1. Lily Rose Scott.
Lily's Pov.
Beep… Beep… Beep…
I bang my hand on alarm to stop it from buzzing. Then wake up as I don't want to be late for my new temp job. Today is the day to shine.
I take a quick shower and wear my best professional clothes. It includes white shirt with black pencil skirt with black coat. I tie my red straight hairs in high ponytail and put eyeliner under my sea green eyes.
My face is already fair with natural blush so I don't need any makeup. I wear low heels and take my blue purse. I leave my apartment after locking it behind me.
When I was ten years old my parents passed away in car accident. My brother just graduated high school and was hoping to get in to any of the colleges which he applied to. He was going to reject them all to stay with me but my father's best friend came to our aid.
Richard Anderson decided to pay for our educational needs and enrolled me in all girls boarding school. My brother didn't wanted to me to go but I knew it would be best for him to achieve something.
I missed my brother, Lucas a lot but he used to sent me gifts every month. I would get a call from him too. And on holidays we gather in our family home to celebrate it.
He is my best friend in the world. I thought we would drift away but he kept us together. He graduated with good grades and soon got job in Anderson company as a manager.
He got married to one his college friend, Emma after two years. Soon after two years they had baby boy, Ethan. And soon they are going to have baby girl who I will name. They all live at our parents' house.
The apartment I am living in is given to me by Richard. He is my god father. Always looking after us and having dinner with us every month to keep himself updated with our situation.
It is small but spacious apartment. A living room with attached kitchen and bedroom with ensuite bathroom which has shower and bathtub both. And a small storage room.
I am working for a temp agencies and it is has been four years. I completed my graduation last month only but I also wanted some experience so I could get job as soon as possible. This is my last temp job then I am going for job hunt. Anderson Company's CEO needs secretary for two weeks as his secretary is going on honeymoon for that time period.
As it is only 8am and I am really hungry, I go to nearby cafe and have my favourite Mocha coffee. I love chocolates that is why I love this coffee. I eat some pancakes then after paying, leave for subway.
I love travelling a lot. I am thinking about going for a long vacation with the money I have saved then get a new job. I can't work all the time and not have some me time. I want to enjoy my life as long as I am alone then once I find someone, I wouldn't get that much time for myself.
I may never had any boyfriend because I was driven by the need to make sure I am not a burden to my brother and Richard but that doesn't mean I would never have one. I was my priority for very long time as I want to reach somewhere in life then find a good man to date then marry and have kids and loads of them. And I know I would be there soon.
I reach my station and walk to the company as it is only short distance away. I am fifteen minutes earlier and show the guard on door the papers. He gives me Id which would be valid for a month. A month but I am working here for only two weeks.
I shrug my shoulder and enter the company. The receptionist guides me towards private elevator and shows me how it works here. I show my id to the screen and it buzz then lift opens up and I type in the executive floor code which she gives me and soon I am on the 45th floor of company where I would be working.
The receptionist, Cassy leaves me to the secretary and I wave at her as she goes away. Sarah shows me the way of how things run around here and I grasp it as much as possible.
"I already arranged everything for you and also brought coffee for Mr. Anderson. He likes red eye coffee. You can make it here also whenever he orders for it out of nowhere. I made schedule for him but in case he tells you to change here how you will do it." Sarah says and shows me the way around it. I am good at operating computer so it is easy to understand everything.
"I hope you are ready. Anything you want to ask?" Sarah asks me.
"Yes. I thought I was working here only for two weeks but the guard alloted me a month's pass. Why?" I ask.
"It is because it was sudden change. I am sorry. My fiancee whom I am going to marry tomorrow told me yesterday that we have to take detour to his family home in Italy. So it would take us more time as his family is huge. I emailed your company last night but they might have missed to tell you." Sarah says and I check my phone when I hear a ping only to see my company's email.
"Got it." I show her with a smile, "It is okay. Please enjoy a month's leave without stress. I will handle it from here."
"Thank you." She says and phone rings. She picks up and talks for five seconds then tells me that CEO is here.
It is 9:30. The CEO comes between nine to nine and half. The receptionist informs the secretary about his entry before hand only so secretary can prepare herself with tab on one hand and coffee on other one. The coffe is ready as Sarah taught me how to make it and we stand waiting for Mr. Anderson.
The executive floor is huge. CEO's office is at one end with secretary cubicle just outside the door and a waiting area opposite of that cubicle. The rest of the floor consist of boardroom, break room, restroom and lounge room. It also has some workroom for team and presentation room.
Sarah and I enter CEO's office to wait for him. I look around to see immaculate room. It has big table with chair and the wall behind has books and files. The left side of the room has sitting area with luxurious sofa and chairs and coffee table. It also has conference table and chairs. A stairs runs down on one side and I ask Sarah about it. She tells me it has private room for CEO.
I hear whoosh of door opening of the office and look that side to see a huge lean man entering it. He is tall and athletic by body. His hair is jet black with shiny and softer looking locks. He is wearing sunglasses over his electric blue eyes which clash with mine and I feel jolt of current run through me.
What the hell? I never have thought like this when I see men. I only focus on my work. On recent temp jobs some of the bosses even invited me for date but I refused it without a second thought. But I fear if this person asks me to bring a file, I will literally fly to do it.
He goes behind his desk and looks at us then says, "Good Morning, Sarah and…?"
I don't say anything for few seconds then Sarah coughs a bit and I come out of my stupid reverie. I forward my hand and say, "Lily. Lily Rose Scott at your service for a month, Mr. Anderson."
He raises his black intense brows at my hand and I think if I did something wrong. But he takes my hand and I feel tingling sensation all over my body. What is happening to me? I have to go for check up, seriously. And why the hell I told him my middle name which I never mention to anyone.
I try to take my hand back but he doesn't let goes and squeeze a little. I look up to see his eyes looking at me like he is literally looking in to my soul rather than me. He let's go of my hand and I hold my right hand behind my back as I try to control my rapid heartbeat.
"Nice to meet you. Hope you got all the details for this position from Sarah." Mr. Anderson says as he takes back his hand.
"Yes." I say simply as I look down.
"Great. I hope now you would be relieved enough to enjoy the gift I sent you for you and your would be. Take your time and enjoy the vacation to the fullest. Then you would have loads of work." Mr. Anderson says to Sarah with a genuine smile.
"Sure, Sir. I hope you are coming to my wedding tomorrow?" Sarah asks as she raises her brows in worry.
"Ofcourse. But I would be there for reception only as I have meetings lined up at afternoon." Mr Anderson says as he sits down.
"That is completely okay, Sir. I will take my leave now. Lily, if you have any queries please do let me know about it." Sarah says.
"No she can ask me. You enjoy your month long vacation without any interruptions. Take care. Lily show me the schedule for today." Mr. Anderson says and Sarah smiles and leaves after waving at me.
Lily time to wear professional look on your face. I give him the tab and he looks at it for a minute then tells me to make some changes. I jot that down on my notepad. As he drinks his coffee, I leave to call certain clients to fix some meetings and cross check everything.
I love staying busy. From running one place to another or running my brain to solve something. In all girls school, I ran for president and won too. I busied myself in everything to forget my grief. At first, it was library or book club then school president.
I have yet to tell Lucas about me doing job in the company he is currently working. Even Richard my godfather doesn't knows about it. I will surprise Lucas when I will meet him at lunch time. He got promoted to team leader of his group three months ago.
I didn't came to his cabin then but I did baked a cake for him with Emma and celebrated with them in our house. We don't live together as we both work at different place. And also our family home is very far from my agency and apartment.
I join Mr. Anderson for some meetings before lunch and note down some points that he will want to think about later and also highlights some of the notes and add suggestions. At lunch time, he comes at my desk as I complete some of the work.
"Did you bring your lunch?" He asks and I look at him with wide eyes.
"No." I answer with as much blank look that I could muster.
"So let me treat you with one. It is your first day and we can also discuss some business while there." He says and I don't think it is going to fully professional lunch. I hesitate for a few seconds then look up at him to answer.
"I am sorry I can't. I have prior commitments." I say politely so as not to create any kind of misunderstanding.
"Oh. Okay. Please keep the notes you took in my office before you go." He says and I can clearly see it is not okay. But I think I am stupid to think a man like him would be disappointed to not have lunch with him. Ya, like that could happen.
After he leaves, I put the notes on his desk at front of his chair. I look up to see his family photo consisting of Richard and his wife and their other two sons. Then I realise I don't know the first name of my boss. Seriously how dumb I can be. I will research about him after my lunch.
I go to Lucas floor as per he told me about and knock at his cabin while people look at me with wide eyes and curiosity. I smile at some of them and they smile back. My brother permits me to come in and I go inside.
"You have gotten very busy Mr. Scott that your sister has to take appointment to meet you." I say as I see Lucas busy in his files.
"Rosie." Lucas says as he sees me and takes me on his warm embrace.
"Please don't call me that." I scold him and he laughs.
"What are you doing here, dear?" Lucas asks.
"Just a temp job…of secretary…for CEO." I say with a grin.
"Oh really. Why didn't you told me?" He says as he frowns.
"To surprise you. Let's go for lunch. We will talk about it there. I am really very hungry. Come." I say as I take him outside of his office. He stops and introduces me to his team.
"Meet my sister, Lily. And Lily these is my team who I am really grateful for as they are not only hard working but also very understanding too." Lucas says.
"Come on now. Don't try butter polish us to make us work harder for your praises. And you both look so similar. When she came here I thought I saw her somewhere." A middle aged woman says with a blush.
We talk for a while then go for lunch. Lucas takes me to a good restaurant near the company. He orders my favourite baked mac n' cheese with tomato soup and chocolate cake.
"So how long are going to work here?" Lucas asks.
"For a month. So I hope you are taking Emma out on this Saturday for date. I have to arrange for her baby shower. I already informed her colleagues and friends. Also her mom is coming too. I just have to decorate the garden and bake some food. But I also have left some shopping to do." I babble on and on and my brother just smiles at me.
"Calm down, everything is going to be just fine. But you have to babysit Ethan if you are not forgetting." He says and I nod.
I feel a stare at my back and look around to see where it is coming from but don't see anything unusual. Maybe I am getting paranoid. We have hearty lunch and talk then get back to our following work.
When I come back, I see Mr. Anderson has yet to arrive so I do some research on my phone to see who he is really. At first there is an imagenof his family and some details which I read through then I see his name.
"My first name is Ryan." I hear a voice behind me and I sit up in shock.