Heartbeat

T W O

《Sunday, June, 12, 2016》

After that argument with my father, my mood had significantly dropped, and the weather outside did nothing to rectify it. It was just another one of those dull mornings were you feel like dropping everything and laze around. However, I couldn't do that due to the meager fact that I run a whole damn company.

I strode inside with many people greeting me, and I, only nodding my head at them. One of the staff members from administration, Rob, approached me warily, "Good morning Sir," he said, not looking directly at me, and his posture seemed frigid and nervous.

I nodded my head at him to continue. "Sir, there is a minor, issue that came in this morning."

Oh great! "What happened?"

He looked away and began stuttering, " Sir, uh... the... people from the... Everett project... they need all the papers tomorrow for the meeting. They said they couldn't wait til next week."

"Tomorrow!?" Rob flinched at the harshness of my voice.

He nodded and I inhaled deeply to calm myself, "Alright, go tell Carter I need all the financial papers today." Rob mumbled an 'okay' then scurried away while I was heading up to my office.

'Today is going to be a long one,' I thought to myself, 'Especially since I haven't worked on anything yet.' Damn my procrastination.

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Few hours later, I was still buried in a mountainous amount of work when a knock on the door pulled me out of my concentration. Carter, the head of the finance department, came inside. He greeted me then gave me the papers we needed. I thanked him then checked over them.

Later on in the day I called Carter back in.

"Is there any problem Sir?"

"Yes there is. I found a mistake in the budget while I was checking it."

He raised his eyebrow in surprise, "A mistake? That is impossible. I revised the budget before giving it to you. Nothing was wrong with it."

"Ok, but there is a mistake," I stated again.

"Maybe you should talk to Miss Samuels about it."

"Who? Why would I talk to her?"

"Sir she's the one who did the budget. I did the financial report."

I don't remember ever going across her name, "How long has she been working here for?"

"Almost six years."

That's a long, she's been here longer than me.How come we never met?

"Fine, then call her over here."

Few minutes later, I heard a soft knock on my door, then a girl entered, I assumed it was Miss Samuels. When my eyes adjusted on her, I was surprised to see a young girl, probably in her mid twenties.

I'd be lying if I said she wasn't attractive, because she is. Beyond that even. She is absolutely beautiful. Especially with her long brown hair that frams her face then ends in curls at her mid back. As I looked her over, I noticed how green her eyes are. They were like emeralds twinkling against the lights in the office. I stopped at her lips, her full pink lips...

No more observing.

I can now remember seeing her around the company, but only in fleeting, unfocused glances, but I've seen her before.

She sat in the chair in front of me, "You called for me Mr.Valdez. What's the problem?"
Her voice was melodic, like music to my ears.

"Before, what's your name?"

"Isabella Samuels."

"How old are you."

She frowned and looked around in confusion, "I'm 28"

She's two years younger. I nodded, "You did the budget?"

"Yes."

"Well I found a mistake in it," I stated.

Isabella raised her eyebrows, "A mistake," she scoffed, "What is it?"

"The expenditures you put are outrageous, we will not use this much."

"You will not? How do you know?"

"How would I not know, I planned this project."

"Yea, but I know the expenses that it needs. That's my job, and of there were anything wrong Carter would have fixed it."

Anger was slowly building up in both of us; ready to get unleashed and collide with the tension in the air... which won't be good.

Hence I nodded my head and spoke in a normal voice "I also know what I'm doing. So now go and fix this budget."

She glared at me, the ferocity of her gaze burned through my soul, "You're stupid."

I raised an eyebrow at her furiously, "Excuse me?"

"The amount isn't outrageous, it's what's needed. The project is huge, so ultimately it needs huge expenses. Why can't you understand! I'll tell you again I know what I'm doing, this is what I studied, this is my job!" she shouted in my face, and her's was becoming red. She stood up as if to leave and so did I, but before I can comment about her rudeness she winced.

She let out a pained cry, and put a hand on her head and the other one her heart. I rushed to her side, "Miss... are you... sit down..." bit instead she let out another cry of pain and clutched harder at her heart. She leaned closer into my shoulder, jolting all my senses, and making my heart beat faster.

'This is not the time' I reminded myself.

"Miss do you need me to call the hospital?"

She removed her head, her breathing had quieted down a bit.

"I'm fine," she croaked. Isabella raised her face and met my eyes. Her's bored into mine, and as I stared at them I was able to notice the tiredness that was surrounding the peaceful forest in her eyes.

But just like a shooting star, she fell.
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