EV HAYDEN

Chapter 1

How pathetic am I! I would be late again and he would be so angry. Uhg! I sometimes hate to be me. I would have to leave for home soon or else he would be so pissed and would wait for me to come back staying up late. But, this damn file is taking is taking so long. I checked the time at the clock hung on my cabin wall, it's already 5:35 pm. I will have wind it up soon.

Suddenly, I am interrupted by a knock on my door.

"Come in!" I said.

"V, the stats file you asked from accounts department." A blue-eyed brunette man told me as he entered my office.

Samuel McKarthy, my best friend and secretary, is standing in front of me, looking handsome as ever in a white button-down shirt and dark blue jeans. He had high cheekbones, straight nose and a charming smile on his face.

We are childhood friends. We met in third standard when he had newly transferred to our school. He was such a shy child, so innocent with his dark hair falling into his blue eyes, chubby cheeks and a beautiful smile. But he didn't talk to anyone. I was the first one to approach him and the only one person he befriended. Since then we have been together. We share each of our secrets, gossips, everything. But there is one thing I didn't tell him and I don't think I will ever be able to.

"Mr. McKarthy we are in the office right now and I am your boss here and you should address me as such." I sighed. He always does this and I always scold him. And yes, I am his boss. We both were very intelligent and we had finished our school by the age of 15, having skipped a few grades. We both also attended the same college with almost the same subjects our majors being in business. I was preparing to take over my father's company and he, well, he had an interest in business. We had graduated our college by the age of 18. Two weeks after it I took over the company and he applied in it for the secretary post. I knew his work potential and caliber and hence hired him. And here we are now, arguing over his manners, even after four months of doing the job.

"Come on, V! It's Friday and the work hour is going to be over soon. So relax!" he said.

"We are still in office Sam and you know that work hour is never over for me." I sighed. Again!

"Well, it's not my fault that you are CEO of 'The Universe'."

"Well, you are right on that. By the way, did you complete the file I had asked you to?" I asked.

"Finished it hours ago, Miss Hayden" he replied smirking.

"Send it to Nico then and ask him to check into the legal formalities of the project by next week."

"Yeah, sure. Hey! Did you see the time it's 5:50 pm. Don't you have to go home for Caleb." He pointed out.

"Shit! I'm going to be late. I should hurry up... or just forget it I'm taking the file home, I'll complete it there." I replied tidying the papers up and cleaning the desk.

"Well, my work is done, so I'd be leaving. Bye V!" he said holding the doorknob to go.

"Bye and don't forget to give the file to Nico before you go." I screamed after him.

I cleared everything up on my desk and left my office after locking it. I went into the private elevator for me and pressed the button for ground floor. I waited checking emails on my phone as it would take time to go down from 65th floor. My company departments were separated on the floor bases, three departments on each. The top two floor were private at which mine, my assistant's and my secretary's office were on the second-to-top floor and top floor was a personal lounge where I went to relax sometime.

I sighed when I heard the 'DING!' of the elevator and exited it to go to my car in the parking. I went to my car, a McLaren P1. Yes, I know my cars. I strolled towards my car contemplating whether I should call Perrie at home and ask her to tell Caleb that I would be little late. I decided that I should or he would be worried. I took my phone out as I reached my car and unlocked it. I searched Perrie's contact and dialed her as I entered the car and started it. I put the phone on speaker and threw it on the passenger seat as waited for Perrie to pick it up and drove out of my company's parking. I pulled on the road when Perrie answered the call.

"Hello, Ev."

"Hey Perrie! I just called to ask you to tell Caleb that I'm stuck in traffic and I would be little late to reach home. Would you do that for me?" I asked her.

"Yes, of course! I would tell him don't worry"

"Thanks Perrie! You're the best. Bye I'd see you when I reach home."

"Bye." She said before she hung the call.

After talking to Perrie I increased the music volume a notch and drove to my home. After 20 minutes I finally reached my home. As I pulled up to the gate, I unlocked it, and entered my estate, if I may say. I pulled my car on driveway and exited it after locking.

I walked up to the front door and opened them with my key. I entered my living room and my eyes immediately set on the person sitting on the couch. I went behind him and put my hands on his eyes from behind him, yeah I know it's childish.

"Guess who" I said to him. He immediately squealed and spun around screaming my name in his sweet innocent voice. A pair of electric-blue eyes stared back at me. My beautiful little baby-brother, Caleb, jumped into my arms and hugged me tight. I laughed as I kissed his forehead and hugged him to me.

He looked a lot like me with the same face-cut and the same hair. He is so cute, having cute chubby cheeks. He is also pale, just like me, but he has rosy cheeks unlike me which make him all-more cute. He is ten years old and my life. But he is way past smarter and intelligent than his age.

"You're finally home! I was starving here waiting for you and then Perrie told me that you would be late. I thought I'd die of hunger." He said over-dramatically.

"You are not gonna die. I won't let that happen. Stop being so dramatic. And how many times have I told you to eat your dinner without me if I'm not there." I scolded him.

"You know I don't eat without you. And I know you wouldn't let anything happen to me, let alone die. But I'm starving here and you are scolding me. Let's eat please." He said giving me his puppy-dog eyes which I can never refuse.

I sighed," Let me go get and fresh while you go wash your hands and tell Jenny to set the table, all right." I told him and went to my room to get fresh.

I walked into my room. It doesn't contain much. The walls are painted deep-blue and deep-green. At the center of the room is my king-sized bed lined up to a wall with nightstand besides both side. A study-table is placed near the window at one corner. A couch is placed near the opposite side of the wall in front of a led-tv and a dressing table near it. A little off the corner is the attached bathroom and right next to it is a walk-in-closet. And to the other corner beside the left side of the bed are the doors leading to a little balcony with two chairs and a table.

I went into the walk-in-closet and took my pjs and went to the bathroom. After 15 minutes I stepped out of the shower, dried myself and put on my pjs. I, then, went downstairs into the dining hall and sat down on the head chair. Besides me Caleb was sitting, waiting for me. I asked the maids to serve the food and we then ate it as talked to Caleb about his school.

When we finished our food, I took Caleb to his room to put him to sleep. I tucked him in the bed and read him a story till fell asleep. Then I went to my room. I looked into the mirror of the dressing table while removing my watch and putting it away. I saw an image I recognize as my own. A pale ivory complexion, nose, almond shaped hazel eyes and full-lips sat on an oval face with high-cheekbones. I am only 5'3" tall and have petite and hour-glass figure. And I'm skinny as well. Well a weird combination, I know but I have it nonetheless.

I moved away from the dresser towards my study table where I had kept my file from earlier today. I started working because I won't sleep. That's another weird thing I have I can't sleep and I don't feel the need of it. Yeah people think me as vampire but let me tell you I'm not a vampire just because I'm pale and don't sleep or rather can't sleep.

After sometime I finished my file. I wasn't tired. I almost never am. I feel exhausted sometimes but never enough or never for more than a few minutes. I noticed that my alarm clock ticked 2 am. I stood from my desk went over to the TV, switched it on and sat on the bed. I switched to movies and put the Pirate Of The Caribbean series as a movie marathon to watch. I take enjoyment in such. I started the movie marathon and got lost in that world for the rest of the night.