Hiring Miss Linton

Chapter Four

Chapter Four

“Miss Linton.” Rikkard Ambrose greeted Lily with a cold and unwelcoming demeanor. Considering she might be an ally of the enemy, it was necessary.

“Mr Ambrose.” Lily gave a nod. He nodded back and motioned her to seat on one of the visitor chairs.

“Hand me the phone.”

No beating around the bush and straight to the point. Lily would have despised him then and there if he weren’t so infernally handsome.

He had eyes like the sea on an overcast day and his face was chiseled. Despite his simple black tuxedo, you could conclude that he was leanly built.

Lily placed the phone of Simmons in his outstretched hand, wordlessly.

“Tell me everything about your encounter with Simmons.”

Lily took a deep breath and composed her thoughts. “I knew something had been fishy about him when he entered the building. He asked the receptionist to move my job interview schedule just so he could speak to Sir Dalgliesh about something important.”

If Mr Ambrose felt anything, he didn’t show it. After noticing his blank expression, Lily continued.

“He was carrying a thick brown envelope that seemed to contain lots and lots of paper.”

Something flashed in Mr Ambrose eyes and Lily instantly knew that she had hit the nail right in the head.

“Simmons stole something from you, didn’t he?”

His eyes snapped up to meet hers. Lily noticed that there was a storm brewing already.

“You’re quite observant.”

“Thank you, sir.” Lily hesitated before asking. “What’s with Simmons and you, sir?”

“He was my private secretary. That was until he ran away with one of my files.” Mr Ambrose added. “Luckily, I was able to track him down with his phone.”

So that’s how he knew where I was earlier.

“The file must be really important then.”

“Indeed.”

“So…” Lily started. “Do you have a private secretary already?”

“None at the moment.”

“Okay.”

Lily smiled to herself. Maybe if she doesn’t get the position as private secretary in Sir Dalgliesh’s employ, she could try her luck here. But she was also getting tired of failing. She had to hope for the best.

“Simmons might be going to New York, Mr Ambrose.” She finally stated. “I overheard his conversation with Sir Dalgliesh.”

Before Mr Ambrose could even reply, the man Lily had the pleasure to meet earlier (with much hostility) barged into the office.

“What is it, Karim?” Mr Ambrose inquired.

“Simmons finally opened his laptop and we have managed to track him.” Karim stated with self-satisfaction dripping from his voice. “He is at the airport.”

Mr Ambrose glanced at Lily briefly. “Check all the flights going to New York. We’ve found our target.”

“Wait. You can’t just go and kidnap him at the airport.” Lily protested.

“I can.” Mr Ambrose retorted before turning to Karim. “Tell the others to get ready.”

“Yes, Sahib.”

“Wait!”

Lily held up both of her hands and waved them. The little finger of Mr Ambrose’s left hand started twitching.
“What is it again?”

“I have a plan. And it’s quite feasible.”

The two men sent a meaningful look at each other as if asking “Do we listen to her suggestion?”. After a few seconds, both finally nodded.

“What’s your plan?”

Lily clasped her hands on her lap. “So Simmons is in the airport, right? What if I walk up to him to return his phone, just so he won’t get surprised and run away to make catching him easier.”

“You mean to say…” Karim started. “It’s like taking things slow.”

“Exactly. I might even make small chat with him to keep him distracted while you and your men are advancing towards us. He won’t be suspecting a thing.”

Lily noticed the slight shift of Mr Ambrose’s face as he tried considering her plan. His eyebrows were creased a little and so was Karim’s.

“We’ll give this a try.” He finally said. “Karim, make negotiations with the airline staff. Me and Ms Linton will follow you after.”

“Yes, Sahib.” And with a bow, the bodyguard left.

As soon as the door closed, silence blanketed the whole room. That is, until Lily broke it.

“What is it you want to tell me, sir?”

“You mentioned you were about to have a job interview with Sir Dalgliesh?”

“I already had the interview, sir.”

His little finger twitched again. “Remove your application from there.”

Lily started to pale at his suggestion. But her fear was replaced with anger and indignation soon enough.

“Why would I ever do that?” she crossed her arms. “I have been looking for a job and always end up with nothing. But this time, things are about to change.”

“What makes you say that?”

“I just sensed it. My job interview with him was… different with the previous ones. He just might accept me.”

“You’re being delusional.”

Lily scowled at the man behind the desk. “Now, now, don’t crush my hope. It’s the only thing I am literally holding onto now.”

“I understand your situation completely, Ms Linton.” Mr Ambrose repeated. “Which is why I am telling you to back out from his company.”

“How the hell is that going to help me?”

“Language, Ms Linton.”

“How the hell is that going to help me, sir?”

Mr Ambrose narrowed his eyes infinitesimally before continuing. “Just do as I say.”

“Not until you give me a very reasonable reason.”

Tension crackled in the air and Lily was nearly bursting in anticipation.

“I won’t be hiring a new secretary until I catch Simmons.” He glanced at me. “If we catch him today, I am planning to give his spot to someone who proves himself worthy.”

Lily got what he was trying to say. She immediately beamed at him. “You mean her, sir? Someone like me?”

“If you stop making that unnecessary facial contortion, I might really just keep my word.”

Lily immediately imitates his cold expression. “Indeed, sir.”

And eventually, she also burst out laughing at the lack of expression on his face. He was just so impossible.

“Loosen up, Mr Rikkard Ambrose.” She said. “You’ll grow old faster if you keep being uptight.”

“I didn’t ask for your opinion.”

Despite his curt reply, Lily noticed the side of his lips twitching upward.

Why can’t he just smile like a normal person?

“So, when are we going to the airport?”

Mr Ambrose looked at his pocket watch and abruptly stands up and strides to the door, followed by a very curious (and excited) Lily.

“Now.”