3. Still dashing as ever.

"What's going on at work right now?" I inquired, more to myself than to Mavis, as we entered DailyPlus to begin work.

Security was all over the place, and employees were scurrying up and down. Everyone was behaving in a very unprofessional manner, as though they were insane. It appeared as though a hurricane had just blown through and all of a sudden everything had altered.

"I have no idea." Mavis mumbled just as dumbfounded as I was.

"This is the first time I've heard this from you. You typically do know everything." I snickered as I continued to observe everyone running around.

"In any case, everything is new at first. I guess I never got the memo this morning." Mavis pulled me along to one of her colleagues who stood printing papers.

"We appear to be the only ones not acting out of character, so hopefully we're not getting fired." Mavis's remarks caused me to gasp.

"Oh my god." I gasped realizing it might indeed be true.

"What's going on here at the office?" Mavis questioned the female who seemed startled as if afraid of something.

"The boss simply entered the room and began ordering everyone around. Every delinquent report, record, and file need to be finished today; otherwise, we'll be on a list of people who will be fired by tomorrow morning. No one wants to get laid off considering this entire city is so densely populated with more people than jobs." As she finished, Mavis and I both gulped at the prospect of being fired.

"B-but it is not possible. I have no chance of finishing three enormous files of invoices by the end of today. Three weeks ago, was the deadline, and I'm just halfway there! What the hell do I do?" I almost start crying as I whisper yelled.

Thank you, Mr. Bloomfield, for being so cheap as to not recruit more workers and instead overtaxing your understaffed administrative crew with more work than was truly necessary.

My thoughts turned immediately to my precious babies Aiden and Ava. What in the world would I do if I couldn't give them food and a roof over their heads?

After running away a few years ago, I was so broke that I thought moving to New Zealand, a country I had admired greatly when I was younger, would be great for me. However, due to my limited funds, I was unable to stay in a better city.

"Don't take it so seriously, you know the boss, never one to keep his words." Mavis tried to reassure to me, but I could sense deep down that she was very worried as well.

Mavis worked for the news/social media campaign section of Dailyplus, which is one of the reasons she always knew everything since she had to know everything, whereas I worked as a filing clerk in the administration department.

We ran a medium-sized insurance company. Called Dailyplus care but usually disregard the care part as Mr. Bloomfield actually cared nothing for its employees and clients. Mr. Bloomfield simply wanted money.

We both separated and I headed to my office workstation quickly trying to cover all that was needed to be done along with my coworkers who were frantically going crazy.

One of the reasons I had so much unfinished work was that I had to leave for home at precisely five every evening to pick up my children from their nanny, while most of the time the others stayed back and finished their job. I had no one else to babysit my babies, yet if I could go back in time, I wouldn't do anything differently. They are my pride and joy.

"According to what I've heard, Mr. Bloomfield's tenure as CEO of Dailyplus is coming to an end today, and he wants to leave the business in a position that makes it appear to be doing well rather than in the deplorable condition that it is currently in. Everyone here knows that ship has already sailed and died a long time ago. Now he has us over here desperately trying to hold onto the little sorry excuse for a job." Monica spoke up.

"If only he had sold the company a long time ago we wouldn't have to be in this damn mess today." Robert quickly added looking very exhausted.

"We would be alright if the boss didn't have us taking on so much work every day. In accordance with what I've heard, the Harrison Ford Brokers, who recently acquired the business, are reportedly restructuring our health care benefits as well as the entire wage package. Each month, we would be rewarded well. To finish these dreadful deadlines is all that is required of us." Continuing to do my job, I jumped at the opportunity.

This sounded like a fantastic opportunity.

"How do you know all this?" I asked very much interested.

"After Mr. Bloomfield's decision to move everyone about, rumors have started to circulate throughout the building. I was informed by a specific individual there that this transaction has been ongoing behind closed doors for some time, and that the company is paying a staggering eleven billion dollars to acquire Dailyplus." After Robert told me, I coughed.

I was aware that Dante was wealthy-a billionaire-but I had no idea how wealthy of a billionaire he actually was. In an effort to avoid collapsing from anguish, I tried to avoid news stories about him in the past and to avoid finding out who he was currently dating.

"Obviously, they recognize a quality in this company that none of us who work here do." I swallowed quite forcefully despite Monica's joking.

"W-what about our bonuses and other incentive this company has not been able to pay us? Will it be shifted over to the Harrison Ford Brokers or will they throw it out the window?" I asked.

"It's being shifted over to the Harrison Ford Brokers! We'll finally get all our funds once and for all. I'm just dying for that damn old man to quickly go and take his hot ass son with him. We'll be free from there pesky asses." Robert spat annoyed.

I sighed before getting back to work. If I was able to get away with my job even by the whisker of the tail then I'd probably be able afford to buy my babies ice-cream whenever they wanted.

I secretly smiled almost in tears, determined to get through the day by the will of my babies.

"And have you seen Dante Harrison?! The CEO of Harrison Ford Brokers?!" Joann screamed and I immediately stopped as my heartbeat skyrocketed with the name.

"How could I not?! The man is goddamn attractive! He was also voted the most handsome bachelor and self made billionaire last month by vogue magazine and a few other company's last month. That man has only ever managed to come second only a handful of times." Monica squealed.

"I would love to get my hand on his damn body! Have him licked in all the right places and for him to take me how he pleased." Joann made moaning sounds while speaking.

I hated hearing them speak about Dante that way and not being able to say anything about it.

Ughhh.

"But wasn't he married before?" Robert inquired.

"I heard the wife was caught having an extramarital affair, and he quietly divorced her and sent her away." I was enraged by Joann's words.

"I heard that he just got bored of her and now he's dating a model. Everything a man could ever want in a woman." Robert stated and I tried my best to mask my anger.

"Excuse me." I left the office and headed for the bathroom.

The pain I was experiencing made it impossible for me to contain my tears, which eventually rolled down to my cheeks. I felt sadness. I was deeply upset by their words. Dante caused me pain, yet I still harbored a soft spot in my heart for him.

After a few minutes of crying I got out of the bathroom stall and washed my face before heading outside. Once I headed outside I noticed everyone was gathering around the reception area of the building. I followed suit wanting to see what it was this time around.

With the amount of surprises I was getting alone today my head was going to explode.

"Faith!" I heard my name being shouted from the back and recognized it as Mavis.

"What's happening?" I asked her curiously.

"Mr. Bloomfield ordered everyone to assess to the reception area just now." She explained.

"Well have you heard why? Do you think he plans on the list out our names and tell us were fired." My chest constricted at the thought.

The only times we needed to congregate in the reception area were when we had successfully increased our stock levels, which never happened, or when Dailyplus was mentioned negatively in the news or on special occasions like Christmas, etc., and we were all made aware of this beforehand.

"Obviously not. Not even the day's conclusion has come yet. So something else must be the case. Perhaps he will finally confirm what everyone else has been speculating about: his resignation." Mavis gave my hand a comforting touch.

I needed a lot of reassuring lately.

We closely watched as Mr. Bloomfield took the center of attention of the room before speaking on a microphone.

"I'm sure many of you are already aware of this, but I'm about to stand down as CEO of the dailyplus Care Insurance Company. Unless you haven't finished writing your reports by the deadline, nobody should be gob smacked." I held on to Mavis hard while he spoke, his words echoing in my ears.

"However, that's not why we are here today we are gathered here today to introduce to you your new CEO of dailyPlus care." My heart stopped and I felt as though I was going to have a heart attack with the number of shocks I've received.

"Your new boss and the CEO of dailyplus will be Dante Harrison as I resign from my position as your boss. I recognize your sadness, but please know that this isn't the last you'll see of me; instead, your new CEO, Dante Harrison, will fill you in on everything you need to know going forward. Without further ado, please welcome your new CEO." Everyone cheerily applauded as he completed moving away, which left him feeling a little surprised by everyone's joy he was finally gone.

I heard several women giggling and screaming as a few security guards emerged making everyone whisper until I finally noticed a familiar figure.

I then caught sight of him at that moment. Well aligned, sculpted jawline, swoon-inducing blue eyes, and thick, dark brown hair. All the women were staring at his dominance, grandeur, and authority, which flowed off of him, as well as his tattoos and obvious rippling muscles, which made my pulse thump once again.

He appeared to have a lot more robustness in stature and was much more handsome than I had previously observed. I was gripping Mavis' hand so hard that I wasn't even aware of it. Too tightly.

God damn.