Chapter8
1438 Words
NATALIE’S POV
I woke up before my alarm.
For a moment I laid there wondering what brought me out of my sleep so early. And then Jason came to mind.
I immediately sat up and checked the time.
Six-thirty. I wasn’t going to start worrying so early.
I quietly got out of bed and walked to Ava’s room.
She was still sleeping wrapped around her stuffed bunny like she was protecting it from the world.
The doctor had been right. Whatever she’d taken was out of her system now.
I stood there for another moment before heading back to the kitchen.
I picked up my phone from the counter and went through my messages. There was a missed call from Jason, but no texts. No threats or new demands. And a single missed call should have made me feel less scared.
It didn’t.
I made breakfast while Ava got ready for the day.
By the time she wandered into the kitchen, I had already decided what I was doing.
I wasn’t staying home.
Part of me had considered it since Lucas had practically given me permission.
But staying home wouldn’t solve anything.
Ken had already told me the morning shift at the bookstore was taken.
There was no extra money waiting for me there and reason to risk making a bad impression at King’s Corporation.
“Morning, baby.”
Ava climbed into her chair.
“Morning.”
I smiled.
“You look much better.”
“I told you I was okay.”
I laughed.
“That’s not what you said yesterday.”
She shrugged. “I changed my mind.”
An hour later, I dropped her off at Carla’s apartment.
This time Ava didn’t cling to my leg. She walked inside without a single complaint.
I wasn’t sure if that made me happy or sad.
“Thank you again,” I told Carla.
She smiled. “It’s really okay.”
“No, seriously.”
“Natalie.”
I laughed. “Sorry.”
“You’ve thanked me enough.”
I looked toward Ava.
She was already sitting on the floor taking out her coloring book from her bag.
“I’ll pick her up right after work.”
“Take your time.”
I nodded and headed out.
I wasn’t running late, but I still kept checking my watch every now and then throughout the ride.
By the time I stepped inside the building, the nervousness I felt on my first day had mostly disappeared. Mostly, not completely. I still felt out of place, and worst of all, I had to work directly under Lucas King.
Mia greeted me with a grin from the front desk.
“Dropped Ava off at Carla’s?”
“Did you tell her it was going to be a regular thing?”
“That depends on if you want it to be.”
I sighed. “She likes it there.”
“It’s a regular thing then,” she replied with a smile.
I rolled my eyes and started to walk away.
“Wait,” she handed me a folder. “Good luck.”
I accepted it.
“You’re not helping.”
“I know.”
She looked entirely too pleased with herself.
I headed upstairs before she could say anything else.
I went straight to my office and tried not to look into Lucas’ even though his office was directly opposite mine.
The morning started immediately.
I had to sort email, schedules, meetings, documents.
Lucas barely acknowledged my existence before handing me enough work to keep me occupied for hours.
I was sorting through a stack of meeting reports when my office phone rang.
“Miss Hart.”
I nearly jumped.
It was Lucas.
His voice sounded even deeper through the speaker.
“Yes?”
“Boardroom. Five minutes.”
The line disconnected.
I didn’t even have time to think. I grabbed my notebook and hurried out.
The boardroom was already filling up by the time I arrived.
The advertising team’s representative stood near a large screen at the front. Several department heads were present.
Tom was there, Ethan too.
Lucas entered last.
The room immediately fell silent as he walked in.
The presentation started shortly after.
Peter, the team’s representative showed concepts for the company’s newest smart home security system.
Campaign slogans as well as markey projections and consumer engagement forecasts.
The presentation lasted almost forty minutes.
When they finally finished, Lucas spoke.
“The campaign is solid.”
Several people visibly relaxed.
Then he continued.
“It’s also really forgettable.”
The tension came back so fast I almost felt bad for them.
One of the executives cleared his throat.
“What exactly would you change?”
Lucas leaned back in his chair. “ The product is creative,” He pointed toward the screen. “The campaign isn’t.”
Everybody stayed quiet.
“You’ve spent the entire presentation explaining features. Customers buy emotions, not features.”
The advertising team started writing notes individually. I decided to join them incase Lucas decided to question me later.
The discussion continued for another half hour before Lucas finally ended the meeting.
The rest of the morning passed quickly.
By noon, I was juggling three phone calls, organizing Lucas’ schedules, and responding to emails simultaneously.
I was in the middle of updating a client meeting when Lucas’s voice appeared from my doorway.
“Coffee.”
I looked up.
“What kind?”
“Four cubes of sugar.”
Then he disappeared back into his office.
I stared after him.
Four cubes? That sounded terrible, and way too much for him.
I headed to the break room to make it, and when I did, I added two sugars without thinking about it. If he hated it, that was his problem.
A few minutes later I placed the cup on his desk.
He didn’t even look up.
“Thank you.”
I returned to my office.
Ten minutes later my phone rang.
I answered immediately.
“Miss Hart.”
“Yes?”
“My office.”
I looked up to see him staring directly at me as he dropped the phone.
I wanted to be scared, but I founf myself smiling.
I walked into his office.
Lucas held up the coffee.
“I asked for four sugars.”
“I know.”
His eyes slowly lifted from the cup.
“And how many did you add?”
“Two.”
“Why?”
I folded my arms.
“Because it’s better.”
I instantly regretted saying that out loud. The words sounded much more confident in my head.
Lucas stared at me. Then he took another sip, and another.
Finally, he placed the cup down.
“You’re awfully confident for a new comer.”
I shrugged.
“Seems like you liked it.”
He smirked only slightly. It disappeared too quickly to be certain.
“Get back to work, Miss Hart.”
I turned around before he could see my smile.
Maybe I wasn’t doing so badly after all.
A vibration against my desk stopped that thought immediately.
I picked it up my phone to see one text message from that familiar unknown number.
My stomach sank.
“Six days left.”
Nothing else.
I stared at the message until a shadow fell across my desk.
“That bad?”
I nearly threw my phone.
Ethan laughed.
“Sorry.”
“I knocked but you didn’t answer,” he continued.
I placed my hand against my chest.
“You scared me.”
“My apologies.”
He pulled out the chair across from me and sat down.
“You looked like you were reading your own execution date.”
I forced a laugh.
“Nothing that dramatic.”
“Good.”
He smiled.
“I’m Ethan, by the way.”
I blinked.
“You mean Lucas’s brother Ethan?”
“The unfortunate one.”
That made me laugh.
“Nice to officially meet you.”
“You too.”
He leaned back.
“How’s the job?”
“Busy.”
“That’s a polite way of saying Lucas is working you to death.”
I smiled.
“He hasn’t been that bad.”
“Give it time.”
I laughed again.
Then Ethan’s expression softened slightly.
“If he gets difficult, you can come to me.”
“I’m sure I’ll survive.”
“That’s what everyone says.”
He stood up.
“Good luck, Natalie.”
“Thanks.”
Once he left, the smile disappeared from my face.
My eyes drifted back to the message.
I quickly locked my phone and forced myself back to work.
- Writer
