Chapter 2

My hand cramped the last clothes I brought into my suitcase, then closed it. Three hours later my plane departs, meaning one and a half hours later I have to be at the airport. I opened my suitcase again and threw a book into it.

"I've already called a taxi." A blonde head appeared from behind the door. I smiled as I zipped up my suitcase. "Thanks, Lana."

She came into my room and jumped onto my bed, her long legs dangling gracefully on the edge of my bed. "You sure that's enough for two weeks?" he asked, looking down at my small suitcase.

I shrugged my shoulders "I'll be back the weekend." Even though it's tiring but I don't want to spend 2 weeks alone in an unfamiliar city.

I dropped my body next to Lana. We rented an apartment with two rooms together. I've known Lana since college, even though now we work at different companies but we still rent an apartment together. She is still 23 years old, one year younger than me even though we graduated together.

Lana comes from a rich, very wealthy family. When she was in college she lived with her father and stepmother who always changed every five years. Her biological mother died long ago, and Lana has no other siblings. As for me, well, I don't have parents or other siblings. I guess that's what made us so close like siblings all along; we are both lonely. Lana never came home even after we rented an apartment together, she had a bad relationship with her father.

"You can take mine, Ella. All of that won't be enough." She muttered while pointing at my suitcase with her hand. Then she stood up and disappeared from my bedroom door, a few minutes later she returned with a pile of her clothes and a bigger suitcase.

Coming from a rich family, Lana can have as many clothes as she wants. She always said her father bought them all to cheer her up, not wanting to make her sadder, I never asked her what she meant.

Maybe Lana knows I still have to pay off my very expensive college tuition, which I still have another year to pay, so she gives me full access to her wardrobe. Since then I never buy clothes again. Not because I couldn't afford it, but because Lana would scold me if I bought new clothes. If xhe caught me looking at a new blouse or dress in front of the boutique, the next day she would buy it and give it to me.

If I refuse, Lana will use various excuses until I accept. Since then I've been trying to train my eyes not to carelessly stare into boutique windows anymore every time I go out with her.

"Is this enough?" asked Lana to herself as she shifted my clothes into her suitcase. Satisfied, she nodded to herself and then closed her suitcase. "I put some of my heels in, yours almost broke." She grumbled as she folded her arms across her chest.

I looked at her with a smile "Okay, Ma"

Lana just answered me by rolling her bright blue eyes. "So you're going to audit Shaw&Partner?" She said suddenly before dropping her body next to me, her eyes staring at the ceiling of my room.

"You know about the company?" I asked. Lana's family has extraordinary connections in the business world, almost all CEOs and heads of companies know her father. Even before Lana went to college, her father tried to set her up with an acquaintance.

"I've met one of them." Lana's voice sounded a little choked up then she swallowed hard before continuing, "Gregory Shaw... I've met him once."

"Oh? Your father set you up with him?" I said, getting interested.

Lana chuckled then shook her head "My dad? No, I met Gregory Shaw at a conference. Do you remember that conference I went to in college?"

Ah... Of course I remember it. After the conference Lana came back to my dorm crying, She stayed for a few days at my dorm after that. Until now I don't know what happened to her, and she never wants to tell me why.

"I met him at that place. Just a glimpse." She continued while shrugging his shoulders indifferently. But the dreamy look in her eyes said otherwise.

"Is he that handsome?" Christine also holds the same view when referring to the Shaw brothers.

Lana turned her head and laughed again "Well, he's okay. But not my type."

I've known Lana long enough to know she was lying, but before I could ask any further a car horn sounded from outside.

"Taxi!"

We both jumped out of bed, I took my suitcase and my shoes from under my bed and followed Lana who had walked out first.

***

The first thing I realized when I stepped into the Manhattan airport was that I didn't have my cell phone with me. After a full fifteen minutes of unpacking my handbag three times, I gave up.

While dragging my suitcase, I walked to the nearest paid telephone booth and called Lana to tell her that I would only be able to contact her after buying a new cell phone.

The trip to the hotel took over an hour due to traffic jams. Even though my plane trip was only 2 hours but fatigue immediately attacked me as soon as I arrived at the airport. Partly because I didn't want to be in this place, partly because I had to stay late the night before.

After check-in, I tightly closed my hotel room door and spent the rest of the day sleeping.

***

My hotel is only five minutes away from the Shaw&Partner building, and is in the middle of a central business block which is almost never quiet. This morning I left 45 minutes early to find the bagel shop Lana had recommended.

The row of shop buildings that I passed were opposite office buildings, from Starbucks, Laduree, to designer boutiques. Almost everyone walking the block was wearing the same clothes as me, formal work clothes and a scowl on their face. Ha. Looks like I'm not the only one who hates Manhattan.

After walking for a full five minutes I realized I had no idea where the Shaw&Partner building was going, or which bagel shop I was going to. My steps stopped next to a black SUV parked on the side of the road, I looked around looking for a road sign. Do I have to use GPS? Damn it, I didn't bring my cell phone.

My eyes were still trying to find a road sign when I caught my reflection in the windshield of the SUV next to me. The windows were pitch black all over so I couldn't see through, but parked cars are usually unoccupied, right?

I glanced at my reflection in the SUV's window to check my hair ties, then wiped the lipstick off the corner of my lips with my finger. I stared at the reflection of the serious expression on my face for a moment. Even my reflection looks very ordinary, the only thing I can be proud of is probably my two amber eyes. Lana said the first thing she remembers from me is my eyes which are quite rare.

The rest... in comparison to Lana maybe a 7/10?

Feeling stupid for comparing myself to my best friend, I smiled at my own reflection and then looked down at my watch. Still about 35 minutes to find that bagel shop. I continued my steps along the long row of shops that lined the road.

Ten minutes later I found it, a little blue restaurant that sells bagels. Exactly as Lana's description. This place doesn't even have a name. I stepped inside and read the row of menus on display after which I ordered Avocado Salmon and coffee. A few minutes later a man brought me a salmon bagel and my coffee. He placed them on my table with a smile. I thanked him while smiling back. It's little things like this that I like more about visiting a small shop or restaurant than a fancy restaurant.

"Miss, you should try the Herring bagel next time." He said with a big smile, his black hair had turned slightly white in some parts.

"Oh, okay." I replied, still smiling.

"I'll give you extra free next time Miss...?"

I held out my hand to her, "Eleanor."

"Ah, what a beautiful name for a beautiful woman." He wiped his hands on his apron before taking mine. "You can call me Julio."

I nodded "Thanks for the bagels, Julio. Is this place yours?"

"Mine and my wife's. Well enjoy, Eleanor." he replied before moving to greet other visitors.

My hand opens the paper bagel cover, the smell of smoked salmon and spices wafting through the air makes my stomach grow hungry, I haven't eaten since arriving in Manhattan yesterday afternoon.

I finished my bagel while looking out the window, my eyes caught the SUV from earlier. The SUV stopped at an office building not far from this bagel restaurant.

A man got out of the rear passenger door and walked into the building, I could only see his back from so far. Seconds later the car sped away, and disappeared around a bend in the road. I glanced at my watch once my bagels were gone, I had 15 minutes to find the Shaw&Partner building.

After asking Julio where the Shaw&Partner building was, it turned out that it was the building the SUV man had entered earlier.

The building security gave me a guest tag and asked me to go up to the 15th floor. Lynch in finance, and Dave in HRD to take temporary employee tags.

Even though Shaw&Partner owns this building, they only occupy the top 5 floors, the rest are rented out to other companies. I can't imagine how rich Mr. The Shaw brothers went on to own an office building in the central business district of Manhattan.

Must be a very lucrative lawyer's job these days, I thought as I got into the elevator with a few other employees and pressed the 15 button on the elevator. For a moment my eyes were fixed on the elevator button which only reached the 19th floor. Doesn't this building have 20 floors?

One minute later the lift stopped on the 15th floor and opened, the Shaw&Partner logo engraved in large and clear near the reception desk.

"Welcome to Shaw&Partner." I muttered to myself as I stepped out of the elevator.

***

Turns out all my initial guesses were wrong. Mrs. Lynch, chief financial officer, only asked me to audit the financials of the past 6 months. She thought there was a slight mark up by her staff, but she didn't have time to prove it because it was now approaching the year-end audit period. So she hired an independent accountant to do it.

I don't understand why she didn't just let it go instead of bothering to hire an outside accountant, besides leaks like this are usually not that big.

Mrs. Lynch got me a temporary office, even if it was small at least I got some privacy.

My whole spirit came back in an instant when I saw my new desk, I think I can finish it in a week if I stay late most nights. I put my bag and turned on the laptop on the table.

"Miss Heather?" Mrs. Lynch distracted me.

"Yes?" I looked up from my desk.

Mrs. Lynch walked inside, her brown bob hair swaying slightly as she walked. Her face reminded me of Anna Wintour, editor of Vogue magazine, complete with cold expression.

"Before you start any further, I would like to inform you to detail the incoming cash received from the Bank of Rotterdam." Her eyes stared straight at me, "And you must report it directly to me."

I nodded trying to smile at him. "Only the Bank of Rotterdam?"

He paused for a moment as if he was contemplating something in his head, "The Bank of Rotterdam and a company called Thompson&Thompson."

I nodded again and then Anna Wintour, I mean Mrs. Lynch, get out of my office. I turned my attention back to my laptop, marked the calendar exactly one week from now as the deadline, then continued with my work.

***

In the end I had to skip my lunch because I was chasing today's deadline. Besides, I don't have friends to eat because I don't know anyone in this place, the only one I know is Mrs. Lynch. And auditors are sometimes not well received by their client employees, this is why I prefer to work in a team rather than alone.

But luckily I like my job so without realizing it the clock on the office wall is already half past 6 in the afternoon. I decided to end it and go back to the hotel, after all I have to buy a new cell phone and contact Lana as soon as possible.

I put my things that were on the table into my bag and walked towards the elevator. When I left some of the employees had already gone home, the elevator was already quieter than this morning.

Just a few meters away from the Shaw&Partner building, I remembered my flash drive still stuck in my office laptop. I turned around and crossed again while the street light was still red.

Of course one bad luck wasn't enough for me, one of the heels of my shoes got stuck in the drainage which was on the road next to the sidewalk.

"Oh crap." I muttered as I tried to pull my leg up. The streetlights had turned green as I bent down to pull off my shoes, several cars passed me in close proximity while others just honked.

The heels I'm wearing today are Lana's, so I can't just leave them stuck in here. The cheapest Lana shoes could be worth a month's salary, and I have no idea how much the heels I'm wearing right now cost.

I tried to pull it back as hard as I could, but the more my legs moved the deeper the heels became stuck.

The horn sounded again nearby, but I paid little attention to it. Finally with a last ditch effort I stood up again and pulled my legs up with my hands.

Suddenly out of the corner of my eye I could see something moving towards me quickly, when I turned around a car was driving 25 meters right in front of me and it still hadn't slowed down at all. I could see the driver was staring at the cellphone in his hand and didn't notice me.

My body froze in place, too frantic to move. It doesn't look like I'll be able to avoid it anyway. My brain felt frozen like my body.

As the distance drew closer to just a few meters from my body, suddenly a pair of strong arms hugged my waist and pulled me. Only a split second later the car hit one of Lana's shoes which was still stuck in the drainage and drove away.

My heart was beating a hundred times faster in my chest so I could hear the sound of my own heart pounding in my ear. My eyes stared straight at the white shirt inches in front of my face while my body still tensed with shock.

"Are you all right?" a soothing baritone voice half whispers in my ear. His voice was punctuated by his slightly panting breaths, as if he had just been running.

I looked up at my savior. A pair of the darkest blue eyes were looking at me, a trace of worry evident in their eyes.

I nodded slightly, my brain was still a little shocked to answer his question. The man was still hugging my waist, and I was also still clinging to him. One of my hands gripped his shirt tightly while the other gripped his hard shoulder.

"Are you sure?" he repeated after studying my face, He didn't use his formal tone anymore. I can smell musk and mint from this close, pleasant smells that make my brain melt a little from the shock. His dark brown eyebrows that looked slightly arrogant were furrowed at me.

I still haven't answered her question, but my gaze hasn't left her face either. His dark brown hair was neatly combed back, although some of the strands were a bit messy. I could see the firmness in his face, his strong jaw and nose. He looks like someone important, or like someone whose main job is to intimidate others.

Then my eyes shifted to my hands still tightly gripping his shirt, I awkwardly let go of my hands from him. But standing with one heel made my body unbalanced, the man's hands held my waist again.

"I—" I swallowed my saliva to moisten my dry throat, "I'm fine. Thank you for..." my next sentence stopped in my throat when his two dark blue eyes looked at me with an intensity that made my heart beat fast again, as if He was trying to observe me closely, as if I wasn't the only one currently stunned.

Then after a few long seconds, I shifted my gaze around us to hide my burning face. Several people were looking at us as we walked.

Slowly, as if he doesn't want to let go, he pulls his hand away from me. I stood awkwardly in front of him, then took off the heels I was wearing so I could stand more balanced.

"I saw the license plate, you can report it to the police after this." His deep voice made my stomach feel a little strange.

I smiled at him "No need, that was my fault earlier." I replied while pointing at Lana's shoe which was now stuck deeper and deeper between the drainage bars.

Oh, damn it. I have to drain my savings to replace it.

"I will still report it. He was driving while using a cell phone." he said pulling the corners of his mouth down then looking at me from my face down to my feet, making me feel even more awkward. "Your leg is injured, Miss...?"

"Eleanor... Heather." I answered. He looked back at me, this time a faint smile graced his handsome face.

"Queen Eleanor." he muttered to himself.

Some of my lecturers have also called me Queen Eleanor when I say my name for the first time. My name is a bit old fashioned.

Before I could ask what my savior's name was, a car pulled up next to us. A black SUV, the same car I saw this morning. The window where the driver slowly got down, a blonde haired man glanced at the man beside me. "Sir."

"Eric." The man next to me replied, then he opened the passenger door of the SUV. "I can't sleep peacefully until I make sure you're okay, Miss Heather." He said as he let me in, I looked at him in surprise.

"I—I'm fine. Just a little bruised." I replied.

Her intense blue eyes stared back at me. "Erik will drive you home." her commanding voice leaves no argument for me.

The man named Erik only glanced at us briefly then smiled at me before looking ahead again.

I looked at my blistered feet then at the man again, "Okay." then nodded at him before getting into the SUV in front of me. He closed his car door before I could thank him, then the car drove away leaving the man standing on the side of the road.

His gaze continued to follow the pace of this car, until we finally turned a corner.

I haven't even asked what his name is.