Chapter five

She turned, obviously very surprised to find me standing there.

She smiled back. "Hey Nathaniel"

I stopped and was about to ask why she called me Nathaniel, before I realized that I'd given her a false name the previous day.

"Cassie. It's really surprising to see you here. You look absolutely stunning." I said to her.

She smiled.

"You're actually lucky to find me here. My brother has enrolled me here ever since I came to America but I just decided to attend today."

"Oh really?!!" I asked, seemingly interested.

She laughed and nodded. "Yeah. Do you stay around here?"

"Yes I do. My little cottage is just over there." I pointed to the roof of my house that was just a few steps away from the gym.

"Oh wow".

She exclaimed in delight. "This is definitely breathtaking, but very big. How do you manage to stay here all by yourself?"

I didn't reply to that. I just stayed mute till we got inside.

"Do you stay here alone?"She asked.

"Hmm yes." I replied. I'm sure she'd guess that something was out of place.

She then looked around and I watched as her gaze rested on a framed photograph of Sarah and me and another one of the twins.

"You're married?" she asked again.

"Yes"

But I wasn't prepared for what happened next.

"Are you insane?" She blurted out. "Why did you bring me to your matrimonial home? So your wife would come out and make a fool of me?"

I was shell-shocked. I willed the words to come out. I longed to tell her that my wife was dead; that my beautiful daughters were dead too, because of my actions.

But I couldn't

And I didn't

And then she turned around to leave but immediately fell straight on the ground. I rushed to her immediately and lifted her up. My phone was even switched off and so u couldn't call anybody. I ran to the kitchen and brought a bowl of water and sprinkled a little on her face.

She opened her eyes instantly and looked at me.

She then stood up again weakly and ran out before I could even say anything

**********************************************

Allison's PoV

"I can't. I wouldn't make the same mistake mum did." I explained to Carol later that day.

She didn't even have anything to say, which was very surprising.

"But seriously where did you meet this guy that made you fall head over heels for him?" She asked.

"No. Definitely not. But seriously I was disappointed to find out that he's married. He didn't even show remorse. Could you believe that even after I saw his wife's picture, he still looked at me with lust." I explained angrily. I was still trying not to remember the drama that happened that day. I looked at Carol and was infuriated to see her typing furiously on her phone.

"What the fuck are you even doing?" I raised my voice at her and she held up her phone to show me.

"Theres no record of a Nathaniel that marks your description. You say he's tall, light skinned with brown hair. What else do you know about him? Do you know where he works? Or even his surname?" Carol said with much interest.

I looked at her in annoyance and stood up.

"Where are you going?" She asked.

"I'm going back home. You're absolutely the worst person to be with right now."

"Hold it up there right now. I'm not Nathaniel that deceived you and got your hopes high and then threw it away." She replied too, in growing annoyance.

I stared at her in shock and then without saying anything, I turned and left.

Luckily, my brother wasn't home. I made oats and then curling on the sofa, I ate and watched a boring anime movie on the TV. After spending the whole evening doing nothing, I decided to go take a nap.

I didn't even know when I slept on the couch. Gabriel came back later that night and took me to my bed. I was so weak. He kept on asking me what was wrong but I didn't even have a reasonable reply to give him.

I woke up the next morning to a terrible headache. I was about to go ask Gabriel for directions to a pharmaceutical store when my phone started ringing. When I answered it, It was the security boy with the cowboy hat.

He told me that his boss wants me to come for an interview.

"For which position exactly?" I asked.

"He is actually in need of a secretary and everything just came on short notice. He might not even conduct an interview for you. How are your internet skills?"

"Excellent" I replied almost immediately in excitement.

"Okay so you're hired. Just come over to the company by 10 to see him. When you get there, just call me."

He then hung up the call.

I smiled in joy and ran up to Gabe's room and without even knocking, I opened the door and screamed. "I got a job"

I then beheld the unwholesome scene before me. My own best friend Carol was coming out of the bathroom in my brother's bedroom fully naked except for the towel on her body. It was pretty obvious that she spent the night here.

I looked up at Gabriel to see his face in shock and disappointment. Without any other word, I just turned and left without saying anything to either of them.

Carol rushed out immediately after me.

"Its really not what you think, Allie"

I eyes her in disgust. "You're sleeping with my brother after the uncanny words you said to me yesterday? I'm so ashamed of you, seriously. But what can I say or do about it either? Absolutely nothing."

She tried to hold me but I went back to my room and had my bath. I brought out fresh corporate dresses from my wardrobe in preparation for the interview. I applied moisturizer on my hair and styled it in curly waves. I didn't pack it up; I let it fall.

After applying little touch of makeup, I admired myself in the mirror and smiled as I saw how beautiful I really looked. I dinner my dressing with small flat shoes too.

I took one of my small bags and walked down the hallway. I saw Carol and my brother involved in a heated conversation. As they saw me ,they stopped and turned to me. I hissed and walked out.

I flagged down a taxi and then went to the company and that was when I even had time to settle and read the Company's name. The name "Cross Breweries" was boldly written on the top.

After paying the taxi driver, I went to knock on the gate. My new found cowboy friend opened immediately as usual, with a smile on his face and a cowboy hat on his head.

"Nice to meet you again, Miss...?" He prompted with an extended hand, apparently for a handshake.

"Allison. Allison O'Brien" I replied and accepted the handshake.

"Oh okay. I'm Peter Harrelson" He said with a smile. "Okay now. Let me take you upstairs and show you to your new office."

I stopped in shock.

"Am I not going to be interviewed or screened or something?" I asked.

"Okay fine . Let me tell you in case you don't know; My boss's got his hands full this period. His secretary left him, his personal assistant left some months back and not just that, his housekeeper tendered her resignation too because of some family issues. My boss is having a hard time handling everything."

I nodded in understanding, suddenly filled with a pity for this boss of his and even mine, that I still haven't met.

"But does he not have a manager or someone that stands in for him when he's not around?" I asked.

"He does, but he's overworking his friend. The person is his childhood friend and he's really doing a lot. Gabe is really trying for him"

"What's his name? The boss?" I asked again.

"His name is James. But he's most known by Jimmy Cross."

"Such a cute name." I smiled inwardly.

Peter then led me up to my supposed office. He showed me the personnel manager, Kate Connel. "Alright Allison. Mrs Connel will tell you all you need to know. If you need anything, you could ask her or me"

The older woman laughed. "Do not ask Peter for anything. Just come to me, okay?"

I laughed and nodded my head in affirmative.

"One thing I should tell you, Allison is this.... In all you do, never ever fall for Jimmy. Don't fall in love with him." She said with a straight face.

I laughed. "I definitely won't. I don't even know him"

"That's why I'm giving you the heads up before you eventually get to know him. You look like you could easily fall for him and I wouldn't want a pretty soul like you to get brokenhearted." She explained.

"Okay. I'll try not to. You seem to know him perfectly well"

"Oh yeah. I sure do. I birthed his girls."

As she said this, a dark cloud fell over her face and her cheeky smile left immediately. She looked almost at the verge of tears. She then gave a painful laugh.

"Sarah sure didn't know what to do. I was their godmother. Bought them chocolates until Jimmy had to threaten to stop me from going over to visit him." She then wiped her face and stood upright.

"Oh I'm so sorry for breaking down in front of you. Please do not ask questions. Jimmy doesn't like it."

Over the next few minutes, I got to learn my duties. I'll answer and direct phone calls, I'll organize and distribute messages. I'll maintain Mr Cross's schedules, I'll document financial information, I'll organize and conduct meetings, I'll set up conference calls too, I'll write emails, memos and letters, I'll order and maintain supplies and I'll assist in bookkeeping too.

It was so overwhelming.

"But don't worry. You won't have to do it alone. If it gets to overbearing, take them to Jimmy." Mrs Connel advised.

"Thank you so much ma'am. I really appreciate."

"So for now, the only thing you'll do is to answer phone calls and then organize and distribute messages too and then when Jimmy comes back, he'll tell you what to do."

I smiled and nodded.

"So get to work now. I'll see you later Allison. Have a nice day."

She said and walked out immediately.