บท 7: The Secretary

It had been really boring for Jamie to just sit and stroll around her dad's office. She had gone through a few paper works of her dad but still, he was nowhere to be seen. She was impatient having to wait for her dad who had been gone for an hour. She signs groaning and lay down on the couch present in the office. It was then she heard fast steps heading towards the office. She sat straight in an instant and glance at the door. Just then the door opened revealing a happy face entering the door with a wide smile.

"Ahh... Jamie... I missed you, Dear." Oliver approaches her then engulfing her inside his embrace. Jamie chuckles hugging him back. "I missed you too, Uncle. I thought you forgot me when you stopped visiting me." She ends pulling apart with a pout and puppy eyes making the elder melt into her. He smiles softly at her and pulls her for another hug patting her head. "Uncle is sorry... forgive me. Will you?" He says with a giggle following behind. She again pulls apart and nods her head smiling brightly.

Just then the door opens revealing William who then entered the rooms with an annoyed look. "Yah! You don't get to so affectionate with her. That my work and only mine!" William says with a raised brow but Oliver scoff rolling his eyes at William's word. "No, Who said that? You?" As the two elders were bickering with each other Jamie's eyes caught the two figures entering the door. They were young and almost looked at the same age for her. She then shrugged their presence and paid attention to the two elders.

"Okay! Okay! You both get to be affectionate with me." Jamie says with her hands raised in front of her indicating them to stop a small chuckle escapes her lips. "Look! She said-- I mean he said We both can love him." Oliver says but curses himself for exposing Jamie's identity. "Whatever," William says rolling his eyes at Oliver. The two boys laugh seeing the older. "Dad, Were you the one who scolds us for bickering but look at you behaving like a child," Ethan says poking his tongue out teasing his father while Oliver just shrugs off.

"Yea. Uncle, who is he that you were fighting for? You didn't even fight like this for Ethan." Liam says smirking at Ethan as Ethan widens his eyes then looks at his dad pouting. As Ethan notice Jamie he stops pouting and maintains a cold posture. "That's not fair dad!" He says with a frown on his face. Oliver laughs shaking his head at his child's bickering about his behavior. "Don't worry I love you too." He says earning a laugh from The others while Ethan playfully glares at his dad.

"Okay jokes apart... Ethan meets Jamie. And Jamies meet Ethan. He is your boss now on."William speaks breaking the laughing session. Jamie looks up to Ethan and smiles while Ethan just rolls his head. Jamie frowns at his rude behavior but she ignores him. "I hope you both will work hard and bring much more profits and success to the company," Oliver says smiling proudly at the younger. They both nod their head paying attention to the elder's word.

"Okay then! Just take rest for today. Appear here at 7 Am exact. Okay?" Oliver says sternly at the younger making him nod his head. "Liam you too." Liam nods his head and leaves the office.

"So? What should I do?" Jamie says looking in between her dad and Oliver. "You will stay here with me and go through some company papers. We will go back together." William says taking his seat. "NO! Why would she? You stay here on paper. I will give a tour of the company." Oliver says making Jamie chuckle while William frowns with an annoyed facade. "That's not a bad idea. Explore the company so that you won't have difficulty coping with this new environment." William says and they excuse themselves out of the office. William then focuses on the paper works piled up on the desk.

---

"So, How have you been?" Oliver questions as they walk down the hall towards the lift. "I have been doing great." Oliver nods his head smiling. " And how are Lauren and your mother?"

"They are both good. As they can ever be." She then laughs at her own words.

They reach the lift and enter inside. Oliver press the 1st-floor bottom and the lift closes with a ting sound. The lift moves downward. Jamie giggles catching Oliver's attention. He looks at her as she smiles." This is my first time using a lift and its fun." She says making the older laugh at her comment. "I can see that.!" he says laughing while Jamie joins him giggling.

The lift opens then they exit it. As they lay their feet on the 1st floor the people walking around stop and glance at them. Jamie felt uncomfortable under the stares she received from the people. As she was stared intensely before while she arrived at the company with her dad. The people started gossiping and exchanging glances and faces among each other.

[What's with these people? Ah~ It's so uncomfortable. Please stop staring at me and do your own work.]

She follows Oliver behind with different thoughts invading her mind. She as walking straight without thinking anything as she had her mind occupied with useless thoughts. And she lost Oliver's steps as she began wandering around on her own. As she was walking around she bumps onto someone making her aware of her surrounding as she gets out of her trance. She flinches and bows her head don apologizing to whoever she had crashed into but she didn't dare to face that person. She was utterly embarrassed by her being clueless about her surrounding.

"It's okay. I am at fault too." The other person says apologizing with a small smile on his face.

[Cute] He says to himself observing Jamie fidgetting with her fingers.

"Then. I will take my leave." Jamie says turning back on her feet. "Wait!" The person says making her turn around confused. "Yes?" She replies as the other smiles scratching his head. " I just wanted to ask... um... Can we be friends?"

"O-Okay..." She says surprised with his sudden confession as she had not hoped to make a friend so soon. He smiles widely extending his hand forward for her to accept his greeting. She then extends her hand and grabs his hand shaking it firmly. "Dylan. Dylan Wright." He says smiling at her with his hands still wrapped around hers'. "Jamie Grimes." She replies smiling back.

"So? You work here?" Jamie questions "Ah... No.NO! I... am here just for a visit." She nods her head with a sad expression. She thought he would be a friend to her whom she can talk to regularly during her work but that person turns out to be someone who doesn't belong to this company. "What about you?" She looks up at him breathing her chain of thoughts and nod. "Yea... I work here."

"Then-" He gets cut off when Someone calls out for Jamie. She turns around and saw Oliver approaching her with soft pants. "You are here. I thought I lost you." He says as he approaches her. "I am sorry... I was lost in my thoughts." She says slightly embarrassed. "It's okay." He replies but his eyes caught a figure standing beside, with a smile on his face. He turns around and faces that person. "Oh! Dylan? What are you doing here?" Oliver questions surprised by his sudden appearance. "I just decided to pay a visit. But I have to head back. It was nice meeting you Mr.Bryne. And you too Jamie." He says then excuse himself leaving through the exit.

Oliver observes the figure disappearing slowly with a frown on his face. He signs and turns around facing Jamie. "You should be careful where you go. Just do not disappear. I agree I am still young but I may suffer from a Heart attack." He says playfully placing his hands on his chest just above his heart. Jamie chuckles at the older's comment. "Yea. Yea. I will keep it in mind. I am sorry." Oliver giggles observing her smile.

"But how do you know him? He said he doesn't work here." Jamie questions him as he looks at her puzzled. "Who?"

"Dylan!"

"OH! He doesn't but his dad is the head of our marketing department. So he pays a visit sometimes." She nods her head taking in his words. "BUt just maintain a distance with him." He says looking at her. "But why?" She asks with a brow raised."Because... I heard he is into cute and beautiful boys... like you." He says while Jamie had her eyes wide open along with her mouth. Oliver laughs seeing her expression. "What? R-Really?!" She questions slightly taken back but Oliver keeps laughing. "Uncle!!" She whines.

"NO... It's just there are rumors that he is not a good person. Just avoid him okay." She nods her head.