Chapter 4

Craig's Pov

“Mr Gustavo is here to see you, sir.” My personal assistant Amelia says as she knocks lightly on my door.

“Show him in” I don't look up to say it and go back to the media house report I have been perusing since I came into the office. The numbers are abysmal. The sales statistics over the past two months have dropped to an alarming low and I can't have that.

“Good morning sir, you sent for me." 

Nicolas the asshole has been the head of the editorial department and I am certain he would not like what I am about to say, thankfully I don't care.

I didn't tell him to sit, so he remained standing as I ignored him. It's a power move that I have mastered over the years. 

“Do you care to explain why our flagship morning show has lost 22% of its audience in the last two months? Online engagement has plummeted. Advertising revenue is down 15%. And digital subscriptions? Nearly flatlined, or why our stories in the papers have been reduced to mere storytelling without credible facts. I glared at him, my voice frosting over.

I pined with my signature stare as I watched him swallow loudly as he shifted from foot to foot. 

“Umm we’ve been experimenting with new formats. The market is saturated, and audience behaviors are shifting rapidly—”

“You are aware that I pay you to anticipate those shifts. Not to give excuses.” I leaned back in my seat and crossed my legs. 

“Sir, I.. will do better. I promise this will not happen again.” 

"That's right. This will definitely not happen again because effective from this minute, you are fired.”

“Sir please—”

"I have no patience for idiots and right now your stupid face is in my way. Get out of my office.” 

With head bowed in defeat, he turned and worked out of my office. Gosh! How I detest idiots. 

I picked up my phone to call Amelia, but before I could dial her number, my door was pushed open and Liam, my pain in the ass best friend, walked in, Amelia rushing in behind him, her eyes filled with panic.

“Sir, I tried to stop him." 

I waved her off, “it's fine Amelia. Call HR and let them put in a notice for an experienced Editor immediately.”

"Yes sir.” She hurries out of my office. 

As the door closed behind her, I turned my attention to Liam who had taken the liberty of sitting on one of the leather chairs across my desk, his smirk fully in place.

“What are you doing here? Don't you have a business to run?” I give him a pointed look.

“Oh I am interrupting?" He asks, the amusement in his voice grating.

“Yes you are. Get out, I am busy." 

He leans forward, elbows on his knees and grins, not in any way concerned with what I just said. 

“You have been more uptight than usual recently and I think it's time for an intervention. You need to get laid and I have just the right place in mind.”

“You are one to talk,” I retort, raising my brow. When's the last time you went on an actual date?”

" I don't do dating. It's too much work but I did bang one of the kitchen staff at my hotel last night.” He smirks. I shook my head, letting out a scoff

“I really don't understand why you would sleep with your staff? Haven't you heard mixing business with pleasure is a dangerous idea?”

He chuckles. “On the contrary, dangerous ideas often turn out to be the most fun filled ideas.”

Oh I totally agree with him on the fun part, though I will never admit it to him. 

My mind goes back to the beautiful goddess I had sex with in the restroom a month ago. 

It was the best sex I have ever had and that is saying something because I have had my fair share of women. I have not been able to get her out of my mind, which is alarming. It's so bad that I haven't gotten laid since that night. I get painfully hard just from thinking about her. If I didn't know better, I would have thought she bewitched him. 

Liam clears his throat, and I am startled to remember I am not alone.

“What's got you so distracted Craig?," His eyes light up, "Is there someone you are not telling me about? Is that why you have been turning down Tessy advances.” 

I scoffed, feigning nonchalance. "don't be ridiculous. There is no one.” I lied.

"I knew it! You met someone. Didn't you, asshole?. You forget I am your best friend and I know when you are lying.” He leans forward, eyes dancing with excitement. 

"Who is she? When did you meet her? Do I get to meet her soon?”

I rubbed a finger to my brow, trying to stave the looming headache and sighed knowing Liam won't stop hounding me with questions until wrangled the answer out of him. 

"I don't know." I answered honestly.

He rolls his eyes at him. “You don't know as in, you don't know when I am going to meet her or when you met her?” His brows furrowed in confusion.

"I don't know as in I don't know who she is.” It sounds so pathetic even to my ears.

Liam laughs in mirth, thinking I was joking "I am serious. I met her at the party in Houston, the one my company over there organized in my honor.”

"Yeah I remember. The same party I had to force you to attend.” his voice can't be any more smug even if he tried.

“She was all by herself and looked lost so I thought to just have a conversation. One thing led to another and we had sex, but she was insistent on it being just sex and refused to tell me her name or number.” The frustration I have felt since that night leaks into my voice. Liam blinked at me in shock like he couldn't believe what he was hearing.

“You had a one-night stand with a stranger?" You, the most disciplined, domineering bastard I know, actually let your guard down and slept with someone you don't know?”  His eyes rounded comically.

“I know it sounds bad, but I can get her out of my head," I admitted

“Have you tried searching for her?"

I hung my head, feeling dejected. “I spoke with Micheal the head of that branch and described her to him and asked if he knew her, he said he didn't. No one seems to know her. If I hadn't come so hard till I saw stars that night, I would have thought she was a figment of my imagination.”

"Man, you are so whipped. You need to find her. I have never seen you like this before."

“How do I find someone who doesn't wish to be found?" I asked

"I don't know man. I really wish I knew.”