THE CEO’ S SECRETARY

Chapter Two: First Day As Secretary

CHAPTER TWO: FIRST DAY AS SECRETARY

She chose the CEO's Secretary Office.

Being an instructor was gone.

Now she was a secretary. For her dream company.

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The train is now approaching. Please mind the gap.

Rebecca burst out of the train, a can of coffee already sweating in her hand.

Supermarket. Two bottles of water.

Mall. A tailored suit for Mr. Wade.

Coffee shop. One triple-shot Americano.

Restaurant. "Whole wheat bread. Hot chili, mustard. Two slices of cheese. Lots of pickles. No onions. Absolutely no onions."

She ran.

Into the hallway. Toward the elevator.

"Darn it."

Her watch. 8:59.

She took the stairs two at a time, breathing hard. Slapped her ID around her neck at the door and forced her face calm.

Footsteps.

She shot to her feet. "Hello, sir!"

Mr. Wade walked past her. Into his office. Without a glance.

Three minutes later, she followed him in with the sandwich, the coffee, the water.

Her eyes stayed down. It was her first day. She didn't dare look at him.

She set everything on his desk.

"I need just the coffee," his voice was ice.

"Okay, sir." She handed it to him. Head bowed.

Then it happened.

Clink.

Her necklace slipped from her collar and fell onto his desk.

His hand shot out. Faster than she could blink.

He picked it up.

Rebecca frowned. "Sir?"

He was staring at the necklace like he'd seen a ghost.

A silver chain. A small star pendant. The exact kind he'd given to his first love in high school. Ember.

"Who gave you this?" His voice was low. Dangerous. He still wasn't looking at her.

"I... I bought it, sir."

"Bought it?"

Finally, he looked up.

Really looked.

His eyes went wide.

He stood up so fast his chair scraped.

"Ember."

Rebecca flinched. "Sir, I'm Rebecca... not Ember, sir."

For the first time, she met his face.

And in his eyes, she saw it.

Recognition.

Anger.

And something that looked a lot like heartbreak.

Ten years ago, Rebecca had an accident.

Hit by a car while crossing the road.

She'd woken up in the hospital with no memories.

The only thing in her hand had been this necklace.