I WOKE UP FEELING rejuvenated. Yawning, I stretched out my legs which were folded up to my chest underneath a blanket. That's my usual sleeping position, no matter how big my bed is, I'll always find myself huddled in a corner by morning. Mom usually teased me about my bad sleeping position but I didn't mind.

Removing the large blanket from the upper part of my body, I sat up in my bed.

Wait, I don't remember climbing into my bed. How did I get here?.

I looked around me in total confusion, my legs were still hidden under the comforter. I looked out the glass window and observed the sun slowly making its way up the sky. A knock on the door interfered my usual routine of staring at the sun in its majestic ascent.

"Come on in." I sang.

Mia made her way inside the room with a smile on her face.

"Good morning Mia." I wiped my eyes as she walked to my bedside.

"Did you sleep well?" I nodded and she sat on the bed facing me. I observed the barely visible gray hairs on her head and her perfectly shaped nose.

"How did I get here?" I patted the empty space beside me.

"Philip brought you in, he found you sleeping on a sofa outside."

My cheek became hot as different thoughts swam in my head. Did Mr. Philip really carry me here? How come I didn't notice? How did he carry me? Bridal style?

Mia touched my hands and they twitched slightly. I looked up to see her concerned face.

"Are you OK?"

"Yes I am."

"He said he'll be attending a meeting by 11a.m, you're expected to be ready then." She pulled the comforter off me and gently pulled me out of the bed.

I checked the wall clock hanging at a corner. 6:a.m

"You have enough time to prepare, you don't want to keep him waiting." She said in a sing-song voice and pushed me towards the bathroom.

I brushed my teeth and scrubbed my skin clean under the shower from which warm water coursed down to my body.

After pulling on a black corporate gown which had a tiny gold chain at the waist, I put up my hair in a pony tail and sprayed on a perfume I had found concealed in a drawer.

Staring at my reflection in the mirror, I noticed that the dark circles beneath my eyes had disappeared. I caressed my cheek and looked down at my feet, which had on a pair of stiletto heels. For the past days I've been here, I was relieved not having to wear them, but now, I'm back to wearing them.

I sighed and picked up my phone from the dresser, I made my way downstairs, groaning as 'click' 'clock' noises emitted from the pair stilettos on my feet echoed around me. This is why I hate heels, they're so noisy.

Mr. Philip was speaking to someone through his phone, he stood close to the limo and Fabian stood next to him. He had his back facing me and when he heard me coming, he turned around with his eyes meeting mine. His eyes travelled around my figure. He gulped and hung up on whoever he was speaking to. He was dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit, black shoes and a black tie. His hair was in its normal state; in a pleasant disorder.

"Um... let's go." He stepped aside for me to enter the limo through the door Fabian hurriedly opened. I wondered what was wrong with him. Normally, he would have brushed me aside, not sparing me a second glance. But here he was checking me out and stepping aside for me to get into the limo.

"Here you go." His voice brought me back to reality. I bent my head and saw a notepad and a pen in his hand.

"Than..."

"Just don't try flirting with anyone today, I wouldn't want to ruin my reputation." Without any expression on his face, he adjusted his tie.

I think I'm gonna change my mind about enlisting you in my good book, stupid.

I scoffed and flipped open the notepad which as expected had nothing written in it. Later, I shifted my focus to the bottles of wine stacked in a corner till we arrived at Mr Philip's company.

The building was enormous and my eyes gleamed at the stunning sight before me. Though it wasn't as large as the one back in New York, but it was simply elegant.

We walked briskly into the building and a lady in a pencil skirt and a plum shirt tucked neatly in welcomed us.

"Good morning Philip." She greeted, opening and closing her eyes in the most annoying manner.

I raised a brow at the familiarity existing between them. Mr Philip ruffled his hair in slight embarrassment and I looked from the lady to him and back to her still wondering what the heck was going on.

"It's Mr. Ross to you." He corrected and she pursed her lips.

"Meet Florence Steele, my P.A, Florence, meet Miss Bailey Lockwood."

I took her hand in a warm handshake, smiling genuinely, but she struggled to keep a straight face.

Bailey turned to Mr. Philip to speak and I took my chance to escape to some other place.

I noticed the workers' cubicles a couple of feet from where we were standing. I poked my head inside and was amazed at the number of persons I saw.

I was moving towards another section when I bumped into a hard wall, no, walls don't wear clothes right?

I inwardly scolded myself for not looking at the floor before me. The impact of body made me fall to the floor. Feeling around with my fingers, I managed to pick my notepad and pen.

"Are you OK Miss?" The stranger asked.

Tilting my neck backwards, I met the steady gaze of a dashingly handsome man studying me.

"Yes, I am, thanks." I smiled and he stretched out his hand which I used as a lever to push myself off the ground.

"I'm sorry, I wasn't looking." I apologized, taking in every single detail about him with my eyes.

"I wasn't looking too, it's equally my fault." He replied.

I straightened my gown and looked up to see his blue eyes fixed intensely on me.

"It's my fault." I insisted but he nodded in rejection.

"No, it isn't."

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes.

"Yes it is."

"No."

I pursed my lips and looked away.

"Are we seriously going to argue over something as trivial as who bumped into each other?" I questioned and a smile formed on his lips. He was about saying something when a voice I could recognize anywhere called out.

"Mr. Hutchinson, I can see you've met my personal assistant already."

Mr Philip planted himself in between us.

"Yes, I have, If I must admit, she has a charming personality," He smiled at Mr Philip who returned a fake smile.

"This is Mr. Hutchinson, he's the CEO here, Hutchinson meet Miss Florence."

Mr. Philip did not allow us exchange extra words as he asked me to follow him and I did.

He stepped into an elevator and I joined him inside. As the elevator door closed, he turned to me.

"What did I tell you about flirting?" He asked in a caustic tone. I let out the eye roll I was holding back.

"I wouldn't call that flirting Sir," I retorted, playing with the pen in my hand.

"I wasn't blind, Florence."

OK, now, this man needs a little restraint.

"Even if I was, I don't see how it concerns you." I spat.

He shot me a look that clearly portrayed irritation.

"You realize it's your boss you're talking to?"

"Oh yes, obviously I'm not blind, I'll really appreciate if you keep your nose out of my business, Mr. Philip."

I stormed out of the elevator which had stopped at the desired floor, ignoring the stares of people around.

💭💭💭

After the meeting, Fabian drove us back to the penthouse. I hastened to my room and pulled off my heels as my feet felt very sore, this was as a result of the numerous floors I had to get to to run errands for Mr. Philip.

I removed my clothes and walked into the bathroom where I had the most refreshing bath ever.

Stepping out of the bathroom, I glanced at the wall clock.

6:34pm.

I patted my hair dry with the towel in my hand and moved to the wardrobe where I pulled out a tank top and a pair of jeans trousers with one hand.

As I wore the clothes, I looked out the glass and saw the sun which had completed it's journey down the sky, I could only make out its outline in the sky.

Sighing, I made my way downstairs, I halted when I heard voices, a familiar voice and an unfamiliar voice, the unfamiliar voice belonged to a female.

I sighted Mr. Philip hugging a lady whose face I hadn't seen yet.

When she saw me make my descent down the stairs, she shot me a questioning look. Mr Philip followed her gaze and met mine. He abruptly stood up.

"Baby, I'll like you to meet Miss Florence Steel, my P.A." he introduced and the lady stood up. I frowned when he mentioned my surname.

"Florence, meet Maya, my girlfriend."

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You didn't see that coming, did you?

We have a new character now and I hope she won't be mean to our dear Florence.

If you loved this chapter, don't forget to tap on that tiny star at the bottom of your screen.

I'm dedicating this chapter to
jollyreaderjennell
plzreadme
Momo_197_Katsuki and
booknerd54321

Lots of love and kisses.

Tris❤