Chapter Two: No Rest For The Wicked

"What is this?" Cruella barked, throwing a file at me. This time I reacted fast enough and caught it. It seemed that unexpected appearances of her by my desk was an around-the-hour occurrence. She also had a habit of throwing things rather than handing them over like any respectful person, and I quickly mastered the art of agile reflexes.

I peered down at the file inside my hands. "It's not mine," I said. "I didn't get House of Valentine."

"I gave you House of Valentine," Cruella snarled. "Which, I may add, is one of the most important clients we have."

I flipped the file open and gasped at the disaster staring back at me. "I swear this wasn't my doing. Maybe—" I checked the name of the intern that signed it. It had my name and signature on it. "This wasn't me!" Disbelief clouded my expression. "Someone screwed up and tried to pin this on me!"

Cruella's cellphone in her hand rang. When she glanced down, she cursed. "You better hope this isn't about the clusterfuck you just created."

I gaped at the unprofessionally crude language she threw at me.

"Mr. Night, how may I help you this fine afternoon?" I didn't miss the raspiness in Cruella's voice or how her cheeks blossomed with color. She lifted her free hand and grazed over the bare part of her cleavage, gushing in conversation over the phone.

I murmured irritably under my breath as I organized my desk, waiting for her to finish her call.

"I beg your pardon, sir, but what?" Cruella's eyes fell on me, and her lips drew tight. "It's a mistake the new intern made. I'm sure it could be justifiable if we explain the situation to the House of Valentine. We've worked with them on several occasions, with outstanding success. I think if—"

Panic swelled inside my chest. What mistake? I frantically shook my head, mouthing to Cruella, "It wasn't me."

She responded by holding up a hand, silencing my protests. "I see, sir, I understand. May I suggest we let her go? I'll get right on it. You do have much more important matters to tend to anyway, instead of some hair-brained intern."

"It. Wasn't. Me." I ground out audibly this time. "Someone else used my name to sign that file. Look, it's not even my handwriting." My heart was loud inside my ears. I couldn't afford to lose this job. How else was I going to pay my rent? Study fees?

I offered the best pleading look at Cruella, but she only returned a scowl. "I agree, sir, but she's been her scarce a day, and we have—"

My shoulders dropped.

"They are going to do what?" Cruella's eyes bulged, and they zeroed back on to me. "Over a stupid intern?"

Oh wow. Let's pretend I wasn't standing right here.

"I'm on it, sir." She disconnected the call and placed both hands on her hips. "You really screwed up, haven't you?"

"I told you, this wasn't me," I stated. "Someone is trying to pin their mess-up on me!"

"Mr. Night just informed me that due to this mess-up, which you already faxed through, lost us the company."

"Which company?" I eyed the file. "House of Valentine? I didn't cover them!" I waved a hand toward a stack of files neatly stacked on a desk beside mine. "Go, check if you don't believe me. This isn't my handwriting. Wait, let me—"

I was about to bolt for the stack of files to prove my innocence when Cruella shot out a hand and grabbed me by the wrist. Her poorly cherry-colored manicured nails dug into my skin as she bit out in a low, threatening tone. "Do you realize what you have done?"

My eyes widened, and I shook my head. "I'm telling you—"

"House of Valentine is now planning to sue Mr. Night for this company. They want it all."

I tore my arm out of her grip and massaged her inflicted markings. "You can look at my other work. Yes, that looks exactly like my signature, and yes, that's my name. But look at the handwriting. It isn't me."

Cruella flicked through the file. "Oh, it's definitely your doing." She chugged it back onto my desk. "Mr. Night wants to see you in half an hour. Don't be late." With that, she turned and walked away.

A low whimper escaped me. Great. How was I going to get myself out of this predicament?

If Mr. Night's employees were this snooty, I was terrified to find out what he was like.