Chapter 16: Chapter: 16

ANDREA

The NICO-TECH building is undoubtedly one of the tallest skyscrapers in New York; it has over fifty floors and is owned by Nicklaus Montgomery.

It's a technology company that designs and manufactures computers, mobile devices, and automotive accessories.

The Montgomeries come from old money; they have several businesses in and out of New York, across the states, and around the world.

I read his Forbes interview somewhere about how the company came to be. I read that the billion-dollar company is entirely owned by Nicklaus.

It was a subsidiary of Mont's Group of Companies. When he inherited it after his father's death ten years ago, he renamed it NICO-TECH.

He was only twenty-three years old then, and had started working a year earlier after graduating from college.

He'd told the journalist in his interview that everyone had thought he'd run the company into the ground, but he'd prove them all wrong and had made it the success it is today.

I'm sure he feels pride whenever he sees what he's accomplished. Unlike Nicklaus, I feel nauseous just by staring at the intimidating building, and its smartly dressed employees. Maybe it is because I have sinister intentions towards their boss?

I feel like I should just abandon this whole idea. It is futile, I mean, how do we even know that Nick will be attracted to me? What if he's really in love with whoever he cheated on Jules with? What if that's the case?

Then it simply means that Jules' plan won't work. Some part of me felt relief by that thought, but when I remembered what that would mean for me, for my future.

I straightened my shoulders and marched into the building. I won't marry Jericho. I thought with determination. Ever!

Somehow, within the two days that I'd agreed to do the job for Jules, she had managed to arrange an interview for me the next day for a secretary position.

I was nervous when I went to the interview, but I did it, everything happened so fast that I began to suspect if Jules hadn't known I would come to change my mind.

But when I asked her, she said no. That she had no idea I was going to accept her proposition, but she'd been hoping I'd come to change my mind, and I did.

And that she knew the workings of Nico-Tech, which was why she had asked someone for a favor to arrange an interview if the company was hiring. I believed her.

And, surprisingly, I got the job, which is why I was outside this magnificent building, sweating profusely in the cold weather of late February on a Monday three days later.

I remember the angry look on Jericho's face earlier this morning when I handed him the envelope containing his money, plus the hated, ugly wedding dress and g-string.

It was satisfying to see him so angry and devastated at not getting his way. He thought he would force me to marry him, that I'd had no choice but to marry him.

He was already dressed in a three-piece suit, entirely sure of my helplessness and ready to drag me to the nearest courthouse to get married.

Then I'd surprise him with his money. I was lucky Jules had transferred the money to my bank account. So I can't really change my mind. To do so, I will have to pay back Jules' money, which means I will have to agree to be Jericho's wife or one of his girls, because that's the only way I could get her money back.

Speaking about the asshole, I had given him his money in full and had also warned him never to come close to my apartment, or I would call 911. Jericho was livid when he finally left, probably feeling like a jilted lover, when he was never my lover in the first place.

But his eyes looked cruel with a silent promise. It gave me the shivers, wondering what it meant. After a few seconds, I forgot all about Jericho and his glares.

The momentary relief I felt from getting rid of him was instantly crushed by the realization that I have a new job cut out for me. I have to lure, sleep, and make a sex video with a billionaire.

Today is Monday, and it's my first day as an employee at Nico-Tech. I kept reminding myself of why I'm doing this, as I walked inside the lobby, fighting the urge to bolt while I still have the chance.

The place is massive, with granite floors and counters, a high ceiling, and polished walls. I smiled politely and asked the pretty receptionist at the computer in the lobby.

Where should I go as I'm new? She politely smiles, then directs me to the 30th floor, where the personnel office is, where I'll be sorted out and then sent to my new office.

Today I had on a black pencil skirt that accentuated my hips and ass, paired with a white shirt that stretched across my modest boobs and a black blazer.

Jules had helped me choose this outfit and had advised me to wear it on my first day. This morning, she'd called and asked me to send her a photo of me wearing it. She'd approve.

My strawberry blond hair was in a tight high ponytail. I also had on sheer thigh-high tights, and on my feet were three-inch black pumps.

I achieved the look I was aiming for, and I looked good and professional. Though, on second thought, I would have gone for something that isn't too tight. But Jules had insisted.

The hallway was lushly carpeted in green. We bypassed a few doors before finally arriving at the open space where two desks with computers greeted us on the 50th floor.

The head of personnel, Mr McCarthy, and I stopped in front of a tall, beautiful, heavily pregnant blond woman sitting at one of the desks. She's Nic…I meant Mr Montgomery's secretary.

I am surprised at the fact that he already had a secretary, so why am I here? Does he really need two secretaries?

“Hi Ann, I hear Nick is inside. Andrea, here is our newest employee, and Nick asked that she come see him, so I'm going to leave her with you, okay?” She smiles beautifully.

“Alright, Paul. He's probably on the phone, but she can wait. I'm sure he will call her in when he's done.” She directed that dazzling smile at me and said.

“Hi, I'm Annabelle Michael, but just call me Ann." She shook my hand, and I shook hers lightly. She's friendly, and I returned her smile.

“Hello, I'm Andrea McCain, but you can call me Andy.” We release each other's hands.

“Nice to meet you, I hope we can be good friends. It gets boring here without another woman to chat and gossip. Having another woman here is great. Although I won't be here for long, I'm almost due, you see.” She replied, rubbing her baby bump.

“Congratulations! Are you that far along? It seems to me like you're in your second trimester, or am I wrong?” I asked with a smile. Ann beamed up and then replied.

“Thank you, Andrea, you're kind. Actually, I'm in my ninth month, so this is my third trimester. I'm so excited to finally see my baby”

“Great! Now that we're all friends, I would like to be on my way. Nice to have you join us here at NicoTech, Mr Montgomery will call you in shortly, bye Ann.” I nod, smiling, then thank him. Ann also waves him goodbye as the kind, short man walks away.

I'm pretty sure he'd made his fast exit because we were talking about baby bumps and pregnancy, so he decided to run before we got to the birthing part, the poor man.

I sat down at the other desk. I was so nervous that I kept squeezing my hands and tapping my foot on the floor. Ann was kind enough to show me how to use their advanced computer to distract me.

It worked. While I was getting acquainted with their system, time flew by. I was marginally relaxed when the call finally came; my stomach plummeted. I was sweating buckets as I walked towards Mr Nicklaus' office.

As always I did what I do most, observe my surroundings to get a feel of the kind of person I'll be talking to. It's a coping mechanism I'd learn especially when I'm nervous.

Nicklaus Montgomery has the biggest office I have ever seen. It was a big space, with gleaming black marble floors and white walls.

At the far left, there's a big mahogany desk with office appliances directly facing the door. Behind him is a floor-to-ceiling glass wall with the most beautiful view of the New York skyline.

On the right is the sitting area, with black leather U-shaped couches. A big black glass table is in the middle, and ugly artwork decorates the office walls.

Ugly to me, not that I know much about art, but I'm pretty sure those were jaw-droppingly expensive. Everything here is gleaming black, except for the white, lush carpet in the seating area.

“Miss McCain, take a seat, let's get this over with. Unless you're not done, ogling my interior,” a deep, husky voice said, startling me from my observations, almost giving me a heart attack, without raising his dark head from his computer to even glance at me.