Chapter 3 - A Job She Never Applied For
By noon, the entire executive floor knew I had been offered a position.
By three, rumors had turned it into something ugly.
The cleaner seduced the CEO.
The CEO is obsessed with the cleaner.
She saved his life and got promoted.
People always needed a story.
The truth was simpler.
I was terrified.
Lucas had moved me into a temporary role as his executive support coordinator, which sounded impressive until I realized I still didn't know how to operate half the technology on his desk.
Natalie trained me.
"Don't be intimidated."
"I was a janitor yesterday."
"Cleaner."
"What?"
"We prefer cleaner."
I stared at her.
"That changes everything."
She laughed.
Natalie was the first executive who treated me like a human being.
She taught me schedules.
Documents.
Travel plans.
Security protocols.
Lucas watched from his office door.
He never interfered.
On my first afternoon, he asked:
"How's it going?"
"I'm terrible."
"Good."
I looked at him.
He smiled.
"That means you're learning."
Three days after my promotion, he asked me to attend a board meeting.
I nearly choked.
"I don't belong there."
"You sit beside me."
"Why?"
"Because I trust you."
That sentence scared me more than the poisoned drink.
The boardroom was filled with twelve executives.
I recognized several from company advertisements.
Richard Sloan, chief financial officer.
Mark Ellison, general counsel.
Vivian Grant, board member.
And Thomas Reed.
The man with silver cufflinks.
My heart stopped.
Lucas noticed.
"Bailey?"
I whispered.
"That's him."
Lucas didn't move.
"Who?"
"Thomas."
His eyes flicked toward the man.
Thomas was smiling politely.
"Are you sure?"
I nodded.
"Very."
The meeting continued.
Lucas discussed the company's next expansion.
Thomas raised concerns.
"Perhaps your recovery should be the priority."
Lucas smiled.
"My recovery is fine."
Thomas glanced at me.
"Perhaps your staff could limit distractions."
The room went silent.
Lucas leaned back.
"Ms. Parker has been instrumental."
Thomas's smile vanished.
"Of course."
After the meeting, Lucas closed his office door.
"Tell me everything."
I described Thomas.
Then I remembered something.
"He wore the same cufflinks in the elevator."
Lucas nodded.
"Those are custom."
"You know them?"
"Yes."
"Where are they from?"
"My father's collection."
I stared.
"What?"
Lucas looked toward the city.
"Thomas worked for my father."
A chill traveled down my spine.
"Why?"
"He was his closest adviser."
"And now?"
"My father died six years ago."
"So Thomas came to work for you."
"Yes."
I frowned.
"Wouldn't that make him trustworthy?"
Lucas gave a humorless smile.
"My father trusted him."
"And you don't?"
"I don't trust anyone who wants my company more than they want me alive."
I didn't know what to say.
That night Lucas asked me to stay late.
We worked through financial documents until almost ten.
At 10:15, he stopped.
"You've been rubbing your wrist."
"It's sore."
"You shouldn't have to work like this."
"I need the job."
"You don't."
He looked at me.
"I can arrange better healthcare."
"I don't want charity."
"Neither do I."
He paused.
"I want you healthy."
Something shifted inside me.
I looked away.
"You're my boss."
"Unfortunately."
I smiled.
Then he asked:
"What did your mother tell you?"
"About what?"
"Being a nurse."
I swallowed.
"She said I had healing hands."
He smiled.
"She was right."
I looked at him.
"You remind me of someone."
"Who?"
"My mother."
He grew quiet.
"How?"
"She never gave up on people."
He looked toward the window.
"That's dangerous."
"So is giving up."
He smiled.
"Fair."
At 11:20, the building's power flickered.
I looked around.
"Is that normal?"
"No."
The lights went out.
Emergency lights came on.
Lucas stood immediately.
"Stay here."
"No."
He looked surprised.
"I've learned enough tonight to know when someone is trying to isolate us."
He smiled.
"Good."
Then the office door opened.
Thomas stood outside.
"Lucas."
"What do you want?"
"We need to talk."
"About?"
Thomas's eyes moved to me.
"I'd prefer privacy."
Lucas stepped between us.
"You have it."
Thomas's smile faded.
Then security arrived.
He left.
When the door shut, I whispered:
"He knew I was here."
Lucas nodded.
"So does someone else."
My phone buzzed.
A photograph.
Me sitting beside Lucas in the boardroom.
Taken from the hallway.
Underneath it were four words.
YOU'RE GETTING TOO CLOSE.
I looked at Lucas.
"What am I getting close to?"
He took the phone from me.
"I don't know."
May you like
Then he looked toward the black window.
"But we're going to find out."
