"Nants ingonyama bagithi Baba

Sithi uhm ingonyama

Nants ingonyama bagithi baba

Sithi uhhmm ingonyama

Ingonyama..."

I groaned as the first words of Circle of Life started blasting my ear off.

My hand immediately searched for my phone to turn damn thing off. When I did, I forced myself to sit up. Unfortunately, my head did not appreciate that.

What the hell happened last night?

I feel like my head was banged several times. My vision is blurry, and my mouth doesn't smell or taste good.

Again, what the hell happened last night.

Last time I felt like this was when I had my first drunk experience. I was sixteen and a little bit on the rebellious side. But that was the first and the last time because I swore a vow to myself and to my mother that I will never ever get drunk again.

You can call me mama's boy, and I won't even care. I'm a proud mama's boy.

Mom

I could already picture the scolding look on her face right now. In fact, I think I'm seeing her right now.

"Hangover's a bitch."

Now, that was weird. The sheets don't feel like the one I have back at my parents' house. So, hearing my mom's voice somewhere in the room is very disturbing. Was I really that drunk to even hear my mother's voice?

"Try opening your eyes wider. Maybe then, you will see me."

At that, my brain protested. Forcing my eyes open will make me worse but I did it anyway.

And that is how I saw my mom, looking at me like she did the last time I was drunk. One eyebrow is higher than the other. Nose scrunched up as if she could smell the number of alcohol I consumed last night through the screen.

Only then, did I realized that my laptop is set up into a position that will purposely be in front of me once I sit up from the bed.

"There he is."

I only grunted in response because my throat felt like the Sahara Desert at the moment.

"A glass of water is sitting on your nightstand just beside your bed."

I reached at the glass and gulped down the water, quenching my thirst.

"Better?"

I just nodded in response and lied down again. I heard her very audible sigh as I close my eyes.

"Do I want to know?"

I groaned again before responding, "Give me a sec. I'm trying to collect my memories."

I remembered Aaron being with me the whole night. What the hell was that all about?

We were discussing something about keeping the division of the two main offices as well as the improvements on the building itself. We were also discussing some renovation on the top floor, where our offices can be found, to celebrate or at least establish some sense of ownership for the two of us. We agreed that the rest of the building will not change its features so the discussion on renovation ended there. When I raised the issue on the secretary, Aaron abruptly stood from his seat and gave me a hard stare.

"I don't understand the need to have my own secretary to this company when you already have one."

With his lethal stare, he said, "Because she's mine."

I don't know if that should exactly answer the problem so with the same lethal glare, I tried to elaborate, "I don't care if she's in your protection or property, she will be the bosses' secretary in this company. So, she's responsible for the scheduling of appointments of the bosses in this company. And of course, many others, but her job..."

"... is to stay with me at all times because she's responsible for all my schedules."

"So, she's your personal assistant, then?"

"Precisely," he answered. "And looking for your secretary is beyond her job, so you will do well to be patient and wait for that person to arrive."

I was about to launch the speech of the year but never had the chance to say another word as the man I was talking to walked out of the conference room.

I remembered following him because I will not be treated like a damn commoner by that asshole.

He raced through the avenue with me not far from his tail and stopped at a club.

He tossed his car keys to the valet and entered.

I did the same and the next thing I knew, I was maneuvering my way through the crowd. I was sixteen the last time I went to a club. Since I was so busy trying to raise a business of my own, I never went anywhere near those distractions again.

When I found my target, he was at the bar. The bartender had already lined his shots, and Aaron was quickly drinking them down.

Something was up, I thought. So, despite the fact that I hate his gut, I sat down next to him.

He pushed a glass of tequila in front of me and raised his own. I indulged him by raising the glass and clinking it to his.

"She's the one, man... And she has no idea about it..."

"What gibberish are you sprouting, Stevens?"

I think he gave an answer, but I zoned out the moment I felt a presence enter the place. I scanned the room and my eyes zeroed in on the woman at the other end of the bar.

There she is.

For some strange reason, I was incapable of thinking straight. Picking up a girl is my game. It's an easy task for someone like me. But looking at her makes me stop and think.

But instead of thinking, I ordered a strong drink. I'm not a coward, but her presence demand something other than power over women. I'm not a coward. I don't need a drink in order to boost my energy and have the courage to talk to her. But, it's different in her.

It's crazy because I don't even know who she was, I don't her name or where she came from. But she enchants me anyway.

I remembered drinking a little bit more before deciding to follow her on the dance floor.

The moment I placed my hands on her hips, I felt the jolt of electricity run through my fingers. She pulled away immediately as if she felt it too. And for the second time that day, we locked eyes on each other.

A coughing sound drove me out of memory lane.

"Whatever happened, you can tell me all about it later. Right now, I believe you would need and want to go to the office. You have less than fifteen minutes if you still abide your own rules."

That statement did it for me. In no time, I found myself walking up to the main office of my newly acquired building. When I did, I saw the woman who always managed to put me in a trance.

There she is again. Standing not far from where I am.

When she entered the office, together with Jessica, she gave me a sweet smile. I was immediately hypnotized by her smile.

Jessica cleared her throat, and brought me back to the present. "Good Morning, Mr. Westwood." She said, though I could see that she's not really in the mood. "I would like to introduce you to Ms. Vanessa Carter. She will be your secretary from now on."

Vanessa Carter?

Doesn't ring any bells but the face is very familiar especially now that she seemed to have her natural complexion.

"It's a pleasure meeting you, Mr. Westwood" she said and held out her hand.

"Believe me Vanessa Carter, meeting you is better." I held her hand to my lips and kissed the back of it.

Jessica cleared her throat again, and explained that she already informed Vanessa that she will be arranging my schedules, and take care of the files I needed, blah blah blah...

I didn't pay her much attention as I just stared at the green-eyed beauty in front of me.

I saw her somewhere, I swear it.

I was lost in my own thoughts that I didn't even notice that Jessica already left the office. I was still standing at Ms. Carter looking like an idiot.

"So, Mr. Westwood, if you don't need anything, I will just be on my desk." She smiled at me as she made her way for the door.

I was supposed to be giving her hell of a work but all those planning of making my secretary's work miserable went out of the window.

Get a grip, Nate.

I went back to my desk, and tried to focus, not that it's hard to focus. I happened to glance at my window, and realized that I made a mistake. Vanessa's desk is completely taking over my view.

Why the hell does my window directly pointed at her?

She was talking someone over the phone when she suddenly stood, and started walking towards my office. I pretended to work at my computer, as she knocked on my door, and let herself in.

"I didn't say you could come in." I said, sternly.

"I am very sorry Mr. Westwood, but Mr. Stevens called an emergency meeting with the Kinsley Holdings."

"Kinsley Holdings?" I asked.

"Yes sir. I was just on the line with Mr. Stevens' secretary and she told me that Kinsley Holdings is one of the most important investor of the Westwood-Stevens Industries," she said. "And that the meeting will be held..." she looked at her watch before she continued. "...exactly seven minutes from now."

I mumbled a 'shit' under my breath as I heard her also mumble something that strangely sounded like 'I think that it's not really an emergency and she just forgot about that.

"Excusez-moi?" I heard her say.

I looked up and saw that her face was that of both annoyed, and confused. Her left eyebrow rose in a questioning look, and her lips slightly parted.

"No! I mean–wait what? Why am I explaining to you?" I asked suddenly, and she covered her mouth with her hand as if registering what she just said.

'Excusez-moi?' what are you, French? I thought.

"I am so sorry Mr. Westwood. It's just that I-I..." she stammered, as I walked towards her slowly.

"You what?" I asked. She backed away until she reached the wall behind her, closing the distance between us, I walked even closer. I can already feel her breath as I leveled my face on hers.

"W-we..." she stuttered out. Her scent is pulling me to the edge. Lavender, and mint. Her lips slightly parted as she tried to form words.

I felt her shuddered as I leaned down her ear. "We?" I asked and brought my left hand to her side, as if trapping her. When I brought my right hand to touch her chin, that's when all hell broke loose.

"WE HAVE TO GO TO THE CONFERENCE ROOM NOW!" she suddenly yelled, while pulling herself away from me, and running for the door.

I stood there, shocked at what happened.

What the fuck?