"It's not Valerie," I said quickly, already moving toward the door.
"Stay here. Let me check."
I approached cautiously, my hand hesitating on the doorknob. The knock came again, sharper now, and I could feel Lucy's eyes boring into my back.
"Who is it?"
I called, trying to sound calm.
"Daniel, it's me Valerie".
She sobbed.
That worried me instantly.
"Well...well..well..your friend with benefits".
Lucy snapped and hissed loudly, she threw the money on me before heading back to the room annoyed.
I sighed deeply.
Valerie was standing just outside the door.
She looked pale, her eyes puffy and red with remnants of tears under her eyes.
She was clutching her bag tightly, like it was the only thing giving her strength.
"Valerie," I called softly, walking toward her.
At the sound of my voice, the floodgates opened.
Tears streamed down her face.
"Daniel," she sobbed.
"I didn't know where else to go. Where....where will I start? The new Ceo is Luke's friend. How will I start looking for a new job? I have zero chance."
**THE NEXT DAY (AT THE COMPANY)**
"So, you're telling me what exactly?"
The new boss snapped, sharply.
Seriously, this dude has anger issues-or maybe he's just naturally mean.
I stared at him, trying not to feel intimidated by his presence.
His very expensive suit and confident posture screamed authority, but his piercing eyes made it impossible to focus.
"You'll regret it if you don't get her back on your team, sir," I said, keeping my voice steady despite my nerves.
"Do you even know who I am?" he asked, leaning forward with a smirk, his voice filled with condescension.
"Yes, sir. The fifth richest under thirty years old in the world, owner of Silver crown, the global fashion giant. You have branches in nearly every country. And, well... I'm a fan," I added the last to gain his favour of course,I hate spoiled brats.
I forced a polite smile.
His smirk deepened, but it didn't reach his eyes.
"Impressive. But you've just scratched the surface. Next time, keep your words short, just like your status."
I clenched my teeth, hiding my frustration behind a tight-lipped smile.
This spoiled brat is years younger, yet he talked to me like I was a clueless intern.
I didn't blame him, though. Money has a way of turning people into gods in their own minds.
"I won't force you, sir," I said carefully, keeping my tone neutral, "but I'm sure you'll regret it if you don't give her a chance."
He raised a brow, leaning back in his chair with an air of amused indifference. "You're the only one who's said anything nice about her out of the entire team."
"Believe me, they lied to you," I said firmly.
"Her ex told me their story," he shot back, crossing his arms.
"He probably made it up, sir. And every story has two sides. You haven't heard hers."
His eyes narrowed slightly. "So, what is it you're trying to gain by doing this? Trying to convince me to bring her back. What's in it for you?"
His tone was probing, and his sharp gaze made my skin crawl.
"She's a good friend," I replied honestly. "I'm just doing what I believe is right. And, for what it's worth, she's one of the most hardworking people I've ever met."
He studied me in silence for a moment, his expression unreadable.
"Fine. I'll give her a chance to prove her worth. You can go now."
He replied nonchalantly.
"Thank you, sir," I said, relieved but still tense.
As I stepped out of his office, I let out a deep breath I didn't realize I'd been holding.
Pulling out my phone, I quickly called Valerie.
The moment she answered, her excitement burst through the line.
"Are you kidding me? Oh my God, Daniel! I had a dream about this last night-I was praying and waiting patiently. I knew you'd come through. Thank you! God bless you!"
"Amen," I said, laughing at her enthusiasm. "But you'd better prepare yourself. This guy isn't just any CEO. He's huge, Val. If we can pull this off, working with Silver crown could put us on the map. You know what that means."
"I know," she said, her voice tinged with awe. "F&F is a worldwide brand. It's like a dream come true. I'll give it everything I've got, Daniel."
"Good. Just don't overthink things, okay? You've got this."
"I won't. Stop worrying!" she said, laughing. "And hey, say hi to Abigail for me when you get home."
"I will," I promised, smiling at her excitement.
"Oh, and remember to take your meds," she added suddenly.
That caught me off guard. "Wait-how did you know I'm sick?"
"Fever," she said casually. "I had a dream about it. You were refusing to take your meds."
I froze. She was spot on. I had skipped my meds that morning.
"Val, I wish I had your gift," I said, shaking my head in disbelief.
She chuckled warmly.
"Bye, Dan. You're an irreplaceable friend."
She hung up, and I couldn't help but smile at her words.
As I pocketed my phone, I whispered to myself, "Well, I also wish she had gifts of reading people's heart. I knew she must have had a dream revelation of her break up but chose to make it work regardless."
Tomorrow's the big day. Good luck to us. Val.