2

Dim lights flooded the entire room. Music playing ever so loudly, he could barely hear himself think. The VIP room in the club was a little less crowded than the other side of the velvet rope. Leaning back against his chair, leg crossed; ankle on his left knee, one hand on his right thigh and the left holding on to the glass of scotch on the table, he stared into the somewhat golden liquid. Wearing a white shirt with no tie, two top buttons undone and a dark blue suit. His heart pounding from the effects of the drug. Lost in nothing and thinking of nothing, he didn't look up when the velvet rope was lifted and his friend walked in with a girl in a tight short dress calling his name excitedly. "Nicky! Nicky!!" His friend called out over the music. He didn't look up. His friend was now standing beside him. "This is Sandy." His friend gestured to the girl giggling beside him. He still didn't look up. Tracing his fingers round the rim of his glass. "This is Nicky, beautiful."

"Hi Nicky." Her high pitched voice reached his ear. The sound of his name irritated him. He arched a brow as he shook his head. "Don't call me that." He looked at her.

Her smile reduced. "Okay." She instantly obeyed. Staring at his well formed gorgeous face in the low light. "But he-"

"He's known me longer than you have. More than a decade."

"Okay. Nick. Right?" His reason convinced her... so did his face.

He smiled. "What else would it be?"

His friend chuckled, patting Sandy's lower arm and moving closer to Nick. "Don't drive her away man."

Nick scoffed. "If anything, she wants me." He eyed her then turned back to his glass. Bringing it to his lips, he took a sip.

"Yeah, well I want her. And she's looking to party." His friend flashed a smile.

"Then give her one."

"I didn't bring mine. I was hoping you did?"

Nick peeled his face away from the glass, glaring at his friend as he set the drink on the table.

"Do you have it or not?" Nick slipped his hand into the left inner pocket of his suit. "That's my boy." His friend chuckled. Nick dumped a small transparent ziplock bag half filled with a white powdered substance into his friend's hand as discreetly as possible. "Thank you." His friend stood up straight. "Want to party with us?"

"I already did. And I've got to go soon. I have work to do and I have a meeting with my dad first thing in the morning."

"It's almost three in the morning Nicky." He pointed out.

Nick Atkins smirked. "I'll make it."

"Now remember Lulu." Nina started. Watching Lucille put on her earing and walk into her closet to get her shoes. "You have to smile. But that doesn't mean you should let people walk all over you." She rose her voice to make sure Lucille could hear her voice.

Lucille smiled. "I love this little advice you're giving me Nina. Just like the one you gave my first day of high school. But it wasn't necessary was it?" She smirked. Nina eyed her. "Thanks."

"This is what I get for trying to help."

"I know you are. I have to get going." She stepped back into the room.

"Whatever. Just be back in time so I can see the kids before I leave tomorrow." Lucille nodded.

For some reason, replaying the conversation with Nina made her smile. The best she could do to keep from laughing. However, with her mind else where and the smile on her face she walked straight to the Secretary on Bryan Atkins' floor with her head up high and a confidence she probably still would have had if she wasn't smiling at her sister's advice. Barely noticing the people looking at her.

Nick stood up from the visitors chair opposite his father's desk. Straightening his black suit and buttoning the two suit buttons he had undone before he took his seat ten minutes ago. "You look like crap." Bryan pointed out. Leaning back against his chair and interlocking his fingers in front of him.

"Yeah." Nick raked his hair with his fingers. "I was up looking over last week's files. It took longer than expected. And there was the strategy we came up with."

Bryan raised an eye brow. "That again?"

"I don't know why you're so against it. The investors are interested. It's a smart plan." He stuffed his hands in his pockets.

"Don't convince me. Bring it up in-" there was a knock on the door. "Yes?" He looked away from his son.

The door was opened gently. "The new hire is here sir."

His eyes lit up with excitement. "Oh! Good. Send her in."

"New hire?"

"Yes." Bryan stood up just as she walked in. "Lucille. I didn't think you would be in so early. That's a good start." He smiled brightly.

Nick looked at his father, and then at the red haired girl standing by the door smiling sweetly at his father.

"Good morning Mister Atkins."

"And good morning to you too." He sat back down. Gesturing to his son. "This is Nick Atkins. My son."

"Hi." He said. Hands still in his pockets.

"Good morning." She smiled sharply at him and turned back to his father.

"He is the acting Chief Marketing Officer. Nick. This is my new assistant, Lucille-"

"Lucille." She cut him off. Bryan scoffed. Somewhat understanding.

Nick turned to her, assessing her in her baby blue shirt, black skirt and black heeled shoes. Her hair in a folded ponytail. "Lucille?" Could that possibly be the only name she has?

"Yes." She nodded once.

He turned to his father. Looking for a better answer. He didn't get one. A smile plastered on the older man's face instead. Bryan shrugged. "Lucille." He said. Accepting what she had implied.

"Ok." Nick said. Irritated by what ever it was that was going on, yet not showing it, he started towards the door. "See you in fifteen." He said to his father before walking out.

"I have a meeting to prepare for Lucille. The Secretary will show you to your office. I'm sure you've gone through the things I sent you last Thursday?" She nodded. "I want a verbal answer. Never a nod."

"I'm sorry. Yes I did."

"Don't apologise." He smiled. "You're doing good so far." He cleared his throat. "Send a message to Plascare. Make sure that the meeting that was scheduled for this afternoon is still on. I'll let you know if there's anything else during the course of the day." He picked up the phone on his desk. "Oh! And, whenever you receive anything for me, give it to me directly. Never hand it to the Secretary. Unless I'm not around or I tell you otherwise."

"Of course."

On getting home at 5:30 pm, she was hit with the scent of different kinds of foods. All making her hungry. "Oh my god that smells sooo good." It was hard not to drool. Or follow the scent all the way to the kitchen. Where Nina was waiting patiently to see what she would do. She walked in and looked around. Five different kinds of pies all on the island with a large bowl of macaroni behind it, a ten inch cake beside the bowl and a bowl of salad behind it. "Wow." She stared like a child in a candy store.

Nina smirked. Stirring a pot of sauce to go with her macaroni. "When gods do, mortals bow." She smirked.

"You did all this?"

"More or less. Nancy came over. She helped. I already sent some food over there. Mashed potatoes chicken and other stuff. So how was it?"

"How was what?" Lucille kept staring.

Nina shook her head, not taking her eyes off the pot. "Work."

"Oh." She looked up. "It was ok. I got a pager and an office."

"Because you don't have a pager?"

"It's for work. And I managed to embarrass myself."

"How so?"

"I nodded when Mister Atkins asked me something. And he goes 'I want a verbal answer, not a nod.' Now that I think of it it's not embarrassing."

"Aaaannnnnd done." She turned off the gas. "When we get back I'm going to pass out." Nina sighed. Her hair scattered and her feet aching.

"Well done."

"Thanks. I need to go get ready. Turn this into a bowl and get them into the car please."

"I need to get ready too." The phone started to ring as Lucille spoke.

"I'll get it. Just take a few things in. I'll most definitely take longer than you. You just have to change. Hi Geegee." She said into the phone.

"Hey. Is Luce back yet?"

"For about ten minutes now. We're going to get ready."

"I'm about to reach the store to pick up those toys and snacks. I'll meet you guys there."

"Yeah. Okay." She rubbed her forehead, watching Lucille work.

"How was her first day? Did she see Mister Atkins' son?"

"She said she got a pager."

"A work pager." Lucille corrected.

"A work pager." She repeated.

Geegee laughed. "Did she meet his son."

"I dunno. Let me ask. Did you see his son?"

"Whose son?"

"Mister Atkins."

"Uhh..." She thought. Trying to recall all the faces she saw and the people she was introduced to. Dropping the bowl of sauce and picking up the bowls of salad to take to the car. "... yes." She finally answered.

"She said yes."

"Is he hot?"

"Is he hot?

Lucille walked past Nina. Food in hands "Didn't you say you read that he is?" Speaking loud enough for Geegee to hear.

"I want confirmation."

Nina repeated. "Then find out for yourself." Lucille ordered.

"Is he?" Nina asked.

"Yes. Nina. Door please." Almost immediately forgetting she had been asked about him.

"In a sec."

"Never mind." Lucille struggled with the front door.

"We'll see you soon. Don't forget to pick up Nancy."

"Assuming her boyfriend let's her come." Geegee murmured.

Every once in a while, the girls went to the orphanage opened at their request when Nina turned eighteen. 'Nicille Home' to visit the children taken in. And to make sure they were all well taken care of. Lucille visited the home as much as she could. Taking over food, clothes and what ever was needed. Sometimes, she spent a day or three with them. From infants to teenagers, all were taken care of. And the older ones who desired more after being sent to college, jobs were provided for them. Today, like any other day, the girls went for a visit with so much food before Nina had to leave the next day.

Bryan gave attention to the papers on his desk. Knowing the Human Resources manager had just walked into his office, and yet not looking at her. "You shouldn't keep me waiting Miss."

"I'm sorry sir. I just..." her voice squeaked. Like every other time she came before the big boss man.

"Now I'm doing work I planned to do at home here."

"I apologise. It's just. I noticed that your new assistant doesn't have a last name in her file and-"

"I know what her last name is."

"But sir-"

"I know who I hired. I have my reasons for keeping her last name out of her file. Unless she decides to tell you her last name... which I doubt she will. Considering." He smiled. Remembering Nick's lack of expression when neither of them said her last name. "Understand? This is my decision. Good night."

"Yes Mister Atkins. I apologise for wasting your time." He knew his reason wasn't good enough. But there was nothing she could do about that.

Lucille didn't come into work until almost eleven the next day. And when the Secretary informed her that Mr. Atkins was ready to see her, she rushed into his office. "Good morning sir." He stood to his feet. "I am so sorry."

"Oh no. You don't shouldn't be. If you hadn't called and explained then perhaps. But you did. Any luck?"

Two of the boys in the orphanage had run off. No one had known except for an eleven year old girl who didn't hesitate to tell the four ladies after all the children had finished giving them hugs. The orphanage grounds were checked and then they went in search of them with the police until they were found. "Yes. Nina had to move her flight to tomorrow. We found them about an hour ago."

"Did they say why they ran?" She shook her head. "Maybe you should leave."

"No. I'm fine. Nina's spending the day there."

"You look a little tired."

"I'm fine Mister Atkins." She smiled. "Knowing that they're all safe. I can work. It's only my second day and I don't-"

"You're not making a bad impression." He smiled, sitting back down. "You may go to your office now. There should be a file on your desk. Go through it and head to the archives. Search for other files that correspond and make short notes on what matches with the file on your desk. Hand them to the Secretary when you're done. I doubt I'll be here much longer. I have a flight to catch and a meeting to attend."

"Ok. Have a safe flight."

"Thank you." He smiled, picking up his phone and pressing a number. "You may go. Suzanne." He called for the Secretary.

Lucille left without a word. Closing her office door behind her. Feeling a bit relieved. She sat on the swivel chair behind the wooden desk and placed her hands on the file in front of her. She heard a knock on the door before it opened. The Secretary Suzanne, pushed the door wide open and stepped in. "Hi." She closed the door.

Lucille raised a brow. "Hi."

"You're Lucille right? "

Clearly. "Yes." Lucille gave her her full attention.

"You know you look a little bit familiar. But I can't remember. Anyway. So, yesterday, the HR lady comes up after you left right?

Cause of your file. And Mister Atkins tells her not to ask about your last name. She gets really pissed. But she can't say it." Lucille noted Suzanne's excitement. She smiled. "And it's like, why would Mister Atkins hire someone and not let her last name be disclosed to HR? And now I'm sure half the building knows about you. Of course they don't know what you look like which makes it so funny. And I can honestly say word's still spreading..." Lucille kept looking at her and smiling. However, she had lost interest and was thinking about the task she had to carry out.

Suzanne kept talking. Under the impression that the new assistant was interested and still listening to her. Even if Suzanne didn't shut up any time soon, she had the whole day to do her work.

"Uh-huh." Nick said into his phone. Wiping his nose and sniffing while using his computer screen as a mirror. Making sure nothing was on his nose. He got to his feet. "I need it for the meeting today." Holding the phone between ear and shoulder, he sealed the tiny transparent bottle filled with the drug tightly and shoved it under a pile of papers in his desk drawer.

"I know. Which is why I said ask her."

"Alright." He sighed. "Fine." He hung up and walked out his office. Taking large strides.

"Mister Atkins, you-" his assistant started to say.

"I'll be back soon." He walked past him, and the Secretary who was on the phone and writing something down. Nick got in the elevator as it dinged open. Pressing the button for the top floor, he watched it close as he slipped his hands into his pockets.

Stepping out of the elevator once it dinged open again, the employees started to greet him as they walked past him to their various posts or into the elevator. He nodded in response, walking briskly to his destination. Unaware of the gossip that would start once the Secretary found the group that were already eager to talk. He stopped in front of the office. Knocking on the door once and opening it. Without waiting for an invitation.

Lucille sharply looked up when the door was opened. Startling her and taking her attention from the work she was going through on her desk.

His eyebrows immediately furrowed. It felt like he was seeing her for the first time. She looked different. She had a silver ring on each index finger, agold ring on each little finger and another gold ring on her left middle finger. Her shiny red hair fell loose past her shoulders. But that wasn't why she looked different or new to him. However, one word popped into his head upon seeing her. "Trouble."

"What?"

Damn, he said that out loud. Why is he here again? He cleared his throat. What is her name again? All he remembered clearly was she had no last name. He was sure it was on the tip of his tongue. "Cilley." He said with inward triumph. "Where's the Plascare file Mister Atkins asked you to look at?"

"It's Lucille." She got to her feet. A bit amused by the fact that he thinks her name is Cilley. Maybe if he had said Lucy. Lucy is a more likely name than Cilley. Is that even a name?

"What is?"

"My name." His unauthorised presence had been a bit upsetting but his lack of expression and complete confidence even in his mistake was something. "It's Lucille. I gave your- Mister Atkins the file." She moved on from the subject. Whether he got it or would remember her name or not.

He wasn't interested in her name so it didn't stick. And not with the drug he was on. Besides, there were more important things. "He said it's with you."

"I gave it to him."

"Did you perhaps give it to Suzy?"

"He said to always hand him his files directly. Unless he tells me otherwise."

"In other words no."

"Yes."

He sighed. I need to find it. Come with me." He walked out of her office and she followed. He opened his father's office with so much authority. As if it were his own office. He began to go through the files on the desk. Lucille stood by the door watching. Suzanne peeked from behind her desk. Nick stopped and looked at Lucille. "I need you to look for it."

Not that her father taught her this, but, "I will not go to his desk without his permission." It's just her own rule.

That didn't sit well with him. "I'm giving you permission."

"I apologise sir, but I do not work for you."

Neither did that. No one had said that to him before. He rubbed his nose. "Fine." He continued searching. "Go back to what you were doing." She left without a word. Hell. Where did his dad find this girl anyway?

In the course of the week, after a meeting with a few business men. Nick settled down in his car as he drove back to his house. He rubbed his eyes and then his left temple. With two cars ahead of him, the traffic light turned red. He pressed on the break and looked left. In the space of a blink, she appeared. Out of the doors of a supermarket. Red hair bouncing as she pushed a trolley with paper bags in it. He knew instantly who it was. His father's assistant who's name was... not Cilley. However, he forgot that and was almost sure it was. Whether it was or not. He remembered what she'd said and done more than he did her name. He watched her move to a black car, open the back seat and gently yet quickly placed the bags inside. Before she headed for the driver's side. She was wearing a skirt suit. Meaning she left work not too long ago.

The thought came to him. He needed a hit. If he wanted to be active for the night ahead. Eager to inhale the drug and knowing it wasn't the right place to do so, he looked up at the light that was still red and gripped the steering wheel tightly. He couldn't wait. But it wasn't the place to do it. The light turned yellow. Finally. Then green. He stepped on the gas pedal, shifted gears and steered the car past the two cars in front of him. He needed a hit real soon.