The subway to work is crowded as usual, even at this early hour the smell and noise are overwhelming. I’m overly fragile, nausea plaguing me all the time these days; the stress of moving offices and away from Jake making me physically ill.

I check my watch for the fiftieth time this morning.

I’m late again … What the hell is wrong with me lately?

I groan inwardly. I can’t seem to get my head together or get back on track with anything. Giovanni Carrero has yelled at me so many times these last three weeks, I feel like resigning. He’s demoted me to coffee bearer for now and I’m slowly losing everything I’ve worked for. My reputation as an efficient PA is shot and I’ve heard the rumors circulating the building.

Jake Carrero dismissed me for my incompetence and moved me to his father’s building, because he felt sorry for me.

That stung. The lies upset me, but I push them down into the depths of my mind along with everything else about Jake Carrero. It’s better than people knowing the truth; that the stupid, naive PA fell in love with her boss and he didn’t feel the same way.

That truth hurts more than rumors and lies ever could.

His father has more assistants than he needs but he likes to be surrounded by a swarm of servants, yet still, I am surplus to requirements it seems. So, instead, I've become a glorified receptionist without a desk or any actual tasks or responsibility. I am that person who is asked to do the menial things, like hauling files to the library, making trips to Starbucks, and serving hot drinks to stuffed shirts when a meeting is in full swing. It just adds to the rumors that I am useless.

My life is over.

I've thought about leaving so many times, scanning the classifieds in the paper almost every chance I get, but something always holds me back.

More like someone!

yet if I ever will be. The pain is still too raw even though I haven’t seen him or heard

has an army of minions and everyone seems to know Senior Carrero’s business. He’s so public about a lot of

and isn’t shy about his movements or dragging an entourage with him wherever he goes. He has a mix of security, assistants, and god knows what else, always crowded around him

glass and harsh edges—just like Executive House. A sharp knife looking column amid the Manhattan corporates, standing as tall as most. I shudder.

relaxed aura of Executive House is

receptionist casts me a disapproving look as I shuffle past in a hurry, knowing for a fact I look disheveled. I slept in, rushed about, and practically got dressed while running out the door. This shorter wavy style in my hair is always doing its

late … I don’t fucking

here. She spilled coffee down my cream pencil skirt when passing, so I unleashed teen Emma in a rather grand fashion. I’d been a touchy, aggressive, nightmare those first few days and one wrong word got her a tongue lashing from hell. My face twists into a snarl, thinking of the calm and controlled Emma of the past

she

no matter what. I miss her. Jake Carrero killed her; weeks of tears can do

office, among the sea of temp desks. It’s pretty much a free for all where you sit when you need a seat. I miss having my own office and my own space, but it’s not like I deserve it anymore. The inclination to run and organize my new boss’s life has deserted me. I have zero interest

her face brightening it with a grinning selfie. She never calls me at work so concern rises in my stomach as I reach for it. She’s

laced with nervous apprehension, inner dread rising that something is wrong.

have anxiety by my

there

sorry to bother you at work … I know you don’t like it … But your mother is

myself off, glancing around the room for listening ears. There are a couple of assistants

seething from every pore at the mere mention of Jocelyn Anderson’s appearance. Weak pathetic woman who chose another abusive

has no right to show up like this! Invading my life after what she’s done.

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

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