My alarm woke me up from my very comfortable sleep, groaning I sat up and rubbed my eyes, I haven't slept so much for the past month.

Damn me for waking up early on weekends.

I jumped into the shower and changed into one of the four outfits that I had packed for the trip.

I heard the shower running in Mr. Reid's room, I'm sure he's as hungry as I am since we both didn't eat anything last night.

I walked to the kitchen, wanting to make breakfast for the both of us, I didn't have my hopes high that there would be any food in the fridge, but to my surprise there was, and a lot of it too.

I started taking out ingredients for the generic eggs and bacon with the side of french toast.

There were about fifty appliances and I think I fell in love at first sight with the smoothie maker.

Deciding instead of tea and coffee, to make a healthy smoothie I took out blueberries and strawberries, vanilla yogurt, orange juice, and a banana.

It's a wonder how he owns all these ingredients when he lives in New York.

Rich people. I scoffed.

Five minutes later, Mr. Reid came out dressed sharply in a suit looking handsome as ever.

"Why are you cooking?"

"Because we're supposed to have breakfast in the morning"

I said in a duh tone.

"Coffee would've been fine"

"Coffee is not breakfast, plus we're having smoothies, healthy and nutritious"

He ran his hand through his hair and groaned.

"I can't start my day without a cup of coffee"

"Well, you're just going to have to drink this"

I said as I gave him the cold glass of berry smoothie.

He took a seat on the table and started picking at his breakfast delicately like it's burnt.

"Are you a kid? Just taste it, God, it won't kill you"

He took a bite out of the egg and toast, I anxiously watched him chew and swallow.

I looked at him hoping he'd have an approving look on his face but no, it was the usual emotionless one.

I rolled my eyes and took a seat, we ate in silence, until Mr. Reid broke the silence.

"It's good"

"What?"

"The food, it tastes good, thank you for the meal"

I tried to hide the smile that was etching up my face and said

"You're welcome, by the way, what are we supposed to do now we're in Chicago?"

"We're going to pay Jarred a visit and if he denies the fact he cheated me, we'll be going to court very soon" I nodded my head in understanding.

After we were done eating I picked up our plates, I was about to do the dishes but Mr. Reid said a housekeeper is coming in later and that if we don't leave now, we'll be late.

For the first time, Mr. Reid was the one driving and I sat in the passenger seat of his BMW Sedan.

We stopped in front of a building that I soon came to recognize as

Royce Andrews Holdings.

We entered the building, the receptionist quickly stood up noticing who came barging in the lobby and striding towards the elevator.

People were looking at us with a mixture of fear and surprise, they started whispering loudly amongst themselves and I heard a few of the people's comments on our way to the elevator.

"Mr. Reid?!"

"Is that Derick Reid?"

"What's he doing in Chicago?"

"Why does he look like he'll erupt like a volcano?!"

I chuckled at the last person's comment if only he knew that's Mr. Reid's normal appearance.

I looked ahead to see Mr. Reid glaring at me and mentally telling me to pick up my pace.

We rode the elevator to the last floor, I don't know how Mr. Reid knew he'd be there but he did and I'm not gonna question it.

His assistant that I've met and talked to before Melanie was surprised to see Mr. Reid walk past her and tried to stop him but Mr. Reid couldn't care less and barged in casually.

With me trailing behind him like a lost puppy... sigh.

"Derick?" Jarred raised an eyebrow, his eyes fell on me then to his assistant.

"Sir, I tried to stop them but they still came in"

"It's fine Melanie, don't worry"

She nodded and after giving us a glare she left the room.

"So, what do I owe the pleasure to Derick?"

"I won't beat around the bush Jarred, how were you able to steal the contract?"

He gave a sinister smile and said

"I don't know what you're talking about but I do believe I can file a case against false accusations,

can I not?"

Mr. Reid was unfazed by his words and calmly stretched his arm out.

"I'll see you in court then, nice seeing you Jarred"

And before he can get a chance to reply, we were already walking out and out of the building.

When we sat in the car and were buckling our seat belts, Mr. Reid's phone rang.

"Hello?"

"Sir, put it on speaker if it's something I'm allowed to hear"

He nodded and put the phone on speaker.

"Derick, it's me, Isaac, I found the man that broke into your office,

I guess he didn't think to wear gloves"

I chuckled and continued listening.

"Where is he now?" Mr. Reid asked.

"Prison, where else?"

"Good..." Mr. Reid trailed off thinking.

"What did Jarred say? Did he confess?"

"No, he openly denied and said he'll file a case for false accusations"

"Then I think I have a piece of info that can help you with this problem"

"And that is?"

"Say the magic words Ricky!" Issac taunted.

"Issac"

"Alright, alright, dude no need to go all boss mode on me"

"Boss mode?" I basically choked on air.

"Oohhh is Ricky with a girl? How are you, m'lady?"

Mr. Reid started glaring daggers at me and I quickly answered.

"I'm good, so Issac would you mind telling me what you were going to say to Mr. Reid? Bonita por favor?" (Pretty please)

"Ohh, you're Spanish I see, that's hot and yes I will tell you this very valuable piece of information"

"Just say it already! We don't have all day you know?!"

"Ok on a serious note, it wasn't the first time Jarred cheated someone for money, the owner of a chain of famous restaurants Peter Sanchez was also duped into Grant's schemes, he's a good friend of mine and I was trying to help him out but sadly we were fighting a losing battle"

"Where is he now?" I asked.

"Being the good friend I am, I tracked his whereabouts, lucky for you he's visiting one of his many restaurants in Chicago so if you pay him a visit, which most likely you will, tell him Issac says 'how're you doing Petey!'"

"Thanks Issac, I owe you one"

"We're buddies Rick, I'd do anything for you man"

"You guys are too cute" I gushed.

"And you owe me a date sweetheart"

Before I can answer Mr. Reid cut the call.

"Idiot" he muttered under his breath.

"He's cute"

"He's gay"

"You say it like I was planning on calling and asking him out on a date"

He scoffed and turned on the engine and I thought we were going back to the hotel but instead he went somewhere else.

"Where are we going?"

"To visit Peter Sanchez"

"Do you know him?"

"I do, but I've never worked with him, I've heard good things about him, he's smart but at some points naïve"

After that we fell into a steady silence.

A thought crossed my mind and I quickly took out my phone.

Hey Kate, sorry I wasn't able to talk yesterday because my phone ran out of battery, I'm sorry if I worried you, I had to go on a last minute trip with the demon boss, I'll call you when I get the chance.

Love ya ❤️

A few more minutes of silence later I couldn't take it anymore so I turned on the radio and started flipping through the stations and stoped on It Ain't Me by Kygo ft. Selena Gomez.

I started humming to the song and from the corner of my eye I saw Mr. Reid tapping the wheel to the beat.

I smiled and looked outside the window, we came to a stop outside a restaurant.

I looked at Mr. Reid questioningly

"Do you see that car?"

I looked to see a Lamborghini parked in front of the restaurant that I came to know as Sanchez.

I put the pieces together and knew what we were doing here.

I got out of the car followed by Mr. Reid, we entered the restaurant and Mr. Reid said

"If things go well with Sanchez, things will go just as accordingly tomorrow"

Mr. Reid pressed the bell in front of a woman wearing way to much makeup for someone who is just working in a restaurant.

"Do you have a reservation?"

The woman asked not looking up from her phone.

"Is Mr. Sanchez here?"

The woman looked to I'm pretty sure, see who this smooth and masculine voice belong to.

She batted her fake lashes at him flirtatiously and started pulling at the hem of her shirt.

"Yes, he's in the office upstairs"

She 'tried' to say seductively.

Mr. Reid walked past her and up the stairs, me again following behind.

He opened the office door, without knocking, again.

The man behind the desk who I'm assuming is Mr. Sanchez looked up.

The second he looked up I had tears in my eyes and I ran, wrapping my arms around him.

"Leo!"

As though realization crossed his features he wrapped his arms around me tightly, like a sign of never letting me go again.

"Julie..."

"Hermano mayor" (Big brother)

I cried.

"Estoy aquí cariño"

(I'm right here sweetheart)

He rubbed my back soothingly, feeling the safety I always felt in the arms of my big brother I calmed down.

I felt him stretch his hand and I remembered Mr. Reid was just standing there and just watched me breakdown seeing my brother.

I looked at him, sure he would ask why I had decided to breakdown at such a crucial moment.

"Mr. Reid?"

"Mr. Sanchez, if that is even your name"

"It is" my brother said sternly.

"I'd like to know who is

Ms. Downs to you?"

"I think that is non of your business Mr. Reid" I piped in.

Mr. Reid gave me an annoyed look and said

"Mr. Sanchez how do you feel about Jarred Grant?"

"Does a burning passion of hatred sound good to you"

I smiled at how he never lost his accented charm.

I missed him...

"Well then would you like to become a witness at court?"

"How are you going to take him to court?"

"I have a man working for him on my side and if you're in to help I'd appreciate it, out of curiosity, what really happened between you and Grant?"

Leo or Peter as he now calls himself sighed and ran his hand through his hair.

He hadn't changed since the last time I met him except for the slight goatee growing on his sharp jawline.

Something different about my brother and me was that he had forest green eyes like my sister, now that I look at him he looks exactly like Nina.

I was pulled out of my staring by Leo's voice

"I was new to the whole working with other people thing at the time and Jarred knew about it too, he took advantage of my ignorance and he stole the contract deal I had signed, he said that if I didn't pay him up to five million dollars he'll send me to prison"

"And I'm guessing you paid him since you're here"

"It was my only choice, he had the upper hand and I was too big of a naïve bastard to think of something else"

"So... are you in?"

Leo smiled.

"I'm in any day if that means I get to see the day Grant is behind bars"

"Mr. Reid, do you need my assistance tomorrow?"

"No, why?" I ignored his question and turned my attention to Leo.

"Hey can we hang out tomorrow?"

Leo gave me warm smile and said

"We can and we will, just give me your number"

After exchanging numbers, me and Mr. Reid quickly had lunch at my brothers restaurant and the food tasted amazing, it tasted like a reminder of home.

By the time we were finished eating it was 2 PM and Mr. Reid and I decided to finish our work in the company's Chicago branch.

And I realized something important today...

Work will never leave me alone!

⭐️💬

😘❤️✌️