Starting Fresh (Lorica Series #1)

Chapter 10

"Who's Sandy Wilkins?" Tovi asked that made Cole's smile disappear.

"Why?" he asked.

Tovi moved the computer monitor facing at Cole's. Cole bent half of his body to read the email on the computer. Then afterwards, he returned his body back to its original position with a blank expression on his face.

"She's . . . a friend of mine," he said.

"I thought you don't have friends?" Tovi said as she returned the computer monitor back to its place.

He sighed then raked his fingers through his hair. "I have to go somewhere else." Then he grabbed his coat then stepped out of the office. Tovi glanced back at the email and checked Sandy Wilkins' email profile. It says there that she was the daughter of WiseLine's CEO—Jade Wilkins. WiseLine is one of the lines of business in Lorica Inc. and that's the same line of business or LOB that she previously worked on for three years before she became Cole's secretary.

Her jaw dropped and was in the middle of thoughts. How is this woman connected to Cole Lorica?

Her shift ended then went home. As soon as she arrived at their house, she visited Tori who was sleeping peacefully on her bed. She silently walked to her and gave her a soft peck on her forehead. Then she went to her room, washed, dressed then threw herself unto the bed. She felt exhausted because of all the activities that she and Cole did today. The memories flashed through her head as a smile formed on her lips. Then she heard her cell phone beeping on the bed side table. She picked it up.

Cole Lorica

What's up?

Tovi was surprised that Cole texted her which she found unexpected. While smiling, she typed for the reply.

Tovi

I'm about to sleep.

Cole Lorica

That's good.

Cole Lorica

I won't be coming to work tomorrow. Just tell the guests to postpone their meetings.

Tovi

Why?

She didn't receive any reply from him anymore. She fell asleep while waiting for his reply.

The next morning, she took the phone again and saw that the battery was about to run out. She didn't see any messages from Cole anymore. It kind of disappointed her but she didn't want to admit it. And she kept wondering why.

She took a shower, dressed in a blue fitted body con dress then went to work. When she arrived at the office, she saw a woman standing inside Cole's office, staring at the company's trophies and certificates that were placed on a cabinet. She was wearing a formal white fitted dress and a white coat above it. Her hair was straight bronze, has brown skin with red undertones, tall and slender but her thighs were thick and shiny. She was wearing brown shades and high-heeled shoes. Her handbag was lying on her arm.

Tovi's eyebrows furrowed as she wondered how did this woman got in here without the keys?

"How did you get in here?" Tovi asked her after opening the glass door. The woman turned around and looked at her. She removed the sunglasses out from her face and it showed her upturned eyes with shades of brown glittery eyeshadows. Her heavy upper lips filled with deep orange matte color turned into a smile.

"You're such a pretty woman to be Cole's Secretary," she said with an arched eyebrow while lifting her chin.

Tovi found her presence very alluring and intimidating at the same time. She kept wondering who's this woman and what was she doing here in Cole's office?

"Sandy Wilkins, by the way," she said as she lent her hand. Tovi felt small because of how tall and intimidating this woman was. Not only that, her beautiful facial features brought out the best of her.

Tovi extended her hand then they shook their hands formally. "I thought that you're going to attend around three in the afternoon?"

Sandy glanced up to the ceiling. "I changed my mind." Then she roamed her eyes around then held back at Tovi again. "Where's Cole?"

"Oh, he said that he won't be coming today. If you want, I can still take the details, write it down and I'll relay the message to —"

"I'm not just somebody who you can order around and tell me to relay the message to him. I'm going to be his wife soon and I wanted to be treated with the same respect as his, like the way you respect him," she said as she took a few steps closer to Tovi. "You can do that, right?"

Tovi could feel her intimidating presence already that her knees were slightly shaking. "Y-Yes."

Sandy gave her a wide smile. "Good. Now call him and tell him that his sugar is here."

Sugar?

"Okay," Tovi said then she took out her phone and dialed Cole's number. A few seconds later, Cole answered the call.

"Hey Tovi. What's up?" he said with an intimate tone.

"Um . . . Sandy Wilkins is here."

A moment of silence followed.

"In my office?" he asked.

"Yes," Tovi said and noticed that Sandy was staring at her.

"Tell her that I'm available and I'm busy—"

Surprisingly, Tovi's phone was grabbed by Sandy. Her expression went from being strict into a happy one as her eyes sparkled, fluttered her eyelashes and was smiling widely.

"Hey Sugar! Why didn't you go to work today? I thought that we're going to hang out together!" she said in a high-pitched voice. Tovi’s eyes went round.

She went back to her seat as she listened to Sandy's conversation with Cole. "Oh! I see. Are you going to surprise me?" Sandy said as she twirls her fingers around her lock of hair while her tone changed into a seductive way.

Tovi heard her giggling then noticed her flipping her hair. And that's when she felt that Sandy annoys her presence of how she reacts with Cole. She wondered how Cole would talk sweet to her that made her giggle like a highschool girl.

"Okay then! I'm so excited! See you later!" she said then she returned the phone back to Tovi. Tovi gave her a smile as she received the phone but Sandy just turned around then left the office without saying anything. Tovi found her attitude a bit rude. Then she suddenly felt her heart sunk after realizing that Cole was nothing to her because he already have a relationship with someone like Sandy.