What the fudge?

Instead of going to the conference room, I went straight to the restroom, and replayed what happened.

I was in the middle of admiring the office when my phone rang to Jessica's ringtone. Apparently, Aaron Stevens announced an "emergency meeting." More likely, my best friend just forgot to mention that part earlier. Of course, knowing her, the latter part was more likely the story.

Jessica informed me that we will be having a meeting with the Kinsley Holdings, the most important investor of the Westwood-Stevens Industries in less than ten minutes. The meeting will be held at the conference room just below the main office. I was already on my way to Mr. Westwood when I hung up. Since it's an "emergency meeting," I didn't bother knocking before I went in his office.

I told him the sudden meeting, and he mumbled a curse under his breath.

I can't blame him though. Who would even have the time to prepare for a meeting in less ten minutes?

But of course, when I heard him cursed, my stupid manners kicked right in, and questioned him. When he looked at me, incredulously, I realized that I just used the first language I learned.

Stupid manners!

After that everything felt surreal. He came up to me as I backed away and braced my back against the wall.

Is this sexual harassment?

I shuddered as I felt his breath on my ear, and neck. I have never been so helpless in my life. Usually, in times like this, the bodyguards would immediately take care of the man who traps the princess on a wall.

Since, I don't have any bodyguards with me; I did the only thing that came in my mind. I yelled my battle cry, and quickly went out of the office.

Looking back, I felt pathetic. My battle cry went something like this: "WE HAVE TO GO TO THE CONFERENCE ROOM NOW!"

My heart was erratic. I have never been assaulted like that before, if that would be called an assault. No one in my country dared touch me without my consent. I guess, I was used to men clearing their paths for me. They know that I must be respected, like the title demand them to.

I washed my hands and calmed my nerves. I have to stay composed, and professional in front of everyone, even him.

I looked at my watch and realized that I should be in the conference room in exactly three minutes.

Shoot!

I walked out of the restrooms, feeling conscious as the other employees were giving me weird stares.

Thank God

The meeting hasn't started yet. Some people in black suits are just filing in. I took a seat next to Jessica.

"What are you doing?" she whispered.

"What do you mean?" I asked her, confused.

"You're supposed to be sitting with Nathaniel, and he will be seated across from the very seat you're at right now," she said, and I gave her a 'are-you-kidding-me' look.

"Go! You're going to get both of us in trouble" she whispered-yelled.

I went to sit at the opposite side of the table. The door flew open, and Aaron Stevens came in, walking straight to Jessica. He leaned down, as if giving her a kiss. My eyes widen at the action, but Jessica suddenly stood, making Aaron lose his balance and fell to the floor; face first.

Jessica immediately crouched down to his side, pretending that she didn't think any of it. The people inside the conference room took notice of what happened. Some guys seemed to be suppressing a smile while others were just confused. Some tried to help, but Jessica dismissed them, saying that Mr. Stevens was fine. She gave them a smile while she "pretended" to help her boss up.

Aaron gave Jessica a frustrated look while she gave him one of her sarcastic smiles. The smiles that means "you're messing with the wrong woman, buddy!"

Aaron settled in a chair beside Jessica, the door swung again, and in came Nathaniel Westwood. We stared at each other for a moment before he took his seat beside me.

We waited for good five minutes in silence before the conference door bore the head of the people behind Kinsley Holdings. We all stood as a man took a seat at the end of the conference table. Jessica and I gave the other men our seat when we realized that we won't be of use to any of them at the moment.

"Finally!" I said, exasperated as we left the room.

"I know, right?" she said, as if understanding what just happened. "I don't understand why those assholes even dragged us in."

"Yeah," I said, giving her a weak smile.

"What's with that?" she asked, not really buying my mask.

I sighed. I knew I couldn't really hide anything from her. We could always read each other from head to toe. After all, we have become sisters by bond and by choice.

"Let's have something to eat, and I'll tell you."

*****

"Why don't you look surprised?"

After debating for twenty minutes, we finally decided to go on a small café, instead of a fancy restaurant. I told Jessica about what Nathaniel did to me, and she just gave me a sigh.

"What do you want me to say?" she asked. She took a sip from her cappuccino before she continued. "I already warned you about them. I even told you that Aaron hit on me the first day we met, remember?"

"Yeah, but that's beside the point." I said, almost spilling my milkshake. "I felt his breath on my neck. He whispered in my ear, and a shiver immediately went through my spine. My legs were weak, and my heart felt like it will explode from my chest."

She just stared at me wide-eyed as that statement slipped from my lips. I can see the gears in her mind as she tries to formulate words, but nothing came out. She just opened and closed her mouth.

I let out an exasperated sigh and let my eyes wander. There are bookshelves almost at every corner of the café, as if they're decorating the wall. The counter is a simple shade of chocolate brown. There are also paintings at the walls behind the counter. The whole place is filled with the scent of both coffee, and chocolate.

"You have to be careful, Laura." I snapped my head, when I heard my real name.

"Vanessa." I said to her, reminding her of my secret. She just stared at me, giving me a worried look.

"I am serious, Laura." She said, sternly. "I am not talking to Vanessa, but to my best friend."

"I'm serious, as well." I retorted. What's with all the serious tone? "You have to call me Vanessa wherever and whenever we are."

"Fine. You have to be careful, Vanessa. You have to focus yourself on your freedom. You don't need any distractions in your life. You have to control your heart."

"Are you saying that I might fall for Nathaniel?"

"Yes."

I raised an eyebrow at her before responding, "I am used to all those charms."

"You forgot that you have actually never been in love," She pointed out, and I nearly choked on my latte.

I think telling her that little detail is such a bad idea after all.

I didn't have the time to respond as the familiar looking men entered the café.

"Great. They just can't leave us alone" Jessica muttered.

I watched as they each took a chair from a nearby table to sit with us.

"You two are supposed to be in your desks at the office, waiting for us to tell you what to do." Nathaniel started.

"There are lots of people out there dying to be in your position to be our secretary." Aaron continued, as he plastered his face with a smirk.

Jessica lets out a growl, retorting, "Then why don't you hire those people, instead of forcing us to work for you?"

I can't believe Jessica is being sarcastic when Aaron actually has a point. He maybe an asshole but he's still our employer. I was about to apologize for her when the table suddenly budged, and I heard a loud "Ow" from Nathaniel.

Looking across the table, I saw Jessica biting her lip, trying to hide her smile. That alone made me conclude that Jessica tried to kick Aaron under the table but instead hit Nathaniel's leg. I did the one thing I thought and stomped her foot, but instead, I heard another "ow!" and this time coming from Aaron.

I faced-palm as the two men glared holes at each other's heads. Jessica and I just stared at them, waiting if one of them would actually have a hole in the head.

"What are your purposes here, Mr. Westwood, and Mr. Stevens?" I asked, breaking the tension.

"We came to escort you back to the office because we would like to hold a meeting amongst our staff." Aaron said, while looking at Jessica, expectantly. I saw Jessica flinched a bit under his scrutiny.

I might have done the same when Nathaniel snapped his head on my direction, and said, "We shall be discussing about our greatest investor, so we better go back to the office. The reporters might probably flood the office by now, so it's better for you to come with us."

Reporters?

There were still bulging and shaking on our table but that disappeared the moment I realized something.

I'm getting close to being busted.