Chapter 57 Fifty-seven

Chapter 57 Fifty-seven
Will Owens is a very strict and impatient boss.

In the five years I've been working as his junior financial journalist, I've come to know the hell he's put me through. The punishment I faced when I failed to carry out an important interview on time. All the bashing I received from him whenever his business rivals or competitors poached a new catch or published a fascinating story before us.

He'd go absolutely ballistic on the whole team, and it's always my fault whenever I make even the tiniest mistake.

If I'm being completely blunt, he's kind of a shitty boss. One of those bosses who gives their employees a hard time and puts so much pressure on them. However, the pay is worth the frustration that comes with the workload.

That's the only reason I haven't quit this job yet.

Nonetheless, my point here is that I've learned not to compromise Will's orders. If he wants something done at 12 AM, I have to get it done at fucking midnight, otherwise I'd lose my job. And I love my job.

I love being a financial journalist.

I love interviewing important people in society.

I love the thrill that comes with learning new things about their rise to success.

It's a wonderful feeling. And sincerely, as much as I hate Will's relentless overreactions, I love working at his small entertainment company.

I cherish my position there.

That's the main reason I'm pressing down on the gas pedal of my car at the moment, so I can get to work on time.

Will informed me just before I stepped out that he's waiting for me. He warned me not to waste either his time or Mr. Thorne's.

I know I'm already running late. It's already five minutes to 9 AM. Sure, I can make it to my workplace in thirty minutes, but unless Zane is already waiting for me in my office, I'd have to make another stop at his company. That's another forty-five-minute drive.

Running the calculation through my head, there's no way I can make it there by exactly 10 AM.

But I guess I'd have to try.

For Will.

And so I don't lose my damn job.

I've just exited my street and pulled onto the main road when I receive a call from my fiancé, disrupting my thoughts.

A curious frown knits my brows, and I hesitantly press the Bluetooth button on my steering wheel. Seb's distressed voice streams through the speakers almost instantly.

"What's up, babe?"

I notice his heavy breathing and I probe with concern, "Seb? Are you okay? What's wrong?"

Desperation laces his plea. "Babe, please, I need you to do something for me."

My frown deepens but I hear him out, "Uhm, sure. What's that, and when? Because I'm on my way to work right now and I can't—"

He cuts me off. "Listen, babe, listen. Please, I have a presentation in ten minutes, and I only just realized I forgot my fucking project file at home. Please, I need you to get it for me. Like right now. Can you do that, please?"

"Seb, I really can't. I'm sorry," I tell him, my voice sympathetic and exasperated, "I'm heading to work. Will is on my ass about this interview I have by 10 AM. I'm already late, baby. And I can't afford to go back to the house. I don't have the time to spare."

"Please, babe. Please," Seb begs, his pleas twisting my chest with guilt. "I really need this. I'm fucked if I don't have that file before the presentation begins. Baby, I've been working on this for weeks now. I need to present everything I've got exactly the way it is. Please, baby, please, just go back and get it for me. I promise I'll plead with Will on your behalf and make him understand you did what you did for me."

"Seb..."

"Dahlia, come on." His frustrated voice causes my heart to twinge. "Come on, just do this for me. I'm literally begging you. If I could return home to get it, I would. But I won't make it back in time."

"Seb, I have an interview, and I'm already late! Please!" I try to make him understand.

But he snaps abruptly, taking me aback. "Dahlia, please! What more do you want me to say? I'm your fiancé, and I need your fucking help right now. Don't turn your back on me. You're close to the house. Just go back and get me the fucking file. That's all I'm asking."

"Don't raise your voice at me, Seb," I chide, displeasure painting my expression and my voice flat.

He sighs heavily and says remorsefully, "I didn't mean to. I'm just so frustrated right now. You are my only hope of retrieving the file I left at home."

I consider his request briefly.

Eventually, I relent, heaving a sigh. "Fine. If it's that important, I guess I'll have to go back and get it then."

Relief floods his voice. "Ah, thanks, baby. I love you so much. Thank you."

I roll my eyes, gripping the steering wheel as I glance behind me for approaching cars. When I find none, I make a quick U-turn, maneuvering back onto the road leading to our house.

Will is going to absolutely chop my head off. But my fiancé's needs unfortunately come before his.

And besides, it's Zane I'm interviewing. One way or another, I'd still finish the interview and get Will what he wants.

Or so I hope.

I know that motherfucker Zane is a tough prick to deal with. But this is a risk I'm willing to take.

For Seb.

"Where can I find the file?" I ask Seb as I drive back home with speed.

He replies swiftly, "Just look in the second drawer of the cupboard by the bedstand. It's there. You'll see the headline."

"Fine, baby. It's okay. I'll bring it to you."

"Thanks. I'm expecting you. Please, be quick. Love you."

"Love you too."

He hangs up, and I release another exasperated sigh.

I avoid checking the time because I know I'm already cooked.

Shortly after my call with Seb ends, Will starts calling persistently. I ignore the calls the first two times, but I'm forced to pick up on the third ring because I know if I don't, I'd likely not have a job anymore when I choose to answer later.

My heart hammers frantically as I answer. "Hello."

"WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU? ARE YOU TRYING TO FUCK THIS UP?" he barks, his sharp voice piercing through my ears.

I quickly assure him, "I'm already on my way, Sir. Ran into a bit of a situation, but it's resolved. I'll be with you shortly, I promise."

No, shit.

That was a lie because there's no way I'll be with him shortly. I have an errand to run for my fiancé.

"Dahlia, you're seriously testing my patience..."

"I'll be there, Sir. Please."

"If you're unable to carry out that interview today with Mr. Thorne because of your tardiness, just start looking for a new job elsewhere," he threatens simply before hanging up.

I curse under my breath.

"Fuck."

Accidentally spotting the time, my chest clenches when I see it's already half past 9 AM.

I ignore the conflicting thoughts resurfacing in my mind and focus on what I returned home to do as I quickly park my car out front of the house and run inside the building like my ass is on fire.

Fuck, Seb.

He better make tonight worth it because I'm risking it all for him.

I burst our bedroom door open and rush straight toward the cupboard he mentioned earlier. However, upon opening the drawer, I can't find the file he was talking about.

I sift through the other paperwork in the second drawer, but I find nothing. In fact, I open the other two drawers and still can't find anything.

My heart races with panic and anxiety. Not because of Will's threats, but because I'm scared I won't even be able to make it to Seb in time to give him the file.

I'm worried he'll miss his presentation because of this.

I can't find the fucking file.

Fuck!

I get to my feet and turn the room upside down, checking every place I think he might have left the supposed file. But still, I can't find anything.

Beads of sweat have already formed on my skin as I stand in the middle of the room and glance around carefully with narrowed eyes like I'm searching for a hidden clue in an escape room.

Shit, I still can't spot anything that looks like a file in the neat bedroom.

I've already checked everywhere.

My pulse pounds with trepidation when my phone starts to ring, the sound breaking me out of my haze.

I walk over to the bed and pick up the phone, startled to see it's my fiancé calling.

What the hell am I going to tell him?

I'm panicking.

I contemplate whether to answer it or not.

But then I reconsider.

I have to tell him I couldn't find the file.

I just pray he doesn't get upset because it's really not my fault.

With my heart in my throat, I answer the call. I hate having to disappoint him so much.

"Baby, Seb," I call out, my voice cracking with devastation. "I've been looking everywhere in the room. I couldn't find the file. Are you sure you left it at home?" I ask, still glancing around me.

Seb's gentle voice sails into my ears. "Dahlia, I made a mistake. Sorry, baby. The file is here. I didn't know she'd come to take it earlier. But she said she needed to review some of the contents before the presentation. You know she's my partner."

My heart slams against my chest in disbelief.

Wait... what?!

"Who is she, Seb? What are you talking about?" I ask, genuinely confused.

Yet, his blatant response shatters my heart into fragments.

"Celine. She took the file from my briefcase without my knowledge. She just brought it back to me. I'm sorry I had to bother you with this."