Hey! Jacque here. I am having a toxic week at work, but I am so grateful to find time to publish the new chapter. And here you go.

Chapter 9

"Sir, you have a visitor," Ray informed.

My back was arching excessively due to the many works I needed to do. But actually, I could assign someone else to do them. I just needed to take my mind off of Anastasia. I tried calling her many times and sending messages, but it appeared that she's really affected of my reputation and the fact that I'm her father's boss.

"Who is it?"

"It's Katherine Kavanaugh," he told me and that made me smile.

"Let Kate come in," I told him.

"Kate? That girl is Kate?" He was astounded.

"Yes. Why? What's the matter Ray?"

"Nothing, Sir," he said before coming out to usher my best friend in. I was confused too because Ray was staring right through her. It looked as though he was assessing her. His eyes lingered on the diamond ring in her third finger and I got the feeling that he knew about her and Elliott.

"You can leave us, Ray," I said.

"Oh uhm, sorry," he replied before leaving my office.

As soon as the door was shut, Kate screamed, "Oh mother of all holiness! I need a break from work!" She lied down my couch. No, she sprawled. Her arms were above her head and her legs open lazily. I just rolled my eyes at her. She acted as though my office is a bedroom.

"So that's the father of your lover?" She said too loudly, and I hissed at her.

"Kate, you fucker!"

"What? We're soundproof here! YOUR ASSISTANT IS THE FATHER OF YOUR LOVER!" She screamed and laughed loudly. I panicked. I immediately stood up, ran to the door, opened it, and Ray was staring at me as I was out of breath.

"Is something wrong, Sir?" Ray asked as he was seated with poise on his chair.

"Did you hear something?"

"Uh no, Sir."

"Okay," I smiled before shutting the door again. I glared at Kate who was now seated at my office chair. If she weren't my best friend and I'm not used to her craziness, I would have called the security to throw her out of my building.

She laughed, "Christian, you really like her, don't you? You just forgot that your office is soundproof. No one can hear from outside, you know."

"Yes, I do," I admit. She's the only person I can talk to this way.

"I met Ana yesterday and guess what? She Googled you! Ha! I guess the feeling's mutual but she's just denying it," she told me.

"I know," I said sadly as I sat on the couch.

I sat there quietly as I thought of what she might found when she Googled me. I grimaced at that. She's going to see the headlines. Most of them weren't true and if they were, I hope she knew that these don't define who I am.

Then, I felt Kate turn serious. She stood up from my chair to sit beside me. She rested her cheek against my shoulder when she replied, "There you are again, Christian. You're worrying of the rumors and stories she read? I'll tell you this: you don't have to be. When a person knows about your reputation and still wants to be with you, that's when you know the love is real."

I smiled at that. I pinched her cheek and she got mad.

"Christian! Stop!"

I stopped pinching her cheeks and realized I am so glad to have her around. I am glad that I have my best friend back. She's been my best friend since Sophomore year. When we turned twenty, she hid her relationship with Elliott from me. I accepted it though when I knew but when he left her, she wasn't the same. She's my little happy pill, but when Elliott left, it was like the whole world crashed down.

"What are you thinking about?"

"Nothing," I replied. But what I was thinking about was that I'm glad to have my best friend back.

She shook her head and rested her head against my shoulder once more. She was twisting her engagement ring when she said softly, "Once you find the love of your life, go after her. When she rejects you, at least you could say you did everything you could."

OOO

Kate left before lunch and Ray couldn't stop staring at her.

"Is something wrong with Kate, Ray?" I asked him this time.

"Uhm, no, Sir but . . . it just bothers me. Are you dating the ex-girlfriend of your brother?"

That took me off-guard. He must have sensed that I didn't like his question.

"I don't mean to offend you, Sir. I know those are the questions I shouldn't ask my boss, but I care for your brother, Sir. My heart was filled with sympathy when he broke down over Kate."

"Look, Ray, I appreciate your concern, but Kate's engaged. We certainly aren't dating. She's been my best friend long before Elliott broke her heart." Oh Ray, if you only knew, the person I want to date is your daughter.

He breathed out a sigh of relief and said, "Oh thank goodness, Sir! I thought you were doing it inside. You know, you seemed out of breath when you walked out of the door and you even asked me if I'm hearing something." He laughed crazily, "I just have a dirty mind."

I winced at that. Ray has the purest mind but when it comes to me, his mind turns dirty. How will he approve of me if he thinks of me that way?

I remained serious though, "No worries, Ray. We just did some catching up. Kate and I haven't talked for a while."

He smiled and continued typing his work. I checked his computer and got confused. Why is he typing the same letter over and over again?

"Uhm Ray? Do you know how to copy-paste?"

"Copy what, Sir?"

"Come on, let me help you." With that, I taught him how to highlight the text and set it to copy/paste.

"Oh dear! It's that easy! Bless the person who invented this!" I couldn't help but laugh at his lovely exclamations. He was very glad to know that he can copy/paste the texts.

Then, I stared at the frame of his desk and found Anastasia's photo. Her blue eyes glimmered in innocence and adoration.

That's when I knew that Kate was right. I'll chase after Ana . . . even if I do it behind Ray's back.