Chapter 1 – Brian Kaiden Beckett

Brian Kaiden Beckett, the epitome of perfection, from the way he talks, to the way he conducts himself, this man was pure perfection.

And the biggest allure to him was how, even being so rich, there had never been a scandal in his life.

Yes, his little brother has had his fair share of bad boy scandals and sleeping around, but Brian was always the exception.

He had always made sure his life was straight and honest, and I was happy that I was good enough to be this man’s assistant.

My name is Eleanour Marino, and I am the most envied assistant in the country, because not only am I the only assistant Brian Beckett has since his little brother stepped down from the position, but I am also the only woman who has been seen this close to this man that is not his family.

Every morning you will see me hopping behind him as I give him his schedule for the day, and he will remain stoic as he listens.

And today was no different. I arrived before he did, prepared his schedule and then waited for him in the reception area.

“Mr. Beckett, good morning, may I proceed with telling your schedule.”

“That would be great, Miss Marino,” he replies, casually sipping his coffee as he walks to the elevator.

I hop behind him, telling him all he must do, and he nods each time to approve of the meetings and the other things he is scheduled to do today.

There are gasps and squeals around, men in awe of a man so impressive, and women so envious of the lucky woman I am.

“You also have to attend the Rogers Investment six-year anniversary party. Should I call your cousin to accompany you?”

He had always taken his family to events like this, and his cousin and little brother were the ones he enjoyed going with the most.

“Um… no Adri is out of the country,” he says. He pauses for a bit before asking something out of the ordinary.

In all three years, I have worked for this man. This has never happened. “How about you accompany me?”

I stop in my tracks; he is still looking at me with a serious expression on his face, no sign of him joking at all. Like this man can ever joke?

 “I am sorry sir, but today is my boyfriend’s birthday and I promised to spend time with him.”

And for the first time in my life, I saw this man widen his eyes in shock, “Do you have a boyfriend?”

“Yes,” I responded shyly, “is it not believable?”

“Um…... no, it is not that I don’t believe you have a boyfriend, it’s just…… um well, due to my busy schedule you are always busy, and I didn’t think you had time for relationships.”

His explanation seems more of an excuse than an explanation, and the way he looks away when our eyes meet makes me a bit angry.

Who on this earth doesn’t want to be loved? Or does he perhaps think I am asexual?

“We have been together for over five years, which is way before I got this job,” I explained.

“I hope this job is not making it hard for you and him,” he says. He sounds slightly sad.

“Oh… not at all.”

“Tell you what, after the 8 o’clock meeting you can go home and prepare more for your boyfriend’s birthday, make it more special.”

“Um… sir, you don’t have to.”

“I insist Ele…... Miss Marino,” he corrects himself.

In all three years, I have heard him say my first name once, the day I received the job and from then on it was Miss Marino.

“If you insist, sir, thank you for this much consideration,” I say. I still feel like he has much more to say but chooses not to.

We continued with our usual schedule, and just after the meeting he bid me goodbye, telling me he would have his little brother come in and fill in for me for the day.

I called my friend Trisha the moment I left the office. I asked her to help with Miles’s birthday. We had been together for so long and I needed to make it special.

Trisha didn’t waste time arriving at my apartment to help me. “Wow, cannot believe your boss gave you a whole day to be with your man. He is hiring.”

“That is because he made things awkward by assuming I did not have a boyfriend, so he needed to salvage the situation, and no, he is not hiring unfortunately.”

“Still, why are you making Miles’s birthday extra special when he didn’t do anything for your birthday,” Trisha says, annoyed.

“He doesn’t have a job, Trish.”

“And he hasn’t had a job for 7 years; you were almost homeless together and now you are supporting him financially and he still hasn’t gotten a job or tried to make you feel special.”

“He is trying.”

“Trying to bleed you dry?”

Trisha was not one to sugar-coat things. Yes, things between me and Miles weren’t perfect. We are humans. We had our flaws, but we were all trying our best to get this to work.

But it seems that is not what it looks like to Trisha. “Come on girl, open your eyes, this man is straight up trash. The sooner you realize this, the better. Anyway, what are you planning?”

“Just dinner and Capelle,” I say, slightly discouraged.

“Fancy restaurant Capelle?”

“Yes.”

“How are you affording that? Is Mr. Beckett paying you millions?”

“No, but his family bought the place a few years back, and I get discounts since I work closely with him.”

She watched in awe. I continued to search my wardrobe for a dress fit for this occasion. I did not pay her attention.

“I hope he remembers this in the future,” she says. “Let me help, try red, it looks great on you.”

“I hope so” I muttered, then continued to get ready for this dinner. I feel anxious now because of Trisha’s doubts and Mr. Beckett’s actions feel like a bad storm brewing.