Chapter 2

Recovering from a mild pneumonia took time. But within a week, Simone could already see the difference. She still had coughing fits at night, slightly disturbing her sleep, but that was all. And she was naturally thankful to her stepbrother. He had stepped in just at the right time.

She began to hunt for translation opportunities or even something in the content creation department, and wasn’t going anywhere. Her rent was due in about a week, and she barely had half the money… her other expenses weren’t even covered.

It was a disaster. A disaster she had not anticipated.

She needed to find something soon, if she wanted to remain her usual independent self. She refused to give up. Life might have done her dirty lately, but that was no reason for her to give up.

When only 3 days remained till her rent was due, she decided to call William, despite her every fiber which wasn’t too eager to owe him more than she already did. But if he could just put in a word for her to get a gig, she'd be forever grateful. She just couldn't imagine herself going back to the place she called home... not when she had yet to mourn her mother properly. She had only just begun to sleep normally again.

Being the busy man that he was, Simone wondered if he would even pick up on her first call, and was actually surprised when he did.

“Hello William,” she greeted him softly.

Silence met her greeting for a moment before he said, “Hey Simone. How have you been?”

“I’m doing much better, thank you,” she answered at once. She gave herself a mini pep talk before getting the words out of her mouth at long last, “Would you have any job opening for a translator by any chance?”

She sounded too needy, and she almost took the words back… but it was too late. He now knew about her financial predicament, and there was no going back.

“Not that I know,” was his calm response which saddened her quite a bit. There was a pause before he added, “But I could use your help around the office.”

Simone frowned ever so slightly, wondering what he could possibly need her for.

“Doing what?” She asked after a beat, seeing as he didn't explain further.

“My PA quit...” he deadpanned, and let the rest of his sentence hanging.

Simone didn’t know much about his business, but she knew about his ability to drive PA’s away. They all quit the company because of the workload first and foremost, and undoubtedly because of his raw sex appeal. He was temptation on legs, but he always made sure not to mix business with pleasure.

Indeed, William didn’t make it easy to work for him, and Simone might not even last longer than any of his past PA, but she would have to try… She was that desperate for money, and then some.

This solution allowed her to keep some dignity, as opposed to borrowing money – which she abhorred.

“When do I start?” She then asked.

“Tomorrow,” he said in a duh-tone. “I’m hanging up.”

“Okay, thank you,” she nodded even though he couldn’t see her.

And with that, the line went dead.

** ** ** **

William had been in a meeting when he received Simone’s call.

Simone Preston, his stepsister, as soft-spoken as she could be, was a proudly independent woman. She wouldn’t call him during work hours unless it was something of importance.

He took the call without delay, and soon realized that she might be facing money issues.

He had already had an inkling as to her financial situation a week ago. Indeed, when he had found her sick, and she refused to go to the doctor, pretending her cough wasn’t severe, he had his doubts.

But seeing as she was too proud to admit it, he didn’t want to embarrass her by bringing it up or offering his help.

When the call disconnected, Betty – his current PA – appeared to be flustered.

“Is there something you want to say?” He asked, giving her the chance to speak her mind.

“I… I didn’t quit, sir,” she stammered on her words even as her eyes turned glassy.

He hated melodramatics with a passion that had for only equal his passion for his work.

“Do you take me for a fool, Betty?” He asked while drumming his fingertips on the wooden desk.

She shook her head no rather vehemently.

Even the head of the marketing department, who wasn’t on the receiving end of William’s glare, seemed uneasy.

“Did you think the way you hit on my last client, when you thought I wasn’t looking, was ethical on your part?” He then asked in a cold tone of voice.

Her eyes widened and a few tears spilled.

Crocodile tears had never moved him, and that wasn't going to change now.

“Mr Stone, please,” she implored him, her eyes not meeting his, no doubt because she was ashamed… or maybe just flustered that she had been caught. “I really need the job.”

“You can get fired with a sexual harassment motive, with a bad reference... or you can choose to quit, and the company won’t give you a reference at all.”

William might be known as a ruthless businessman through and through, but he had never been this intransigent. Admittedly, he would have overlooked Betty’s faults if Simone hadn’t called… but it was what it was.

Simone was his stepsister, and he cared for her dearly after all.

“Please,” she kept on begging, “I am sorry… I won’t do it again.”

“I won’t repeat myself,” he let out in his most blasé tone of voice.

The woman, in tears, put the folder he had requested on his desk, and then hurried out of there.

The head of the marketing department was having difficulty speaking now that William’s gaze was on him. It seemed like he was trying not to breathe too loudly as well, fearing the CEO’s wrath.

“Where were we?” William raised an eyebrow at him, displeased with the waste of time incurred by Betty’s tears, but also by the man’s silence.

“Ah right…”

And with that, the meeting resumed.

William wasn’t fond of incompetence, and it showed in the impatient drum of his fingertips on the desk.

“I will need better results in the second quarter,” was all he ended up saying to the head of the marketing department, before the latter left, almost in tears as well.