Chapter 5

DREW.

I kept my face perfectly blank, trying not to cringe in disgust as Alfred shook my hand enthusiastically. I hated being touched by random people. It wasn't a trigger or anything -I just didn't like it.

"It would be an honour working with you. I can't wait to have you in Boston, sir. " he said, beaming.

"Neither can I. " I said smoothly, pulling my hand away.

"See you in Boston, sir. " he said.

"Have a good day, Alfred. " I turned, headed for the door of the restaurant.

Mark, my driver, rolled the Bentley to the curb immediately I stepped out. He was about to come down and open the back door for me when I stopped him. I opened the door myself and got in.

I'd known Mark for almost six years now and he was one of the few people I considered family. Real family. He had more parental ability in his thumb than dad had in his DNA. He gave me advice when I needed it, especially when I didn't ask for it.

My phone rang. I looked at the caller ID and saw it was Arash Madini -my lawyer. I swiped.

"Fucker. " I answered.

"Afternoon to you too, Asshole. " he said good-naturedly.

"How's California treating you? "

"I've been getting the best treatment from the girls. I can't complain. ". He's been gone to California for a month, went there for a case that demanded special attendance. That was all Arash lived for. Case, pussy and a good time.

"When are you coming back? " I asked.

"What do you say to drinks tonight, amigo? " he asked and I could picture him smiling. Cheery motherfucker that he was.

I found myself fighting back a smile, "Are you back? "

"Just landed. "

"My office? "

"Yeah. Two hours. " he said without hesitation.

"Don't think I don't know you'd rather come here because you don't want to pay the bills. "

He chuckled then ended the call. Asshole.

•••••••••

"Arash Madini is here for you, sir. " My assistant said through the intercom.

"Let him in. " I replied then turned it off. I caught sight of a grey three piece suit and a shit eating grin. Arash fucking Madini.

He opened the door and sauntered into my office.

"You look good, Drew. " he remarked.

I gave him a look, "The fuck do you mean? I always look good. "

He laughed then gave me a bro hug, complete with a clap on the back. He pulled away from me, taking me in. "How long has it been? Three? Four months? "

"Two actually. You just missed me too much. "

We sat at my resting area which had two loveseats and a couch with a coffee table at the centre. I opened the whiskey from my minibar and placed a glass in front of him. I filled mine then passed him the bottle.

"So, what's up? Anything new? " he asked as he filled his glass.

"No. Just the usual. My dad's still an asshole. Chase is still a pussy and my mom is still plastic. "

He shook his head, "Does Emily still bother you? "

I raised a brow, "When does she not? "

"Whenever she has a new toy. " he deadpanned.

I chuckled, taking a sip of my whiskey and savouring the slow burn as it rolled down my throat.

"There's a new club downtown, has everything, " he enunciated and by everything, he meant women. "let's go tonight. "

I snorted, "Right. Then you'll pick a woman and leave me there feeling like a fucking loner. "

"That's because you are a loner. Live a little, will you? " he coaxed.

"I can't go anyway. I have a meeting with a client. "

He hiked his brows, " Is it a booty call? "

"Fuck no. An actual client. "

"Why would you be meeting an actual client tonight? What time are we talking about anyway? "

"7pm and it was a last minute thing. "

He rolled his eyes, "Right. Work. When do you not work? "

That's when I remembered, "That reminds me, I need to call my HR representative. "

He frowned, "Why? "

"She's accompanying me on this trip so I'm going to need her fully prepared. "

"When are you going to Boston? " he asked.

"Tuesday. " I stated, dialing my assistant.

His eyes widened, "And you're telling her today? Tuesday is three days away. "

I hiked a shoulder, "I could give a fuck. That's her job. "

He chuckled low, shaking his head, "You really are an asshole, Drew Rutledge. "

"An honest one, at least. " I added.

"Hello, Mr. Rutledge. " my assistant said.

"Put Sue Montgomery on the line. "

"Right away, sir. " she quipped. It was amazing how when we talked through the phone or intercom she could reply smartly but whenever it was on person, she'd flounder.

The line beeped, telling me that Sue Montgomery was on the line.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Rutledge. " her voice was razor sharp, like her face.

"Afternoon, Sue. Do you have appointments all through Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday? "

"Give me a minute. " she said. I heard rustling then, "A few, but nothing my assistant can't handle. "

"Good. Because you'll be coming on a trip with me to Boston. "

There was a pause then, "I didn't hear you clearly sir. "

"I'm not in the habit of repeating myself. I said we're going to Boston. "

She cleared her throat, "When are we going? "

"On Tuesday. "

"Next week Tuesday? " she asked, incredulous.

"Yes. " I saw Arash smirking.

"I can't go with you, sir. " Arash mouthed, 'told you. '

I frowned, "What's stopping you from going? "

She coughed, "I'm terribly ill, sir. " wonderful, she was going to play the sick card.

"Oh? "

"Yes, sir, terribly. " she countered.

"Then how is it you're at work? " Arash tried to hold back his laugh.

"I managed to come. I've not been very productive today. " she coughed again.

I snapped, losing my patience, "You're going to have to suck it up, Sue. "

She sighed, "I honestly can't go, sir. But I can ask my assistant to go with you. "

"No! " Arash's eyebrows dived down. Okay, I had sounded too insistent, "I mean, you can't ask your assistant to go with me. It has to be someone with years of experience. " my argument sounded weak even to my own ears.

"I assure you, she's a great employee, Mr. Rutledge. "

"I can't trust that after what she did in the conference room. " I argued.

"Time was a one time thing. I'll speak to her, Mr. Rutledge. Make sure she's well prepared. "

I exhaled in defeat, "Have a good day, Sue. "

"You too, Mr. Rutledge. " Not anymore. I dropped the receiver in its cradle, leaning back on the love seat and oblivious to Arash who was studying me.

"Want to tell me what all that was about? " he asked.

"No. "

"But you'll tell me anyway. Talk. "

"There's nothing to say. "

"You were so vehement about not going with the assistant. "

"Thanks, Captain Obvious. "

He ignored me. "Why? "

"She's unqualified. "

He raised a brow, "That's not what her boss said. "

"I'm her boss and I'm saying it. "

"No, technically, you're her boss's boss. She doesn't work under you. "

An image of Kate working under me came into my mind. "I don't have time for your smart ass today, Arash. "

He raised both palms in the air, in surrender, a grin on his face.

"I totally have to see this chick. " that got my back up. I was getting angry. Why was I getting angry?

"No. You'll stay the hell away from her. You are not fucking any of my employees. " I said through clenched teeth.

"What? I fucked Judith from IT last year's Christmas party. " he said and I just stared at him. He turned serious, "Wow, you're really serious about this, " he narrowed his eyes, "I really, really need to see her, but not for the reason you think. My interest is strictly platonic. " he added.

I sighed and drained my glass, pouring another one. I was about to make a call when -

"So what do you say? Club tonight? "

I sighed. Arash fucking Madini.

Kate.

I slammed my hand down on my desk. Fuck. I had been typing a document and was about saving it when the whole thing deleted. I couldn't afford to waste time, I had so much work to do. I exhaled and opened a blank document, starting afresh. I was halfway through when my phone rang.

I stopped typing and picked my phone up. Trent. He was a nice guy, really thoughtful and sweet.

"Hey. " I answered.

"Hi. How are you? "

"I'm good I guess, it's been a long day. How are you? "

"I'm doing great, thanks. " he said, "How's work? "

I yawned, "Work is work. "

He laughed, "Okay so, listen. Will you be free tonight? I really want us to hang out. "

I bit my lip, thinking, "No. I'm super busy. "

"Oh, " he sounded dissapointed, "Okay, some -"

"But we can go tomorrow if you like. I'll be free. " I reassured him.

"That's great. I'll call you before I come over. " I could hear the relief in his voice.

"Do that. "

"So I'll let you get back to work. I'll call you later. " he said, but the last part came out more like a question.

"Sure. Bye. " then I ended the call and quickly got back to work. I couldn't afford getting sidetracked today. I was going to work late and also take some documents with me home so that I'd cover more ground.

Sue was working me hard lately and I know I said I wanted to make sure I worked for my money but this was just something else. We weren't exactly comfortable around each other ever since the conference room incident . It was done and there was nothing I could do to change it -nothing I could do but work hard, keep my best behavior and prove to her that it would never happen again.

Whenever I met with her, she was always in a mood. Either she was tired, sad, angry or not acknowledging me at all. I felt she was just giving me attitude because she had not forgiven me for what happened and that was why I was putting extra effort into this task. I needed us to go back to the way we were.

Just then, my office phone rang. I picked it up.

"Kate Rossi, Sue Montgomery's office."

"Kate, I need you in my office. " it was Sue.

"I'll be right over. "

I placed the receiver in its cradle, saved my document, then put on my shoes from under my desk. Today was a flats day for me. My legs were crying out with the amount of heels I'd subjected them them to lately.

I got out if my office and saw Joshua from IT passing by. I gave him a small smile and he grinned, giving me a thumbs up. I knocked on Sue's office door.

"Come in. " she said.

I entered and walked over to her, taking her in as I did. She looked tired and guilty?

"Take a seat, Kate. "

I sat down and folded my hands on my lap. This was clearly a serious meeting.

"How has your day been? "

"Stressful, actually. I didn't even use my break today. "

She looked even more guilty, "That's right, you've been working. "

I nodded, "Yeah, I'm almost done actually. You'll have everything forwarded to you by tomorrow. "

"You're the best, Kate. " she said. My eyes widened, she sounded so much like the old Sue. The one I used to vibe with, but I didn't want to get my hopes up. I shrugged.

She leaned back in her chair, running her hand through her hair, "I know I've been hard on you. I've made you work a lot recently and I don't even show enough appreciation. "

"The paycheck is enough appreciation. "

"I don't write your paychecks. " she smiled sadly. I looked at her, really looked and I saw she had dark circles under her eyes. What was going on with Sue?

"I noticed there's been a strain between us ever since the conference room incident and I want to apologize. "

Wait. What? I opened my mouth to talk but she cut me off, "No matter what you did there, I shouldn't have been so hard on you. You're one of the best employees this company has and until that day, you've never dissapointed me. In fact, you over deliver. You have to understand why I acted the way I did that day. I was so dissapointed and I cared more about what Drew thought of me than I cared about what you were going through and that was wrong. I'm sorry, Kate. You're an amazing employee and I couldn't ask for anything else. "

Tears sprang in my eyes. I blinked, trying to hold them in buy it only made them come out more.

"Oh, don't cry on me now. I've been a crying mess lately and you crying would make me cry too. "

I cleaned the tears away with some tissue, "Thank you, Sue. I wasn't holding it against you because I get why you were mad at me but it's great you finally understand what happened. " she smiled, then I remembered her comment on crying. "Why have you been crying? " I asked, concerned.

She sat up, "Yes, that's one of the reasons I called you in here. "

"Okay... "

She took a deep breath, "I'm pregnant."

I reared my head back, shocked. "What? "

She smiled a little, "Yeah, that was my reaction when the test came out positive. "

I collected myself, "Congratulations then. "

She patted her stomach and I could see it had grown in size. Hello, reality check. I was the most oblivious person on planet earth. That explained the moodiness and tiredness and... Wait a minute, that's why I was working overtime lately!

"Have you been giving me all your work? " I asked, incredulous.

She smiled sheepishly, "I'm sorry, I'll buy your lunch for a week. " I thought about it, well that saved me money.

She turned apprehensive, "And for the last reason I called you in here, " I braced for it because the meeting has been full of surprises, "you're going to Boston. "

I blinked once. Twice. "Boston? " she nodded. "What for? "

"It's a business trip, you'll be representing the company. "

My eyes nearly bulged out of my head, "I'll be representing Rutledge Towers? " my voice was barely a whisper. This was freaking huge. I had never received such great news -other than the time I got this job that is.

I was so happy, I almost didn't see the look on Sue's face. She looked sorry.

My brows furrowed, "This is good news, right? " I asked her, confused.

"It is. Just that... You'll be going with Mr. Rutledge. "

I nearly fell out of my chair. Talk about a splash of cold water in the face. "I didn't hear you correctly. "

"You'll be going with Mr. Rutledge, Kate. "

I shook my head before she even finished speaking, "I can't go. What do I have to offer? This has to be an important trip. " I was coming up with bullshit excuses but I didn't care. I couldn't go on trip with Drew for God's sake. Never mind that it was a business trip. I couldn't stand that man! Not to mention he hated my guts. Jesus Christ. It would be a disaster.

"Kate, calm down. " Sue said, "This isn't as bad as you're making it out to be. "

"Yes, it is. "

She sighed, "Think about it this way. You'll be recognized if you actually land this client. You could make up for the conference room situation. Don't you want to prove to Mr. Rutledge that you're a worthy employee? " she coaxed.

She was trying to win me over. I could tell. Why was she so adamant? And why hadn't Drew's assistant called me directly instead?

"Why didn't Dr-his assistant call me?"

She narrowed her eyes at me, "You're too smart for your own good. " I raised my brows.

"He asked me to go with him but I told him I'm sick so you're going instead. "

"What? You're not sick! "

"Technically, I am. I'm pregnant. I get early morning sickness, I get tired unnecessarily, I eat too much and I'm still so confused, I don't know how this pregnancy thing works. " her voice cracked and I deflated. I felt bad all of a sudden. I was being selfish by not considering what Sue was going through but at the same time I should consider myself right?

I was still attracted to Drew and he still hated me. I hated him too but it didn't stop me from being attracted to him. I did a quick risk/reward analysis.

Risk : I would have to spend time with Drew. I did not want to spend time with that man.

Reward : It would be a great thing for me. I would finally prove to Drew that I deserved my job.

I glanced at Sue and saw her waiting for my answer. She was twiddling her thumbs, she never twiddled.

I sighed, "I'll go to Boston with Mr. Rutledge. " she came around the desk and hugged me, almost toppling us over.

"I'll make it up to you,Kate. "

I glared at her, "Better count on it. When is this trip anyway? "

"Next week Tuesday till Thursday. "

I gaped, "Next week Tuesday? "

She winced, "You can take Monday off to prepare for the pitch. I know it's not enough time but still. "

I massaged my forehead, "I'll work with it. "

"His assistant will forward everything to you by the end of today. "

"Okay. "

"You're the best, Kate. " I dragged myself out of her office, heading for mine.

Three days with Drew Rutledge? What have I done?