Chapter 33 - Emily

**EMILY**

Stunned, Emily looked at the strange number. Then she picked up the phone, not wanting to show any weakness in front of her apprentice. It was highly unusual for someone to have her extension. She hardly ever made calls from the company; other colleagues were responsible for that. She really only made internal calls.
“Accounts Fitzpatrick Designs, Saron speaking. How can I help you?” Her voice sounded professional, almost mechanical, as if she had said the sentence a thousand times, but her stomach began to feel uncomfortable.
“Hello, Ms. Saron, this is Susanne Enders from the DarEnd-Agency. You worked for us yesterday and I would like to invite you for an interview. It’s about your contract with us.” The voice on the other end sounded bright and cheerful, almost too cheerful.
Emily’s pulse quickened. She took a quick breath as her heart did a little hop. Did she really think she would have gone unnoticed by walking in like this? But how could anyone have known that the conservative accountant and the provocative friend were the same person?
“Hello, Ms. Enders, I...” She paused briefly and looked at her computer. She quickly typed the name ‘DarEnd-Agency’ into the search bar and displayed the location. Perfect, the agency wasn’t too far away. If she hurried, she might be able to avert disaster during her lunch break. An accountant from Fitzpatrick Designs as a hostess for Alexander Fitzpatrick? That would be a disaster she had to avoid at all costs! “I have a lunch break in an hour and a half. It takes me about twenty minutes to get from my workplace to yours, so we could meet at half past twelve.”
“But that’s wonderful! Splendid!” The exuberant joy in Susanne Enders’ voice made Emily swallow nervously for a moment. What could be so important that her agreement to meet would cause such a frenzy of joy? “I’m really looking forward to meeting you in person. Oh, I’m sure you don’t mind if Mr. Daron is present?”
*I do*, Emily thought instinctively. The thought of seeing Daron again brought back unpleasant memories from yesterday. After all, it was his fault that she had put her foot in it in the first place! And the similarity of the names - Saron and Daron - annoyed her even more.
But instead of letting out her anger, she put on a friendly smile, for Emily knew that a smile was also conveyed in tone. And she wanted to sound friendly, even if she didn’t feel like it. “But no, I’m looking forward to meeting him. Unfortunately, I lost his business card while shopping yesterday. See you soon, Ms. Enders.”
As soon as she hung up, she took a few deep breaths. Nicole looked over curiously, but was too well-behaved to ask any questions. Emily didn’t let on. She quickly closed the browser window, deleted the history, and hoped that no one would be able to trace the call. It was bad enough that *DarEnd-Agency* would show up on her phone bill later. There was nothing Emily could do to prevent that. But maybe no one would pay much attention. And if they did... Well, then she would have to come up with a good excuse for contacting an agency that provided hostesses. Maybe they also provided male hostesses? Did that even exist? She could then claim that she was looking for a companion to avoid going to the opera alone. It was perfectly acceptable for an accountant to be culturally aware.
She sighed and rubbed her forehead. She hoped the effort wouldn’t give her a headache. She immediately thought of her boss’s hot kisses. They would be the perfect cure for headaches and any kind of stress. He was really good at kissing.
Emily looked over at Nicole. “How are you doing Nicole?”
“Almost done,” the trainee announced. “Just two more letters and then I can distribute the mail.”
“Wonderful.” Emily smiled. “Please be the last to deliver the letters to Ms. Myers, then you can stay with her and watch her mail.”
“Yes, I’ll do that.”
As Nicole left, Emily called her colleague in Accounts Receivable and told her that Nicole should see how the booking was made. Emily had barely hung up when Ms. Harper waved at her. Again, a shiver ran down her spine. Had the supervisor overheard part of the call? She was sitting some distance away, so it was unlikely - but the uneasy feeling remained.
“Yes, Ms. Harper?” Emily asked, forcing a smile.
“Emily, you can’t fool me. Something is going on between you and Vivien. Why else would you send the colleague with the mail through the house?”
Emily blushed. How embarrassing, she couldn’t possibly tell Ms. Harper the truth. The elderly woman would certainly not understand what Vivien had done. Besides, it was a private matter, which made it all the worse that Emily was punishing her colleague on company time.
Ms. Harper leaned forward. “Emily, that is a serious question. You know...” Now the woman lowered her voice. “...I have highly recommended you as my replacement. Not only are you in the running for the position of Executive Secretary with your application, but you are the favorite. It would not be good if you did not get along with the other employees in the department.”
Emily was speechless. She stared at her boss with her mouth open. Then she swallowed and asked in a hoarse voice, “What application?” She knew she was being considered, as was Ms. Myers. And she had assumed that Vivien had also been suggested for the position. But she knew nothing about an official application.
“Well, the application you submitted for the accountant position at Fitzpatrick Designs. Of course, there were some personnel references attached, along with a recent reference from me. But I think the chances are good that you will soon be receiving intensive training from me so that I can represent you well next year.”
Emily’s heart pounded in her throat. Of course she had hoped for this dream job, but she hadn’t really counted on it - she was only twenty-four! Vivien had been with the company two years longer and was twenty-eight; she was much more qualified for the position. Not to mention Ms. Myers, who was forty-eight.
“Why me and Ms. Myers or Vivien?” she asked immediately.
“Well, Ms. Myers is very happy as Accounts Receivable Manager and wants to stay there. And Vivien has never aspired to a higher position. She does not have an education, which is a basic requirement for a chief accountant. She also recently got married and has indicated that she and her husband want to have a child. And we both know who carries such a child.
Emily’s face turned even darker. She had never considered that wanting a child could be an obstacle. Besides, she was ashamed of herself for immediately thinking of cute little children she could have with Alexander Fitzpatrick. It was nonsense, really. He was the CEO of the company, a billionaire - and obviously not ready for a real girlfriend, or he wouldn’t have booked a companion through an agency.
“So, Emily, what about you and Vivien?”
Emily sighed and decided to tell the truth.
“Vivien encouraged me to go to the gym with her after work. But she told the trainer that I... er... so...” She trailed off, knowing her face couldn’t get any redder. Fortunately, Ms. Harper understood right away.
“Oh, well, that’s very annoying. Still, you have to learn not to bring personal feuds into the workplace. It damages the work environment. Make up with Vivien and think positively about working together again.”
“Yes, Ms. Harper, you’re right,” Emily agreed. The senior nodded approvingly, and Emily was free to return to her desk. When Vivien came in, she would apologize. But during the break, she couldn’t catch up with her colleague and friend - if she was still a friend at all. She had to go to the DarEnd agency.
“Oh my goodness,” Emily murmured in dismay, feeling an unpleasant tug in her chest as she remembered the contract she had signed. A booked hostess - nothing more. And yet far too much. She had to find out exactly what she had signed with this damn contract. Was it even legal? This question gave her new hope. Surely it could be challenged because she had been forced into it. Usually there was a right of withdrawal of a few weeks. She didn’t want to risk anyone in the office finding out that she had anything to do with a hostess agency. That was the last thing she needed right now. Would I have signed the contract if I had known that I would get the position of chief accountant? Emily paused. Probably. Because even if she had never seen the CEO as an erotic man, he had always been her boss - someone she had to support. That was part of her job, wasn’t it?
But now... he was more than just a boss.
After those passionate kisses, she couldn’t ignore him anymore.
And she knew deep down that things would never be the same again.