"It's 9.45 and she isn't here yet" Brian said as he glared at the empty VP seat.

"I wish she doesn't come at all" Lexi grunted. "She looks like a pain in the ass"

I could see everyone in our department glancing at the door from time to time, checking to see whether our new VP is coming but she was already late to the first day. We prepared a detailed report for her to go through, explaning what we had already done to the campaign so that it would help her to give further advices on what to do but I wasn't very sure that would happen.

"Let's visit our VP-I mean, Ms. Randall today" I suggested. "We didn't get to say our goodbyes yesterday"

Lexi nodded. "I was thinking the same. I know where she lives. We can go after work. Brian, drive us"

Brian sighed, leaning back in his seat. "It's so weird to think that she's not our VP anymore. I hated her but...now I feel like I will miss her. I will definitely miss bad mouthing her. That's for sure"

The door suddenly opened and all eyes turned to it. Lauren walked in wearing a red suit, a designer bag in hand, her heels clicking on the floor.

A smirk twisted in her lips seeing our blank stares. "Good morning to you too" She chuckled. "I appreciate if you start greeting me from tomorrow onwards. I'll forgive you just for today" She gave us a malicious smile and strode over to her table, taking a seat.

Few of our seniors hesitantly stood up and placed the report on her table.

"What is this?"

"A detailed report on what we'd already done"

"Read it"

"Yes ma'am" Richard took it and started reading but he couldn't even get halfway as Lauren let out a yawn.

"Take that away. You're ruining my mood in the morning"

Richard paled. "B-but you need to know it. What strategy are we supposed to implement next?"

"Why are you asking me that?"

"Because you're our VP. Ms. Randall is the one who normally comes up with strategies-"

"I'm not that old hag aren't I?" Lauren raised her voice. "Do it yourself. I'll monitor your work"

Richard's jaw tightened and everyone threw sympathetic glances at him. "Okay ma'am" He kept the file on her table and walked back to his seat.

Lauren let out a sigh and leaned back, twirling a pen between her fingers. "Where's that CEO's fiancé?"

I stiffened. Heads turned in my direction and Lauren grinned. "Ah there she is. Come here"

Reluctantly I stood up and Lauren let out a low whistle. "Oooh I love your burgundy suit" She clicked her tongue. "Look at you, no wonder a Kingston fell for you"

Ignoring her comment I strode over to her.

"My shoulders are strained" She said.

My brows knitted.

She repeated with a sly smirk. "I said, my shoulders are strained"

Everyone sucked in their breaths realising what she was asking me to do. My fists clenched at my sides.

"Do it" She ordered.

"It's not my job"

Lauren's head snapped at me. "Excuse me. What did you just say?" My jaw ticked. Lauren let out a wicked laugh. "You realise chairman has more power than Ian right? You even witnessed it yourself. If you don't want to get on his bad side," She smiled sinisterly. "You better not get on mine. Now come and do it"

I chewed on my bottom lip to suppress my anger and forced myself to stand behind her. I glanced at her shoulders. Only if I could break them-

"What are you waiting for?"

I took a deep breath, placed my hands on her shoulders and started messaging them. Lauren closed her eyes and let out a groan. "Oh this is good. So good. Do it everyday"

Hailey calm down, calm down.

"You know, I think you and I are alike. Loved by the Kingstons and destined to share the same fate. You not yet, but soon. He will discard you for a rich woman just like Nathan did to me. But-" Lauren looked over her shoulder and smirked. "You can always warm his bed from the side"

Anger thrummed through my veins, my fingers tightening on her shoulders but across the room I saw Lexi and Brian frantically shaking their heads, begging me to calm down.

"You'll be my secretary from now on"

My gaze slid to Lauren. "What?"

From the corner of my eyes I could see everyone exchanging horrified glances.

"Do I need to repeat it, Hailey Evans?"

"But-" I swallowed. "VPs don't have secretaries"

Lauren shrugged. "Well now they do"

At the moment, I wanted to smash her head on the table, rip her heart out, break her bones, set her on fire- fuck.

Lauren smiled and lazily ran a finger over the files on her table. She stopped at one and opened it. "Ooh this one needs to be sighed by the CEO. I guess it's time I go see him"

She stood up and threw the file to me. "Follow me"

We reached the CEO's floor and Lauren strode straight to Ian's office but one of the staff stood up, blocking our path. "You can't come here without permission"

Lauren crossed her arms. "I'm the VP of the marketing department"

"Still you can't come here"

Lauren ground her teeth, glaring at the woman but then she suddenly flashed a smile. "What's your name darling? I'll definitely introduce you to the chairman"

The woman paled.

Lauren's smile widened. "Now get out of my way" She pushed the woman and strode to Ian's office, opening the door without even knocking.

Ian was sitting at his table, tapping on his keyboard. When we walked in, he glanced up.

His eyes first met mine then darkened as they fell upon Lauren.

Lauren smiled and walked over to him, taking a seat across from him but I kept standing.

"What are you doing here?" He spat.

"Oh we came to get this signed. Hailey, give it"

I placed the file on Ian's table and our eyes met for a moment. Then he took the file and quickly went over it before slamming it close.

"You don't need to come personally to give me this"

Lauren's mouth twitched. "I also came here to see Nathan's beloved brother" Ian's face hardened. "I couldn't meet you properly while I was dating him. Isn't it the nice time to get to know each other?" She leaned back in her seat and turned to me. "Hailey go make us some coffee"

Ian shot me a warning glance, asking me not obey her but I averted my gaze knowing nothing good would come out of it.

"Yes...ma'am" I walked over to a small table next to the shelves where there was a coffee machine on it. And while I made the coffee I felt Ian's eyes on me, watching my every movement.

I took two cups back to the table and laid them down.

"This room was once Nathan's" Lauren said. "Can't believe he's gone. His touch, his warmth, his kisses I still feel them on me"

"If you came here to talk nonsense, please get out" Ian hissed.

Lauren smirked and reached out to take the coffee but she purposely swung her hand to the side, slamming it on the files on Ian's table and they fell down, papers scattering to the floor.

"Oops. Sorry. It was an accident" She giggled. "Hailey, pick them up will you"

Ian's eyes darkened in rage, his fists clenching.

Swallowing anxiously, I crouched down and picked up the papers.

"Hailey there's one near my foot" Lauren pointed and I moved to take it but she kicked it out of my way.

"Stop it!" Ian growled.

Lauren let out a chuckle. "Such rage, such possessiveness. I'm feeling quite jealous of Hailey now"

I quickly gathered the files and placed them back on the table. I sneaked a glance at Ian and saw rage rippling through him, his hand gripping a pen so tightly that I feared he would break it.

"Nathan Kingston's quiet brother who never showed emotions now turns into a beast for his woman" Lauren clicked her tongue. "Interesting. But she will be used against you. She'll be your biggest weakness" Lauren looked at me. "I hate to see that pretty face ruined"

"Get out!" Ian snarled.

Lauren laughed and raised her hands up in surrender. "Alright alright, I'm going" She stood up, giving him a smirk and walked out the door.

I followed her and was about to reach for the door handle when Ian suddenly grabbed my arm and pinned me against the wall.

I gasped but Ian lowered his head and buried his face in the crook of my neck, his chest heaving up and down as he tried to control his temper. He inhaled my scent and his body slowly relaxed. Then he murmured. "I don't want to see you treated like that Hailey" His voice came out as pained. "I'll transfer you to another department"

"I studied marketing. I don't know how to work in other departments"

"Then you can work as my PA. The position is still vacant"

I smiled. "Then you won't give me any work and I'll die out of boredom"

Ian pulled back and looked at me, pain evident in his eyes. I cupped his face in my hands. "I'm fine Ian. I can endure a little bullying. And she will get bored with it soon"

Ian didn't looked convinced but he leaned down and pressed his lips on mine.

I giggled. "You're ruining my lipstick"

"I don't care" Then he wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me closer.

I smiled. I didn't care either as I kissed him back, harder. I stood on my tip toes and wrapped my arms around his neck, pressing myself to him. I ran my hands through his soft luscious hair, caressing it tenderly. Ian released a low groan in pleasure and plunged his tongue inside my mouth deepening the kiss. He kissed me with a heart clenching passion, making me forget the need to breath. He sucked on my lips, nibbled on them until my toes curled at the sensation he managed to build inside me.

It felt so good, so right as if I was meant to be in his arms. All my weariness and anger with Lauren faded away as our lips moulded together in perfect symphony. My heart pounded in my chest, my emotions overwhelming me. Everything felt so right.

I slowly pulled back and we both panted for breath.

I didn't let go, I leaned forward and buried my face in his neck, wanting to feel him again.

"If you don't want to go, you can stay" He gently rubbed my back.

"No" I murmured. "I have to go but just...one minute"

Ian chuckled. "Alright" He pressed me closer, stroking my hair. "Do you want to go somewhere tonight? Like dinner?"

"No I can't today. I'm visiting our VP"

"Ms. Randall?"

"Mmm"

"Okay. I'll pick you up then"

"Okay"

He held me like that for a while until I pulled back. "Bye" I smiled. "I have to go now" I turned around to go back but Ian grasped my arm.

"I'll do something to kick her out. Bear it for a while"

I nodded with a smile and walked out the door.

...

We strode through a lawn to a two storey house in a calm neighborhood, the sun setting behind them.

"Is this the right place?" I asked Lexi.

"This is the right address"

"My palms are sweating" Brian rubbed them together, blowing hot air to it. "I don't think I want to see her again"

I raised a brow. "Weren't you the one who said you'll miss her?"

"The word joking exist for a reason" Brian stated and both Lexi and I rolled our eyes.

As we climbed up the small steps I took a deep breath and pressed on the bell.

We waited and waited then the door swung open.

Our VP stood in a skirt and a blouse, her glasses lowered to her nose.

Her brows furrowed. "What are y'all doing here?"

Before we could answer a familiar voice came from inside the house. A figure of a woman approached the door and when the person came into view we all gasped.

It was the reporter, who Brian slept with.

"W-what?" Brian's jaw slacked. "What are you doing here?"

"Oh it's you" The girl eyes widened in amusement.

Brian looked from VP to the reporter and asked, "What's your relationship with our VP?"

The reporter raised a brow. "What do you mean? She's my mom"