Lily’s POV.
I look at myself in the mirror the next day like ten times before thinking that I am looking just fine. I am wearing a long sleeve turtle neck black top with a high waist grey pencil skirt. I am borrowing the grey coat from Emma and also black heels as our feet are of the same size.
“Good Luck.” Emma says as I come out of my room.
“Oh I really need it.” I say as I hug her and take my sling bag.
“Are you sure you want to go to your apartment today? You can stay here.” Emma says.
“I know but my things are there.” I say and wave at her as I leave the apartment.
We woke up early and I had breakfast with them. I chose this outfit at night and used Emma’s laptop to take out my portfolio’s print that I keep in mail in case. Emma landed me with a folder and I arranged it as soon as possible this morning.
My interview is just before lunch so I promised Ryan yesterday night to have lunch with him today. I take a cab to the company at 11 and the guard gives me a visitor’s ID. The receptionist showed me the way to the HR floor.
As I am the last candidate, I have to wait for an hour. My turn comes at 12 and I go inside with confidence even though I am nervous from inside. I give my portfolio to them and the interview starts with normal questions. Then some tough ones and also about how much time I can give to the company.
The interview lasted for an hour which is a good sign but nothing is finalised now. They told me that they will let me know if I get selected. They explained to me that there would be one executive assistant and another one would be a secretary working under that person.
I come out of the company and see Ryan’s text to meet him in our regular meeting place. I walk up to the restaurant and give Ryan’s name then mine. As I enter, I see Ryan already ordered lunch and that to my favorites.
“I am sorry I am late.” I say and kiss him on the lips when he looks up then I sit beside him.
“That is okay. How was the interview?” He asks.
“It was good. But I hope I would rather get an executive assistant job than a secretary.” I say as I have toasted baguette with butternut squash soup and roasted veggie salad.
“Why?” Ryan asks as he has cheese sandwiches with the same soup but coleslaw salad.
“Because then I would be free on weekends to meet you and it has a better package too.” I say.
“Yes. And it would be difficult for us to meet if you work on weekends and I work on weekdays.” He says.
“Forget about it for now. But if I do get the job I have to get an apartment here. I have to start seeing one as soon as I get the confirmation. I know Richard would offer me one but I will just tell him that I want to be independent.” I say as I want a place where Ryan could come to meet me and Richard place would always keep eyes on anyone who comes to meet me.
“Maybe I can help. I have some apartments in Manhattan.” Ryan says but I show him my hand.
“No. As it is going to be my first apartment, I want to hunt for it myself. But you can join me.” I say with excitement and he chuckles.
“Fine as you say.” He says and kisses my cheeks.
After lunch, Ryan drops me to the subway and I wave him goodbye. I get home around 3 and take a much needed nap. At 6 I got a call from the company and got confirmation of getting a job as an executive assistant. They congratulate me and ask me to meet them tomorrow to discuss terms and conditions.
I decided to meet them at 10 in the morning and then I could surprise my sweetie pie later with dinner at his apartment. After the call, I make vegetable hakka noodles at home and also some green sandwiches.
After dinner, Ryan calls me and we talk for a while but I don’t tell him about me getting the job. I ask him what he is doing tomorrow night and he says that he has to attend a party so he won’t be able to meet me.
“After work, I have to go straight there and even though I would be back in an hour or two it would still be late.” He says and sounds very tired.
“And what about dinner?” I ask.
“I will order something once I am home.” He says.
“You sound tired. Why don’t you rest up?” I say as I thump fist in the air.
“Okay.” He says and after a few minutes he hangs up.
I made a plan about what to make. He may or may not have those things in his pantry, so I have to take it with me. I go to sleep after making a list of things I want to buy and take with me to his apartment.
Next day, I pack up a tote bag with one extra outfit and my laptop. After breakfast, I take the subway to reach my new workplace. When I reach there, we discuss my salary and accomodation. They have few places available for me to live near the company so I could be there in case of an emergency.
“You could join from Monday and we will hand over the work details to you within a week from then I hope you can take it from there.” The second secretary of the CEO, Mindy says.
“Yes I will.” I say.
“I have already called an agent to show you some apartments and I hope you can finalise one today so we can make arrangements for your moving on Sunday.” Mindy says.
“Sure.” I say.
I read the contract for half an hour carefully then signed it. The contract would be renewed every two years. Spotlight Defense Company is well known for giving securities to not only celebrities but also to industrialists and every common person. It gives cybersecurity to many companies and also physical security too. And also home security with high tech locks.
“The CEO will meet you on Monday as he has gone to his family home with his wife.” Mindy says with a smile.
“Okay.” I say and another girl comes in who is actually the agent.
“Hi. I am Sophie and I am the one to show our new employees apartments in case they are important.” Sophie says with a smile.
“Myself Lily. And I think being an executive assistant makes me important.” I say as I smile at her.
“That it does. Let me show you some of the available one.” She says and we go to see some.
We see three apartments but none of them are suitable for me as they are either far from company or are in some way not that good. Sophie and I have lunch and I give her lunch treats as I get the new job and also as a bribe to show me the best apartment maybe.
And finally I got what I wanted and more than that. We come in front of a huge building which has 25 floors. Sophie tells me that their CEO himself used to live here a year ago but after marriage he is living in their new estate.
“Here it is. The top two floors are a penthouse.” Sophie says as we reach the 23rd floor of the building.
“And who lives there?” I ask as I look around at the living room.
“CEO’s best friend.” Sophie says.
The living room has beautiful floor to ceiling windows with a city view. It is fully furnished with a couch, chairs, ottoman, coffee table, fireplace with TV and carpet. The wooden floor looks very polished and clean.
The kitchen is at the left side of the room with navy blue cabinet and white marble platform. It has a workstation with four stools with support under it and a dining table with eight chairs. It has a big window on one side with a small balcony.
The right side of the room has a door to the utility room and a swimming pool room with a city view. A stairs goes up on one side and I go up with Sophie as she gives me details about everything. The second floor private study room and a small guest bedroom with ensuite bathroom and small gym beside the master bedroom.
The study room also has a balcony with a glass door and wooden table and laid back chair and behind it a shelf for books. In front of the table is a small couch with a table. The gym has a running machine and yoga carpet with a blue gym ball and some dumbbells. The guest bedroom is simple with white and grey tones.
The bedroom is at the end of the hallway. It has beautiful emerald green and white decor. The bed has a velvet headboard with soft cushions. It also has a balcony with a little garden and swing and also a small fireplace. The ensuite bathroom has a big matte black bathtub and shower with new technology. It also has a walk-in closet of white color. This house has green, blue and white colors.
“So how do you like it?” Sophie asks with a grin.
“What not to like?” I ask.
“I thought so. It is only available for a senior employee and I asked Mindy about it. She said you can have it if you want it. As you are the CEO’s executive assistant and would be working for him every weekday, your comfort should be kept in mind as it is a tough job.” Sophie says.
“Well I would like to have it.” I say.
“Great so read this carefully while I talk to Mindy about it.” Sophie says.
I read the contract and ask Sophie questions, then after an hour later I have the keys to the apartment. The only thing I have in my old apartment is my clothes, books, some plants, kitchen things, curtains and tablecloths. I don’t have any furniture other than a small study table with a chair. Everything else was there from before only as Richard arranged it for me.
It is 4 right now and I wave at Sophie as she takes the cab. I call Emma and tell her about it while I shop for groceries in a store nearby. She promises to help me move and arrange it too.
I then call Richard and tell him about it. He tells me to move to his other apartment in Manhattan but I inform him that my company is providing me with it. He wishes me good luck and assures me that I can have the apartment whenever I want it. I thank him for his help and hang up.
“Now I have to go to Ryan’s apartment. But where is it? Oh I forgot. He gave me the address on the card attached to the key.” I say and take out the key from my bag.
I look at the address then walk up to that building. When I reach there I am in shock. I look at the address again and at the building. Well Ryan would like my surprise more when he knows that I am living right under his penthouse but he would surely be shocked to know that I am working for his best friend.
This is tough and easy at the same time. Tough because I would be girlfriend of the CEO’s best friend and easy because Ryan and I can meet whenever we want too. I can’t even back down as I signed the contract. But why do I have to? I am in a relationship with Ryan, not Mr. William. What a coincidence.
I will tell Ryan about this tonight during dinner. We could hide things from my boss and his best friend, right? I think that I will take the lift to the penthouse after checking in with security.
I enter the key in only a keyhole and type in the code and the elevator takes me up to Ryan’s penthouse. I take the key and step in the apartment in awe. I walk in the foyer and look around for a minute.
The foyer leads to the living room which has floor to ceiling windows with even a beautiful view. The long couches and coffee table screams luxury. The piano is sitting on one platform facing sideways to windows.
The kitchen is a separate room with the same view of the city through the window and has black cabinets with a wooden top. The kitchen island is also the same with black velvety rotating chairs. The room beside the kitchen is a dining room with a bar island and bar stools.
It has a balcony with couches and bean bag chairs and plants. The dining table has 12 chairs which are soft and a fireplace both inside and outside. This floor also has one guest room with an ensuite bathroom.
After putting groceries in the kitchen, I start preparing spaghetti carbonara and veggie bruschetta with caprese salad and tomato soup with cream. I put tiramisu cake in the fridge.
Everything is ready by 7 in the evening and I put them on kitchen island as Ryan would be here in an hour or something. We talked in the morning before I left my apartment and he said that he would be back soon.
I sat in the living room on the couch and read the email Mindy sent me to know about my duties and also that I should pack up everything I have in one day. It means I have to leave early in the morning and start packing as the movers will come on Sunday afternoon.
I make a list in my notepad and think on what to start first with packing. I am so lost in making the list that I am shocked when I feel a hand on my shoulder and jump up from the couch with a start. I look behind me to see Noah and Theo standing behind me.
“What are you doing here Lily?” Theo asks suspiciously.
I notice Ryan coming in the living room while he is talking on the phone and he stops when he sees me with wide open eyes. Noah, who is standing slightly behind Theo gestures something but I don’t understand as I am blank.
“Lily, are you by any chance… Oh no… Is she…Oh no… Dad is going to be super pissed at you, Ryan.” Theo says as he looks at me then Ryan then at me then Ryan again.
“What do you mean?” Ryan says.
“Well do you really think Noah can zip in front of this charmer?” Theo says and Noah and Ryan roll their eyes while he continues, “He told me that you have a secret and I know that you were not in a real relationship with Jess. So obviously you would be seeing other people but for two months there is no news of you. So I thought to do some digging and I came to know from a friend who has a resort in Charleston and he told me that my brother is paying for the lady staying there and actually came there to meet her.”
“Great work, Detective.” Ryan says as he comes towards me and Noah tells him how he found out.
“What? Just that. Come on. Unlike Noah who saw you, I have to work to know about this.” Theo says.
“Ya. Ya. What are you doing here?” Ryan asks me.
“Surprise.” I say with a nervous smile as I have still come out of the shock.
And all three brothers laugh as I get flustered with embarrassment.