CHAPTER 2

　　　CARLY

　　　He’s definitely testing me.

　　　The kind of test that wasn’t part of my one-week provision. In my defense, I got the notice late—just an hour before I showed up to work. Maybe the first one failed to give an early notice that she’d rather climb the Himalayan valley than work with the broody with attitude problem CEO Rome Langston, but I wasn’t going to ask that. Considering my record of punching my ex-boss, I didn’t want to hurt my ego for being the second choice. 

　　　I might have to consider hitting his handsome face if he insulted me. Yes, he got that striking stone blue eyes and squared jaw that clenched all the time.

　　　I was actually considering it, but I took a deep breath. I needed this job so badly. I’d been idle for almost three months. And I couldn’t be choosy when I dethroned myself as a boring working woman in a foreign country. 

　　　Three years ago, I would have laughed at myself for this kind of job. Don’t get me wrong, this was decent and paid well. But I was at the top of the world back then. People called me lucky, every girl’s dream, and would give up everything to be in my place, and they literally bowed to me. 

　　　Right now, I didn’t want attention. All I wanted was to work, make ends meet, and be with my best friend after a long tiring day.

　　　But my boss had been ordering me all morning. And he was glaring all the time at me, at his computer, and at those files on his desk. 

　　　He hardly gave me room to breathe. He ordered me something that was out of my scope. I may be new as his assistant, but I knew what I signed up for. 

　　　I didn’t dare ask. I would behave as a good assistant. The last thing I wanted was to tell him how he was an arsehole.

　　　“Storm!” I almost fell from my chair as his voice boomed across his modern luxurious office. Why in the hell does he keep calling me that?

　　　I walked in. The view behind the glass window alone was magnificent, revealing sparkling skyscrapers. Unlike where I came from—most were 18th-century architecture, but the capital city had started to modernize.

　　　“Do this again. At least use a spellchecker if you are not sure.” He threw the file on the coffee table in front of his desk. He then rose from his seat. “I want it tomorrow morning. Do you understand?”

　　　I picked up the file and checked it. “Mr. Langston, I’m not—”

　　　“I don’t want another word from you, Storm.”

　　　“It’s Carly, sir.” I may have changed my surname because it sounded absurd in the U.S, but Carlott seemed fine. I prefer Carly to Carlott, though.

　　　“I’m leaving. Florian will be here shortly to endorse the works she had left.” He went to pick up his coat before I could help him out.

　　　“Thank you, sir. I’ll have this ready for you by tomorrow.”

　　　An hour later, after my boss left, I was done revising what he asked me to do, arranging his schedule, and emailing them to him. 

　　　Only one word in a British that made him so grumpy. I didn’t know he was this perfectionist. I printed it and placed it on the file. 

　　　An early fifties woman with a classic short hairstyle walked in with a bright smile. She must be Florian, my predecessor.

　　　I rose to my feet to meet her. “Hi. You must be Florian. “

　　　She accepted my hand for a handshake. “He’s already giving you a hard time, isn’t he?”

　　　Did I look that exhausted already?

　　　We settled on the couch. 

　　　“Can I get you something to drink?” I offered.

　　　“No, dear. Thank you.” She pulled out an organizer from her bag. “Romare is the nicest young man I know. It’s just this job is too hard on him. Give him some time. He’ll come around.”

　　　“I understand exactly. I had a terrible boss once, and I can handle Mr. Langston just right. May I ask you something?”

　　　The old woman smiled. 

　　　“Who was hired before me?”

　　　“What do you mean?”

　　　“I know I’m not the first choice for this job because I should have gotten the memo early. What happened to her? Did she quit?”

　　　“I’m afraid I don’t know what you’re talking about, dear. The HR manager is good at her job. If she chose you, then she saw your potential, and you are qualified.”

　　　I was not entirely convinced, but I let it pass. I looked down at the brown leather organizer. “You’re old school.” My words made her smile.

　　　“I’m old, but yeah. I still know how to use gadgets. But I want you to have this.” She offered it to me.

　　　“I can’t take that.” I pushed it back.

　　　“There’s nothing in here, dear. And you don’t have to write down Romare’s schedule. I want you to have this.”

　　　“Why?” I asked out of curiosity.

　　　“I feel like you will stay longer, and you can write down anything you want in this notebook.”

　　　“Thank you.” I hesitantly took it from her. “Any advice?”

　　　“Just be yourself. Don’t hold back. Express your opinion even if he fires you.”

　　　My eyes widened. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. And I badly need a job. I don’t think someone will ever hire me if I get fired again.”

　　　“I know you very well, dear, just by one look.” She rose from the seat and smiled. “You don’t need any advice.”

　　　I just sat there, watched her walk away, and shut the door behind her. 

　　　A few minutes later, my phone buzzed. 

　　　I answered it. “What are you gonna say this time?”

　　　“I hope this is your last job, Your Highness.”

　　　I pursed my lips before I replied. “It’s Carly. And I’m not making any promises.”

　　　“How’s your new boss?”

　　　“What happened to the assigned assistant?”

　　　“She landed another job. No need to worry about her. So how’s Mr. Romare Sevyn Hunter Langston?” Of course, he did a background check on him before I even knew he was going to be my boss. 

　　　“Arsehole. Men like you are arseholes.”

　　　“Watch your mouth, dear. I’m still your guardian.”

　　　“My fake guardian and I’m an adult. I hardly need one.”

　　　He chuckled. “You’re enjoying this too much. Just don’t get too attached to your new boss. He’s kinda a snatched.”

　　　“An asshole, you mean. And I won’t.”

　　　“Language, Carlott. Call me if you need anything. See you later.”

　　　***

　　　I tied my hair into a messy bun and slumped my butt into the couch after I changed into my comfy PJs. 

　　　My best friend for almost three years, Heera, a Middle-Eastern woman, joined me with a plate of chicken Shawarma. She studied and worked in the US. Her family was a modern Arab but valued their culture and religion very much.

　　　“So, how’s your first day?” 

　　　I picked a sliced of Shawarma and placed it on my plate. “Fine.”

　　　“I was surprised you got the job.”

　　　“You think I won’t get that job?” I glared at her, slightly offended. 

　　　She knew who I was after we became roommates for a year. She was mad at me for keeping a secret. My bodyguard and guardian asked her to sign an NDA, and she did. But I trusted her with my life that she would not disclose my identity to anyone without it.

　　　“Well, clearly, you’re not their first choice.” She stubbed a pickle a little bit dramatically before she shoved it into her mouth.

　　　“I get the job. End of the story.”

　　　“Rome Langston. How’s he?”

　　　“Grumpy like an old man.”

　　　Heera laughed beside me, elbowing me. “I’ve read that a thousand times, my dear princess. First, they can’t stand each other. Then there’s this crazy chemistry full of fireworks going between—”

　　　“Stop.” I smiled earnestly. “There’s no crazy chemistry of fireworks. Just fire from his mouth. He’s so grumpy and brooding, glaring all the time.” I pinched my eyebrows together, showing Heera. “His eyebrows were always sticking together. He’s like angry at the world in general. You know Red? The Angry Bird? Yeah, he’s that guy.”

　　　“Who saved the entire bird community? Sounds familiar?”

　　　I rolled my eyes. 

　　　She rolled her eyes as well. “Mr. Langston lost his father while having the best time of his life. Then ta-da, he had to run the family business.”

　　　“You seem to know much more about my boss than me?”

　　　“I kinda stalked his Twitter account. And you should know by now not to judge someone. You know what it feels like when you have no choice but to do the duty because you are born to it.” I almost flinched at her words.

　　　“I’m sorry. I don’t mean to open an old wound.” She held my hand when I went silent.

　　　“That’s exactly what you meant, Heera. But I’m not mad. And you were right. In fact, I know how it feels to do something you dislike and to be something you don’t want to be. I bent myself into what they wanted me to be. I dedicated my life to my title and placed my duty above all else, even my own happiness. When I made a mistake, they forgot the good I did for most people. That’s how they quickly judged you, changed their mind, and made you a villain.”

　　　“But you know you must leave this life one day, right?”

　　　I pursed my lips and placed the plate on the coffee table. “Yeah.”

　　　“But first, you need to sleep with Romare Langston.” She wiggled her eyebrows.

　　　With wide eyes, I protested, “No way! He’s my boss.”

　　　“And so?”

　　　“Fraternization?” I reminded her. 

　　　“He’s into you, Carly.”

　　　“What? No! He hates me.”

　　　“Trust me. He doesn’t. I saw him in the nightclub staring at you.”