Wait For Me

Chapter 15.

The Pegasus was barren and quiet that morning as I perched on my stool, watching as Phil polished the surface of the bar before sliding a glass of fresh orange juice over to me, the sound of the ice sloshing and tinkling more noticeable than usual in the silence.

I found myself releasing a long sigh and leaned on my elbow. During my resignation I had briefly touched on my new personal assistant position that I would be taking during my break from university.

I was obviously not thrilled about it to say the least. Phil on the other hand had made it clear he was enthusiastic about the opportunity for me to work within such an established company.

Then again, I did leave out the gory details that I was essentially an undercover spy planted by my boyfriend to blackmail a woman I had never even met so we could get the upper hand on the old crone that was his mother- it sounded like a crazier and crazier idea the more I thought about it. However, Zach had already made his move and I was officially an employee of the Burbanks ergo it was too late to get cold feet.

"Everything okay over there?" Phil asked as he graced me with a warm smile.

"Hm?" I shook my head. "Sorry, I was in a world of my own."

"New job jitters?" He laughed. "Well, if you work even half as hard as you do here I'm sure Gabriella Burbank will be thanking her lucky stars for having you as a personal assistant."

He had no idea. "I very much doubt it."

"You should have more faith in yourself, girl. You'll be okay." The hulk of a man leaned over and rested his hand on my shoulder. His hand was calloused but warm as he gently squeezed with support.

Truth be told, it was not me I was worried about. My mind was still reeling over the fact that Zach had been drowning his inner demons in alcohol for the past four years and had been hanging by a thread. It was a scenario I had never envisioned he would find himself in.

Strong and determined Zachary Caldwell; billionaire, perfect and confident devil of a man-an alcoholic.

His resolve seemed so broken and lost. I wanted to help him through it so badly. The time we spent apart was all down to his mother. Her cruel materialistic outlook on the world had made us suffer so she could thrive. I wanted to get her back, but I had also thought hard about the method we were choosing to do so. Was an eye for an eye really the only option?

Gabriella Burbank was a stranger. A woman whose path I would have probably never crossed before this plan was set in motion. We were from two completely different worlds. She had a life. A good life that I had no business meddling with but there I was; employed to find a weakness and exploit it so I could be happy.

My stomach twisted at the thought as I sipped my drink. Would we be just as bad as his mother?

"Why the long face, Lockie?" my neighbourhood rebellious Scot asked, clicking his tongue as he slid on to one of the stools beside me.

"Well, new job jitters I guess," I said, using a straw to stir the ice cubes in the glass. There is no way I could tell him about our plan. I did not have to be a rocket scientist to figure out Lachlan would not be on board with the idea.

Lachlan glanced at Phil then back to me. "New job? Wait, I'm missing something aren't I?"

"My star employee is leaving me for a better opportunity lad when the semester ends," Phil piped up, "Our Louise here has snagged herself a job as a personal assistant for a hot shot rich girl!"

"Nice, no more dealing with all of the riff raff here then?" Lachlan laughed. "So, spill the beans. Who's this rich girl you're working for? Someone I know? A celebrity?"