I kissed a bartender

BENJAMIN

News spread so fast especially with the internet. Sally and Benjamin continued to make headlines.

Over two thousand comments with thousands of shares.

That wasn't all, Sandra's live stream was trending. Sally relaxed watching for Laura to get humiliated maybe that will make her feel better and the issue of last night will be forgotten.

But what she didn't expect was for that card machine to blink green

She quickly ran to Benjamin in his office.

"I always told you Laura was a thief and a w***e. Have you seen the video. How else could she have afforded those clothes without having an old rich man sponsoring her."

"Or she saved it."

Sally stopped breathing.

Benjamin leaned back in his chair. "People save money, Sally."

"You cannot be serious right now." Her voice climbed. "You're defending her? After everything? She is a w***e and a thief and that video proves it. "

"That video proves nothing." His voice was firm in a way that made her go still. "Laura is not that kind of person. She always work hard."

Sally stared at him. This was not the response she had walked in here for.

Benjamin rubbed the bridge of his nose and slid her phone back across the desk. "If you want something to worry about, worry about this, Ethan Young rejected the partnership."

The air shifted.

"What?" Sally's voice dropped. "How? Everything was going well."

"It was going well until that video of last night started circulating." He stood slowly, moving to the window. "A man like Ethan Young doesn't do business with chaos. And right now, we are the chaos."

"So what do we do?"

"I don't know yet. Grandfather doesn't know about the rejection. I need to figure out how to tell him before someone else does."

His grandfather singlehandedly built this company form the scratch. Made good connections. Right now Benjamin can't afford to throw away the old man's years of hard work.

He picked up his jacket from the back of his chair. "I'm going to Ethan's office."

"I'll handle it," Sally said quickly. "I know someone who can help. You don't have to worry about anything."

He paused at the door, then left without another word.

Sally exhaled. Her mind was already pounding fast.

Inside the Elevator Benjamin watched the video of Laura over again.

Something about her had changed. She wasn't the Laura he used to know.

"What are you doing, Laura."

Then he pocketed his phone and walked out.

****

Apex Empire's headquarters had a way of making you feel small before you even found your seat.

The way the building stretched up to the sky you would think it was an Embassy to heaven.

Laura was careful not to stare too much. She greeted everyone with a smile.

It turned out the people here where nice and retuned her greetings.

Ethan Young single handedly picked everyone one of his employee.

He was a fair and just man.

Vivian, Ethan's blonde, personal assistant, addressed the four ladies who made the final stage of the screening.

"For your final test pitch yourself to me. Why do you think you deserve this position."

Laura anticipated such question. She spoke fluently, so natural even Vivian couldn't help herself but nod.

She walked into Ethan's office and placed a digital tablet on his desk.

"Mr. Young, these are the finalist. "

He was busy with his phone then he asked Vivian. She was a beautiful woman, intelligent and a had a good sense of fashion.

"What kind of clothes do girls like wearing at home."

Vivian's mouth opened. She blinked in surprise.

"Mr. Young. Have you found yourself a girlfriend?"

Ethan had no sister. Only a brother.

"Never mind. Forget I asked."

His ears slightly burned pink from embarrassment.

He swiped through the profile of the finalist with their score.

Second. Third.

He stopped.

A small smile crossed his face before he could stop it.

Vivian noticed immediately. "What is it?"

"Nothing." He closed the smile down. Cleared his throat. "I've decided."

"You haven't read the last one,"

"Laura Monroe." He tapped the photo. "She scored the highest, and she reminds me of you when you first came walked into this building. She's hired and she can start working today."

"Vivian, teach her. And lastly she must've know who I am."

Vivian looked at him for one long second, then picked up the tablet, "I'll inform the candidates."

Vivian walked out and stood before them, hands clasped.

"We've concluded the screening. The position goes to Miss Laura Monroe."

Laura grabbed her chest.

The other three women exchanged glances. One of them pursed her lips. Another picked up her bag without a word.

Laura sat there for a moment, Then something warm and quiet broke open in her chest and she pressed her lips together to hold it in.

Vivian was already moving. "You can start immediately. Come with me."

They gave her an ID card with her name and position junior secretary.

Laura Monroe. Apex Empire.

She ran her thumb over it, this was real. She clipped the ID card to her white shirt. Without this ID card she won't be allied entrace into the office or any where in the building. They where that strick.

Her office was down the hall from the main executive floor. When Vivian opened the door, Laura stepped inside and stopped walking.

It was spacious. A wide desk. A tall window. A small couch by the wall.

She turned slowly, taking it in.

If this is the secretary's office, she thought, what does the boss's look like?

Vivian handed her a printed sheet. "Your duties are straightforward. You will handle small business matters and complains while I handle international clients. And also you are here by not allowed into the bosses office no matter what you hear or think you heard. I alone can go into his office?"

"Understood."

"If you need anything you know my office. We can be friends too."

Friends with Vivian Warren. The must sorted after woman. She alone knew what Ethan Young looks like and she alone can change his mind if need be.

"Thank you Miss Warren. I won't take any of this for granted."

The lady scoffed " please call me Vivian. I would like for us to get along."

Laura slowly nodded

"Good. Someone will be up shortly to walk you through the systems." Vivian turned to leave, then paused. "Welcome to Apex Empire, Miss Monroe."

Laura sat down at her desk. Ran her palms over the smooth surface. Exhaled slowly.

Okay, she told herself. Okay.

Her first visitor arrived forty minutes later.

She heard the elevator open and looked up.

Benjamin Ford walked across the floor in a charcoal suit, He was looking down at his phone.

He reached her desk and looked up.

They both went still.

Benjamin recovered first. Barely. "What are you doing here?"

"I work here." Laura held his gaze. "I'm the new junior secretary to Mr. Ethan Young."

"Secretary!" He almost smiled. "Let me guess. Your sponsor pulled some strings? Sally was right about you. Getting a man to hand you positions you haven't earned." He shook his head slowly. "Have you no shame, Laura?"

Laura looked at him disgusted. After all this years he had know her.

Then she picked up her pen, opened her schedule book,

"You know I can decide not to tell Mr. Young you're here."

Benjamin's expression cracked.

"I can send you back down in that elevator right now." She didn't need to raise her voice. "So I'm going to ask you politely, Benjamin Ford What can I do for you?"

The silence between them stretched.

For the first time in a long time, Benjamin slowly sat down swallowing his large lump of pride to this illegitimate child.

"Fine”