Shay's POV
I checked the time on my phone and saw that it was almost 4 p.m.
Since boredom was my only companion, I texted Sylvia to let her know that I was on my way to meet her at work so we could go to her place together and hang out. I quickly changed into some casual jeans and a light top, then called a cab to pick me up because I didn't feel like driving.
Ten minutes later, the taxi pulled up in front of the company's building. I paid the driver, stepped out of the vehicle, and felt the cool afternoon breeze blow through my hair.
I texted Sylvia again to let her know that I was waiting for her outside. She replied a minute later, saying that she was almost done and would be down shortly. I decided to head into a nearby café and bought myself an iced Americano. I went back outside and waited again.
It was almost half past five when she finally texted to say she was on her way down. By then, I had almost finished my third drink from the same café, and my bladder was starting to protest from all the liquid, in addition to feeling irritated from waiting so long.
She finally came outside through the automatic glass double doors, and I started walking toward her. She suddenly turned to the side and began talking to someone else. My eyes followed, landing on the familiar-looking man walking alongside Sylvia.
I froze in the middle of the pathway, my mind racing back to the last time I saw himâit was also the first time. Then it hit me.
The guy from the elevator.
He was there that day, in the elevator, when I was on my way to meet that douchebag on that stupid date. Was this a coincidence? Does Sylvia know him? Does he work here?
Sylvia turned, finally saw me, and waved for me to come over. I forced myself to walk toward them, and as I did, he suddenly turned his head in my direction and stared back at me.
He was even more handsome up close, and the way he was perfectly dressed in a suit, hands deep in his pockets, and his hair styled to the side made me briefly wonder if he might be someone important I should know.
I stood beside Sylvia, nervously smiling at her, while she grinned back at me, her arm already around mine.
"Sorry I took so long." I shook my head dismissively.
"Yeah, it's fine." She beamed, standing closer to me, and then turned back to the guy, who was silently watching us with a blank look on his face.
"Um, sir, I don't think you two have actually met. This is my cousin Shay. She's our secretary at the Department of the Registrar of Companies, and she just recently started."
He nodded at me with a small smile before looking back at Sylvia.
"Shay." Sylvia added, dragging the name out with a hint of charm in her tone while giving me a knowing look.
"This is Mr. Jason Cartwright, our boss."
No way....
Did I just hear her say "boss"? How is this guy our boss?!
When Sylvia talks about him all the time, I imagined a guy in his forties, like a sugar daddy type, which would explain why Sylvia has a crush on him. I was not expecting...him!
She nudged my arm, and I finally snapped out of my thoughts and reached my hand out to him.
"Nice to finally meet you, sir."
He looked at me, then at my hand, before finally shaking it. It was just a brief handshake, but it did something to my whole bodyâlike an electric spark that made my heart beat faster.
"Pleasure to meet you too, Miss...?"
"Kellen," I quickly said, giving my fake last name. He nodded once, released my hand, and glanced back at Sylvia.
"Right. Miss Falcon, do you mind moving my meeting with Mrs. Anders from Australia to next week? I'll be leaving work early tomorrow around 2 p.m., so I won't be able to make it." Sylvia eagerly nodded.
"Yes, sure, I'll rearrange it tonight, and your new schedule will be on your desktop early tomorrow morning."
He smiled in return and looked ahead as his car pulled up. The driver stepped out of the car and opened the backseat door for him.
"Have a good night, ladies. It was nice meeting you, Miss Kellen," he said before walking away and getting into the car.
When the car left, Sylvia and I started walking, and she excitedly squealed in my ear.
"Isn't he hot?" I chuckled and glanced away.
He is hot, indeed, but why did he have to be my freakin' boss?!
"So, what do you think of him? You've finally met him now."
"Yeah, he's okay. I can totally see why you're so into him." She scoffed and hooked her arm around mine.
"Well, yeah, but I'm not just into his looks, Shay. I've spent most of my time with the guy, and believe me when I say that I really, really like him that way."
I stopped walking and turned to face her.
"I know, and you've told me so many times about the reasons why. I get that he's our boss, but are you really serious about him?" She sighed and nodded slowly.
"I know what you're trying to say. It's hopeless liking a guy who's so out of your league and who will only see you as nothing more than a personal assistant."
I grabbed her hand and gave it a little squeeze of reassurance.
"Don't stress about it, Syl. I know there's a guy out there who will notice you one day and feel the same way you do."
She chuckled and swung our hands back and forth as we continued walking.
"You're one to give advice when you haven't even been in a serious relationship your whole life." I gasped in shock and playfully glared at her.
"Hey, I may be single, but you have to admit itâmy advice is good."
"True. Or maybe you just Google it." I playfully slapped her on the shoulder, and we both started laughing.
"Let's get some pizza before we head home." I nodded, and we started heading in the direction of a good pizza place we knew.
OoO
We ate the pizza in her living room, sitting on her couch with the TV on. We lowered the volume to zero and started talking about a bunch of stuff, which is what we usually do when we're together.
"Why were you late today?" she frowned, leaning toward the coffee table to pick up another slice from the box.
"Have I told you that Jason has a partner who also runs the company?" I slowly nodded.
"Yeah, you also told me he travels a lot, which is why we rarely see him at work. I, for one, have never seen the guy since I started working there."
She nodded and bit her pizza before leaning back on the couch.
"Yeah, me either. He's an ass because now he's back and has decided to work from home from now on. That can only mean he's either relaxing or doing whatever he wants, while I have to run around all day sending him his files, emailing him his reports and documents, and arranging his new schedule. I mean, hello! My job is to be Jason's assistant, not his."
I chuckled and took a sip of my cola, a little surprised that she started using his first name all of a sudden.
"Can't he just hire one?"
"Exactly! But you know what? It's actually a good thing he's working from home. I can tell this guy is a real pain in the ass, so the less we see him, the better."
My phone started buzzing in my pocket. I arched my back forward to reach into my back pocket and grabbed it. I stared at the screen and saw a text from Mom telling me to come home now. I rolled my eyes, shoved the last piece of pizza into my mouth, and stood up.
"Was that Aunt Sheila?" she asked drowsily from the couch.
"Yep. Sorry, I need to go. See you at work tomorrow?" She lazily nodded her head.
"Love you, bye!"
I left her apartment, took a cab home where reality awaited me. I looked out the cab window and smiled at the glittering stars in the dark sky. Even though I get to escape my reality for a while, I still find a reason to smile at the end of the day and think of all the good things in my life right now.