Chapter 3

Simone was almost in tears. She couldn’t believe how lucky she was to have landed a job so last minute, and at William’s company no less.

But it still didn’t solve her rent issue.

She thought hard before giving her landlady a call.

The elderly woman picked up soon, and greeted her amicably, “Hello Simone, how have you been?”

“I have been better to be honest,” she retorted without missing a beat, preparing to tell her she needed to have the deadline extended. She was hopeful for she usually never missed.

“Yes… that, I believe. I am sorry I couldn’t attend the funeral, sweetheart. My deepest condolences,” old Mrs Atkins’ response made tears fill her eyes for they had the knack to open back her wound.

Simone wouldn’t dare to cry though, not right then.

She got her sh*it together within a few seconds before saying, without so much as a sniffle, “Thank you. I called to tell you I will be late in paying the rent this month. I am truly sorry, but I will do my best to pay you in about 2 weeks.”

“Rent?” The woman echoed after her, her tone quite incredulous. “Your brother took care of that last week. He paid for 3 months upfront.”

Simone let out a stunned “oh” for she didn’t know. She was moved to tears a second time, but for a good reason this time around.

As always, William never failed to be there for her, even without her needing to ask.

It was endearingly sweet, and yet maddening at the same time, seeing as he didn’t view her as a woman, but as the young teen he met so many years ago.

Get your mind out of the gutter, woman, she told herself after a moment.

“Simone? Are you there?”

“Yes, sorry, I was just trying to recall if my step brother told me about that,” she lied through her teeth, for she couldn’t possibly tell the elderly woman all the naughty thoughts going through her head.

“Tall, unmistakably handsome, and with the most expressive eyes I have ever seen. I even jotted down his name – William Stone,” the woman insisted.

“That’s him alright,” Simone giggled nervously. “Well, thank you for letting me know. I won’t keep you much longer.”

“I am glad he’s kind to you, for you only have each other.”

“Thank you, Mrs Atkins.”

“Anytime,” the elderly woman replied, and then soon hung up.

Simone still had a hard time believing that William had paid upfront for 3 months for a moment after the call. That had to be hands down the most valuable gift ever!

He cared for her in a way only a brother knew how. But Mrs Atkins had it all wrong. If one were to view them legally, they could be mistaken for strangers. And yet, he was her emergency contact. He was the person she looked up to the most, and possibly the most unattainable man she knew.

Nevertheless, this chance to work as his PA was golden, and she would be an idiot to mess it up. Simone needed to have an emergency fund for rainy days. Besides, she reasoned that maybe seeing his renowned ruthless business ways would make her infatuation go away.

Oh, how wrong she was… She just didn’t know it yet.

** ** ** **

Waking up at 6:30 am as per usual wasn’t an issue for Simone. But her breakfast routine was disrupted a little. She used to take her time. Today, she had to rush it.

Needless to say that she put on her best formal outfit, styled her hair in an updo, so that it wouldn’t be a bother to her during work, and was soon leaving her apartment.

She had only had time for pale pink lipstick, and that was fine by her, for that had been the most important make-up step to her for years.

Today, rushed as she had been, she felt alive. She felt like she could breathe again, no doubt because her problematic rent had been taken care of, but also because she wouldn’t have to worry about her other expenses.

She wouldn’t admit it openly, but she ws giddy with excitement as she arrived at the building where she would have to work as the CEO’s PA.

She knew the job came with a lot of responsibilities, and she knew she ought to be capable of handling them, if only her mind decided to cooperate – and not be down in the gutter as always.

The receptionist soon welcomed her with a smile as she stepped into the company for the first time in years. The last time she was here, she had insisted on taking him out for a meal for his birthday… only for him to foot the bill at the end, with a glare towards her as she handed her card to the waiter.

“If you won’t let me pamper you, I will feel old,” he had told her.

The receptionist was speaking, and she wasn’t paying much attention. But she could naturally guess her question.

“I am here as the new CEO’s PA. My name is Simone Preston,” she told her in a soft tone of voice.

The woman nodded at her in earnest, the smile never leaving her face, “Please give me a moment.”

A phone call was all it took before Simone was ushered towards the elevator, where she was told to head to the 23rd floor.

Simone gave herself the pep talk of a lifetime before the elevator opened again. She was stepping into unfamiliar territory, and she felt like it might be a dangerous one too.

Pinching her cheeks so she wouldn’t look sick, which she no longer was, she was soon leaving the elevator, and getting greeted by the man who haunted her daydreams himself.

It was but a mild surprise to her though. She knew he and his PA were the only ones to use the floor after all… She just hadn’t expected him to wait for her by the elevator.

“Right on time,” was his cool greeting.

“I wouldn’t want to disappoint,” she told him cheekily.

His answer was a bewitching smirk, and already she could imagine the issues that would follow.