Published: Nov. 22, 2018----Edited: Sept. 30, 2020

It has been fifteen days since Jared left for Germany and more than a week since she started working in his company head office as a financial assistant. In those times, she never heard anything from him.

After their encounter in their bed and he went to the bathroom, she too got up. She then went to the other room to have a bath as her personal belongings were still inside the suitcases. After she had taken a shower, she called her family back in England. Thankful for her being forethoughtful and ordered a sim card, she received it before arriving here.

To hear news from her mother, especially the welfare of her brother, made Katelyn happy. The knowledge that he is coping positively with the changes in his life after the transplant made her feel relief. It seems like a thick lump on her throat was removed, and fresh air was able to aerate her blood, giving her renewed energy.

The past four years were a nightmare to Katelyn. Her father died because of a car accident. After his death, they found out; he had used most of their properties as a mortgage in a bank. The money was then used in their company when it had encountered financial problems, but it was still unable to recover. The interest filed up, resulting in foreclosure.

The next year, her younger brother had a renal failure that needed a kidney transplant. Her mother's plan of sending her to one of the most expensive universities turned into a cheaper one. All of those events had made her carefree teenage life turned into a stressful one. Not only had she needed to adjust to her new lifestyle but work as well as study. It is so she can help ease their financial needs by paying for her expenses.

Their company, which is managed by her mom, needed new investors. The big problem was no one would invest in a company whose control was a newbie and depleted of its capital, good thing there was Meme and the Steele group. Their presence in her life uplifted the status of their company from bankruptcy. Her brother, will also not become a viscount without a pound to his name anymore. She never regretted succumbing to marriage without love because of her brother's life, and solving all their financial needs is essential to her than her desires.

"Katelyn, it is going to be lunchtime, will you eat your lunch together with me?"

The voice of Tess awakened Katelyn from her thoughts and realized that she had stopped typing the report of last week's cash expenditure of every department. She looked at the time in her computer monitor and saw that it was already 10 minutes before 12, their lunch break. She was so engrossed with her past that she forgot the time.

She turned her head towards Tess, "sure, but I have to finish this first as Mrs. Winters needs this before two in the afternoon. Also so, that when we come back from lunch, I only have to check it and then print it out, ready to hand it over to her. " she immediately feeds information on the excel format on the computer.

"Thank you! I will have a companion in eating," relief was heard in Tess's voice while she pats Katelyn arms, insinuating the desire of her companionship.

Katelyn stopped and smiled at Tess, "how about them?" She pointed to the other six people inside the room."

"Well, I still feel awkward eating with them as you know they are mostly our seniors here," she whispered.

"You're not alone having that sentiment."

Tessa May or Tess entered the company together with her, and since their first day, they had eaten with two or three seniors each day. Though their seniors are helpful, Katelyn, like Tess, also wanted to have close friends. As Tess seemed approachable and friendly, Katelyn has begun to like her company.

"So you finish it while I go back to get my purse on my desk," She heard Tess told her while she busied herself. In the end, Tess has to wait another 10 minutes before they were able to go and have their lunch break. They decided not to eat in the employees' cafeteria, located on the seventh floor of their building, but instead went to the mall as Tess craved her favorite burger in Shake shack.

The twenty stories offices of Steele Group connect to one of its shopping malls. They don't need to drive but just get down to its level, on the fifth floor. All they do is to punch out their id cards to pass through the connecting door. Two guards were there to check each person who passed through the entrance from the mall.

Once they entered the mall area, they saw the high-end brand. Tess upon seeing it gushed before looking at her and asks, "Kate, can I just take a peek inside if they have the bag that I like?"

"Sure, I will just wait for you here outside." She answered while stands beside the entranceway while looking at the bag displayed in front of her.

Suddenly she heard Tess, "Oh my, he is so hot,"

Surprised, she looked at Tess, who stopped from walking beside her, with mouth gaping and standing with her hand on her chest," What happened to you?" amused, she asked.

She turned to Kate, "You didn't see the guy entering the S&B jewelry?" Katelyn shook her head, "no...I did not," I was busy looking at the display in front of me," but Katelyn was still unable to get over Tess's facial expression. She can't help but chuckled at the astonishment on Tess's face, "I never thought that is how you react when seeing some attractive guy." She told Tess, though, like her, that she does react funnily upon seeing a guy that captivated her attention, but she doesn't show it, it will only be her mind busy giggling.

"It's Blake...girl."

"Who is he?"

"You don't know him? Oh, yeah, you are from another country, "Katelyn ignored Tess's comment to her being unknowledgeable regarding that man, as it is accurate. Besides, she is sure Jared is more attractive than him. She then pulled Tess's hands to walk in the direction of escalators going down before the latter can think of rushing inside the jewelry store.

"He is one of the heirs of S&B jewelry, the head of our Research and Development department, and a relative of Mr. Jared Steele. We all went to his office during orientation," Tess told her with excitement in her voice once they are on the last steps going down, "did you forget?" she asked while Katelyn stepped down and walked a step ahead of her.

Upon noticing that she did not get any reaction from Katelyn, Tess halted her by blocking her progress, "I have not seen you at that time, where were you?" with raised eyebrows she asked Katelyn.

"Oh, I was sick, and so I was not able to have the same orientation day with you," she lied and tried to evade Tess's inquisitive eyes, "we better hurry so we can order and eat, remember...we only have an hour."

Meme called upon knowing from Jared about his traveling to Germany and her being alone in the penthouse. She asked her to go back to the mansion on the same day. Even though she told Meme that she had received an e-mail from the HR Department to have her orientation the next day, she only informed her that a driver would pick her up, and everything will be taken care of, regarding the matter of HR. In the end, she was not able to attend her orientation. Of course, she cannot tell it to Tess.

"Hmm...I'm sorry, its good thing you get well before our first day of work as you cannot enter the company without orientation," Katelyn didn't comment after what Tess had said, and they both resumed walking.

When they were sitting down on the table and eating their burger, Tess asked, "Do you have a date on Saturday?"

Katelyn wiped her mouth and answer," No, I don't have a date."

"Oh, sorry, I forgot that you are new here in the States, but I hope you don't mind the personal question I asked."

"It is okay. I don't mind." Katelyn took a bite of her burger and looked at the people inside the restaurant, especially the couple on the corner that caught her attention since they sat down and ate.

Looking at them made her envious of the woman whose man has been attentive to her, serving her the foods. Wiping her lips and even tucking a hair that interferes in her eating. Those actions looked so simple. Those who did not experience it from her man can wish for another one like him.

"This Saturday will be my father's birthday, and we will have a party at our house. It will also be a celebration that I am working in the company, so if you can come, you are welcome." Tess told Katelyn, and before answering, she took a sip on her juice, "I don't know anyone at your party. Besides, I don't want you to feel that you have to entertain me there, so maybe next time."

Tess reached out and held her hands, "come on...I want you to come in my party so I can introduce you to my friends," Katelyn did not answer as she is still considering the things she had to do on that day," I told my parents about you and my friends, and they want to meet you, who knows... that is where you will come face to face with your future boyfriend."

Katelyn laughed at what Tess's had said. She finally decided as Tess seems a nice person, and Jared is still on his business trip. All she will do at that time is to watch a movie or read some books, and Meme also went on a cruise. "Okay, I will go there."

"Oh... I am so happy to hear that," beaming with a smile, Tess told her, "I will send you the address of our house. It will start at five in the afternoon until dinner time, and then we will go out for nightclubbing."

After they had finished their lunch, they were in a hurry to go back, but Tess has the time to be observant of the two guards appreciative of their beauty, mostly of Katelyn. Tess mentions it to Katelyn once they are out of their earshot. Tess statement and facial expression made Katelyn chortled, and then the door of the elevator going up to their office opened. Upon seeing who was inside, the smile in Katelyn's face faded. She then looked as if caught stealing candy in a jar. She lowered her eyes to avoid his gaze. If not for Tess's hand that pulled her inside, she will not enter.

"Good afternoon," she heard Tess greeted those insides, and that made her also looked up and made contact with Jared's eyes again. She immediately diverted her gaze to the other two," Good afternoon," she uttered.

"Good afternoon, ladies," another cute guy told them with a smile at the same time, stared at her.

She smiled in return before turning her back and pushed the button of their floor.

In eight seconds that they are inside the compartment, there is no human sound, just the cable's soft gliding as it lifts the elevator.

Katelyn was surprised to see Jared, for she thought that he was still in Germany. Seeing him for the first time after two weeks of being apart made Katelyn realize that she missed him, but of all places that they will meet, it will be in the elevator and a woman holding his arms so tightly.

She liked to snatch those hands away and slapped that woman for touching the arms of her husband. Of course, she cannot do that.

The clingy woman was the model of S&B jewelry and Jared's official girlfriend, Charlize. Katelyn was sure if Charlize has an idea of her existence and of her being the reason he did not propose yet, for sure, she will go out of the elevator minus her crowning glory.

Katelyn felt cold just to think her fate without a hair. The way Charlize hold unto Jared reflects how possessive she is of her man. But Katelyn cannot blame Charlize of being proprietorial, with those sexy blue eyes, a handsome face, and body so hot as if he spends a lot of time in the gym than on his corporate chair. He is the epitome of good looks and money. Surely a lot of women hanker to have him.

Then she remembered she should not think of him in that way. He will only hurt her because, for him, she was just a woman he bought. She should not be affected by his presence or appearance, but he is so handsome for her peace of mind.

The elevator's sound as it stopped pulled her to present, and once it opened, she immediately walked out without looking back at those three left inside.

"Good day, "she heard Tess telling them while she stopped and stood on the door to wait.

The elevator closed, and Katelyn turned back to her friend, who is now leaning on the elevator door with one check on the metal and dreamy eyes. It brought laughter to her again, "don't laugh at me," Tess told her with a pout.

"Okay, I will not," she said, and then in a severe tone, she asked, "Who do you like the most?

Tess left her position and straightened herself and look at her, "both of them," she answered and then laughed," her answer made Katelyn laugh too.

"But before you say anything, Kate," in lower tone with a hint of sadness she continues," I really like our big boss, who wouldn't ...but he doesn't even spare me a glance, and that makes me so sad, but he did look at you, so you should be happy."

"What will be his reason to do that?"

"Will it cannot be denied that you are gorgeous than I am." Tess swiped her chin with the back of her hands while she told Katelyn.

Katelyn heard more of frustration in her voice than envy," You only thought that way. You are gorgeous like me, and besides, did you not see how his girlfriend latched onto him?"

"Yes, I did notice," she looked at Katelyn, "I thought you did not see it as you turned your back immediately once we are inside," she accused.

"Well, he is a handsome guy, and I am only a weak woman than can be easily tempted," with pitiful looked, she told Tess.

"Whoa...you also have some urges for the big boss." Katelyn laughed at how Tess stared at her with full eyes, "Welcome to the club my friend," Tess hugged her and then looked at her, "I am so happy to know that you are not a cold English Rose."

"But we better forget about him as his girlfriend is so possessive of him, or we will end up bald," Katelyn added.

Meanwhile, Jared was a bit irritated with the way Katelyn smiled with Donovan, while she just looked at him as if she doesn't know him. "What to expect from a woman who only sees him as her benefactor?" Though he did not call her on the two weeks that he was away, it doesn't mean he forget about her. He was only restraining himself. Besides, he still has a girlfriend.

Once his plane touched down, he even tried to call her as soon as he could, but she was not answering. He was sure. She was having fun while he was not around, smiling to everyone except him.

"Darling, why do you look so tense?" he looked at Charlize, not comprehending what she meant. He sighs," Charlize, I am exhausted from the trip. Why don't you ask Kelley to watch the Broadway show with you?

END OF PART 3