Nicholas looked serious, reviewing some documents stacked on his desk. His eyes were busy probing, had nodding and then directing the pen he was holding his signature on some papers he was seeing.

"Am I bothering you?”

A man is seen entering the room. Without being invited, the man with a large stature sat on the chair, which was located right in front of Nicholas.

"What do you see?" asked Nicholas with a straight face.

"For God's sake, I miss you, Nick."

"Edward Anthony, do you need to die?!”

Edward laughed at his best friend's answer. A moment later, the man smiled and then chuckled.

"I came from London, and you didn't greet me one bit, Nick?"

Nicholas snorted in annoyance, then said, “Nonsense, Ed.”

Edward grimaced. “If only Jacob didn't force me, I still don't need to bother coming to LA. Do you think that the London-Los Angeled distance is close? What project needs to be completed so that I should be involved?”

Nicholas closed the file he was seeing, his gaze now turned to the man sitting in facade of him. “Jacob is forcing you. Out of the three of us, we know you to be the choicest at handling with investors. That's why your presence is needed, considering that Alma, who handles cases like this, can't take part. Therefore, I hope you can cooperate."

Jacob, Nicholas, and Edward have been friends since their college days in England. Edward himself, who is a master in business, has the skills to analyze the profitability of a project and is too excellent at consulting. He can also convince clients, just as Alma Grey often does. That's why Jacob asked Edward to help Nicholas handle some projects that AlpaBeta was handling in the future.

Edward responded in understanding. “So while in LA, I will be your subordinate? Or your office partner?”

Nicholas took a deep breath. “Well ... it's up to you what you think you are. The Company pays for what you do afterward.”

After that, there was a knock on the door and Natalia entered with a document in her hand.

"This is a work agreement document from the Royal Group, sir. You can check it first. And below it is an invitation to dinner from Namsan Holding, Korea,” responded Kimberly.

Nicholas's hand reached out to accept the documents and invitation Kimberly had given him. "There are some documents that I have signed. You can bring them right away,” replied Nicholas, pointing to the pile of documents on the guest table.

Kimberly reacted, then moved to leave the room. “Ah, ya, Kimmy,"

Kimberly stopped when Nicholas called her name again. A minute later, he turned around and looked at Nicholasd's face.

"Please make a drink for my partner."

"Okay, Sir."

Not long after, Kimber came back in with a tray containing two cups of coffee Nicholas ordered. The woman served it on the table. Edward didn't move his gaze to Kimberly. The man seemed to be transfixed by what he was looking at the moment.

"You're Nicholas's private assistant?”

Kimberly nodded. “Yes, mister---"

"Just call me Edward. Ah yes, my full name is Eduardo Anthony," the man interrupted as he extended his hand for a handshake.

Looking at his best friend's behavior, Nicholas leaned forward and rebuffed Edward's outstretched hand, causing Kimberly to chuckle at the sight.

"Oh come on, Nick, I just wanted to know your assistant!” Edward protested.

Nicholas chuckled then waved his hand, telling Kimberly to go out of his study.

"Don't bother my assistant, Ed!”

Edward laughed at Nicholas's behavior. He had already guessed that his best friend would impede his intention to tease his assistant. Unlike Nicholas and Jacob, who don't enjoy playing with women, Edward is the type of man who is well-known for his ability to play with women's hearts. The Playboy predicate has been attached to him for a long time. Not to mention the fact that he is a descendant of Scottish aristocrats, making him unable to be underestimated. Edward reached for the drink of espresso and took a slow sip.

"Your assistant is beautiful, Nick."

"Yes, She's only been my assistant for the past month replacing Sandra, the woman you've seen before."

Edward nodded, still holding up his espresso cup. "You're good at choosing an assistant. I'm confident you can fall in love with him.”

Nicholas shook his head.

"No, that's very unlikely. I never thought about having an affair with my co-workers, especially my assistant. Such a relation interferes with work professionalism.”

Edward sneered. “Are you sure that's your only reason? Isn't it because you haven't been able to ignore Briana?”

Nicholas just stared at Edward for a moment, then closed his eyes. He hated to admit it,, but Edward was right that he couldn't forget Briana, even though she betrayed him.

“How long are you going to shut yourself up, Nick? You and Jacob are just as bad at women.”

Nicholas glared at Edward. “You mean? Please say it louder, Ed! I really dont understand what you mean.

Edward smiled. “I mean… it's useless. You both are rich and have handsome faces but are not used. properly, you better donate it to people in need. Instead of wasting it,” Edward said with emphasis.

Nicholas clenched his jaw hard. Enough patients this time. During this time, he and Edward had been buddies for a long moment. The man realized all the stories and secrets he had been keeping. Edward also identified about the marriage failures that Nicholas had experienced in the latest. All this life, Nicholas had been trying to ignore the woman who had suffered him in the latest. Try not to be in a relationship with another woman so as not to feel pain. However, still. The memory of Briana was difficult for Nicholas to ignore. Sometimes, on one occasion, he remembered his ex-fiancé again. This usually makes his friends angry and upset. Then they tried to help Nicholas find a replacement, even though the man typically defied.

It was already six o'clock in the afternoon, but Nicholas still seemed to be busy struggling with the rest of the documents on his desk. A little hesitant, Kimberly stepped in after knocking on the door of her new boss's office.

"Mr. Nicholas, I have finished all the paperwork and agenda for today. Is there anything else I need to do? If not, I'll take my leave.”

Nicholas averted his gaze. “Please bring me a cup of coffee first, then you can go home."

Kimberly nodded, then walked to the pantry to brew coffee and then served it at Nicholas's desk.

"If there's nothing else, I'll go home. Mister should also hurry home, won't there be an invitation to dinner at the Marigold Hotel at eight o'clock?" Komberly tried to remind.

Nicholas patted his forehead. He almost forgot that tonight he had a dinner invitation from one of his company partners.

"Then you hurry home and change clothes. Later, my driver will pick you up. Then we'll go together to dinner."

"Go with me?" asked Kimberly to be certain.

"No, with Taylor Swift!”

"Huh? So, Mr. Nicholas is friends with Taylor Swift?” Nicholas exhaled. The behavior of Kimberly almost frustrated him, who did not understand or pretended to be stupid with the orders he gave. “Kimberly!” Nicholas raised his voice.

"Y-yes, fine Sir.”

Arrived at home, Kimberly looks worried about choosing what costumes to put on for the ceremony soon. Keep in mind, this is a business dinner, of course. There are many great people there, and it's Kimberly's first experience going to an exclusive event.

It's been over fifteen minutes since he flipped through the gowns hanging in the closet. She was still worried about what clothes he should wear until she selected a long short-sleeved silver dress with glitter accents and a slit above the thigh. Flawless considering, Kimberly has a tall posture and perfect legs. Applying not too thick make-up, then, Kimberly selected to let her auburn brown hair flow to her shoulders. Just as Kimberly finished her make-up ritual, there was a knock on the bedroom door from her friends, who informed her that someone was awaiting to take her up. Kimberly grabbed the clutch and the most expensive heels she had. For your information, the Heels shoes with the Jimmy Choo brand, which are priced at eight houndred dollars, can be got by Kimberly at half the price because of her persistence in participating in the midnight sale of a marketplace that was holding a massive discount some time ago. Kimherly is not the type of glamorous woman who likes to spend money hunting for branded goods. It's just that Keyra and her friends provoked that Kimberly should also pay attention to her appearance.

She put on his heels, rushing, and then went to the car that was parked in front of her home. There, Randy, Nicholas's driver, was already waiting for him.

"I thought the boss was getting with you, Ran?” Kimberly asked after sitting her body in the passenger seat right next to Randy.

Randy grimaced. “How could Mr. Nicholas go to the trouble of getting to pick you up. Don't feel like a princess." Randy teased as he drove the car to pick up Nicholas, who was awaiting at the office.

Kimberly looked annoyed at Randy's taunt, but what she said was true. It is unlikely that Nicholas, who is a CEO, would even bother to take up an ordinary employee like him. They arrived at the lobby of the AlpaBeta Corporations building. There, Nicholas was already seen talking on his phone. There was silence in the venue. Nicholas himself was busy with the cell phone he was holding.

Meanwhile, Kimberly glanced at her boss from behind the rearview mirror that hung above the dashboard. The man was wearing a navy-blue tuxedo, complete with a bow tie that wrapped around his neck. Kimherly was still gazing at Nicholas's face from behind the rearview mirror, admiring the man who had been the target of girls in his office. Kimberly continued to watch until the man saw at the same glass. Of course, their views met each other. Kimberly glanced out the window, embarrassed that Nicholas had caught her.

Not long after, Kimberly and Nicholas landed at the Marigold Hotel, where the ceremony was being held. Nicholas got out of the car first, followed by Kimberly, who trailed behind him. Entering the Ballroom of the Marigold Hotel, Kimberly looked around the room. It impressed her with the event he was attending today. How could I not? All business executives from various companies saw to be present and gathered there? Kimberly also noticed that several pairs of eyes, especially women, showed to be watching Nicholas, who mingled with the other guests. AlpaBeta itself, under Jacob's leadership, grew into a property group that includes satellite towns, elite housing, condominiums, shopping centers, and luxury apartments. After Jacob's move to London, the company has spread its wings even further into the manufacture of convention halls and indoor-outdoor gaming arenas, and Nicholas is the actor behind it all now.

"Mr. Nicholas, an honor to have you here tonight.” Welcome, Mr. Park Seo Joon, an intermediate-aged Korean man who is none other than the owner of Namsan Group and the organizer of tonight's event.

Nicholas smiled at Mr. Seo. "I am honored to be invited by a great person like you."

Mr.Seo smiled as he took a sip of the wine in his hand. "Is this your wife?" Mr. Seo's gaze shifted. He gave Kimberly a warm smile, who was standing right beside Nicholas.

Nicholas laughed again. “She's my partner, sir.”

Mr. Seo nodded. "You guys look great tonight, your partner is gorgeous.”

Kimberly's face turned red. She just didn't expect that the owner of this event would recognize her, the spouse of the bitter man beside her. Did she look so beautiful tonight that other people even considered her the spouse of a CEO of AlpaBeta Corporations?

"Thank you,” Nicholas replied.

"Please enjoy the party, I will greet the other guests.”

After Mr. Seo's move, Nicholas averted his gaze, he seemed to be paying attention to Kimberly's appearance and then greeted his head as if hes was assessing something. “You look pretty good tonight, to where even middle-aged men are interested in seeing you.”

Kimberly smiled. “Yes though your words sound so ambiguous, I believe it a compliment, Sir.”

Nicholas chuckled until he shrugged his shoulders at what his assistant said.

“Hmmm ... fine.” then Nicholas again continued to walk around to the other guests, while Kimberly followed where Nicholas was going.

Wearing ten-centimeter heels for almost two hours was not a great choice for Kimberly. The proof is now he is feeling uncomfortable and finds a seat, leaving Nicholas, who is still busy chatting with other colleagues. Kimberly seemed to sigh in her sitting position. Glancing at the clock that was wrapped around his wrist, it was already eleven o'clock in the evening. Kimberly took a deep breath. She felt tired now. He thought that joining Nicholas at a big and exclusive event like this could provide an interesting experience, as he often watches Netflix Series. Had occasion to think or at the dinner this moment he could meet a rich and handsome business executive who might ask him out on a date in the future.

“I told you it indeed destined us, Kimberly Ryder.” a baritone voice interrupted Kimberly's thoughts. With a lazy face, Kimberly answered the greeting of the man standing in front of her.

"Don't be too confident, Marco!”

Marco put on a mocking look. “Remember, we're not done yet!”

"We have nothing to do anymore, so stop bothering me. Aren't you tired of making trouble with me all the time?”

Marco shook his head. “Don't think me to hold before you come back. Am I not being sympathetic enough not to bring you to your Grandpa?”

"Who do you mean, being sympathetic?” Nicholas appeared on the sidelines of the feud between Kimbery and Marco.

Marco smiled at Nicholas. “You don't require having the business between the two of us, Mr. Alistair!” “Oh yeah? But I'm sorry you're disturbing my girl tonight, so I may interfere, regardless of what Kimberly is!”

Kimberly was surprised to hear Nicholas's words. She didn't suppose Nicholas say such a thing to Marco, who he didn't realize. Not much different from Kimberly, Marco also felt the same way when he saw Nicholas talking a lot more, unlike their previous meeting at the restaurant the other day when Nicholas was silent and just watching.

Marco was stunned for a moment, but adjusted his expression to normal. He just didn't want to hear Nicholas take advantage of his surprise. “So you are now acting as his guardian angel?” Marco pouted as he glared at Nicholas.

"I can be more than just a guardian angel, you think. And I don't think you require talking to my girl anymore!”

Nicholas grabbed Natalia's wrist, leading her away from the Ballroom to the hotel lobby.

"Thank you, Mr. Nicholas," Kimberly said as she and Nicholas were waiting for the car in the hotel lobby.

Nicholas stared at Kimherly for a moment, then turned his gaze back. “No demand to praise me, and you don't require being overconfident, anyway. I just don't like seeing women being abused by a man."

Kimberly nodded. She was too tired to argue with her boss.

Kimberly smoothed her auburn brown hair from behind the office toilet mirror before going up to the fifteenth floor where her room was. After feeling her appearance perfect, she stepped into the elevator.

However, before the elevator doors closed, Nicholas and Edward are getting into it. As usual, Nicholas, who said hello, just looked silent. Unlike Edward, who greeted Kimberly.

"Your coat is perfect, it must be a close-known brand.” The words just slipped out of Edward's mouth. Kimberly knew that the Scottish-blooded man was now in the position of chief director of the planning division. Although many say he is a Playboy, it proved the gentleman to do all his jobs well. In addition, for the size of a boss, Edward is also friendly so that the other workers are reluctant and respect him even though he is still new to AlpaBeta.

Kimberly turned and smiled at Edward. “This is just a regular brand Coat, Sir. Maybe because I'm gorgeous, all the clothes I know look luxurious,” Kimberly replied.

Kimberly wasn't saying nonsense. She is stunning. Slender, tall stature, brown hair, slanted eyes. The ideal combination that often makes men stare in amazement.

Hearing Kimberly's answer, which is quite confident, Edward, of course, laughed. According to him, Nicholas's assistant is a unique woman, sociable, and welcome to anyone. If out there, many women maintain the image to see superb, unlike Kimberly. He always acts as he is.

"Yes, I agree. You are indeed a great assistant. If you weren't pretty, how could Nicholas have chosen you? Isn't that right, Mr. Nicholas?” Edward suggested, glancing at Nicholas. While the man who was called for just remained expressionless. “By the way, how do you feel about being Nicholas' assistant? Are you comfortable? Because if you don't like it, you can move with me when I get back to England.” Edward asked Kimberly.

Kimberly smiled before answering. “As everyone knows, Mr. Nicholas is too stiff as snow, Sir. But never mind, I will remain loyal to be his assistant.” Kimberly whispered, then blinked.

Just as the elevator doors opened, the girl nodded her head. Then he just walked out, leaving Edward, who was even laughing at Kimberly's words, which were sarcastic with Nicholas. “What do you think?” Edward asked when they were inside Nicholas' study. “What does your question mean?” Nicholas proposed, turning on the minicomputer on his desk.

"Your assistant, how is it? You're not the least bit excited in him?”

Still staring at the graphic display from his workstation, Nicholas then answered. “I told you, I'm not concerned in a romantic relationship in the office, Ed."

Edward laughed this time at Nicholas' answer. "Oh, come on, Nick. Are you normal or not? If you prefer not to come forward, then I'll be the one chasing Kimberly. Too bad a girl like that is left alone.”

Normal? Nicholas was an ordinary guy. But not a few employees at the office accuse him of being gay because he has never held or brought a girl with him. In Los Angeles itself, the only girl he'd ever spoken to was Alma, Jacob's wife.

Nicholas then turned his gaze to Edward. “They called you to LA to carry out or to chase women? Jacob would be mad if he knew you were acting like this.”

Edward raised his hands in the air. “Okay… fine, I'll go back to duty. But if I may suggest that you are confused about finding a companion, you better pay recognition to your assistant. For some reason, I believe she's a different girl.” Edward got up from his seat, leaving Nicholas, who indeed looked serious about his job.

Not long after, there was another knock on the door. Kimberly was seen re-entering with some files in her hand. "Sir, This some document are---"

"Just lay it on the table. Thereafter, please come out,” Nicholas interrupted without even turning to look at the person he was talking to.

"Okay, Sir,” said Kimberly with an annoyed face.

After the door was heard closing, Nicholas took a deep breath and tried to exhale. Nicholas knew very that his Asisstant was often paying attention or maybe he was trying to get his concern. For that reason, he always acted cold or indeed showed disdain for anticipating a source of heartache besides Claire, his ex-fiancé. Although it is undeniable that there is still a little taste in his heart. Again, Nicholas just didn't need his senses to fall back on the wrong girl. He didn't want, when he put more feelings back, the girl to betray his lover as well. “A relationship with a co-worker?” Nicholas spoke to himself. After closing his laptop, he was too stunned.

"I prefer not to throw myself in the same hole. Remember, Nicholas, girls are dangerous species. Have you seen Jacob? Sometimes he cries, once he laughs, once even acts like a madman just because of a girl. Do you prefer that? Convinced?”

Nicholas just kept talking to himself. As bad as that was, the effect of the hurt he felt, so he dictated to himself that girls were creatures to be wary of. Even now, he doesn't care what people think of him. According to him, those who make fun of him don't indeed understand how painful it is to be betrayed.

The finance's room looked full when Kimberly stopped by to visit her friends Keyra and Alex there. The male and female employees were seen clustered closely, discussing something.

"What are they talking about? Why does it sound so overcrowded?” asked Kimberly, who was sitting next to her best friend's desk?

"They must discuss popular gossip on television,” said Keyra, who was eating her lunch.

"How have you been these two months, Kimmy?” suggested Alex, who had just arrived, and asked questions.

While Kimberly seemed to raise an eyebrow. “What does your question mean?”

"Yes, how is your relationship with Mr. Nicholas going. Has the guy fell in love with you?”

Kimberly shook her head, then put on a sad face. “Looks like our chief is terrible to beat.” Alex and Keyra laughed together at the expression Kimberly showed.

"I already warned you that Mr. Nicholas is a hard man to look at. You're the one who insisted on trying to be his girlfriend. Your dreams are too high, Kimmy!” Alex scoffed again. “I'm not a dream, Lex. But I felt confident that we can make our boss like me. After all, it's still the beginning.” “You are too confident. Beware, you will be punished if you fail," replied Alex warning.

"If you want to avoid seeing me break, please help me get our one boss," said Kimberly.

While sipping the drink in the face of him, Keyra joined in the conversation. “Alex and I are just spectators, which doesn't suffer if Mr. Nicholas still rejects you in the end.”

"Don't worry, I won't give up. We'll look at, in the end, he will fall in love with me. How can a woman as beautiful as me not be able to attract Mr. Nicholas's heart?” Kimberly replied.

Fun to tell Mr. Nicholas, the guy coming out of the meeting room and crossing in front of the finance's area. As if hypnotized, all the employees who were noisy fell mute. Not long after, they all returned to their seats while looking at their CEO, who was passing by. Feeling watched, the big, tall man stopped his footsteps and twisted his head into the area. Of course, the employees who had noticed pretended to be busy. Kimberly,, who was there, changed to Nicholas until they both looked at each other.

"Can I help you, Mister?”

Nicholas was hushed for a moment before the guy answered. “Your place is next door. Then, what are you doing here?”

Kimberly fell silent. She forgot it was a day for a break from work. Of course, Nicholas questioned himself, sounding like an employee on his way backward and forth. “I had lunch here, Sir,” Kimberly replied with a worried look on her face.

"Hurry back to your place, don't forget that soon we have to go to the archive building in the north tower,” Nicholas ordered, responding to a nod from Kimberly.

The woman got up and walked after her boss, who had already stepped forward into her place. Kimberly had the books and pens on her desk. Nicholas seen entering the room, then not great after coming back out. Kimberly then followed where her owner had her. When he arrived at the archive building, which was in the north tower, Kimberly looked around the place on the second floor. There, many people, comprising many construction workers. They were all assigned to repair the building, which would later be converted into an operational form. Accompanying Nicholas, who came down checked and checked the renovation process, without realizing it was getting darker.

Kimberly reminded Nicholas to hurry back to the central building. “Sir, it's six-seven. We'd better head back to the central building because the lights aren't lit here. This could make it difficult for us to get out of the construction.”

Nicholas, who was still talking to one of the project supervisors, nodded his head after hearing Kimberly's words. Not long after, they went down to the first floor. On his way to the first floor, the electricity in the archive building went out. It was, of course, very dark. Kimberly, who realized that, screamed, then grabbed Nicholas's hand and hugged Nicholas.

Nicholas was surprised by the attitude of Kimberly, who hugged his body. She was sure that his asisstant was very frightened. Still in a hug position, Nicholas tried to reach the cellphone in his pants pocket and turned it on.

"Hey, Kimberly. Look at me!” asked Nichols, trying to loosen Kimberly's arms.

Kimberly herself still closed her views. He didn't care what Nicholas ordered him to do. That's why Nicholas then took the courage to grab Kimberly's chin and lifted his face so as not to look down again. "Kimmy. Don't be scared, I'm here. I promise to get you out of here. Open your eyes, it's not as dark as you think it is," Nicholas cooed.

Kimberly opened her eyes. Looking around, then realized that the room wasn't as dark as before. This was all thanks to the lighting from the cell phone held by Nicholas. Seeing Kimberly, who was still afraid to have a step, Nicholas looked at Kimberly's face. Once again reassured his assistant not to be scared. “Don't be scared, I'll get you out. Now just follow my steps.”

Nicholas gripped Kimberly's hand, which was wet from the cold sweat pouring down her body. The woman looked scared. According to Nicholas, maybe his secretary has a phobia of the dark. He couldn't draw any conclusions yet.

Kimberly followed Nicholas, who walked forward. Descending the emergency stairs one by one, they arrived at the first floor. “We've landed. Wait a minute, I'll call security to start the generator engine,” Nicholas said to Kimberly, who was still standing next to him. Nicholas had just finished contacting the security guards. Suddenly, Kimberly fell unconscious. Nicholas tried to wake Kimberly. Fearing something might happen, Nicholas took Kimberly to the hospital.