CHAPTER 5: A Risky Decision

Meanwhile, inside the elevator, Victoria silently prayed that there wouldn't be a termination letter waiting for her on her desk.

That was the only thought that had occupied her mind since she left Ray's bedroom that morning.

How was she supposed to explain to her parents that she had gone to a club, only to end up losing her job on her very first day because she overslept?

She could already picture the disappointment written across their faces.

Her fingers tightened around her handbag strap as the elevator doors opened. For a second, she considered pretending she had forgotten something downstairs.She still hadn't come up with a believable excuse, something that would at least make them forgive her mistake.

Her mind scrambled for ideas as she stepped out, turned left as the receptionist had instructed, and made her way down the hallway.

“Miss Conrad?” Maurice called out, instantly making every excuse she had just been thinking of vanish from her mind. Victoria turned toward him, her heart sinking. Did someone already know her? Wonderful!. Just what she needed.

She forced a polite but confused smile onto her face as she studied the man standing before her.

“Good morning, Mr…?” she greeted, hoping he would fill in the blank.

“Maurice Nicholas.”

Her eyes widened slightly, and she quickly lifted a hand to her lips to hide the gasp that escaped.

“Mr. Maurice Nicholas?”

Of all the people she could have run into on her first day, why did it have to be him?

Everyone at her former office knew Maurice. He was the intimidating boss who often visited for inspections, and he was known for being ruthless when necessary. Every time he visits, at least one employee ends up losing their job.

And now, he was standing right in front of her.

Had she just ruined her first impression badly enough to lose her job before she could even get started?

Maurice didn't need anyone to tell him what was going on in her mind. The panic written all over her face was obvious, so he offered her a reassuring smile.

“I see you're just arriving at…” He glanced at her wristwatch. “What time does your watch say?”Victoria immediately felt her stomach tighten.

“I’m sorry I’m late Sir,” she said quickly. “My fiancé was involved in a terrible car accident.”

Maurice's expression changed slightly, but before he could ask anything, she continued.

“It happened last night. I had to stay with him at the hospital until this morning. He was in really bad shape, and I couldn’t bring myself to leave him there alone. I only arrived in the city a few minutes ago. I would have called, but I didn’t have the office number, and I didn’t know who I was supposed to contact.”The lie came out smoothly enough to make Maurice raise an eyebrow.

“Your fiancé?” he repeated. “And you stayed at the hospital with him all night?”

“Yes,” Victoria replied, nodding. “It was horrible.”

As if to make her story more convincing, she lowered her head, released a shaky breath, and covered her face with one hand, forcing out a few fake sobs.

Maurice watched her carefully.

Either Ray had met the wrong woman at the club, or the woman standing before him was an exceptionally talented actress. He wasn't sure which was more impressive the creativity of her excuse or the performance that came with it.

“However, we won't tolerate this kind of lateness again,” he said after a moment. “The meeting with the directors was rescheduled because the discussion involved the future plans of the fashion unit, and as the new director, your input was required.”

“ I’ll show you to your office and introduce you to your team.”He turned and started walking towards the fashion unit.

The meeting was rescheduled because of her absence?.

Victoria’s heart sank.Instead of feeling relieved, guilt immediately replaced her panic. She had not only arrived late on her first day, her absence had forced an important meeting with the directors to be moved.She lowered her head, tightening her grip on her handbag.

This was worse than she thought.

“I’m really sorry, sir,” she said quietly.

Maurice glanced at her. The guilt on her face seemed genuine, and for a moment, he understood why Ray had been so curious about her.

Without saying anything more, he turned and started walking toward the fashion unit. Victoria quickly followed behind him, her mind still replaying his words.

 Not long after Maurice left, Victoria remained seated at her new desk, taking in the unfamiliar office around her. She hadn't even had time to properly settle in when voices from nearby caught her attention.

“I heard the meeting was rescheduled because the new director wasn't available,” one employee whispered.

Victoria’s movements slowed. Her hand, which had been adjusting the items on her desk, stopped mid-motion.

She glanced toward the voices, her stomach tightening as the words sank in.

She hadn't even been at Hathut Corporation for an hour, and people were already talking about her.

Her fingers curled around the edge of the desk as guilt settled heavily in her chest.

She couldn't afford to be seen as someone who had caused problems before she had even started.

At the CEO's office…….

“She really told you that?” Ray asked, bursting into laughter as Maurice finished recounting the excuse Victoria had given him.

Maurice shook his head, amused. “She’s really not what I expected. I let her off the hook because of you… or maybe because she looked genuinely terrified when I introduced myself.”

“Thanks. I hope she settled in well?” Ray asked once his laughter finally died down.

“She did.”

 “Good.”Ray leaned back, a thoughtful expression crossing his face.

Maurice immediately narrowed his eyes. “That expression never means anything good.”

Ray chuckled. “I was thinking…”

“No. Whatever comes next, I already know it’s going to be a bad idea.”

“I need a way to get closer to her without her knowing who I really am,” Ray said.

Maurice stared at him.

“Closer?”

“Yes. I want to know the real Victoria, not the person she would become if she knew she was dealing with Raymond Wright.”

He paused for a moment before a small smile appeared.

“Maybe I should become her neighbor.”

Maurice blinked. “Her neighbor?”

“Yes. If I live close to her, I’ll have a reason to see her every day and get to know her naturally.”

“You’re seriously considering moving just to get closer to someone you met once?”

Ray ignored the question.

“And I’ll become her driver too.”

Maurice’s eyes widened.

“Her driver?”

“Yes. A neighbor will let me see parts of her life, but a driver will give me more opportunities to interact with her.”

Maurice sighed. “You know this is completely insane, right?”

“Maybe,” Ray said with a smile. “But it’s the only way to find out if she likes me for who I am, not what I have.”

“And if she finds out?”

“She won’t.”

Maurice shook his head.

“I still think this is the craziest thing you’ve ever done.”

Ray smiled as he thought about Victoria.

“And that’s exactly why I want to do it.”

 “Make it happen as soon as possible,” Ray ordered. “I don’t want to waste any more time.”

Maurice sighed, still unable to believe the plan, but nodded.

“I’ll get to it.”

With that, Maurice turned and walked out of the office.

Ray looked out the window, already imagining Victoria’s reaction when she sees him again.