The Secretary and Her Boss

Chapter 34

I am brave. I am strong. I am smart. I can do this... I wish I was flame retardant... I can do this... right?

Self-talk only went so far when you were moving half-bind through a burning house. 

I wanted to go after my brothers. But I didn't know where they were, and I had to trust Laurence to get them back to me safely. 

I can do this, I said more fiercely to myself as I slowly made my way toward where Natalie was being kept, trying to figure out how I would get past Derik to get her out. The hallway was hot, far hotter than it had been minutes ago. 

I pulled the collar of my dress over my nose, trying to breathe past the smoke and ash, staying low to the ground as I moved past the kitchen, the tiled ground giving way to carpet serving as a beacon that I was going the right way. 

I heard shouting in the distance. Carter had discover my trickery. "WHERE ARE YOU?!?" he bellowed, all illusion of his calm, gone. There was a loud crash, Carter sending something crashing to the ground in his rage. 

"You can't hide forever!" 

"Wanna bet?" I muttered softly as I ducked down behind a potted plant next to the doorway of the room Natalie was being held in. I paused, listening, waiting for Derik to make himself known. I didn't have access to cameras anymore, and had no idea if he was even still in the room. 

So I did something utterly painful. I waited. 

Carter continued to shout, smashing things, his voice moving down the hall, slowly closer, and still, I waited. 

The air grew hotter, and still I waited. 

The house began to groan and crack as wood was consumed by flame and still, I waited. 

Finally, I heard it, the answer I was looking for. 

"Stop looking at me like that. A woman as pretty as you should smile," Derik said, voice slightly muffled. I chanced a peek around the doorway. Derik's back was toward me, staring down at Natalie who glared up at him, chin tilted up, blond hair wild around her face. 

"Your face gives me very little reason to smile," she replied, seeming surprisingly calm as she stared him down. "You leave very little inspiration for a joy induced grin."

I suppressed a laugh, surprised by her bravery. I love this girl. 

Derik moved toward Natalie, hand raised, ready to strike her across the face. 

Natalie didn't flinch like he expected her to, instead she tilted her head, cheek toward him in a silent dare. This stopped Derik for a beat, throwing him off. 

"What game are you trying to play?" he sputtered.

She didn't repeat herself, instead staring him down, snatching the power from the conversation like a mother snatching a dangerous item from a child and watching the child stand there shocked at the audacity. 

Taking my chance, I quietly got to my feet, picked up the potted plant on the ground next to the door and sprinted toward Derik. Natalie glanced in my direction, and Derik noticing the change on her face spun. 

He only had a moment to widen his eyes in surprise before I slammed the heavy potted plat into his face, sending him crashing to the ground. 

I didn't stop to look and see the damage. There was a strong chance that Carter had heard the crash and I couldn't wait around and find out. I grabbed Natalie's arm and pulled her to her feet, scrambling to undo the ties around her hands. 

When she was free, I tugged her from the room. "Follow me and stay quiet," I murmured. 

We stumbled into the hallway, breathing hard in the heat, her arm trembling under my grip, her brave bravado fading now that Derik was left behind. Once my heels hit the tiled floor of the kitchen I could breathe easier.