His Favourite Obsession

Disappearanc

Viviene's POV

Two weeks at Kallean Financial Firm and I hadn't messed anything up yet which almost surprised me. People were friendly but not too pushy and Uncle Theodore would walk by my desk and give me a little nod, and I'd think okay, maybe this is working, maybe I can actually do this.

That morning I was on a financial statement but the numbers kept blurring because my stomach wouldn't shut up, I'd skipped breakfast again. Stupid. I looked at the clock and it was nine but Uncle Theodore's chair was still empty. I kept typing anyway. He'd been late before but the thing is he always called or sent a message, something like Stuck in traffic tell them I'll be there in ten. Today nothing. I told myself it wasn't a big deal and turned back to the screen because people run late all the time, it happens.

When I looked up again it was already noon which explained the lightheadedness. I pulled out my packed lunch, rice and the chicken from last night. Eating in the canteen costs too much and the cashier always gives me this look, the one that says she feels sorry for me, so I just stay at my desk.

I'd barely taken a bite when Nancy dropped into the chair across from me. Nancy is the COO's secretary and she usually talks so much you don't need to say anything, but today she just sat there jabbing at her food with a fork.

"Do you know why Sir Theodore isn't in?"

I shook my head. "No idea. He didn't call me."

She put her fork down and her face went tight. "I heard something. My boss was talking to someone earlier and he said Sir Theodore is being replaced. The real owner is sending a new person tomorrow."

My chest went tight. "Replaced? What does that mean?"

"I'm sorry," she said and she looked it. "I thought you should know so tomorrow when some stranger walks in you're not just standing there shocked."

If Uncle Theodore was out I was probably out too. Why would a new boss keep me? I wore old lady clothes and had no real experience and half the time I wasn't even sure I was filing things right. They'd clear my desk by lunch and I'd be back in my house locking windows.

"You okay?"

"Not really." I pushed my food aside, my stomach was too tight to eat now. "I just need this job."

"You're good at your job. They'd be idiots to let you go."

"People are idiots every day."

Nancy didn't push and we sat there quiet for a while before going back to work. The rest of the afternoon I couldn't focus, I typed numbers wrong and had to redo a report twice and by the time I got home all I wanted was to crawl into bed and not move.

I called Lydia.

She picked up right away and her voice was shaky in a way I didn't like. "Do you know where Dad is?"

"No. I was about to ask you the same thing."

"He's gone Viviene. We've been calling and calling and he's not answering. The COO at your firm said he got fired and I don't understand, he wouldn't just disappear like this."

"Maybe he just needs space." I didn't know what else to say. "Maybe he's embarrassed about the job and needs a few days. He'll come back."

Lydia started crying. "I'm scared."

"Me too." My throat got tight but no tears came, they never do when I actually need them. "Call me the second you hear anything."

"I will."

We hung up and I sat on my bed with the phone still in my hand and I said a prayer even though I wasn't sure anyone was listening. I said it anyway.

~•~•~•~•~•~

The next morning I got to the office so early the guard squinted at me like I was lost. Nancy found me at my desk and said meeting in the conference room, all department heads and their secretaries, now.

We walked in together and the room was crowded with suits and low voices. I kept my head down out of habit. Then I spotted him, a tall man with his back to us, phone to his ear, shoulders straight like he'd been standing that way his whole life.

I leaned toward Nancy. "That's him?"

She nodded. "He was here at five a.m. checking all the departments, Romeo told me." Romeo is Nancy's boyfriend, the security guard who knows everything before anyone else does.

My mouth went dry. "Does he know where Uncle Theodore—"

"Is there something you want to share, Miss Viviene Madrigal?"

That voice. Deep and smooth and too familiar. I turned my head and my mouth fell open. Gray eyes and dark hair and it was him, the guy from the bar, the one who took my mojito.

"You," I said.

He didn't smile. "Come here."

My feet moved before I told them to and I stopped right in front of him clutching my notepad like it could protect me from whatever was happening.

"Take notes." He handed me a leather notebook. "And to answer your question, I don't know where your uncle is."

I blinked. He'd heard me. I'd been practically whispering and he'd heard me from across the room.

"Sorry."

"Don't be." He turned to the room and his voice changed, louder and colder. "Morning everyone. I'm Lucas Ashford and this company belongs to my family. I'm in charge now. I expect people to think not coast. Let's get along, meeting over."

Everyone nodded and filed out but I didn't move, my feet wouldn't.

When we were alone he looked at me, really looked, same way he did at the bar. "You have beautiful eyes. Why do you hide them behind those glasses?"

I dropped my gaze to the floor, my face went hot. "I don't have anything beautiful about me."

He made a sound, almost a laugh. "That's a lie." Then he turned toward the CEO's office. "Come on. You have work to do."

I followed him, still trying to catch up. Halfway there without turning around he said, "Do you have a boyfriend, Miss Madrigal?"

I nearly tripped. "That's a personal question."

"Then you're also my personal assistant now. That way I can ask personal questions." He said personal like it was a private joke.

I stopped walking. "You're not firing me?"

He turned. "Do you want to be fired?"

"No."

"Then don't ask again." He disappeared into his office and the door clicked shut.

I stood there trying to make sense of it. The guy was weird. Definitely weird. But I still had a job, and for now that was something.

~•~•~•~•~•~

The morning blurred into emails and phone calls and trying to remember how to breathe. Lunchtime came and Sir Lucas still hadn't come out of his office so I finally knocked.

"Yeah."

I opened the door and he was leaned back with his feet on the desk staring at nothing. The glass wall had a curtain I hadn't noticed before and he looked like he'd done zero work all morning.

"Have you eaten Sir? Should I order something?"

"I'm thirsty."

I looked at the water dispenser in the corner. "There's water right there."

He chuckled and it was the first real sound I'd heard him make. "I know, I was kidding. You eaten?"

"I'm fine."

"Okay." He waved me off and I closed the door shaking my head.

I was putting my lunchbox away when the elevator slid open and a man stepped out. Tall, leather jacket, jeans. Same sharp face as Sir Lucas but messier, like someone drew him with a looser hand.

He walked straight to my desk and leaned in close. Too close. And then he sniffed near my neck, he actually sniffed me.

"What's that smell? You wearing perfume?"

"No. I'm not." My voice came out hard and I was glad.

He straightened up with a smirk, the same smirk I'd seen on Sir Lucas. "Interesting. I'm Sebastian, Lucas's brother. No appointment."

I pointed at the door. "He's in there."

He gave me one more look, the kind that stays on your skin, then walked into the office without knocking. I let out a breath I didn't know I'd been holding. So the weirdness ran in the family. Great.

~•~•~•~•~•~

Lucas's POV

Sebastian tossed a small bottle onto my desk. "Your order. One bottle of blood."

I took it. "Thanks."

He dropped into the chair and I knew what was coming before he even opened his mouth. "How was the first day?"

"Hell."

He smirked, because of course. "I bet. I caught her scent. She's…" He stopped like he was looking for the word. "Intense."

My eyes went from gray to red and I didn't try to hide it. "You smelled her?"

He stepped back, his own eyes shifting black. "Just a whiff brother. I won't touch her, I swear."

I forced my eyes back to normal but it took too long. "Don't get near her. Don't smell her. Don't even look at her too long."

He nodded and for once there was no smirk. "Little advice. Hurry up. Father gave you three months. If you fail it's Russia."

"I won't fail."

"Then get a grip." He pointed at my face. "Our eyes go black when we're angry, not red. Red means you're losing it. Control it."

I said nothing and he left.

I pressed the intercom. "Miss Madrigal. Come in here."

Two months and thirty days. Damn it.

~•~•~•~•~•~

Viviene's POV

That evening I got home and dropped my bag and stared at the ceiling for a long time. New boss. Weird brother. Uncle Theodore still gone.

I didn't know what kind of mess I'd walked into but I still had a job.

For now that was enough.