The door to my apartment opened without me using the key and dread instantly filled me. I definitely locked it before leaving earlier.

"Did you leave it unlocked?" William asked.

"No," I murmured. We entered and at seeing the state of my apartment, my heart dropped. Nothing was how I left it hours ago. Half of my furniture was upturned, broken and scattered around.

My eyes went to the kitchen and I immediately ran to check the jar on top of the fridge. It was empty.

"Fuck," I turned the empty jar around then upside down. In a haste, I ran to my bedroom but halted seeing the mess it was. I checked the drawers but everything was gone too. All the spare change I'd saved up for a rainy day, all gone.

"No, no." I shook my head and fell to the floor, pushing knees up to my chest.

"Ophelia, look at me."

I unfocusedly gazed at William who was now bent to my level on the ground.

"Do you know who could have done this?" He asked calmly.

"J-jiggy is the only one who has access to the apartment since he's the landlord," my lips trembled, "I-I always lock my door, I swear, I do."

"We will get it all back, okay?" He leaned closer and his thumbs wiped away tears I didn't realise already stained my cheeks.

"I-I don't have anything. H-he duped me and I lost everything and now I have n-nothing again," I sobbed into my knees.

William was saying something as his arms wrapped around me but I couldn't hear him.

"Let's go." He suddenly stood up.

I raised my head and stared at him. "Where?"

"To my apartment. You can't stay here."

"Do you mind?" I asked.

"If I did, I wouldn't have offered. I'll wait for you in the living room." He said then walked out of the room. I breathed in and slowly wiped my eyes with the back of my hand.

Staring at my room, I just wanted to sit and continue crying till tomorrow or next but I also didn't want to stay here, not tonight. I started searching for clothes amongst the ones strewn on the floor and after picking up what I needed, placed them in an overnight bag.

I tried lifting a few other items and stuffing them back in the wardrobe but they fell back out and I closed my eyes. Everything was a mess.

Leaving it all, I went out to the living room where William was waiting.

"Ready?" He asked and I nodded.

The drive to his place was silent but my mind wasn't. I thought about all the money that was now gone and my apartment which was still in a mess. Was I really jinxed?

"We're here."

My head lifted from the window, turned to William then around, "oh."

We walked towards the elevator which took us up and into his penthouse. Once again, I was in his stylish apartment but my eyes couldn't wonder. He walked ahead. I followed and we ended up in a room on the first floor of the apartment.

"You can stay here."

I nodded once and he left. I fell on the bed with a sigh. The plush-like feel of the mattress beneath me paled in comparison to mine. Thinking of my apartment again made me want to cry. But then I thought of William who, in an unlikely turn of events had actually helped me.

I should thank him.

As I stood up, my phone rang and the caller ID showed mom. I considered ignoring the call but knowing her, it wouldn't end well.

"Hey,"

"Hey P, how are you?"

"Fine, you? And dad?"

"We are good. You sound a little down. Did your night out not go well yesterday?" You have no idea mom.

"It did. I'm just a little tired. I did a thorough cleaning of my apartment today, that's why." I half lied.

"Oh okay, that's good" she paused, "but if anything's wrong, don't hesitate to tell me okay?"

"I won't."

"And were you able to pay your rent?"

"Mmhm."

She spent the next few minutes telling me, with great mirth, all about dad's failure in gardening which he vehemently denied in the background till the phone was finally in his hand.

"I believe you dad," I smiled.

"Give me back my phone Karl," there was shuffling of feet before mom spoke again, "call your sister."

"Okay."

"I mean it P."

"I know." I smiled lightly. We exchanged Goodnights and the line went off. The lightness I felt while talking to them suddenly went away. If I'd told them I lost my job and money within a span of forty eight hours, either I'd be on the next flight to Seattle or they'd be on the next flight here. I didn't want them to worry, they worried enough already.

I dropped the phone on the bed, walked out to the living room and found William seated on the couch opposite the flat screen.

"Are you hungry?" He asked. I shook my head.

"Thank you William," I sighed and sat beside him on the couch.

"You're my PA, it's the least I could do."

"So I'm not fired then?" I smiled expectantly.

"I'm not a monster Opehlia," he rolled his eyes.

"I beg to differ, I still greatly dislike you."

"I wouldn't have it any other way." He smiled.

***

"Is it edible?" I asked as William set a plate of eggs, bacon and toast in my front.

"I can still fire you."

It was Sunday morning and I was seated on one of the island stools while he surprisingly made and served me breakfast.

"It looks delicious sir." I faked a smile.

"What do you plan to do?" He asked as he sat on the stool next to mine.

"Go back, arrange my apartment and try not to be late for work tomorrow morning." And act like everything is fine.

"You want to go back there?" He glared at me.

"Well what do you suggest? I stay here forever?" I snorted.

"That place is dangerous Ophelia,"

"I can handle Jiggy."

"Like you did yesterday?" One full brow lifted and a lock of his dark hair fell across his forehead. For the last forty eight hours, he'd looked boyish. Dressed in sweatpants and a shirt now, there was a semblance to the boy he once was. But of course, that boy was long gone.

"Yesterday was—I can anyway." I said with conviction.

"What if it was someone else?"

"The lock wasn't broken and only Jiggy would really have the motive to steal from me. I was a bit late on paying my rent last month and he really didn't like that."

"What happened?" He asked after a few minutes of silence.

"To what?" I nonchalantly asked as I forked my eggs.

"Last night, you said someone duped you, what happened?" I bit my lip remembering snippets of the past and the clarity of what the money that was stolen really meant to me. I felt the heat of William's stare and turning to face him, he was indeed staring intently at me.

"I was talking about Jiggy," I shrugged.

"You–"

"Please leave it." I interrupted and he stopped.

"When do you want to leave? I'll drop you off." He said standing up.

"After this." I pointed to my breakfast with my fork and he nodded then left.

What had his boxers in a twist?

I rolled my eyes.

Nearly an hour later, William's car stopped in front of my apartment building. The street was still empty except for a few kids playing with a soccer ball two lamp posts away.

"There's no need for you to come down, I'm fine." I said to William who was about to open his door. He sighed but his hand retreated.

"Change the locks on your door," he said gruffly.

"I can't change it, Jiggy might actually kill me."

"If he talks, then you'll know he's really the one and has been snooping again."

"Thank you," I cracked a small smile before exiting the black car.

"And Ophelia?"

"Yeah?" I leaned towards the passenger seat.

"You better not arrive late tomorrow."

"And give you another reason to fire me? Never."

I watched as the car reversed and drove away. In my heart, he'd always be a terrible jerk but for yesterday and today, I'd be grateful.

***

"Oh, thank God." Joanne hugged me and I laughed. "Girl, I barely got any sleep thinking you were really going to be fired."

"What happened? Did he change his mind?" Isabella led me to sit on the chair that had been mine for two short days.

"He did." I simply nodded, not wanting to go into details that would certainly require a story time I wasn't really ready to share. They both grinned.

"I guess we won't have to hate the handsome CEO anymore." Isabella chuckled.

"Hey ladies," John entered the office.

"Morning John," I smiled.

"How would you like to be proposed to?" He suddenly asked.

"John's about to propose!" Joanne clapped.

"Go Johnny!" Isabella winked and I laughed at the blushing John.

"If I eventually find a way to actually propose," he sighed dropping his bag on the desk.

"It can't be that hard, just do something you know she'll love." I shrugged.

"You'll be fine," Joanne laughed.

"I have to get back now, I'll see you all later and goodluck John." I waved before leaving their office with the files I initially came down for.

Stepping out of the elevator, I headed down the corner, straight to my desk and with a sigh, placed all the files down.

My arms still felt tired from rearranging my apartment all through yesterday. After returning, I'd tried searching for Jiggy but he wasn't in. He was probably still somewhere, squandering my money. It made me think of someone else and another situation. I shook my head not wanting my mind to go back to that dark place.

"I don't think Lilian is coming in today," Heather appeared carrying a pile of papers too, which she gently placed on her desk.

"I wonder if we can query her," I mumbled and she laughed.

"I'm taking these in," I pointed and she nodded. Adjusting the files, I lifted them up again and walked to William's door. I knocked and waited two beats for a reply before entering.

"This is the data and payroll for the secondary sales department on the 14th floor." I said dropping everything on his desk.

"Thank you," he said without looking up from the laptop screen.

I nodded and turned to leave.

"Miss Duhamels, before you leave, this is for you."

Turning back, I watched as he slid an envelope across the table. I carefully picked it up.

"What's inside?"

"The money your landlord stole." He said coolly and my eyes widened.

"It was really him, right?"

"It was," he nodded.

"How did you get it back so fast?" I opened the envelope then stared at him.

He shrugged.

"You— thank you."

"You have only one strike left. Friday night certainly warranted one strike."

"Of course," I refrained from rolling my eyes and rather, smiled at the envelope. I didn't think he'd actually get it back. I still had a lot of questions but didn't want to ask.

As I turned to leave again, the double doors to the office opened and his friend, Mark walked in. He smiled as our eyes met while I flushed, embarrassed at the instant remembrance of Friday night.

***