Chapter 48

Caleb's POV

"You're fired." I said in a blunt tone as I leaned back into my chair. It had been exactly three days since Jessica started working for me and still Kiara didn't get the message. Well if she wanted to play dumb I might as well say it to her face.

"F...fired?" She stuttered. "What do you me..."

"I'm in no need of your services anymore." I talked over her. "So you're basically useless to me. You know the reason I let you work here and since someone else will be taking over your duties, I don't see any reason for you to stick around anymore." I clasped my hands together as I watched her eyes bulge out. Wow....and I thought she was smart enough to figure it out herself.

"Someone else?" She gaped at me. Just then, Jessica walked in. She had been standing at the door ever since she noticed Kiara in my office but she didn't want to interrupt. But after seeing Kiara was still in disbelief I guess she decided to make her presence known.

"Hey sweetheart." She blew her kiss winking at her. The moment Kiara set eyes on Jessica her eyes grew even wider before her brows drew together.

"Jessica? What the heck are you doing here?" I picked Kiara up from the same club where I met Jessica a few days ago so the fact that they knew each other wasn't surprising.

"Isn't it obvious boo. I'm taking your man..." She closed the distance between them as she planted her hands on her hip. She was wearing a midi dress with a long slit that ran up all the way to her mid thigh. "...and there's nothing you can do about it." She said, causing Kiara to glare at her before glancing at me.

"Both of you should leave." I ordered. I wasn't ready for any of their nonsense. I was supposed to inspect every department in my company today and it was already 9am. I had no time to waste.

"Caleb please....you can tell me what I did wrong. I promise I'll change." She clasped her hands together. "Whatever you want just please don't send me away." She stared at me with a pleading look in her eyes and I just stared back, my eyes narrowing with annoyance.

"Don't make me repeat myself." I got up straightening my suit jacket. "I don't want to see you around my company again, is that clear?" I asked, walking past them.

"But Caleb..."

"Is that clear?!" I growled with my back towards them.

"Yes," she lowered her head. I didn't even know why and when I allowed her to call me by my first name but I just shrugged it off. After all this was the last time we were going to see each other. I glanced at Jessica who just stood a few feet away from Amaris with a blank expression on her face as she stared at me. She probably didn't know what she was getting herself into. A sly grin crept up my face before I immediately squashed it.

"Good." I dipped my head in a small nod before walking out the door. I was about to get into the elevator when I glanced around the slightly open door a few feet away from me.

Just because I work for you doesn't mean I can't live my life anymore

Every single damn time I choose to do something fun you always ruin it.

Don't you want all your problems to go away, huh Mr. Thorne? Or are you keeping me for another reason? Hmm?

Fire me. Get a new secretary and then, poof. All your problems will go away.

My jaw clenched as I watched the elevators closed. I had promised myself that I was going to make today miserable for her but all I did was yell at her in the elevator. I had been waiting for her to come apologize earlier but I didn't see her. I had assumed she was too scared to come to work today but when I bumped into her in my private elevator I was even more furious. I might have gone a bit overboard when I hit her against the metal wall. I let out a small sigh as I pinched between my brows and I didn't even realize when I was walking towards her office. On reaching the door I couldn't help but sneak a peek just in case she was doing something else other than working and decided to quickly change positions the second I walked in.

I watched her as she typed into her system before glancing at a few files on her table. She then let out a small groan as she reached for the back of her head. "Gosh it hurts." I heard her whisper to herself before staring at her hand. I had hurt many women and killed even innocent children but I couldn't stop the pang of guilt from searing through my chest.

Feeling guilty over a woman, Thorne? Never thought I'd see the day

"Shut up," I muttered, my lips twisting into a scowl before I pushed the door open causing her to jerk her head towards me. The second she set her eyes on me, her eyes darkened as she pressed her lips in a thin line before dropping her gaze to her screen again.

"What do you want me to do for you this time?" Her voice rang out as her eyelids dropped. Normally she would have queried me for just walking into her office but instead she just asked me what I wanted her to do. I scoured through my memory thinking of what to say to her since I just walked in on instinct.

"I'm supposed to be inspecting all the departments today...." I paused and for the first time I couldn't read her facial expression.

"And?" She pressed on, her eyes still glued to her screen as she typed away.

"I have an important meeting with one of my business partners. I would have canceled or rescheduled but it's already been postponed twice." I clasped my hands behind my back as I closed the distance between us in small strides.

"So do you need me to represent you at the meeting or do you want me to conduct the inspection for you?" She finally met my gaze. I didn't understand why but she was surprisingly calm about this. No frowns, no complaints, no reaction, no facial expressions.....just plain.

"I need you to conduct the inspection while I'm away. Make sure that all departments are making progress and..."

"Make sure they are working efficiently and meeting their goals and deadlines." She finished. "I'll also have to make sure the products created by each department are of high quality and meet the standards of the company. And of course I shouldn't forget to ensure the departments are communicating and collaborating effectively and sharing the information and resources they all need. Noted." She dipped her head in a small nod before grabbing a folder from her desk. "Anything else?"

I stared at her, my mind blank and numb before I finally said. "No, that's everything."

"Great," she glanced at me, nodding again. I stood there glued to the floor as I watched her look through some documents as she furrowed her brows, pressing her lips together. I knew she was in pain but I didn't want to say anything so I just turned to the door taking one last look before walking out. Oh Thorne, what have you done?