Jerald's POV

The file slammed against the table barely a second after I had gotten up. My hand ran across my ruffled hair, my eyes gazed at the infinity pool attached to the balcony, which I was trying so hard not to dive into because I still had work to do.

"You were with a nobody, do you know what exactly that means? The public will be keen to know about this. Do you know how much I had to pay to get this off your back?"

My hands wrapped around the coffee cup, which I brought to my lips after the machine had dinged.

Funny enough, I was thinking it would be one of those numerous nights where I would get the pleasure and take her off my mind, but somehow it was so difficult, the way she had clung onto me, her fingers dug so deep into my back, and down below, which had put me in the same problem still stood high.

"This isn't you." Max, my friend, said, pointing to my trousers. "What has gotten into you?"

"Why are you this tense? It was just a night."

" A good one, I suppose, seeing how you still have that in your trousers."

" It's normal, you know about that."

His hands palmed over his face before I asked. "Did you get the girl? Who might she be?"

" How am I supposed to do that? We should be glad that somehow she wouldn't be able to get whoever it was she had a one-night stand with, and now you want me to probe so she can be suspicious?"

" She wouldn't be."

"She might press charges. What were you doing there in the first place?"

I plopped down into the seat, my hands tightened on the cup. "Wales."

"Your kid brother, Wales? What's wrong?"

"I went there searching for him, I know I shouldn't have, but I had to make sure everything was intact before we had the contract running.''

"Are you certain about selling that software? I mean, it is practically going to make you a multimillionaire, but even at that, don't you think it will do more?"

" I think I am making the right choice, Max," I said, knowing fully well I was right.

I haven't told him about another that I hoped to build soon, and maybe that would be a better sample than the one I already have.

"You should stop messing around. We can't afford a scandal at the moment."

"It isn't like I had expected. It was all to keep Wales in check, you know, he has been off the grid recently, and even his gf doesn't seem to be doing so much work. I wonder how she copes with him. I mean, with him cheating all the time."

"She might not know, and I think it will be better if I keep you in check instead, seeing how it seems you are so keen on rubbing the name of the company in mud. It was a first, Jerald, and it shouldn't happen again." He warned sternly.

I muffled in a cackle at his tone before nodding to his words. He could be a worrywart when it wasn't even needed most times, but he meant well, so the least I could do was go along with it.

" I have a busy day today, you should leave. I have to make the right choice, you know, the intern who will be here soon."

"Are you sure you don't need my help?"

I shook my head to his question. " I can do this, I would like to do it myself as well."

His eyes ran through my outfit. "With you dressed this way?"

"Yap, this way."

"It is dangling; you should head up and get dressed, or you might end up frightening the girl."

"Well, it isn't like there's much to see."

The look on his face told me he wasn't having it any other way, and left with no choice, I knew I had to change.

Placing the coffee cup on the marble glass which stood in the living room, I strutted across the room, slipping my leg into something proper before heading back.

"That's better. If you don't mind, I will send them up now."

"Them?" I was left perplexed because I had been told it was just a person.

"Them." He repeated, walking away.

My hands ran through my hair while I walked barefoot to the window, peering right outside the busy street.

A closer glance gave me the world I was trying everything to escape from, the one where I had to work hard enough to make myself seen.

"Good morning," the voice greeted me, and I held myself back from flipping my head over in that moment, wanting to believe I had conjured that up because there was no way that voice would have been hers; I had it imprinted in me already.

"Mr. Jerald?" It came through again, making me swirl my feet around, peering at her. I swallowed, last night racing in so fast that it had me clenching my fist.

What was the possibility that she was here for the job I had placed out there? It was difficult to believe that she was here to blackmail me for what had happened last night.

"You are zoning out." I gulped in, edging closer until I was just a step away from her.

" I am Claire," her tone coated as velvety ran across at me. "I am here in respect of the job vacancy. I know I don't look like it, but I am..."

"The best in your department," I added before she could.

" I asked for just the best in each department, so I know that."

My hands folded underneath my chest, while I gazed at her. Was this an act? Or could it be that she doesn't recognize me? Was she really here for the job, or was it something else? It was difficult to fathom what it was.

A text to Max would have him racing down here just to have her removed, but I didn't want that.

I needed to know why I was drawn to her.

"Well, I am good enough. I know you keep to time, and I was here just in time, also..."

"Why should I hire you?" I asked, and a finger went underneath my chin, watching her closely.

I listened to her as she rambled on and on, citing reasons why she would be the perfect fit even when she didn't need to. Her lilac fitted top sat over a black skirt, and a black shoe to match. I forced down the lump with a swallow before saying.

"You are hired, Claire."

Her face morphed into a smile that was the most beautiful one I had seen. "Really?" Her hands clapped while her eyes shimmered.

"Yes, you have a meeting to attend with me in the next twenty minutes, and I hope you will do your best. This..." I pointed to the floor where we stood.

"Is the office? Your cubicle is just beside my office. My bedroom is just above this floor, and you aren't allowed to go above this floor unless I ask you to, which I won't. Welcome to Maclina Tech."

Claire's POV

A hand clasped across my mouth as I tried to stop myself from screaming out. It was what I had wanted, all I had wanted. An internship with Maclina's tech company was the stepping stone to the career I had to build.

I had also heard rumours about how I would be made a full-fledged staff member if I did well enough, which I hoped to do. I really wanted to make this work for that girl who had been told she wouldn't amount to anything.

Our stories sound alike. Although he had wealthy parents, he had struggled to make sure that he created a name for himself, and he had done just that. Within. Within the span of two years, Maclina was a giant tech company with major prototypes and patents, which they oversaw.

Throwing a fist in the air, I threw a glance at my surroundings, tiptoeing to the balcony, which had an infinity pool attached to it. I swallowed, willing myself to be calm as my dream to own an apartment just as fine as this wasn't so far off.

I have seen talks about it, but seeing it in itself was spectacular. The office had tables leaning against the wall, with a keyboard attached to a MacBook.

My fingertips ran on then while I tried to fight the urge to ask where the others were when he strutted in, dressed in navy blue pants and a beige top to match.

I swallowed when he glared at me, piercing through my soul with those Hazel eyes. I threw my eyes away, glancing back at the marble tile, not wanting to believe that there was a possibility that he was the one who had been with me last night.

There was no way that was possible; he would be the last person I would ever run into in the streets of Texas. Besides, we really didn't run in the same circle, so that was out of it.

Letting out a gush of air, I listened to what he said. "That is yours. You should be able to handle an iPad, right?" I shoved how condescending his tone was, focusing on the issue at hand.

"Yes,"

"Good, then let's go."

His gait straightened as he sauntered past me toward the elevator, while I was left with no choice but to keep up, as his legs were endless and I was painfully slow.

I let out a sigh of relief when he halted, just enough for me to catch up with him before he got into the elevator. The air clenched when we were in so proximity to him. I noticed how huge he was, and how I paled in comparison to him.

"Stop staring, that's rude." He uttered just before the elevator dinged, and I stepped out after him.

The car opened with a click, and I slipped in after him, trying so hard not to touch the interior. Wales had a fine car, but not this fine.

I couldn't bring myself to confront him; maybe I wasn't any better since I had sex with a stranger the night before.

"It wouldn't be that great if you keep zoning out." His voice drifted out, slamming me so hard.

"Mr Jerald."

"Jerald." He turned to me.

"What?"

"Let's drop the title, call me Jerald, and I will call you Claire as well."

"But why?"

"Enough with the questions. I expect that you will be at your best while we are there. Don't make me regret employing you."

"Is there something you want me to do aside from taking notes?"

"Watch, ascertain, and point out the flaws as well. It is camouflaged as a late brunch, but it's more than that."

"I get that."

He drove in, stopping right outside a restaurant which lay on the outskirts of town, and I gulped in, wanting to believe it was some kind of luck that seemed to have run out because I frequented this place with Wales whenever he was in a good mood.

He got out at the same time I did, brushing his fingers slightly against mine before we walked in. I stood transfixed to the ground, a bit thrown out of place when he gazed back at me.

Rushing after him, I sat beside him when he did. A pale man with salt and pepper hair sat, both hands on a crab as he sucked in noisily on it. I muffled my speech when Jerald greeted me, then sat down afterwards.

"Good afternoon." I greeted him after him, wanting to take a seat, when a glare from Jerald had me standing upright. So cruel.

" Jerald, who is this?" His eyes lingered on me, running through me intensely before he wiped his fingers with a tissue.

"My secretary, Claire. Claire, this is Mr Owen."

" A pleasure to meet you, Mr Owen." I summoned up the nicest smile I could conjure, hoping that he would buy into it even when I was so displeased. What was wrong with my taking a seat? My legs were beginning to ache.

"Well, well, I never knew you had a secretary this young. Why haven't I met her before?"

"She was newly hired, and by me," Jerald answered. It took everything in me not to throw my fist at Mr Owen because he was the type who couldn't keep his lust to himself.

I wonder if he knew that I could smell it all the way from here, that he wanted me, and somehow, I really hoped Jerald would get him off.

"Well, well, I'm guessing this is going to go easier than I had expected."

Jerald slipped his phone out, handing it over to Mr Owen.

" You asked for this, and that's it. If we come to a conclusion today, I will come over myself to show you a presentation on how it works."

"You have done that already, Jerald, and there's no need to say the same thing over again; it makes it boring." His lips curved into a smirk before he ran his eyes over me once more, ogling me.

My hands fistened as I tried to get how irritating he was acting out of my mind. My eyes turned to Jerald, who I was so sure knew what was happening, but he was silent. What exactly was he doing?

"I am ready to sign the contract right here and now. I will have my assistant make a transfer right now. I know what you are capable of, what your work is capable of."

" And?"

" I am going to save you a whole journey of coming for the presentation and throw in a million if you do what I want."

The air crackled with tension because before he could say it, I knew, felt it and was sure Jerald did as well because he turned to me, his orbs endless before he tore them away, and I found myself wanting to tell him not to do that, not to throw me to the wolves.

"Some time with your secretary, she leaves with me, and you get your money, and I get the application and all, what do you say?"

Claire's POV

My heart thudded so hard, each beat faster than the last. I gulped in, urging and willing myself to think, not to pay attention, but how exactly was that possible?

The last thing I would have been unable to fathom would have been this happening, and right on the first day of work, was the universe playing some odd tricks on me? Or was this how the rich play around? With people's lives like they were worth just cash to them?

My finger dug into my palm, rage coursing through me as I waited to smack the iPad across his face, let him know how much of a fool he was, but somehow I stood, waiting for what was going to be his response.

"Well?" Mr Owen waited, his eyes lit with anticipation, as if he knew Jerald wouldn't be able to reject that.

A million dollars, that was what my worth was to him, what he saw me as; I should be happy, should be glad that at least I wasn't a meagre sum in thousands.

Jerald let out a cackle before looking at me.

"My secretary? Is that how much your daughter is worth to you as well?"

"... You shouldn't say that." Mr Owen grunted, letting out a chuckle which lay on his lips, "The last thing you should do is bring my daughter into this, do you even know what I am capable of?"

"That is the reason why I am doing this. You should have known what I do to people who don't stay true to the contract we have in the first place." He shrugged, grasping the handle of a knife which laid on the table as he brought down its edges, running it on the table, the noise permeating the air.

"Stop that." He pleaded, both hands against his ears, but Jerald continued, leaving dents on the table which I was so sure would amount to hundreds of dollars.

"Please stop." Mr Owen begged as he kept running the sharp edges of the knife on the table before it clanged against the table.

"This should serve as a warning to you, the last thing you should think about is placing any of my employees as a front in our contract. It was a mistake, and I will take it as such, which will also amount to my not going ahead with the contract. Leave."

Mr Owen's eyes widened as he turned to me before getting up.

"Treat your misophonia while at it, or it wouldn't be the last time this happens."

Chills ran down my arms, a complete contrast to the feelings I was supposed to be having. I should be running for my life, deciding not to work anymore, but not when he had done it for me, protected me.

" I'm sorry." I apologised, my head averted to the ground. If he had known this would be the outcome, he would have made me stay back.

" It's fine."

" It's not." My stomach growled, his eyes roved over me pathetically before he gestured at the chair in front of him.

" You should sit and have something."

" I am fine."

" If you are going to talk, then do so when you're filled up, conserve your energy, and speak afterwards."

"Fine." I placed the iPad down on the table, my eyes staring at the damage that had been done.

"A French toast with juice should be fine." My voice came out in a whisper.

"I didn't expect anything else from you. You made the right choice." He snapped his finger, leaving me glaring when I blurted out;

"Your hand," my eyes widened like saucers as I slipped a hand across, wanting to hold his when he held me back. " You are injured."

"And so?" His response came out cold.

" It needs to be treated, and if it isn't, it might be contaminated. You have to make sure that..."

An employee. My employee, that is what you are, you aren't the first, and you aren't going to be the last either."

"Has anyone told you how rude you are? All I was doing was showing that I care."

"Which pretty much isn't needed at the moment, thank you. Your food should be here in a minute, you should eat and then..."

"Claire...?" A voice whispered.

My hands fiddled with the skirt I had on, not knowing how to face him.

"Claire, I have been trying so hard to reach you. You don't have to believe what happened last night, I mean, that wasn't me, I would never hurt you."

I scoffed, trying so hard not to believe that he saw me as a fool.

"I saw you."

"That wasn't me. I would never..."

"Wales, what are you doing here?"

"Jerald?" Wales's eyes sparkled as he turned to my boss. "Big bro, what are you doing here? I never imagined you would be here in thousands of years."

"Well, I came in here for a business meeting and..."

"This is Claire, my gf, the one I told you about. I can see you've already met, but how?"

Small world, small fucking world, because how was it that I never got to know Jerald was his brother?

"Ex-gf," I corrected.

" Come on, Claire," he bellowed when I stood up.

"I am at work, Wales, and this isn't the right time to do this. I don't want to talk about this right now. I will be waiting for you right outside, Jerald, after you are done catching up." My tone came out gruff.

I wasn't going to lean into the guilt I felt because he had possibly done worse, but all of these that had happened seemed so soon, and I needed to process them all.

My steps quickened, and I could make out Jerald, who had placed a hand on Wales, who had tried to approach me, and although I would have loved to know what it was that he had said, I pushed that off as well, waiting for when he would step out.

The car clicked, and I got in before he could, my eyes shimmered with unshed tears.

"And here I was thinking you would be the only one who cheated, well, that makes for two of you. I guess."

"You don't know anything about our relationship, just because you turned out to be my ex-bf's brother doesn't mean I have to accord you the respect that I would have, our relationship is over, and..."

"Are you going to lie that you don't recall? Last night?" he stared at me, his lips curled into a smile.

"Or are you still going to pretend that you don't recall a thing? You actually want me to believe that you came to work in my firm because it is some kind of dream of yours? Like you don't want to sue me?"

My mouth fell wide open, lips parted as my palm turned sweaty. "What...what...are you talking about?"

"The fraternity party, are you going to act like you don't recall what we did? Talking about how no one else has made you feel that way before?"

My heart panted as I took in gasps of air, flicking my head to the side, my eyes parted as they flooded in, his eyes had been the only thing I had taken note of, his eyes.

"No," I blurted out, my hands fiddling with the locks as I tried to push it open.

"No? Are you still going to lie to yourself?"

"Let me out," I screamed, pushing the door when he did.

"Report to work tomorrow at nine. Don't make me wait." His words hit me when I had a hand on the open door, before shutting it in his face.