Chapter Five

Audrey

"Hey," I mutter, adjusting my phone closer to my ear. I look at the door of the office awaiting-anticipating- Scarlett's arrival.

"Hey," a tiny voice reverberates through the line.

It's Daisy, my younger sister.

My heart skips a beat and I can't help but smile. Usually, I find it hard to reach my sister. Her calls go straight to voicemail and Daisy hardly returns her call.

"How are you?" I ask cheerfully as I draw invisible circles on my table with my finger.

"Good, I am kind of busy right now," Daisy says quickly.

My heart drops, and my smile slowly turns into a frown. I was kind of hoping our conversation will last a little longer this time.

"I just wanted to confirm that you are still driving down here for the weekend."

I haven't seen Daisy in two years. The only time I saw my sister after running away from home was when I got a call from Daisy. Daisy was having a mental breakdown due to the stress of college. At that time, she was a freshman at Yale. In the middle of it all, she picked up her phone and called me. I drove down there, held her close, and talked her through her fears until the sun came up.

The next morning when I woke up, my sister was gone. She wrote a note saying that she was going home. I felt like someone that just had a one-night stand.

"I don't want to have to say this-"

"Then don't." I urge.

"I have to work on a project this weekend."

"You said that last month and the other month before that. Come on, I am looking forward to spending time with you. " I pause, before baring my heart to her. "I miss you."

She takes a sharp breath in. "Fine, I will see what I can do."

I smile, "Great, I will see you then."

"Okay,"

"By the way, how are mum and da-"

"They are fine," Daisy says sharply before hanging up.

I take the phone away from my ear and put it down. I tilt my head to the side, feeling the warm wood of the photo frame beneath my fingertips.

It's the only photo I have of my family with me in it. I can still remember the day we took this picture. It was in our backyard on a Sunday afternoon after church. Mum wanted it to be perfect, but the rain had other plans. It ended up being a playful shoot, and it captured the fun side of the Gibson family, which is rare.

Now pictures I see on Facebook of my family make me question if I am still a Gibson. It looks like they have only one daughter and I can't blame them. I did turn my back on them.

But that doesn't mean I don't miss them every day.

My eyes move to a picture of Tripp and I. it's a Polaroid from four years back. It was on New Year's Eve and Tripp had just gotten a call that could have led to his big break. We looked so happy. I was so happy. I wonder where that happy girl went and if she will ever come back.

~~~

"What's on my schedule today?" Scarlett walks into the office in a pink pantsuit and a white silk shirt, looking as unbelievable as ever. Her hair is half up and half down and she has bold red lipstick on. "Audrey?"

I snapped out of my daze, murmuring "Uh-"

"My schedule for today," she asks, looking down at her phone, and then she turns and begins to walk towards her office. Taking it as an indication that I should follow her, I take the cup of coffee from my table, along with my iPad, and follow behind her.

I walk into the familiar office that now looks foreign. They must have taken all of Mr. Briggs' stuff over the weekend. There was a beer fridge in the corner of the room. It's now gone. There was a television and the blinds were always closed, which was disappointing because he had the best view of New York. He had this snooker table, where the couches are now placed.

Now that I think about it, I get why he was let go.

"Come on Jeremy, let's have a talk before you jet off to God knows where." Scarlett is standing in front of the glassed wall, talking to someone on the phone. I stand awkwardly, holding out a cup of coffee, which I hope I ordered right.

"Hawaii? Not in a vacationing mood, can't come."

She looks over at me. "Is that for me?" She mouths.

I nod, walking up to her and handing her the cup of coffee. Our fingertips graze against each other and I feel a spark of electricity travel up my arm. A subtle touch that seems to linger even when I have taken a few steps back.

"See you soon," she says, taking out her air pods. She takes a sip of her coffee. "This is so good." She comments.

My eyes avert away as my hands glide over the touchscreen of my iPad, searching for the event planner I created. "You have a meeting with-".

She interrupts, "How was your weekend, Audrey?" She walks to her desk and leans on it.

This random question throws me off guard. It's was the way the words rolled off her tongue though.

"G-good, it was good." I swallow hard. "You have a meeting with-"

"Cancel that. We have somewhere to be." She takes her bag from the table and stands up.

"W-we?"

Gosh, I sound like an idiot.

"Yeah," she begins to walk towards the door. "Call my driver to drive the car to the front."

I rush behind her, "I do-don't have your driver's number." I stutter.

She stops walking all of a sudden and turns to me. I stop right in front of her, standing inches close. I nervously look up at her, who's staring down at me. "You should definitely get it." Her words hold so much authority, but there's this hint of mischievousness in her tone.

What's that?

~~~

"Hey, Jeremy," Scarlett greets, ignoring the man's attempt to give her a hug. She takes a seat with the man's hand still wide open.

"Still not a hugger?" He drops his arm, shaking off the disappointment with a smug smile.

She puts her bag on the seat beside her, probably to prevent the man from sitting close to her.

"You look fit, as always." He takes out his seat and sits opposite her.

"Thank you, not bad yourself." She compliments, barely looking at him, her eyes on her phone, her finger slowly dragging whatever she is reading up the screen.

He looks like an average white man, with an average height. His looks are average, but his suit is anything but average.

She drops her phone and for the first time since we entered; she gives him her attention.

"Jeremy, how are things going?" Her attempt to small talk seems forced. I can tell she will rather go straight to business.

"I am just chilling as always, not making any sudden changes like you, love." He jokes. It's then I notice his British accent.

Scarlett let out a strained chuckle, her hair falling in her face as she brushes it away.

Like she just noticed that I was standing there from the side of her eyes. She stretches her hand to introduce me. "This is my new assistant, Audrey."

He barely looks at me, just nods in acknowledgment. I mean, I am no Scarlett, but that kind of stings.

Scarlett looks up at me with the softest smile. "Come on, have a sit." She takes out her bag from that chair and puts it on the table.

I walk to her and take a seat. I take in the atmosphere of the restaurant, from the subtle aromas of the food to the warm lighting. I notice how quiet it is. The chairs and tables are empty, and even the bar is empty. He must have cleared it out for this meeting.

"You let Faye go? I am shocked."

"I couldn't bring her to New York with me. She's my brother's assistant now. Someone got to look after him, right?"

I feel my heart squeeze a little. If the all-efficient Faye were here, I wouldn't. I stop looking around. I sit up and try to look serious and focused as possible.

"She got one hell of an attitude, that one."

"I taught her well."

Jeremy chuckles, picking up the menu. "We should get some food or something."

"No, I am good. We will just have a bottle of wine after we seal this deal." She says self-assuredly. No hint of nervousness or self-doubt. I mean she did not stutter or smile, just so confident.

I wish I can take myself this seriously.

"You always get like this. It gives me goosebumps." He laughs nervously, licking his lips.

"I mean, I am confident with the services my company will be offering."

"You know, Donnie pleaded with me not to entertain any business meetings with you."

Scarlett rolls her eyes. "Donnie is an asshole."

"Or maybe because he knows you enchant me, right from college till now." He shakes his head, like a man who already knows what's coming and there's no stopping it.

I mean, I don't blame him.

"No, I think you trust me with your brand and I have never disappointed you. That won't change now that I am in another company-"

"I have no problem working with you and you know this, your new company? Well, I have doubts. Why did you leave anyway? I heard you were close to the top."

This topic must be a sour one. Her neutral, confident face slowly turns into a frown. But then, almost immediately, she starts to smile. "What can I say? I needed the challenge. With my help, Reach media is what will take your brand to the next level."

As she continues, I could barely keep my head straight. All I can think about is how mesmerizing she is.

"I signed a contract with your mum's company, for legal reasons I can't back out."

"I know, I was there. You signed for your business brand because my mum thought it was risky to handle you personally. I want Reach Media to handle PR for Jeremy Moore, and take your personal brand to new heights. I could get you back in people's mouths, get the media talking, heck I can even make them like you."

Jeremy groans, defeated. "Scarlett, Scarlett, Scarlett, you really are something." A smile playing on his lips, "Okay fine, but it's going to be a temporary contract. And you got to communicate with Don, it's important or he will freak out."

"I'll handle Donnie."

Jeremy looks down at his watch. "Look at that. I have a plane to catch." He says, looking up. "I got this hot model in my jet, with her hot model friends. Would have invited you, but you are no longer fun." He stands up, buttoning his suit.

Fun Scarlett? Oh, I can't help but wonder what that's like.

She will be a sight to behold, probably dancing on the countertop of the bar in her tiny outfit, champagne bottle in hand, swaying to the thumping beat of the music. Her blond hair bouncing as she has her eyes closed, without a care in the world, like no one is watching. But people are though, why won't they? She is the prettiest in the room. She-

I shake my head, trying to get rid of these thoughts.

What's wrong with me?

"It's better this way. I am trouble and you know it."

"You are always my kind of trouble." He leans on the table.

She leans in as well, "Maybe another time." She mutters with a half-smirk.

"Very well, more fun for me." He stands upright. "See you later." He walks away.

The smile on her face turns into an immediate frown. She rolls her eyes and picks up her phone. The sudden change in demeanor is kind of frightening–and kind of hot.

She drops her phone and turns to me. "Are you this quiet, or is it just around me?"

"Uh-" I start trying to put words together to answer another simple question of the day.

"You should express yourself, I don't bite. ," She smiles. "If you don't already know, I like you, Audrey," After a long pause, "As my assistant." She mutters.