His Accidental Personal Assistant

Chapter 11: T R U T H

OH MY GOODNESS! I BIT OFF MORE THAN I COULD CHEW! IT TOOK SO LONG!

SORRY IF IT'S BORING OR LONG, SO SORRY, GOT A BIT TOO INVESTED.

***

She needed to know as much information about the deal as possible before she could talk to any of the men. However, that brought up the looming question of who she would talk to. The people she knew were scarce, even then, she barely "knew" them. Kaelen, Fionn, and Alexis were people she had just met within the last hour or so. Out of the bunch, the only person she had a conversation that lasted more than five lines was Alexis.

Avery was a better option than Kaelen or Fionn, but still, it was a rocky road. She didn't know about the "deal" Mr. Castillo made with Amaris. For all Amaris knew, Alexis was under the impression that Amaris was Mr. Castillo's actual assistant, and undoubtedly it would raise some eyebrows if she didn't have basic knowledge about the contract.

There was one other person she could turn to—the only person.

The sharp, beguiling smell of aged mahogany mingled with cedar tinged the air, stopping Amaris in her tracks. A blend of familiarity and anticipation, coupled with a hint of unease, took hold. A stir of erratic dread swirled within her, as her eyes traced the man of her thoughts striding by.

Amaris paused for a moment. Mr. Castillo was engrossed in discussions with the men around him. It was as if he possessed an impenetrable facade, shielding his emotions from the outside world. Like the rumble of distant thunder, his voice echoed across the room, a swell of warmth and commanding timbre.

Amaris mustered her courage. She approached, her steps steady and deliberate, her gaze fixed on Mr. Castillo. Amaris was lost in the sea of businessmen scurrying the halls, swarmed with the sight of monochrome business suits and balding men. There he stood, stoic and unflappable, his face a mask of composure.

A heavy breath slipped out of her.

"Excuse me."

Their laughter stalled as the men grew silent. Their eager eyes turned dull as they faced Amaris. She glanced at the surrounding men, her face laden with bleak skepticism. There was a possibility that none of them were as they seemed.

Amaris watched in awe as Mr. Castillo's expression underwent a dramatic transformation. In a matter of moments, the joy that had illuminated his face was extinguished, replaced by a cold and emotionless facade. It was as if a switch had been flipped, extinguishing any traces of warmth or excitement that had previously animated his features.

For a moment, Amaris was taken aback."

"Well, it's about time I meet you face to face," Mr. Washington remarked as soon as she came, a genial smile gracing his lips, "It seems as though Mr. Castillo over here likes to keep you hush. I've never heard of you before. May I know how long you have been working for Mr. Castillo."

"Oh, I'm actually quite n—"

Before she could continue, a gruff voice finished for her.

"Quite a while now," Mr. Castillo added, his words free of hesitation.

Amaris's eyes flickered towards Mr. Castillo, a mix of curiosity and suspicion swirling within her. Everyone in the room believed that she was Mr. Castillo's trusted and long-standing assistant, a facade she had to maintain. In a split second, she was on the verge of telling everyone the truth, almost unraveling everything.

Mr. Washington cocked a questioning brow as he reached for a glass of water planted at the edge of the coffee table.

"Oh really?"