The Arrogant CEO's Assistant

Kyle's POV

The redhead on my lap grinded as if her entire life depended on it. She was very pretty, I'll give her that. Big bossoms and lusty eyes, exactly the kind of features that drove me crazy. But I guess I just wasn't into it today.

"Mr. Blackwell," She whispered in a sultry voice, manicured claws dragging down the fabric of my suit shirt. "Why don't we go get a room upstairs? You get a special discount for checking in with m-"

As if I'd ever be caught dead in one of the cheap hotel rooms of this shabby place. I grabbed her hand that was creeping towards a dangerous area and gently removed her from my body. As gently as I could manage anyway.

Sighing, I turned to my brother who was making out with his own woman and grunted, put off by the unpleasant sight. "Kalen, why this club of all places?"

It took a few seconds but Kalen managed to unlatch himself from her tentacles. He was flushed and staring at her lips and I couldn't help but wonder, surely the kiss couldn't have been that good...

Kalen sighed and I raised an eyebrow. His obvious unwillingness to answer was getting more suspicious with every second that passed. Yet, I didn't press him. If run down alcohol houses were his preferences now, then I had no intentions of discouraging him.

Now that I didn't have a whole ass human being trying to melt onto my body, I could fucking breathe. Kalen was visiting from our home back in another state and insisted on spending our time together with booze and women.

He literally dragged me here immediately after I closed from work and because we hadn't seen each other in so long, I didn't have it in me to complain. But ultimately, I'd resigned myself to my fate. At least we were in a VIP section away from the rest of the partying crowd, secluded so the music wasn't pounding in our ears.

I picked my glass of scotch from the table in front of me and took a sip, my eyes scanning the room idly. A few minutes of this passed until work from earlier today started filtering into my mind, a sign that I was mentally done with this place and just waiting to leave.

I'd mentally dissolved into sorting and planning for the company. But even in my distraction, it was impossible to have missed the sight of her.

The angel.

Time slowed to a complete stop as I took her in. Her eyes shone bright against the dreary background surrounding, lips so sinfully red and pouty, it made me want to kneel at her feet and beg for the mercy of a taste.

I watched as the angel flipped her hair as she laughed at something her friend said, mesmerizing in the halo that surrounded her. I couldn't hear the sound from where I was but I knew it sounded golden.

It should have been impossible for her to know I was watching her, but maybe she was truly a supernatural being because her gaze snapped to mine the next second, as if she'd been able to feel my eyes on her.

And my heart dropped to the bottom of my chest.

It quickly turned into a game. She'd glance when she thought I wasn't looking and I'd wait for her to do so, then catch her. And satisfied, I'd grin and she'd blush so hotly I could see it in the dim lighting and look away.

We spent a while doing this till I didn't know when I'd signaled one of the VIP waiters and pulled a thick wad of cash from my wallet. "That lady over there. Buy her a drink and let her know she's welcome to join me."

I'm a man aware of my appeal. I know the power my looks hold over women, but even then for the first time in my life, I felt my confidence waver. Maybe she wasn't going to accept my invitation.

I watched as the angel picked the drink the waiter paid for and took a sip, glancing at me coyly over the rim. Then, she whispered something to her drunk friend and finally, by some miracle, started coming over in my direction. And my lips curled up into a victorious smirk.

Once she got to me, I stretched out a hand, keeping the heated eye contact as she placed hers in mine.

"Hi," She breathed shyly and God if that didn't make me feel like a big, lurking predator toying with his prey.

She stood over me where I sat, swaying a little weirdly. "Hi, Miss..."

"Silvie." She replied. "Just Silvie. And you?"

Grinning, I said, "Kyle." then tugged her down to sit beside me, as close to me as possible. "Silvie." I rolled the name around on my tongue. "I hope I'm not interrupting the fun between you and your friend."

Silvie turned up to look at me and I could finally tell the colors of her irises. hazel. We were so close, I could feel the heat of her breath against my neck as she replied, and I bit down a groan at the feeling of aroused insanity creeping over me.

"Actually, no. She-" Silvie hiccuped, then continued. "She enc-encouraged me to come over." As I suspected. Her voice was like honey.

"Oh?" I replied lightly. "So you wouldn't have come over then." She blinked up at me, cheeks flushed and I trailed a finger down her exposed thigh. "Tell me, Angel. Are you the type to make a man beg?"

Silvie blushed at my revealed nickname for her. She seemed so shy it made my blood run hotter, but she surprised me by leaning into my touch, and my hand gripped that plush thigh fully in response. "Maybe. Would you have done so if I refused you?" She looked up at me provokingly from beneath fluttering eyelashes and I felt blood rush south, raising the fabric of my pants.

Oh, fuck.

Our faces had gotten closer. I could smell the drink on her breath, fruity with the unmistakable tang of spirit. Up close, I had the most perfect view of her angelic features. "Gorgeous." The word slipped out of my lips without my consent and Silvie blushed.

The atmosphere felt a million times hotter than a moment ago and I would have devoured her lips the next moment, but Silvie glanced somewhere to our right, eyeing something nervously. Something I'd forgotten even existed.

Kalen.

So she wasn't into PDA, huh? I'd completely forgotten my brother was still here with that woman. I'd forgotten the rest of the world, just wrapped up in Silvie's heat.

"Kalen." I called in annoyance. "Kalen, can you leave?"

Kalen was laughing at whatever conversation they were having and turned to answer me. "What?"

"Next room. Come on, man." I kept my voice tight, hoping he'd take the hint. Kalen seemed confused at first but using my eyes, I gestured secretly to Silvie in my lap who was twisting the hem of her blouse shyly. So fucking cute.

He understood, and the two herded themselves out of the room, but not before Kalen made sure I understood I owed him. Nothing a few grand couldn't fix.

The section was empty now though not enclosed, and I hoped the complete lack of privacy didn't still bother Silvie, but she turned to face me now, boldly sliding her hand up my chest. At this, I raised an eyebrow in surprise and felt my dick twitch, the excited little bastard. Her touch felt like heaven and I was guilty of the sin of greed. I wanted more.

"Angel," I tipped her chin higher, closer to my lips and felt something molten string tight in my guts. And as our lips slid in place, perfect as if orchestrated by fate-

-it snapped.

And I was pulling Silvie into my lap.

It started slow and languid, testing out the water. She tasted so sweet I couldn't stop myself from wanting more, from going in to get it. Soon, our mouths were clashing and the kiss turned deep.

"Kyle..." Silvie moaned my name and pulled back to slap her hand over her mouth, as if shocked such a sound could leave her lips. My hand on my waist gripped tighter at the moan, just to keep myself from doing something she couldn't handle.

Immediately I pulled her back and let our lips meet again, the hot slide of it fucking with my senses. This woman was so perfect, there was no way she was real.

I sucked on her tongue and she whined, and as much as it pained me, soon we had to separate for air, but I didn't leave her skin for one second. I nipped her lips, soft as a dream, then moved on to her chin and down her neck.

I kissed and sucked on her collarbones and she gasped, moaning a little louder this time. This had me grinning wolfishly at succeeding in pulling the sounds she was so intent on hiding out of her.

"Kyle..." She whined again, voice ascending, and I groaned. "Fuck, angel, do you have any idea how crazy you're making me."

Silvie's breaths started coming short and fast, and I was satisfied knowing she was just as turned on as me.

She seemingly started adjusting where she sat but soon, I realized what all her shifting movements were. She was rocking her ass into my hips, right on my half hard cock. I immediately slammed my lips back to hers, swallowing all her sweet little sounds and gripped her hips to control her movements.

"Silvie," I groaned and she responded with a high pitched moan. Making sure I was slotted in the right place, I grinded my hips into hers, feeling my cock swell to full length in my trousers.

Our voices blended together into the sweetest harmony I'd ever had the utter privilege of hearing and my little angel in my laps seemed so lost in the heat and feeling of what we were doing. At the sight, my blood burned hotter in my veins-I was going to get her to completion.

I grinded my hips faster and sucked on Silvie's lower lip and nearly went insane when she pulled back and threw her head back in ecstasy. This alone dragged me to the very precipice of climax and I moaned thickly and buried my head in her chest. The soft smell of perfume clouded my senses and it felt like I couldn't think.

If anyone ever asked me literally this afternoon if I foresaw dry humping a goddess in the dim lights of a seedy club like a horny teenager, I would sue them for defamation. Yet here I was. And there was no other place I wanted to be.

We were so close to falling off that sweet edge and I tightened my arms around Silvie's waist. Her lovely eyes slid open and I kissed her lips. But then she swayed funnily in my arms and her movement stuttered. "Silvie?" I rasped against her swollen lips.

Silvie had been quiet for a while, not doing much but moaning. All of a sudden, she lurched forward dizzily and held onto my shoulders, and immediately, the lust cleared from my eyes in concern. "Silvie?!"

The next moment, the sound of retching filled the noisy air and wetness seeped through my shirt. My mouth dropped open at the sight before me.

Silvie had thrown up all over my clothes.

Before I could even process it, Silvie was scrambling off my body, panic strewn all over her face and all I could do was stare up at her in disbelief.

"Fuck." She gasped. "Fuck, fuck, fuck. I am so sorry. Oh God, I'm so-" Hiccup. "Sorry."

She was drunk. She'd been drunk the entire time.

I noticed she wasn't exactly sober from her hiccups and swaying, but I didn't think she was so far gone that she couldn't handle her liquor and would end up vomiting as a result of our rocky movements.

What. the. fuck?

Shaking, Silvie stumbled hastily away, murmuring apologies the entire time. "Hey! Get back here, you...!" I called by the time my senses caught up, but she was too far away, already getting lost in the crowd.

Groaning, I dragged my hands down my face and grimaced at the vomit clinging to my clothes. Disgusting, I know. I took off the shirt and slipped my outer suit on, considering searching for Silvie, but who the hell wanted to move around a crowd sporting a dick as hard as mine currently was?

I leaned forward and picked up my drink, needing the liquor desperately at the moment. Fuck. I didn't want to lose her.

God, I was pretty sure this angel in disguise was my soulmate, but somehow, I'd lost her because I couldn't react fast enough before she fled. The least she could have done was drop off her number.

Goddammit. My arousal had already simmered down, annoyance slowly taking its place.

I seriously considered damning the consequences and chasing after Silvie. I wasn't mad about what happened like she obviously thought and Frosthelm city is so huge I knew I'd never get the chance to see her again. But... I sighed and sank back into the couch.

I don't chase after women. They're not worth it. Not after what my ex did.

Silvie's POV

The rumors flying around Frosthelm City about Kyle Blackwell, the CEO of Lunaris Corporations were very... unpleasant.

"He's a rude, arrogant bastard."

"I used to work with him and yeah it's true. He treats people coldly, like trash."

"What a Grade-A asshole."

My excitement about the chance to work in such a prestigious company faded with each rumor I read on the internet. They were tearing at him just as viciously in the magazine tabloids as well. But even amidst all the criticisms, there was one thing in common between both-The same people talking shit about Kyle couldn't seem to stop themselves from praising him for his appearances, spinning articles upon articles about Frosthelm's youngest yet richest billionaire and most sought after bachelor.

Now, the thing about these rumors was, it wasn't enough to stop me from applying for the position.

A month ago, it was announced that Kyle Blackwell was searching for a personal assistant. It came as a surprise to everyone and the news spread like wildfire because such a thing was never usually this big of a deal. It certainly wasn't the first time Lunaris Corp. was hiring, so why was it being heavily publicized all of a sudden?

I recalled my conversation I had with my friend and co-worker in the cafe I worked part-time. April was even the one who let me know about the recent frenzy surrounding Kyle and Lunaris.

"Wait..." She had said, distracting me from my task of wiping the serving counter. "This just reminded me of that rumor Victor was telling me the other day! He heard from someone that Kyle's personal assistants always quit working with him within a month because they were unable to stand his arrogance."

"It's true!' Victor piped up from the kitchen and I rolled my eyes fondly.

"Oh, wow." I replied dryly but that didn't stop April.

"Yeah! It makes sense why they're willing to pay this much for such a meager position. The salary used to be crazy high but what they're offering now is up to three times that. That's insane." Now, I'm not going to lie, my interest perked up at that.

"They're desperate." Victor said as he popped out of the kitchen holding a tray of freshly washed glass cups. "They need to find a new hire as soon as possible but Kyle's reputation is so bad, no one will want to work with him unless they pull something like this. So, Lunaris is simply making sure whoever they hire will stay for the money."

"You're right. They're publicizing it so much, there can't be any other reason." April scrolled on her phone some more. "Has he considered, I don't know, changing his behavior toward people?"

"We don't know if these rumors are actually true. That's all they are, April. Rumors." I interjected.

"Awwwn," April cooed, setting her phone down where I just freaking wiped and pinched my cheeks. "My baby, Silvie. Always trying to see the good in everyone. Hey, why don't you try applying?"

I snorted and moved to respond to a new customer. Once they left to wait for their order, I responded to April. "No. Are you kidding? Do you know how many people will be applying as well? Here's a hint: At least the entire city's female working class population. I won't have a chance in hell of getting picked."

All of this was two weeks ago but after my shift was over, as soon as I got home, I booted up my old room computer, navigated to Lunaris's website and applied for the job.

I know I said I wasn't going to and what I told April was true. Too many people would also be applying for me to have any good chance, but I wouldn't have been able to sleep properly knowing that I let that ridiculously tiny chance of being the one hired amongst thousands go without at least trying.

The salary being offered was so much. If I had that kind of money, God, my life would change so much. I'd be able to afford three square meals a day for myself and my brother and our mom would be home with us instead of spending her days on a hospital bed.

I've never been lucky in my life. Yes, I applied for the role, but it was a half-hearted endeavor. I didn't believe anything would come of it. But it seemed the universe had decided to let up on tormenting me because three days ago, I got an email informing me that I'd been shortlisted for the position and was scheduled to come for an interview today.

As I stood in front of the massive corporate building that was Silvercest Headquarters, head pounding and groggy, I was disappointed in myself for going clubbing with April on the eve of my interview. To be more specific, I was annoyed that I was so easily bribed with the promise of covering all the expenses.

According to her, I'd been looking a lot more dead recently. Although I wouldn't use those exact words to describe myself, she was right. I'd been getting more and more depressed recently. It was so bad that I could feel myself nearing rock bottom, so as much as I hated to admit it, I needed the outing.

I actually had fun last night. I let loose. Never in my innocent twenty-one years of life had I taken more than a few sips of alcohol but yesterday, I chugged on it. It felt so good, so exhilarating to not have to think of everything wrong in my life, every burden I had to carry.

It felt even better when I found myself in that man's lap. Tall and ruthless in beauty, he captured and held my attention from the moment I sat down at the bar and ordered my first drink. I felt on top of the world when he called me over to meet him in the private VIP section.

It was... admittedly the best part of last night. Booze got me drunk enough to not think twice about making out with a complete stranger, but that complete stranger had my heart pounding like it wanted to give out, had me releasing sounds that even just thinking about now made my face heat up. It was so perfect. He was perfect.

Unfortunately, like everything life placed in my hands, I ruined it by throwing up all over him because I'd drank too much. The shame I felt yesterday came rushing through me again and I took a deep breath to expel the crippling embarrassment.

My consolation was simple-I was never going to be reminded of the embarrassment because I was never going to see him again. That sort of luck didn't fall into the hands of people like me twice.

Jolting out of my deep thoughts, I remembered where I was. The walkway, blocking several people from passing easily. Steeling myself, I clutched the styrofoam cup of coffee I bought to ease my hangover tighter and readjusted the tote bag straps on my shoulder. Then I walked into the building.

The interior was expensively and tastefully decorated, but I was too anxious this morning to properly observe everything. I walked up to the front desk.

"Good morning!" I greeted with a kind smile.

The receptionist was an older lady chewing gum with a bored expression on her face. "Mornin'." She greeted me back.

"I'm here for the job interview. To be specific, for the role of personal assistant to Mr. Kyle Blackwell."

"You're late." The woman remarked and I grimaced. How could I explain that I woke up late due to sleeping late because I went clubbing and while I still managed to arrive in time, the few minutes I had were wasted thinking about my terrible life choices?

No way. That sounded like a shitty excuse.

"Sorry," I opted for simply apologizing, not really knowing what else to say.

"Interview's that way. Take the elevator to the fifth floor, there's a large conference room. It's very easy to find."

"Thanks."

I followed the lady's direction and found myself facing two elevators. Immediately, I turned around, intending to return to ask which to pick but I didn't want to waste more time than I already had. And so I picked the elevator that looked fancier. They both probably led to the same floor anyway.

I didn't have to wait long for it to arrive and the inside was empty, so I simply stepped in. As I went up, I took a sip from coffee and ran my fingers through my brown hair in an attempt to calm my nerves. I was only a little late. It was fine, really. What wasn't fine was how my hair was already a damn mess because I couldn't stop fidgeting.

Ding!

The doors slid open and I stepped out into a sparsely decorated corridor. According to the receptionist, the conference room where the interview was being held was easy to find, but I didn't immediately see any room like that. Looking ahead, I did see a corner so maybe it was on the other side. I walked down the corridor and once I came to the corner, I made a sharp turn but as soon as I did, my entire body slammed clumsily into a hard wall and I gasped.

What the hell? I thought. My cup of coffee didn't make it. It was compressed, spilling all over my clothes and the clothes of the man in front of me.

Wait. Man???

Holy shit. My jaw dropped as I took in the person I thought was a wall, gaze landing on a pristine gray suit terribly ruined by brown stains. Just behind that suit I caught a glimpse of tight abs hidden behind a clingy white shirt. Glancing lower, matching gray pants were added to my field of view followed by shoes that looked like they could pay my rent.

Only when a deep voice started growling did I realize I'd been staring too long and with a gasp, my eyes snapped up to the person's face. As soon as I took in who it was, my heart dropped to my stomach.

The CEO.

I had run into and spilled coffee on Kyle fucking Blackwell.

"I- I'm sor-" I started to apologize but he cut me off.

"Are you blind or insane enough to not watch where you're going?" Kyle snapped and I stumbled backwards.

"I am so, so sorry." I said, already beginning to tremble and blush in humiliation. As I watched him inspect the wet stains on his suit, I remembered I had a napkin in my tote bag and pulled it out.

"Here, let me..." I said and hurried forward again to help him wipe it. But he stepped back away from my reach, leveling me with a cool look of disgust. Oh, right. He probably didn't want some random, weird lady touching him. I dropped my hand and felt myself start to shake uncontrollably. I had only just arrived, yet I'd managed to fuck up my chances of getting hired by monumentally pissing off the CEO himself.

In my moment of self-pity, I noticed Kyle had been quiet for too many seconds. I looked up at him and the expression on his face had me pausing in my movement. Kyle was staring at me. His face held shock, like he couldn't believe who was standing in front of him and I squirmed uncomfortably under his scrutiny. Why was he looking at me like that?

Not daring to say anything, I tried to meet his gaze. Within blue irises swirled so many emotions-surprise, confusion, something else I couldn't name, soft and strange. It was so weird. But while taking in the sexiest eyes I'd ever had the pleasure of looking at, I felt something shift around in my mind. These eyes were so familiar, like I'd seen them before.

"I'm sorry..." I offered again pitifully. That seemed to jolt Kyle out of his silence and he blinked down at me.

"You." He said gruffly and I tilted my head in confusion. Me? "Do you know this is a restricted area? No one is allowed in here without official permission." Kyle's deep voice was exponentially calmer. Strangely, it no longer held the coldness and anger it was laced with just minutes ago.

"I had no idea, I swear!" I scrambled to explain myself. "I'm only here for the job interview and I wasn't sure which elevator to pick downstairs so I chose at random."

"Diana didn't tell you which to pick?" I assumed who he was referring to was the receptionist. "That woman..." Kyle continued and shook his head.

"Go down again and take the other elevator. Fifth floor, don't forget."

I nodded. "I really am sorry." I murmured again referring to his suit and not waiting for a reply, I turned around and left.

Upon getting back in the elevator, I noticed that there wasn't even a control panel to input which floor I wanted to get to, meaning this really was a reserved elevator that only led to one floor. If I'd been observant enough the first time I was on it, I would have noticed and saved myself the embarrassment of the last few minutes.

"Ugh," I groaned in annoyance. If I wasn't going to be reprimanded for being late before, I definitely was going to be now. But there was no need to worry about that. After what I did to Kyle, I was definitely kissing my chances of working for him goodbye.

Once I reached downstairs again, I took the right elevator this time and found the conference room Diana was referring to. To my utter relief, right outside the room, there was a sitting queue of people waiting. Interview candidates, I discovered upon asking. So, I wasn't late after all.

Sinking down into the empty chair beside the last person on the queue, I finally had an opportunity to catch my breath. My coffee was mostly gone so I had nothing to manage the lingering hangover I was still experiencing. But that would fade away in time. The real issue was the coffee stains on my clothes. I was going to appear before the hiring manager looking like a mess. Tears nearly sprang to my eyes at the thought.

Pulling out my phone, I quickly texted April.

Me: Hey

April: Hey, babe. What's up?

She had no idea I ended up applying for the job. Deciding I would tell her about it later, I decided to just complain vaguely.

Me: Shitty morning.

April: Well, yeah you drank so much last night. Have you taken painkillers?

She was assuming it was because of my hangover. I sighed and replied.

Me: Yep

April: Don't think I've forgotten about you and your Mr. Charming yesterday

Me: Who?

I knew who she was talking about but I didn't want to think about him. blue eyes flashed in my mind, intense and heated. April had no idea the disgusting way our make out ended. I was too embarrassed to tell her when I ran away to meet her and made us leave.

April: Don't play dumb

April: I'm wiggling my eyebrows rn btw

At this, I laughed. She always knew how to make me laugh when my mood was down, something I was grateful for.

Me: I'll tell you the details later

Satisfied with this, April let up on her poking and I shut off my phone.

The line had been moving along rather slowly but it was to be expected. After over an hour of waiting, it was finally my turn. My heart beat heavily in my chest. The moment had come. The figures of the proposed salary flashed in my mind and I took a deep breath in and out. Sure, I most definitely wasn't going to be hired at this point.

All the women I'd seen on the queue looked so good, like tall confident queens. They looked experienced, like people Lunaris would be proud to have as their CEO's personal assistant. Not someone like me with zero experience, zero confidence, and a coffee stain on my shirt.

But even then, I walked into that conference room with my head held high, ready to give it my best shot.

I pushed open the doors to the conference room and stepped in, immediately hit by a blast of cool air. Once the doors were shut behind me and I faced forward, I was met with the interviewers sitting on one side of a long meeting table and smiling warmly at me. Their calm, positive demeanor did a lot to calm my nerves and I felt myself starting to smile in return.

Except when I shifted my gaze to the head of the table, my body seized first in terror, then shock.

Sitting there, separate from the rest of the interviewers was Kyle Blackwell, wearing a new, different suit than the one I stained earlier before and staring at me with a distant, closed off look in his eyes.

"Good morning."

Silvie's POV

"Good morning." Kyle's deep voice sounded through the room and I stared with wide eyes. What the hell was he doing here? And how had he entered the room without seeing him pass by while I sat outside? Unless...

I moved my gaze to the far end of the room opposite me, and as I suspected, there was a door. He'd come in through another entrance. I shifted my gaze back to the man whose presence dominated the room oppressively.

"Good morning." I greeted in return with a tight smile, making sure to maintain composure.

"Please, have a seat." One of the female interviewers gestured kindly to the seats opposite their side of the conference table and I moved to sit, gently arranging my tattered bag in my lap.

"Miss. Bates, is it?"

"Yes, that's me."

"Thank you so much for honoring our invitation to interview." The woman continued. "I am Pearl Woods." The other two interviewers introduced themselves and then Miss. Pearl continued with a nervous laugh, "Joining us for the first time is our CEO, Kyle Blackwell, who I'm sure you've heard of."

'Heard of'??? What a joke. I poured my drink on him almost an hour ago. My gaze flitted to Kyle where he sat at the head of the table, watching us quietly and I jumped when I found his eyes already on me. Trembling a little, I immediately averted mine.

According to Pearl, Kyle was joining the interview for the first time. This meant he'd decided to show up for just my time here, huh? My chances were well and truly ruined then because he could only be here to make sure no matter my performance, I wasn't going to get picked.

The interview kicked off. Even with reason to be discouraged, I still put in my best. Even with the cold feeling of Kyle's gaze never leaving the side of my face, I didn't fumble. Soon, the end came and at that point, I just wanted to leave.

"Thank you for coming, Miss. Bates. We'll get back to you on our decision in a week." One of the other men said.

"Thank you. I look forward to it."

I picked my bag and stood up to leave but before I took a step, Kyle of course had other plans. "Wait." He called.

I swallowed nervously. What could he possibly want? "Yes, Mr. Blackwell?"

"Why do you want to work for this company? What is your motive?"

"My motive?" I asked in confusion. Using such a word, it sounded almost accusatory, like I wanted to be his personal assistant for an ulterior reason which was absurd.

"Yes, Silvie. Your motive."

We stared at each other, his face expressionless and mine probably looking bewildered. An answer swirled around in my mind and for a moment, I hesitated to say it out, but then I decided-what the hell did I have to lose?

"To be honest, I'm here for the money like literally everyone else."

A look of surprise came over Kyle's face at my shocking honesty, and in the next second, he burst into laughter. Kyle's laugh was a deep and rich sound, akin to something beautifully dangerous like the man himself. I found myself craving more the deeper I listened to it.

The others too started laughing and it all sounded awkward, but I understood they dared not act as though nothing was funny, even though nothing really was.

Smiling just to conform to the mood, I tucked my hair behind my ear. "Can I leave now?"

Kyle sobered up at my request, blue eyes still crinkled with mirth. "Sure. We'll meet yet again, if my interviewers decide you're good enough." And with those same eyes trailing me, I left the conference room.

As I walked down the lobby where the other candidates waited for their turn, something very odd struck me-Back there, Kyle referred to me as Silvie, not Miss. Bates.

Throughout the entire interview, those people had only ever referred to me as Miss. Bates, never Silvie. So how the hell did he know my first name?

***

A wolf whistle greeted me as I walked into the kitchen entrance of TasteeCloud Cafe.

"Damn, girl!" April called as she lifted sizzling hot fries from the deep fryer. "You're all dressed up. What's the occasion?"

Laughing, I dropped my bag, took off my jacket and responded, "Nothing. Can't I come in for a shift looking nice for once?"

"Don't get me wrong, babe. You always look hot, but today is special, you can't deny that. Did you go on a date?" April gasped and her eyes went wide as saucers. "Was it the rich dude from last night?"

"How the hell do you know if he was rich?" I laughed. An apron similar to the one April had on hung off the back of the kitchen door so I picked it and tied it on.

"Are you kidding me? He was sitting in the VIP section of the club. Hell, he dropped off one thousand dollars, in cash, just to get you a drink. Do you think just anyone has that sort of money just laying around in their back pocket?"

"Fine." I sighed in mock seriousness and sat on a stool, waiting out the few minutes till my shift actually started. "I guess Mr. Rich Dude was actually rich. But no, it wasn't him."

"Aha!" April exclaimed as she submerged another batch of raw fries into the fryer and closed it. "So it was a date! Just not with him."

"No, it wasn't a date." I avoided April's eyes. Now was the time to come clean. "Actually, April... I took your advice and applied for the job opening as Kyle Blackwell's personal assistant."

"Oh, really?" April wiped her hands on her apron and came to sit next to me. "I didn't think you'd actually do it."

"Yeah, because I don't usually follow your bad suggestions."

She laughed and smacked my arm gently, "I'm not the bad influence you make me out to be. But, I'm so happy to hear this! You took a leap for once and if you get picked, so much in your life will change for the better."

"Please, don't get my hopes up. It'll make the disappointment hurt far more than it should. Besides, I really don't think I'll be getting picked because I might have fucked my chances up... monumentally..."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

Blushing in embarrassment as I recalled the memory, I shared my encounter with Kyle before my actual interview and April is watching me with her jaw hanging.

"Oh. Shit."

I grimaced. "Yup."

"It was an honest accident, though... Surely, he wouldn't try to punish you for that?" April soothed. But almost immediately, she frowned at her own words. It was Kyle Blackwell we were talking about-alleged asshole. To cement this in her mind, I told her about how he came in to sit through no one else's interview, at least no one before me.

"Yikes. That couldn't have been for any good reason."

I sighed. "It was all worth a try right?"

My shift ended right at that moment and I hopped off my stool to go in front and take over from my co-worker.

The time dragged on and on, but April was good company. Soon, she left and Victor came in to take over her kitchen duties. Rarely did we three ever have a shift that aligned but I loved the times we did. It made working here much less boring.

Soon, my shift was over and I rushed to my next destination for the day. The hospital.

I would've visited my mother every day of the week if it was possible, but the patient ward only allowed visits four times a week including weekends.

Once I got to the floor of my mother's ward room, I made a stop first at one of the rooms of a patient I'd gotten to know in the past year.

"Hi, Berk!" I greeted the old man cheerfully, eagerly awaiting the joyful expression that usually came across his face whenever he got to see me.

"Silvie! Come in, come in. I have something for you today."

"Oh?" I responded and entered his room as he requested with a knowing smile on my face. "Is it the thing you've been working on and hiding from me for the past two weeks?"

Berk laughed heartily as always. "You got me."

He pulled something out from beside his pillow he sat against and I moved closer to see what it was. A small gasp left my lips at the sight of the beautiful, warm-looking, knitted scarf.

"Oh, Berk. This is lovely." The older man moved a little so I could perch on the edge of his bed to look at the scarf closely. It was a lovely shade of purple that just spoke to me and I couldn't help but fall in love with it.

"You did say you were learning how to knit." I continued. "I'm so happy, thank you."

"Meh, it's nothing. I don't want to take up anymore of your precious visiting time so run along now. Say hi to mom for me, would you?"

After a small hug, I left Berk's room and moved down the hallway a couple of doors till I got to my mother's. I knocked softly and at the sound of a muffled 'Come in', I grinned and pushed open the door.

"Hi, mom." I rushed into her wide open and waiting arms and she hugged me immediately.

"My baby, how have you been?"

"I'm okay. Sebastian's alright as well." Sebastian was my younger brother who couldn't visit as much because he was busy with his first year in college.

"I know, love. He called yesterday."

I climbed very carefully into bed beside her and held up my newly acquired blanket. "Look at this beautiful scarf Berk knitted me." Soon, just like always, we were chattering away.

All two hours of my visiting time were well spent. I carefully avoided bringing up the most recent events in my life regarding Lunaris Corporation and unlike April, she didn't ask about my unusually elaborate dressing. For this, I was grateful.

Leaving my mom behind once again was hard. I wished more than anything we lived together like we used to but she needed constant medical attention as long as she hadn't had surgery to fix her broken ribs and fractured hip.

I worked myself to the bone all day everyday only to afford just the bills of keeping her in this hospital's care. The cost of the surgery she desperately needed was a whole other topic that gave me anxiety just thinking about it.

Everything my mother had to suffer was courtesy of the most unfortunate being I had the curse of knowing, of being a spawn of. My father. In just one day, he ruined our lives, separating us in the process and leaving us to deal with the aftermath. I would never forgive him for it.

My thoughts about him were vicious and borderline violent as I walked home but at least they kept me company.

I got to the apartment I lived in with my brother, made dinner and kept his share aside for when he got home, then tucked myself into bed.

Not even the joy from seeing my mother earlier could have kept the tears from falling from my eyes like it did every night. I felt so shitty. Everything was too much; could it possibly get any worse?

These were the dark thoughts I had that night before I succumbed to the day's fatigue and fell asleep.

One week later, an email came in.

***

Dear Silvie Bates,

We regret to inform you that you have not been chosen for the role of Personal Assistant to Kyle Blackwell.