2.

EMILIA

“Steven,” she answered. “The news is all over the finance channels. What’s going on with his company?” She asked, concern leaking into her voice.

Her words had me standing up immediately, and my heart began to race. “What are you talking about?”

“You didn’t know?” She asked, and I shook my head, forgetting that she couldn’t see me. “Turn on the TV. Channel seven,” she instructed before I could respond vocally.

I moved as though my body was on autopilot, and I hurried to the living room. I grabbed the remote with shaking hands and turned on the television. The channel was already on seven.

Steven’s face was the first thing that greeted me as the newscaster read the news.

The headline underneath read: RIORSON INDUSTRIES IN CRISIS – STOCK PLUMMETS AS INVESTORS FLEE.

What? How come?

"Emilia?" Sunny's voice sounded far away. "Are you there?"

I couldn't answer. I was too busy staring at the screen, watching my world crack open all over again.

The news anchor was talking about billions in losses, investigations, and possible bankruptcy. Steven's company had been stable just last week.

What the hell happened?

"I have to go," I told Sunny.

"Wait, don't hang up. Come stay with me. Please. Whatever's going on with you and Steven, you shouldn't be alone right now. I know how much you care about him.”

She was right. Right now, I didn’t care that he had cancelled the contract hours ago. I didn’t care that he didn’t love me. I cared that he was going through so much right now, and I desperately wanted to comfort him.

I know. It was stupid of me. But I loved him so much that I didn’t care.

"I'll call you back."

I hung up before she could argue. My hands were shaking as I pulled up Steven's number. I considered deleting it when I got back home, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it even after everything that he put me through.

I tried calling him, but it went straight to voicemail.

“Fuck!” I swore under my breath as I tried the number multiple times, but the reply was still the same.

My entire body was trembling at this moment because of the panic, so I decided to text him instead.

Are you okay? I just saw the message. Do you want me to come to you?

My finger hovered over the send button. The words looked so pathetic on my screen. It made me seem desperate. Almost like I was looking for an excuse to crawl back to him.

Maybe I was.

I hit send and crumbled to the couch. I bit my fingers nervously as I watched my screen with depravation gnawing at me.

Three dots appeared, and my heart jumped. The relief was painful as it hit me. He c…

The dots disappeared with my relief, and it was sharper than the pain I felt earlier. It felt like I had been physically hit.

“Maybe someone has his attention. He must be busy,” I muttered, wrapping one hand around myself as I waited.

No message came.

I didn’t know how long I waited until it felt like the hope was starting to eat me alive. I threw my phone across the room when I couldn’t take it anymore. I watched as the device hit the wall and clattered to the floor.

I hoped it broke. It was another thing that he gave me.

My body, however, had a mind of its own, and as those thoughts passed my head, I was getting out of the couch. I walked over to check if the phone was okay.

I was relieved when I saw it was still working.

God, I was pathetic.

I looked at the TV again, and they were still talking about Riorson’s crisis. They showed old footage of him at press conferences, interviews and galas.

In every photo, he looked cold, untouchable and sexy.

My mood dampened further when some photos with Bianca at his side popped up. She was beautiful and perfect. Everything I would never be.

My phone buzzed, and my attention snapped down to it immediately. It was from an unknown number.

Ms Jones, this is Alexander Miller, Mr Steven’s assistant. I need to speak with you about an important matter. Are you available for a call?

I knew Alexander, but we were not familiar with each other since I wasn’t involved in Steven’s daily life. We had only talked a handful of times. He handled everything Steven didn’t want to deal with personally.

Including me, apparently.

I texted back: I'm available.

My phone rang immediately, and I answered it.

"Ms Jones. I hope I’m not calling at a bad time?” Alexander’s voice was professional, yet warm. In the few times we had talked, he was always kind to me.

"No. What is this about?"

"Mr Riorson wanted me to reach out regarding your transition. Given the current circumstances with the company, he thought it would be best to expedite things."

Expedite. That meant he wanted me out faster than thirty days.

"I understand," I said, my voice hollow.

"However, he also wanted to offer you something. A position, actually. As compensation for the abrupt end of your contract."

I froze. "A position?"

"Executive secretary. You'd be working under me at the main office of Riorson Industries. The salary is quite generous, and the benefits package is comprehensive. Mr Riorson felt it was the right thing to do, given your years of loyalty."

Loyalty. I wanted to scoff at the choice of words. That's what he called it.

I should say no. I should tell Alexander to tell Steven that I didn't need his guilt money or his pity job. That I was done being another item on his to-do list.

But I'd checked my bank account last night after I couldn't sleep. I had maybe three months of rent saved up, and that was if I was careful. My degree in business was six years old, and I had no work experience because Steven wanted me available whenever he needed me, and because I loved him without reason, I agreed.

I needed this job. And he knew it.

"Ms Jones?" Alexander prompted gently. “Will you consider the offer?”

"When would I start?" I heard myself ask.

"Monday, if that works for you. I can email you the details and have HR send over the paperwork."

Monday. Just three days.

That was three days to pull myself together and figure out how to work for the man who just broke my heart.

"That works," I said.

"Excellent. I'll send everything over within the hour. And Ms Jones? Welcome to the team."

He hung up, and I stared at the floor, my hand clenching around the room as my thoughts went haywire.

Executive assistant.

That was all I was going to be henceforth. After five years of being his mistress, his secret, his shameful hobby he had hidden away.

I would have to watch him with Bianca every single day if they got back together. I knew they would.

My phone buzzed again. This time, it was Sunny.

Please tell me you're coming to stay with me. I'm worried about you.

I typed back: I got a job. I start Monday.

The three dots appeared immediately.

What job? Where?

I hesitated, my thumb hovering over the keyboard. Then I typed the truth.

Riorson Industries. I'm going to be Steven's secretary.

The three dots appeared and disappeared three times before Sunny's response came through.

Emilia, no. Please tell me you're joking. You won’t be able to take it.

If only I was, but I was doing what I always did best.

Making the stupidest possible choice when it came to Steven Riorson.