Chapter 8
Standing in the office in simple jeans and a white blouse, she looked like a delicate lotus in clear water.
“Mr. Gibson.”
She called out softly. If Willard dared to try anything else, she would quit on the spot.
But Willard only snorted and gave her a once-over. “3,000 dollars a month. You’ll attend dinners with me and prep my paperwork. Can you drive?”
“I can.”
“Perfect. Mrs. Melendez is now reduced to being my driver. I’m honored.”
“I’m already divorced from Garrett.”
Willard squinted and then smiled. “Oh, I see. No wonder such a beautiful woman’s back on the market. You can start now. Come with me to a business dinner tonight. I’ll transfer half your salary in advance. Deal?”
Adrienne didn’t know what gave away her current desperation, but he’d guessed right.
She lowered her lashes and whispered, “Alright.”
Someone quickly came to guide her through the rest of the onboarding process and assigned her a desk.
Adrienne felt like she might be running a fever. Her body was growing hotter by the minute.
Near the end of the workday, Willard called her into his office and tossed her a set of car keys. “From now on, you’re my driver and assistant. We’re leaving now. I’ll text you my upcoming schedule.”
“Yes, Mr. Gibson.”
She clutched the keys, made her way to the parking garage, found his car, opened the door for him, then got in the driver’s seat.
Willard was on the phone with someone, showing off. “You won’t believe who I just hired as an assistant. Remember Garrett Melendez?”
Everyone in Gerberton knew Garrett. Even before the Melendez family brought him back, he was already a rising star. With his unreal looks, he was a self-made legend. Back then, he was everywhere.
Later, when he returned to his roots and gained the Melendez name, he became even more famous.
But in recent years, he had kept a low profile, focused on business, and never given interviews. Slowly, he faded from public view.
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Still, in Gerberton’s elite circles, no one didn’t know him.
Though Willard now operated in a lower business tier, he had once been part of the Melendez Group’s leadership and had built up some contacts.
“Yeah, his wife’s my driver now. Crazy, right? The guy used to act like a god.”
The car stopped in front of a well-known hotel. Adrienne parked and opened the door for Willard.
True to his word, he had already wired her $1,500.
A few insulting words from him were nothing. Compared to the humiliation she’d endured in Garrett’s world, this was nothing.
She diligently fulfilled her assistant duties, even pressing the elevator button for him. But to her surprise, the elevator wasn’t empty. Inside stood Garrett and Jared.
Jared’s eyes briefly flickered with surprise. Then he quickly glanced at Garrett and stayed quiet.
Adrienne also said nothing. It was Willard who spoke first. “Mr. Melendez, what a coincidence.”
Garrett’s presence was overwhelming. Though the elevator was spacious and held only four people, it felt suffocating.
Willard stepped in first, smiling. “Come in, Ms. Norton. What, need an invitation?”
Adrienne finally stepped inside and pressed the button for the fifth floor.
The fifth floor was for business dining. It was expensive, but still more accessible than the seventh, which was re- served for VIPs and nearly impossible to book.
Garrett was headed for the seventh.
As the elevator arrived on the fifth floor and Adrienne prepared to step out, Garrett suddenly spoke. “Jared.”
Jared stiffened, waiting for instructions.
But Garrett simply called his name, nothing more.
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Lucia Morh is a passionate storyteller who brings emotions to life through her words. When she’s not writing, she finds peace nurturing her garden.