I didn't waste a second. As soon as the receptionist handed me the file, I stormed toward the executive floor, heels striking the tiles with clipped fury. I shoved open the office door without knocking and marched in like a ticking bomb.
The smug old bastard didn't even flinch. It was as if he was expecting me.
Well, here I am! It's just my first day here and I'm given a difficult task. It's not that difficult but, contacting the Blackridge family sure is difficult.
I slammed the file on his desk, with my hand resting on my waist.
"This wasn't the job you promised me."
The executive smiled slowly like a man expecting my reaction. He leaned back in his sleek black chair, folding his hands over his tailored grey suit.
"I told you I'd give you a job that'd make your mission smooth. I remember what I said,"
My jaw clenched.
"Yeah, I'm glad you did. Interviewing the Blackridge head is not the kind that would make my mission smooth. I wanted a task that let me move freely, not... this."
"Interviewing the Blackridge family is more than just a job. It's a front-row seat to the most powerful family in Country C. A lot of reporters would die for this chance and you're hoping to throw it away,"
"It's a job that would require me to fly out to them. I don't wish to do that. I have a daughter to take care of," I countered, folding my arms tightly over my chest.
The man chuckled.
"You can do it virtually. A few calls, a well-polished report. That's what you're good at, isn't it? Hiding behind a screen like a scared little kid,"
My fingers curled into fists at my sides.
I knew exactly what this was. My father.
This must be his doing. That message from him, which I ignored yesterday wasn't forgotten. And now he was using this... this man, this task, this setup, to get me to call him.
He always did this. Setting traps and acting like I walked into them by myself.
My silence only made this man's eyes fall lower. He was blatantly staring at my legs now, then my hips. I was dressed professionally, but the way his eyes lingered made my skin crawl.
"You have three days," he said finally, eyes still on my body. "Submit the feedback, the visuals, the edited tapes, and your full analysis. Think of it as... motivation to reconnect with your roots."
Root? He means, my father. I don't wish to reconnect with any damned root.
My throat tightened. Three days. Which meant three days to confront the very man I never wanted to speak to again till I was done with his damned mission.
"You don't want to do it, Kelsey?" he asked, lifting a brow. "I can easily assign it to someone else. Someone willing to be a little more... cooperative."
I exhaled sharply through my nose.
"I'll do it. But don't ever stare at me like that again or I'll pluck out those eyes of yours,"
The old man only smirked.
"I make no promises. You're just too beautiful to ignore. You have a daughter... And I'm sure she has no father. I don't mind being..."
I turned and walked out, not waiting for him to complete his words. My heart was pounding hard, not just from anger but from the feeling of being trapped again.
Instead of heading back up to my office in the elevator, I took the stairs.
I needed the walk. Maybe it would burn the tension off my skin.
But the universe wasn't done messing with me yet.
On the third floor, near the printing room, I slowed down at the sound of a familiar voice. I peeked around the corner, and there she was.
Fiona.
Wearing a too-short gown that barely passed for professional. One wrong bend and everyone would see her underwear. She was fiddling with the printer, confused and helpless.
I rolled my eyes and was about to turn away, but I stopped when I heard another voice. A man's. And it was damned too familiar.
The pervert from my office earlier.
He strolled right up to Fiona, his hands already gesturing as if they knew where they wanted to go. I expected Fiona to shut him down, she was engaged, after all.
But no.
"Single?" the man asked.
Fiona laughed. "For now."
My stomach turned.
'This bitch! For now???'
I raised my phone and began recording, quietly switching to photo mode too. This was gold.
The man stepped closer, whispering something into Fiona's ear. Fiona giggled again, her body swaying into his touch. In seconds, their mouths met in a hungry kiss. He pressed her against the printer, hands sliding down her waist, gripping her thigh.
Click. Click. Click.
I took the shots and tucked the phone away.
Disgusted, I turned and climbed back to my office. I didn't even want to think about the slimy mess I just witnessed. I already had enough on my plate.
I stared at the pictures again while walking, my lips twitching in a bitter line. This wasn't part of my plan, but if Fiona wanted to play dirty, I wasn't above dragging her down with evidence.
But then I froze.
There, standing outside my office, arms folded and eyes calm, was a familiar figure.
Kate.
She's the same person from the interview.
Still dressed in that beige blouse and plaid skirt, her short hair pinned back neatly. Her face carried no expression. I couldn't even tell what she was thinking.
I approached slowly. "Kate?"
The girl stared at me from head to toe like she was scanning me.
"I was waiting for you."
"Really? How did you find my office?" I asked her and she folded her hands.
"Do you even need to ask? Who doesn't know the famous Kelsey Prescott?"
I didn't know I'd become popular.
But I'm sure that's not what Kate came to tell me. Did she come to ask for help?
It doesn't seem so either.