Finding his soul

2

As the meeting came to a close, the room buzzed with people leaving, leaving only Gloria, the lady I met in the elevator, and me. Just as I was about to make my exit, Kaden, the man I used to date, stopped me in my tracks.
He gestured to halt me mid-stride while engrossed in conversation with Gloria, then shifted his gaze towards me and calmly said, "Miss Smith, I'll need to see you in my office in five minutes."
I mustered up my politest tone and replied, "Yes, sir," before watching him return to his discussion with Gloria.
Walking out of the room, I couldn't believe my luck – or lack thereof – as I hurried to find Alex and share what just transpired. My momentum was halted by Charlotte, who swiftly informed me of a new task.
"I need you to book a flight for Mr. Richardson," she said, her eyes locked on her iPad. "You leave for Miami in six hours, and remember, it's not just any flight – he owns a private jet."
Kaden owns a private jet? The very same Kaden I once dated has a freaking jet?
I received an email from Charlotte Ann, presumably her full name. Gathering my thoughts, I made my way to Kaden's office, taking a seat across from his imposing desk. While waiting for his arrival, I diligently booked the 2 pm flight, mindful of his preferences, which I had studied earlier – this job seemed to require great attention to detail.
How did I end up as my ex-boyfriend's assistant? Life certainly has a way of surprising us.
My reverie was interrupted when Kaden strolled into his office, nonchalantly taking a seat and loosening his tie.
As I locked eyes with him, he expertly poured himself a whiskey, a slight click of his tongue accompanying his words, "Miss Smith, I presume your bags will be ready by one thirty," a smile gracing his lips.
Arms crossed, I nodded and couldn't help but challenge him, "Why are you calling me Miss Smith, Kaden? You know exactly who I am."
His gaze swept over me, an inscrutable look in his eyes, as he licked his lips before responding, "I take my job very seriously, Miss Smith. I do not let personal relationships interfere with my workspace. But if you have a problem with that, I'm sure you can find somewhere else to go," his eyes holding mine with an unwavering intensity.
My internal monologue couldn't help but label him as an ass, a cold-hearted little rat. Yet, despite my feelings, I needed this job – the pay was too good to pass up, much better than anything I had earned before.
With a scoff, I relented, "Fine, but can you at least call me by my name, if you even remember it?" I challenged him once more, and he shook his head, not giving in so easily.
"Yes, I will call you by your name if that's what you wish for," he finally acquiesced, taking another sip from his drink.
"Is that everything?" I asked, hoping to wrap up the conversation.
"Yes, I prefer it when my assistants call me sir, Naomi... You may be my ex-girlfriend, but I do hope you take this job seriously," he remarked sternly.
I forced a smile and replied, "Yes." However, his stern gaze prompted me to add, "Yes, sir," with a hint of sarcasm.
A hint of amusement crossed his face as he retorted, "I was joking, but it's nice to see you, Naomi," his smile genuine.
"Yeah, it's not like you broke m-"
Before I could finish my sentence, he cut me off, steering the conversation away from our past, "If you would like to talk about our personal relationship, you can save it for our hour-long flight. My network manager, Alexis, will be joining us. I've been informed that you know her."
I confirmed, "Yes, I know her," while he questioned if she would distract me from my work.
"No, she won't," I replied with certainty.
"Good, then you're free to go do more work," he said, getting off his desk.The prospect of working closely with my ex-boyfriend, combined with the enigmatic Alexis' presence, made me realize that this job was far from ordinary.
As I glanced at Kaden, I couldn't help but feel a tinge of boredom in my gut. "Kaden, I actually don't have anything to do for today. This iPad has nothing else for me to do," I sighed, hoping for an engaging challenge to come my way.
His brow furrowed with confusion. "You should have been sent a list of things to do before the flight," he stated, seemingly surprised by my lack of tasks.
I met his gaze as he set down his drink, his eyes locked on mine as he approached me. "May I?" he asked, gesturing towards the iPad, his hands hovering close to mine.
"Of course, go ahead," I replied, allowing him to take the iPad from me. As his warm hands touched mine, memories of our past encounters surfaced, sending a shiver down my spine. My mind drifted back to a time when his touch evoked different emotions.
His fingers danced across the screen, brows furrowing as he examined the contents. "Hmm," he mumbled, clearly perplexed by the missing list of tasks.
Without warning, Charlotte rushed into the room, adjusting her hair as she arrived. "Yes, sir?" she addressed Kaden with a hint of eagerness.
"Charlotte, I'd like to know why Naomi doesn't have the list of jobs that I asked you to give her," Kaden's tone was stern, highlighting his dissatisfaction.
In a seemingly nonchalant manner, Charlotte smiled and responded, "Well, as she's new, I didn't want her to mess up the job, so I did them for her."
I couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at her explanation, wondering if she was truly trying to protect me or if there was something else at play. Kaden's expression remained inscrutable, and I couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to this exchange than met the eye.
As I observed the dynamic between my ex-boyfriend and his efficient assistant, a sense of intrigue and mystery began to envelop me. I had a feeling that working with Kaden and his team would be anything but mundane, and my curiosity was piqued, eager to uncover the secrets that lay ahead in this enigmatic world of high stakes and personal history.
As I sat across from him, I couldn't help but observe the way he handled Charlotte. The air seemed tense, and her initial smile quickly vanished. It was intriguing to witness the dynamics between them, but I had my own questions for him.
"Why is she so scared of you?" I inquired, genuinely curious.
He leaned back, taking a sip of his alcohol, and explained, "Charlotte used to be my father's assistant, but I found her rather bothersome, so I reassigned her to floor management."
I couldn't resist mentioning the rumors I'd heard, "You know, she has a crush on you."
A faint smirk played on his lips, and he retorted, "My job and personal life don't have room for relationships."
I decided to tease him a bit, hoping to lighten the mood, "Well, you seem to lead a rather monotonous life."
He looked at me intently, and I couldn't help but challenge him, "And are you implying your life is any more exciting?"
With an air of confidence, I replied, "Absolutely! I even have a boyfriend." It was a lie, of course, but I wanted to see his reaction.
Unexpectedly, he moved closer, and I could sense his cologne. A mix of nerves and intrigue surged within me. However, my anxiety eased as he pulled out a cigarette box from behind me, breaking the tension.
"As I said, Naomi," he spoke in a low tone, "let's hope your personal life doesn't interfere with your work."
I left his office, feeling a sense of exhilaration mixed with uncertainty. Our encounter was like a glimpse into the world of secrets and complex relationships that intrigued me beyond measure.
As I made my way towards the door, his words caught me off guard. "As you have nothing to do, I suggest you pack an outfit for New York," he said casually, placing a cigarette between his lips. I couldn't help but sigh inwardly; his smoking habit was a sad sight.
"Sure, the flight leaves at two," I replied with a smile, deciding to embrace the unexpected opportunity.
As I exited his office, I encountered Alexis, my colleague and confidante. She seemed shocked and dragged me into the bathroom, where we could talk privately.
"Why didn't you tell me you used to date our boss?" she asked, her curiosity getting the best of her.
"Trust me, the guy is an absolute jerk," I rolled my eyes, wondering how Alexis had uncovered this information.
"Well, I am the network manager, and the internet tells me a lot," she quipped, waving her arms dramatically.
"I was going to tell you, but Charlotte interrupted me earlier," I explained, feeling a tad frustrated. "And you didn't tell me you're going to New York," I added, crossing my arms.
"Okay, we're even now," she laughed, seemingly unfazed by my revelation.
To my surprise, Alexis expressed her intention to join me on the trip. "I'm coming with you. It'll be fun, being stuck with my ex for an hour," I sighed, realizing the irony of the situation.
"You've got to admit, having your ex as the boss of the biggest company in New York is kind of hot... no, very hot," she smirked playfully.
"Dating the boss doesn't outweigh the fact that he's an asshole," I rolled my eyes, trying not to let my emotions get the better of me.
"He might be, but not to you," she nudged me knowingly, leaving me slightly bewildered.
"Well, whatever. I've got nothing to do for the rest of the day. How about you?" I inquired, hoping for a bit of relaxation.
"Unfortunately, I have to write up the presentation for Mr. Richardson," she replied dutifully.
"Ah, good luck with that. I think I'll catch some sleep before the flight," I smiled, considering the idea of a quick nap.
"Don't get too comfortable; the flight is soon," she warned with a grin, to which I playfully rolled my eyes.
"I'll be fine," I assured her, embracing the adventure that awaited me in New York, despite the unexpected twists that had come my way.