Chapter ten

Sara’s POV

I heard gasps around me and quickly opened my eyes. What I saw before me shocked my entire being.

Zack was standing there, holding Nora’s hand in mid-air. His expression was a mix of anger and determination.

He sprang into action without hesitation, grabbing Nora’s wrist mid-air.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

Nora’s eyes widened in shock. “Zack, I—”

He cut her off. “Save it. You have no right to this to her.”

Aaron stepped up beside him, glaring at Nora and Brittany. “Haven’t you two caused enough trouble already?”

Brittany, tried to speak up. “We were just—”

“Just lying for Nora when she was cheating on me. I remember,” Zack said cutting her off, his voice icy. “Both of you need to get out of my sight.”

Nora pulled her wrist free and glared at him. “You’ll regret this, Zack.”

“No, Nora. The only regret I have is ever letting you into my life,” he retorted.

“Now, leave. And take your pathetic friend with you.” He added in a commanding tone.

They turned and walked away, their heads held high in a facade of dignity that no one believed.

“Thank …”, I tried to say.

I wanted to thank him for saving me from his crazy ex even if everything was his fault. But he did not wait for me to finish what I was trying to say before he walked out.

“How rude!” I exclaimed loudly.

“Oh don’t mind him, he’s not in a good mood today”, Aaron, his friend said. He was trying to make excuse for him. I recognize him from the internet, he looks more handsome in person, I won’t lie.

“Then he is usually in a bad mood every time then. Hi, my name is Sara, Sara Miles”, I said to Aaron, trying to change the topic. I stretched my hand forward to shake him.

“Hi Sara, I’m Aaron Jacob. Nice meeting you”. He said taking my hand in his.

“Nice to meet you too, Aaron. Thanks for, you know, staying.” I said politely.

“No problem. I figured you could use a friendly face after that scene,” he said with a chuckle.

“Yeah, you could say that,” I replied, laughing lightly. “Mr. Samuels is quite… intense.” I said returning back to the old topic.

Aaron nodded. “He can be. But he means well, most of the time.”

We started walking around the grocery store, the tension slowly dissipating as we chatted. Aaron had a way of making me feel comfortable, and I found myself enjoying his company.

“So, what do you do, Sara?” he asked.

“Well, I used to be an accountant . Just started a new job as Mr. Samuels personal assistant actually,” I said.

“That’s great! I run a few hotels around here. Maybe you can give me some financial advice sometime,” he joked.

“Sure, I’d be happy to,” I said, smiling. “You’re much nicer than Mr. Samuels. No offense.”

Aaron laughed. “None taken. I’ve known Zack for years; he’s a good guy, just a bit rough around the edges.”

Our conversation flowed easily, and I felt like I was making a new friend. But just as I was beginning to relax, Aaron’s phone rang.

He glanced at the screen. “It’s Zack. I need to go now. Sorry about that, duty calls.” He said in a polite manner.

Such a gentleman, can never be my boss, I thought to myself.

“It’s okay, go ahead. It was nice meeting you” I said with a smile.

“Same here. We should hang out again sometime. I have a feeling we’ll be good friends,” he said with a wink.

“I’d like that,” I said, genuinely meaning it.

Aaron waved as he walked away. I watched him go, feeling a sense of loss but also hope. I could see us becoming friends in the near future.

As I headed home, I replayed the day’s events in my mind. The confrontation with Nora, Zack stepping in, and meeting Aaron. It was a lot to process.

I could hardly believe my eyes when Zack stopped Nora from slapping me. His grip on her wrist was firm, and for a moment, I saw a flicker of anger in his eyes.

Once I got home, I changed into my pajamas and crawled into bed. My thoughts were a whirlwind, but one thing stood out: Zack’s unexpected intervention. Despite everything, he had come to my rescue.

I sighed, turning off the light. “What a day,” I muttered to myself.

As I drifted off to sleep, I couldn’t help but think about what tomorrow might bring. New challenges, new faces, and maybe, just maybe, a new friend in Aaron.

I woke up the next day feeling groggy and disoriented. The events of the previous day played on a loop in my mind, but I had to push them aside. Today was a new day, a new week and I had work to do.

I stepped into the shower, letting the warm water wash away the lingering stress. As I dried off, I mentally planned my outfit. I needed to look professional yet approachable, especially after yesterday’s incident. I chose a fitted navy blue blazer paired with a white silk camisole and a matching pencil skirt. The outfit was sophisticated and confident, just the image I wanted to project. I slipped into a pair of black pumps and added a delicate silver necklace for a touch of elegance.

After a quick breakfast of oatmeal and fruit, I grabbed my bag and headed to the office. When I arrived, I immediately noticed something was off. Zack wasn’t in yet, which was unusual. He was always the first one in the office, setting the tone for the day. I shrugged it off, figuring he had an early morning meeting or something equally important.

As I settled into my desk, Jane, Zack’s receptionist, called me from her office. “Sara, can you come in here for a moment?” she asked.

I quickly made my way to Jane’s office, my mind racing with possibilities. Had I done something wrong? Was this about the incident at the grocery store?

“Good morning, Jane,” I said, trying to keep my tone light.

“Good morning, Sara. I have some news for you,” Jane replied, her expression serious and it scared me.

“Mr. Samuels’ personal assistant called in sick today. So, he wants you to fill in as his assistant for the day,” She said.

My heart skipped a beat. “Oh, I see. Is he here yet?”

“No, he had a few things to take care of first, but he’s on his way. He asked me to inform you that you’ll be meeting a client with him today,” Jane explained.

I nodded, feeling a mix of apprehension and curiosity. Why hadn’t Zack told me this himself? Was I really that terrible in his eyes? “Okay, thanks for letting me know, Jane.”

“You’re welcome. Just be ready when he arrives. It’s an important meeting,” Jane added.

“Will do,” I replied, heading back to my desk.

As I prepared for the meeting, I couldn’t help but wonder why Zack had chosen me for this task. Was it a test? Or was he simply too busy to deal with me directly? Either way, I had to be on my best behavior and prove that I was capable of handling the responsibility.

A short while later, I heard the familiar sound of Zack’s footsteps approaching. I took a deep breath, steeling myself for the day ahead.

Just then, Zack walked in, his presence commanding as usual. He looked sharp in a tailored gray suit, his tie perfectly knotted and his shoes polished to a shine. He glanced at me briefly, his expression unreadable.

“Miss Miles, are you ready?” he asked, his tone businesslike.

“Yes, Mr. Samuels,” I replied, standing up and smoothing down my skirt. “I’m ready.”

“Good. Follow me,” he instructed, heading towards the elevator.

As we rode down in silence, I couldn’t help but steal a few glances at him. He seemed unusually tense today, and I wondered what this meeting was about. When the elevator doors opened, we walked out to the car waiting for us.