feedback, nor a referral to other companies. It made my blood boil because what was written on their feedback was opposite to my performance.

Sleeps while working my ass. I was always on time when it comes to submitting our final draft, sometimes, before the deadline.

But anyway, that won't doesn't matter now. If no company will accept me, I can create a website and publish my articles there, which I am really planning when I succeed in my plan.

"Miss Quin?"

I blinked when I heard my surname being called.

"Ah, yes?"

Miss Valdez smiled and informed me that it's already my turn. I nodded and stood up and looked at the tanned and curly woman beside me. She felt my look and when our eyes met, she smiled and mumbled,

"Good luck."

Once again, I nodded and told her good luck as well before walking to the dark door that will lead me to the CEO of this company.

My hands were a bit cold when I twisted the knob open. Unlike in the hallway, the interview room was warmer which helped to ease the coldness of my hands.

I looked ahead and there I saw him, wearing a gray suit with a black tie on his shirt. His hair was neatly combed and clean. He cleared his throat and that's when I get back on my senses. I squared my shoulders and walked towards his table, but did not seat immediately.

"Good morning, Mr. Caleb Craige. I'm-"

"Hazel Quin. Applicant no. 456."

"456?" I asked in shock.

So, this means there were more than 500 applicants. I didn't know about that, all I know was that there were too many applicants but not this many.

"Yes, applicant no. 456. Please, have a sit."

I took a deep breath and sat on the visitor's chair. And in an instant, I felt the pressure when you are on a one-on-one interview with someone from the company who's in a higher position than a mere interviewer.

"So, your name is Hazel Quin, 24 years old and from New Town." I nodded, and he continued. "So, according to your resume, you were a scholar and graduated AB Journalism in New South Wales University with high honors, and has a two years job experience in CBNews, and resigned just last week."

He looked at me to confirm his statement in which I nodded in return.

"Yes, sir."

"Then, may I know why did you resign from your previous job? As far as I can remember, journalism is a great job and you get a high salary with it. So, why resign and apply as a secretary? Do you know that you get lower pay in this job than your previous one?"

I already expected that he would ask me for a reason why I resigned, but not about the difference between a journalist's and a secretary's salary, but then I nodded.

"Yes. I am aware that my salary won't be as large as it is when I was still a journalist, but I would still go for this position, sir. I'll suit myself in a low salary but with fair employee treatment than a high salary with a company that tolerates favoritism."

His brows creased, "Favoritism? Are you saying that they are tolerating favoritism in CBNews?"

I gave him a brief explanation of my experience in CBNews, then the usual questions for an interview followed, with some questions I didn't expect as well, but I was able to answer them.

At 10:04, we finished the interview. I secretly took a deep breath when he started writing something on the folder where my printed resume was compiled. I took that moment to stare at him.

From his side profile, I can see how pointed his nose was and his perfectly sculptured jaw. I narrowed my eyes when I saw a scar on his left cheek, it was a bit deep but you won't be able to see it if you won't look at it closely.

I wonder where did he get that?

"Your interview is done, miss Quin. Thank you and please wait for the confirmation email that will be sent to every applicant to let them know about their application result."

I stood up, thanked him as well, and bowed my head before stepping out of the interview room. Thank heaven!

"Do you think it's right that you told him about our company's unfair treatment?"

Geraldine and I were enjoying our combo burger as I told her how my interview goes. Even after I resigned, we remained friends. After all, we've been together since third-year of college. So, resigning from my job won't affect our friendship.

"Well," I put my burger down and sipped on my coke, "he asked me, so I told him the reason why I resigned. As simple as that."

She swallowed the piece of burger she's chewing first before replying, "What I mean is, do you think he will believe you? I mean, the reputation of CBNews in the public is good. Their dirty deeds inside the company were never revealed because of their connections."

"He's a CEO, so I think he's not that dumb to believe in fallacies." I shrugged.

Geraldine sighed and nodded sarcastically. I rolled my eyes in return and enjoy the rest of my burger. It's her lunch break and we decided to meet at the burger house near the company building.

We still keep each other updated and she's also updating me on what's happening in the company although I told her not to. I don't want to stress myself about their irregularities.

"But Hazel, do you think you will be chosen as the right one for the position? You know, out of 947 applicants."

I took a deep breath, "Ge, I believe in myself, and besides, being an ex-journalist is an advantage. You know, journaling schedules and such, taking notes, and all that."

"Well, you are Hazel Quin after all. You're intelligent and have a computerized brain."

I chuckled at her remarks. Well, I was really known as a proud woman with pride higher than Mount Everest and they also called me 'The Woman with Computerized Brain' for a reason that I know almost everything, may it be in English, Science, Math or History, even inventions.

She was about to say something again when my phone vibrated, and an email from Craige Inc. popped on my notification bar. We shared a look before I typed my passcode and together, we read the email.

From: Craige Inc.

To: Hazel Quin

Greetings,

We are happy to inform you that the CEO was impressed with your responses to his questions on your one-on-one interview and find you perfect for the position you are aiming for. Congratulations! You are now hired as his secretary.

Please go to Craige Inc. on Monday for your schedule and to sort out your responsibilities with Mr. Caleb Craige.

Best wishes,

Craige Inc.

"Are you sure you are ready?"

I was holding my phone while strapping my sandals to my ankle. I was getting ready for work, and this would be my first day.

"Yes, Geraldine. I was able to pass the interview, and now here I am, getting ready for work. I'll be close with Mr. Craige physically, and this secretarial position would give me plenty of time to gather the information I needed for my project."

"Have you created the draft?" she asked.

I nodded as if she could see me. "Yea, I saved it on my flash drive. Saving it on my laptop would be a wrong move, hackers could hack in it."

"And don't you think hackers can hear our conversation at this moment?"

I rolled my eyes. "Come on, Ge. Of course not. They don't have enough reason yet to tap in my devices."

"Okay, okay. If that's what you think, that's what you want. Good luck with your work."

"Yea, you too. I'm about to go now."

I pulled the doorknob close and twisted the key to lock it, then I walked in my car's direction.

"Ge, I need to go now. I'll update you tonight about my day, okay? Take care."

I didn't wait for her response and ended the call, then I started my car's engine. One last time, I checked if I have everything I'll be needing with me. Yesterday, I bought a new set of pens and a notebook for notes and schedules. Also, a mini-audio recorder so I could use it without them knowing.

When I think everything is fine, I maneuvered my car on the way to Craige Inc.

A valet was waiting for me at the entrance of the parking lot and told me that Mr. Craige has reserved a spot for my car. The parking lot was an underground one, and when I reached the reserved space he was talking about, my mouth just dropped.

The reserved space for me was beside a black candescent Ferrari. I suddenly felt small with my Toyota Corolla LE, a 2016 modeled car, a second-hand one.

I blinked when I heard a knock at my side window. I moved my head to see who it was, the valet. I rolled down my window and asked him.

"Ma'am, you've been here for a minute now. Is anything wrong? Do you know how to park? Mr. Craige has been calling me to ask if you are already here."

I took a deep breath and looked at the Ferrari again, before pushing the car door open and going out. I gave him the key. I jog towards the elevator and punched on the top floor of this building where his office was.

As usual, top floor office with double doors. I looked at my watch, I'm about to be late. One last time, I looked at myself to check before proceeding to the door, and it was a bad move to just enter without knocking.

Mr. Craige instantly moved to pull away from the woman as soon as I opened the door when I get in. My mouth just hanged in shock when I found him panting a little and the first few buttons of his shirt were undone, while the woman zipped her dress up.

And when the woman finally turned to face me, I was literally dumbfounded to see who it was. My eyes narrowed and it took me a while to finally address her, it's none other than,

"Stephanie?" I blatted.

"Hazel?"

It was obvious in her face that she too was surprised to see me here, while Mr. Craige cleared his throat to call our attention. Even so, the two of us didn't mind him and remained to stare at each other. I was the one who was able to recover from the unexpected reunion.

"Too early for a reunion," I mumbled.

She scoffed, "What the hell are you doing here?"

Ah, she was on her bitch mode again. Acting like a superior when she's not. I chuckled sarcastically.

"Don't tell me you'll gonna act like you own this place? As if a spoiled dumb brat."

Her eyes narrowed, "Did you just called me a dumb brat?"

"Aren't you?"

I looked at her with my challenging look, and it was enough to trigger her and let the boss know how bad-tempered and low class this woman could be. She was about to attack me but before she could do anything, Mr. Craige stopped her.

"Whoa, whoa, hey, stop, over there. Not my secretary,"

Stephanie's eyes widen when she heard how the CEO addressed me and looked as if I grew another head. I smirked in return and shrugged playfully to tease her temper. To my delight, Mr. Craige told her to go out since he's about to start his day in the company.

Turned out that Stephanie does not have any schedule with him, and she was already here when Mr. Craige arrived. She doesn't have a choice but to go, otherwise, she'll show even more how unprofessional she could be. Before she went out, she looked at me with disgust in which I just shrugged in return.

"Your time will come, Hazel." she snarled.

"Okay, I'll wait for that time you are talking about."

I watched as she dashed out from the office, only then I was able to take a proper breath and faced the man I am going to work with. Embarrassment was written on his face but he tried to hide it by faking a cough.

"Sorry for that, I didn't mean you to see it."

I nodded, "Yea, it's fine. Well, that's not surprising. Every business owner has their flings."

"No," he shook his head. "She's not a fling. I just got, you know, I'm not-"

I chuckled, "Hey, relax. You don't need to explain, you don't owe even a single explanation. You're the boss. This is your office, you do want you want. And besides, it was my fault, I didn't knock."

He stopped blabbering and took a deep breath before walking to his swivel chair and sat there. He reached for the water bottle on his table and I watched how he gulped the remains of it, I watched how his adam's apple moved up and down.

Suddenly, I felt like I've been running out of breath and I needed to go to an open space, but he was already walking in my direction while his hands were in the pockets of his jeans.

He stopped a few inches away from me and looked at me for a while before saying,

"So, shall we start working together now?"

"Oh gosh, Hazel. Sorry, I forgot to tell you about it. You weren't answering my calls when I remembered."

Geraldine has more than ten missed calls for me when I turned my phone on at lunch break. She knew about Stephanie's agenda here and forgot to tell me about it when we were talking this morning. I was already out of reach when she remembered.

Well, I wasn't out of reach at all. My phone was on but it was on silent mode, as it always was whenever I am working. As for how did she know, well, this woman has her ways of getting to know things that does not have to do anything with her.

Perks of being a journalist.

"No, it's fine. At least, she wasn't able to ruin my day. It turned the other way around."

I told her what happened, and she was laughing hilariously from the other line as I told her. She couldn't believe that Mr. Craige would choose me over her. I rolled my eyes

"Come on, don't say it like that. It's as if there's something going on between the three of us."

The bitched just laughed it off. It took her a while to recover.

"Well, how's your first day at work?"

I shrugged. "It's going well so far."

Sir Caleb Craige gave me a brief introduction to my job, although I was done reading secretarial ebooks as a guide. He also gave me the company rules which were the usual ones, and I signed an NDA contract.

It was written there that as his secretary, I would have a privilege to get a glimpse of his personal life and personal well-being, but I cannot disclose anything about it and cannot ask anything regarding those things. And that I cannot stick my nose in his personal business.

Aside from being his secretary in the company, I would also be his personal assistant, and with that, I needed to stay with him under one roof. I agreed with it and didn't say anything, it would make my task easy, the one I've been planning to do.

"What? You would still do it despite signing an NDA? Are you nuts?"

"Ge," I sighed, "I have ways. Dzuh, we're in Generation Z. Everything is possible, trust me. My plan will succeed, and I will succeed."

From here, I could say that she was shaking her head.

"Okay, if that's what you say. I need to go now, my lunch break is over."

"Yea, me too. See you soon."

"See ya,"

The call ended and I put my phone on my back again and get back to work. My lunch break is not yet over, I still have about twenty minutes but I would like to work on it now and sort out his schedule for the week, so it would be easier for me to make adjustments if needed.

One meeting with the board of directors for new investments from big personalities, a VIP meeting with the counselor, and a visitation of his business partner later at 5:30 pm.

His schedule was not yet hectic, so he have plenty of time for himself. But he gave me a heads up that soon, schedules will flood like a dam, given that his company was still expanding.

For the past seven years since it was established, the company was able to run, and expand in different fields, making it a group of companies. Craige Incorporation has a chain of hotels and condominium buildings which was the original field of company, malls, construction companies, and he was also planning to try shipping lines, and banks.

By next year, he's planning to acquire companies that were about to be bankrupted. He laid all his plans and the company's information to me and said I'll be needing it. He also gave me a task to study the board of directors and the other personas inside the company so it would be easy for me to recognize them.

As if I didn't research before I decided to do this.

The job could be hectic, but I knew I'd be able to find a way to enjoy this. After all, this is part of the plan. I needed to do this to prove myself not just to my previous company but to everyone.

When it was time to go home, I already lost all of the energy I have in my body. Even so, I had to pull myself up and greet the boss who's about to go home too. It was 9:30 pm and my duty on the contract said I'll be on duty only until 8 pm.

"First day at work and you already have a one and a half-hour over time. Good job."

I tried to paint a smile although I don't have the energy to. He chuckled and shook his head, which momentarily shocked me. He looked young when he laugh or even just a chuckle.

I shook my head.

Maybe I was just tired.

"Ah, you're tired. Come on, let me help you."

"Oh, no, I can handle it, sir."

He was offering to take my bag but I refused. Again, he chuckled with my remark. I instantly knew he had a mannerism of putting his hands on the pockets of his jeans or pants within just a day of observing him, and that it's natural for him to smile from time to time.

I was actually expecting that the smiles he was showing on cameras whenever he has an interview were fake and just for a show, but I figured I was wrong. The kind vibe he has to everyone was natural.

"Come on, it's 9:30, you're not on duty anymore. I'm not your boss this time, so, you don't have to call me 'sir'."

"But-"

"You can call me Caleb."

I wasn't able to do anything when he moved and get my bag from me. I jog behind him when he walked to the elevators and called for it.

"Raynon told me you have a car," he said. He resumed when I arch my brows, "The valet. His name is Raynon. I told him to reserve a spot beside my car, so you will have a space if ever you have a car."

"Well, I appreciated it but I'd rather you didn't do it, you know."

His brows creased, which made me add up,

"It's not that I didn't like it, it's just that, my Toyota Corolla looks so small with your Ferrari..."

"LaFerrari." he ended it for me.

I chuckled, "Yea. My Toyota Corolla LE looks so out of place with your LaFerrari."

"Ah, that? Well, don't worry about it. I can lend you my other car."

The elevator arrived, and we stepped in.

"What do you mean?" I pry.

He press the UPL which abbreviates Underground Parking Lot before he responded,

"You'll be staying with me starting tomorrow, right? You can borrow my car, it's a LaFerrari Aperta. Or if you want, we can just exchange. I use the Aperta, you use the one on the parking lot. How's that?"

I didn't know if it was just me or there was something with the I'm staying with him starting tomorrow. But I didn't dwell on it and instead, refused his offer again.

"No, it's fine. You don't have to, I'm okay with my car. Letting me stay with you is too much," I said.

He reacted, "It's a part of your job. As my personal assistant slash secretary, you need to be quick when I need you. You'll be handling my appointments, may it be about business, leisure, or personal one."

"Ah, yea."

It was like a slap for me, I overreacted a while ago.

We reached the basement and I was the one to go out first. I headed to my car while he needed to catch up with me because he has my bag, I forgot about it. I forced a smile when he handed it to me.

"You look tired. Rest well. Bring all your things tomorrow if you can, I'll tell my housekeeper to ready your room."

I nodded, "Okay. Thank you and good night."

"Good night, drive safe."

He let me in first, and he stayed beside my car for a while looking at me from the window though it's a bit tinted before he went on his. I let him go first, and when his car went out of my sight, I let a sigh of relief and reclined on the chair.

Was it just me, the exhaustion eating me up, or it was the fact that it was not good to stay on one roof with him?