CHAPTER 2.

Katherine Cooper took extra care in looking her best the next day. She wanted to make a good impression on her first day. The weather was extra chilly so she made sure to wear a coat over her clothes. A taxi passed by, then the bus Katie was to board to her new place of work came hobbling towards the bus stop. Just when it pulled over and opened it's doors, Katherine changed her mind. She decided to walk, after all Cole Corp. was not that far from her home. 

The bus fare wasn't a significant amount of money, but if she saved that paltry sum everyday it would certainly amount to something substantial and the more she saved, the closer she would come to paying off the accumulated rent for the house. Two years before uncle Jonathan had died, their landlord had increased the rent to a ridiculously outrageous sum. He had used their own sentiment against them, giving them two options- leave immediately, or pay up. 

Due to the fact that her parents had died so long ago and when she was still so little, she had forgotten almost everything about them. Oftentimes, they'd spent their summers as a family on summer vacation at uncle Jonathan's house. By keeping the house, this way she could still hold on to a few hazy memories. 

There was absolutely no way she could miss Cole Corp. Ltd. The high-rise building stood proudly, towering tall amongst the other skyscrapers in this industrialized estate. Working in this company was a dream come true to Kate. 

Walking smartly towards the receptionist, she felt a surge of confidence overtake her. Resting her hands on the counter, she gave the other woman her brightest smile but was returned with a cold stare, almost a glare. The receptionist's scrutinizing blue eyes darted quickly here and there from Katherine's hair that was neatly pulled into a bun, to the expensive outfit she wore,to the sparkling blue barrett that twinkled in her hair. 

"How can I help you?" She asked coldly, the tone of her voice hitting Kate like an invisible fist and almost stunning her. 

"l'm Katherine Cooper. I came for an interview some days back, and I received a phone call to start work today." 

"Okay." 

Typing something on her system, the receptionist smirked. She looked up and at Katherine. 

"I'm sorry Miss, but if it were so it would be recorded here." 

"What?" 

Katie was starting to feel light-headed. The receptionist didn't sound sorry at all. In fact she sounded very pleased. What had she ever done to her? They'd met barely a minute ago. 

"Please. Check one last time…" she began. 

"Brittany? What is the matter here?" Katherine whipped her head to the side so quickly she saw black dots dance all over her vision. She recognized the bland male voice from the phone call she'd previously received. He narrowed his eyes at her for a moment. 

"Miss Cooper?" 

Katherine breathed out a sigh of relief. 

"Yes. Good morning I-" 

"Good! Very good! We have been expecting your arrival." He cut her off. "Your punctuality is much appreciated Miss Cooper. Come along please." 

A triumphant smile tugged at her lips as Katherine cast a quick glance at the receptionist before hurrying off to catch up with the man, leaving the dazed woman sitting behind her counter looking like a fool. They stopped in front of an elevator and stepped in. 

"I'm Richard Quest by the way." 

He said matter of factly, reaching out for a handshake. Katherine put out her hand too, and they shook. His hand was surprisingly soft, and warm and a little damp in the palm. For the first time since she saw him, she looked at him carefully. 

With Mouse Brown hair that dappled over his forehead, close to his eyebrows, he was quite good-looking. She had always been tall as a little girl, so it was no surprise to her that she came quite close to his height so that his grey eyes were looking into hers. He seemed to be studying her too, then he raised his eyebrows and looked down at their hands joined together.

Ding! The elevator bell sounded. It was as if something clicked into place, reminding them where they were, and Katie took her hand back just as the doors were opening. Mr Quest smoothened down the fabric of his expensive-looking suit and cleared his throat before he stepped out. 

First, she was taken to the Ceo's office- he was nothing extraordinary, just about an average man, and then Katherine was taken to the large open office on the sixth floor where she was introduced to every member of the department she was working in. Well, just about everyone.

Right next to the spare desk and single swirly chair that was hers was another on the other side of the glass cubicle wall. The polished black chair was exquisite. It's leather gleamed brilliantly in symphony with the mini mahogany table in front of it. The silvery sheen it gave off made her wonder if it was cleaned and then waxed to perfection. The more she looked at it, the more curious she became. Even the chair and desk which were in the ceo's office were not as good as these. 

'Mr Smith.' the tag on the desk read. Reaching out, Katie was almost running her fingers along the smooth sides of the desk when a voice jolted her. 

"Mr Smith is absent from work today, but I'm most certainly sure you will get to meet him tommorow." Mr Quest said. Katherine smiled and nodded. 

"Well. I must excuse you Miss Cooper. You have work to do." With a slight nodd, Richard Quest turned and left. Katherine sat behind her desk and switched on her system.