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Pippi immediately shook her head. "I don't—-"

He waved her protest off, saying, "I'm not doing this out of pity or for any ulterior motive. If you really want the truth, I'm doing this because I know you're worth your weight in gold and I expect you to make efficient use of your free time."

In other words, he was telling her that today was best forgotten, and tomorrow he expected the real Ms. Jones to show up at work - and impress the heck out of him.

"I see you get my meaning."

"Yes, sir." She rose to her feet. "And come tomorrow, I promise you won't even know what hit you, Mr. Evans. You'll just realize that you can't even remember what your office life was like before you had me as your secretary."

"And my lover hopefully," he couldn't help adding.

Pippi decided it was simply best to ignore this. Slinging the straps of her bag over her shoulder, she looked at her new boss, and the usual wave of shyness struck her. But just as she had done a while ago, Pippi fought past it and even succeeded in summoning a smile that was the only slightest bit awkward.

"Thank you...for understanding."

"What are lovers for?" But before Pippi could even think of what to say to this, he had already pointed to the door, saying, "I'll see you tomorrow, Ms. Jones."

Pippi couldn't help rolling her eyes as she turned to leave.How so like a man,she thought wryly,to always want to have the last word.

The stamp on Pippi's time card showed that she was getting off work two hours earlier than usual, and the sheer novelty of it helped further ease the ache in her heart.Two hours, she found herself marveling privately. Why, that was more than enough for her to indulge in watching a full-length movie in the cinemas if she wanted to.

She was so busy thinking of the ways she could best put her extra two hours to use that Pippi completely missed the way the other secretaries exchanged sly glances among themselves as she walked past them.

That she was given a chance to leave early on her first day of work as Gareth Evans' secretary was too interesting by half, and in minutes, rumors about a possible affair between Pippi and her new boss were already spreading like wildfire.

At the lobby, Pippi had just swiped her ID to push past the metal arms of the turnstile when she noticed what seemed like an altercation between a pair of security officers and a gauntly thin woman with too-pale skin and dark circles under her eyes. Even so, the brunette had a fragile loveliness about her, and the overly loose dress she wore only added to her air of vulnerability.

Pippi hesitated, knowing that none of it was truly her concern.

"Who the fuck do you think you are?"the woman was screaming."You don't know who you're messing with. You'll regret this, I'm telling you!"

More threats and expletives followed, and Pippi couldn't help wincing. Public relations might be her worst skill, but even she knew that swearing would never get anyone anywhere.

"We won't warn you again, ma'am. If you do not cease causing a disturbance—-"

"I am not a disturbance!"

Pippi gnawed on her lip. This...might be too much for her to handle. And she might have left completely if not for taking one last worried look at the woman. The brunette wore a defiant expression on her face, but the way her lips trembled told a different story, and at the sight, the overly responsible side of Pippi simply took over.

In moments, she had crossed the length of the company's vast marbled lobby and introduced herself to the fierce-looking security personnel as Gareth Evans' secretary. It was name-dropping at its most shameless, but needs must, and Pippi's discomfort was slightly alleviated when the ploy worked. The two men reluctantly stepped back and Pippi finally had a private moment to address the woman.

"Are you okay?"

"I've had worse." The brunette was gingerly rubbing her wrists, and Pippi was aghast to see red circles marking the woman's skin.

"I'm so sorry for this, Miss—-"

"Amelia."

No last name, Pippi couldn't help thinking even as she gave the woman a reassuring smile. "Amelia then." She chose her words with care afterwards, asking, "Would you mind telling me what you and security were arguing about?"

"That wasn't arguing," the woman retorted. "That was plain fucking bullying, and they'll see, once they find out who I am—-"

"Which is Amelia?" Pippi was starting to wonder if the woman might just be a wee bit unhinged.

"Yes, I'm that—-" The woman's tone was impatient. "But that's not it."

Pippi was having a hard time catching up. "You're not Amelia?"