Lady in Red

Catherine woke up, throwing her pillows across the room, with a groan. She hated waking up with a killer hangover. Normally, she wouldn't mind being drunk the night of going out and then having a killer hangover the next morning because that could be fixed easily but dammit! Today, she had to go to work at exactly nine in the morning. Catherine looked at her clock and groaned louder as it read eight.

"Greta, I'm doomed. I have to go in today at work to meet my new boss!" Catherine whined on the phone that she had been on for the past ten minutes. Greta laughed on the other line.

"I had no part on that. You are the one who chugged cups after cups last night. What had gotten into you?"

"I spilled drink on my new boss! I think he knows what I look like! He's going to fire me!" Catherine whined again, throwing more pillows across the room.

"You mean, Reece Dean?! Haha, oh my god! But I doubt he saw you. It was so dark in there and with those crazy lights booming…I highly doubt it." Greta's scenerio made sense but then again--who knew?

"Okay, I'm hanging up now. God, this hangover just won't go away! I've tried everything. Every other day it works but today is just like…karma is laughing at me."

"Go take a hot shower. It will go away," Greta said, snickering behind the line. Catherine cursed under her breath as her friend though this was funny. She hung up the phone, threw it on the bed and proceeded towards the bathroom. Let's just hope this shower kills it down a little. Catherine couldn't even vow to keep away from drinks as drinking wine occasionally was her favorite thing to do.

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Catherine rushed towards the main glass doors of the building. Everyone in the building were acting strange and Catherine couldn't help but to stop and observe. Women around her were smiling, looking at the elevator. Some people were whispering around. Catherine had noticed the media outside as well as some civilians stopping to watch. Almost every women in Boston were talking about the new dreamy boss and inside the building was just different.

"Did you see the new boss, Catherine? He's so dreamy!" A women in red approached her, fanning her face like a little girl. Catherine watched her fan herself in amusement.

"I see," she said, looking around. Catherine proceeded towards the elevators and slipped into it once it opened. She turned around and waited for the elevators to close. Flashes of last night splattered on her mind as she closed her eyes. Catherine opened her eyes almost immediately as she realized that yes…this was the man everyone were talking about. The dreamy guy that had sparked her through a simple touch.

Here she was, about to be face to face with the man she had dropped her drink on. Catherine stepped out of the elevator and rolled her eyes at the girls drooling by the counters. Could he be that dreamy like everyone says he is? Catherine barely saw him last night through all that crazy lights. Where was he?

"Mr. Dean was looking for you in his office, Catherine," Megan said, clearly not making eye contact with Catherine.

"I hope Mr.Dean picks me for Reece's personal assistant!" A girl behind Catherine spoke, giggling. Almost immediately, every girl in the room began to argue over why Jay Dean's son should pick them as a personal assistant. Catherine stopped dead on her tracks. Jay Dean had told Catherine himself that she was going to be the one. It wasn't confirmed? Catherine swallowed a dry lump in her throat.

"What did Mr. Dean say?" Catherine asked, holding onto her files tightly against her chest.

"About what?" Megan asked, finally looking at Catherine.

"The whole..personal assistant thing?"

"I heard Jay Dean say he was going to let his son pick who he wants as his PA!" That's all Catherine had to hear before she started to walk away, slowly. It wash't confirmed that she was going to Reece Dean's personal assistant. Catherine didn't know weather to be sad or happy by that. Then she looked down at herself.

Why would he pick her? Catherine looked around the room noticing the girls. They were all so pretty. Big boobs, big butt, curves, and that damn model looks that they all had! Catherine definitely had no chance because she was pretty sure her new boss was going to pick someone hot, and perky.

Catherine had the things, though. The important things. Her boobs weren't the biggest but she definitely had them. She was a B, for heaven's sake. Her butt wasn't the biggest but she had it. She even had the right curves just not what majority of the girls had in this room. Catherine scoffed. Dammit, she was pretty just not like everyone else.

She was cut off of her thoughts when suddenly a girl stepped out of Jay Dean's main office, smiling. Catherine looked at her closely. Her name was Jennifer, she remembered. Her top button of her blouse was open that revealed her pushed up breasts. Her hair was on one side, long and blonde. When Catherine took a closer look she realized that Jennifer's lips were plastered in red. Her eyes popped out as her make-up was done professionally. Catherine scoffed again realizing that she had nothing like most of these girls had. There was no chance of Catherine being picked.

"I think I am the one!" Jennifer whispered, nudging Catherine side with a giggle. Catherine shook her head. Of course, she is. Anyone can fall for her slutty looks. Catherine straightened her blouse and her simple black pencil skirt before knocking on the door.

"Come on in, " Jay Dean said, his voice echoing. Suddenly, Catherine's palms began to race. Her heart raced and she started getting hot flashes. Why was she so nervous? She walked in and was greeted by her former boss, Jay Dean with a hug.

"My girl. How you been?" Jay Dean asked, collecting the files from her hand. Catherine gave him a small smile but somehow the smile reach her eyes. She looked up only to find another male figure's back turned to her. He looked outside the window and Catherine took this as a cue to admire his back that was facing her. She could tell he had the wings that all resulted in a hardcore work-out. He had on a suit that looked favorably delicious on him. Catherine snapped out it before it got the best of her. But she was disappointed. He wasn't even looking at her.

"I am good, sir. How have you been?"

"Oh, you know.."

"Have you been keeping up to your promises you've made me? You take pills regularly, right?" Catherine asked, pointing a finger at him. Jay Dean laughed as he nodded, patting her back with a smile.

"Yes, mother. I have. No promises broken here. Say, have you met my son?" Jay Dean's hand rose up and as soon as he did, his son turned around. Catherine was taken back a little he looked straight at her, chuckling. How could she possibly tell Jay Dean that yes, she has met him. Last night, in fact. In a very unpredictable situation.

"This is my girl, Catherine. My right arm, my right eye. She used to be my personal assistant I told you about. My second daughter, after Nina," Jay Dean said, giving her a genuine smile. Catherine stood there, nervously still, giving out a small smile here and there. Reece Dean tilted his head to the side and gave her a mind blowing smirk. Catherine wished the ground would just go ahead and swallow her already. From the look of his face…he knew who she was. Catherine wanted to go and hide under the bed or something.

"Reece Dean," he said, huskily. Just like when they first met. He extended his hand out for her to grab and Catherine took it, shakily.

"Cat-Catherine White," she stuttered, taking his hand into hers. They fit perfectly like two spoons combined. Catherine looked up into his eyes as she felt his hand tighten around hers, dominantly.

"Let me know who you want as your PA, I'll be outside. I have few people to meet up to. Go ahead, son, pick the right one. Hope it's you, Cat," Jay Dean said, whispering out the last sentence. Catherine blushed crimson red as he walked out, leaving her and Reece Dean alone in his office. Catherine wanted to run as her feet were somehow glued to the floor, mocking her.

Catherine took a closer, and crystal clear look at him. Something she wanted to do last night. With no crazy lights flashing around them, Catherine was bewildered. Her heart was pounding almost too exclusively. Reece Dean was like no ordinary man. She had seen many men in her life but nothing compared to who was standing in front of her. His hair was a darker shade of brown. His eyes were smoldering grey with a hint of blue. Something Catherine had never seen before in a guy. He had a perfect, sculptured jaw that well defined his face. He also had stubble that defined his manhood. His nose was straight and aquiline. And his lips---pink and perfectly formed. Catherine had never seen a flawless face like his before and she couldn't help but to think.

What would it be like to run her hands through his face and that stubble that had formed on him? She shook her head, mentally. And most of all…What would it be like to run her hands down his sculptured, well maintained, muscular body that was visible through the suit he wore?

"Do I know you from somewhere?" He asked, drumming his fingers lightly against his lips. Catherine nervously laughed as words failed her.

"I..uh, I'm not sure, sir." Catherine prayed to heaven's lord that he had forgotten her and didn't remember her at all from last night. But luck was never on her side.

"Ah. Miss Vodka," he chuckled. Uh, oh. Caught.

"Caught," Catherine whispered, nervously laughing again.

"I could finally see you now," he laughed, shaking his head. Catherine looked up at him and smiled.

"Yeah. No crazy lights."

"How did you managed to wake up this morning, alive?" he chuckled. Catherine remembered the incident from last night and blushed a deeper shade of red again.

"You saw?"

"Oh, the whole chugging down five cups of alcohol at the same time? Not at all," he joked, flashing his dazzling, perfect white teeth at her. she swallowed a dry lump in her throat.

"I'm not a hardcore drinker. I just thought I need a little booze last night. Rough night. But I'm fine. Barely alive, but fine, sir," Catherine said, needing to justify herself before he thought of something different about her. She gave him a small smile before shrugging.

"Oh, I see. Do you need something? Some pills or water, perhaps?" He asked, genuinely. Catherine was far more amazed then ever. Reece Dean was just something, radiating calm and well- under pressured. Catherine smiled.

"No, thank you, sir. I'm fine. But, how was surprising your parents this morning?" she asked, giggling. Catherine bit her bottom lip as she realized what she had just done. Giggling?

"Definitely a surprise, I tell you. I had to hide my hangover, myself. In fact, I have some pills. Would you care for one?" He asked, walking away to his desk. Catherine hesitated before shrugging. A pill wouldn't hurt. Reece came back with a pill and water and Catherine immediately took it, chugging it down.

"Thank you, sir."

"You're very welcome. So, tell me about yourself." Straight to the point. Catherine swallowed another dry lump in her throat as she wasn't ready for an interview. In fact, she was oblivious to one. What could she possibly say to him that wouldn't bore him to death?

"Ah, yes sir. My name is Catherine White. I am twenty two years old with a bachelor's degree on international business. I have been working for your father almost a year and a half now, building up my experience on everything I need to know about business."

"What have you learned so far?"

"Over the past few months and a year now, I have learned quite a lot. Devising and maintaining office systems, data management and filing, arranging travel, visas, and accommodations, handling and screening phone calls, meeting and greeting visitors, organizing meetings, diaries, and calendars, producing documents and briefing papers, organizing meetings, and deputizing managers and duties," Catherine spoke, giving him a nonchalant smile. Maybe this ought to already bore him to death. But this time the case was different. Reece Dean looked at Catherine in awe and much amusement. Catherine could almost smile at the way he was looking at her but when she looked deeper into his penetrating eyes, she could almost swear she saw something else. Something she couldn't quite pin at but looked far dangerous. Catherine looked down at the ground beneath her feet.

"Interesting, Ms.White. Impressive. You learned all that in a year or so?"

"It's not hard once you put all your effort and hard work into something you really want to do, sir."

"Can you liaise with clients, staffs, and other important people?"

"Yes, sir."

"Can you work with budget and accounts?"

"Yes, sir."

"So you can commission work on behalf of the coordinators, directors, and CEO's?"

"Yes, sir, very well."

"And you can execute important summaries and letters if needed?"

"Yes, sir. I can multi-task on anything." Reece Dean was awe-strucked at Catherine's ability to do what others couldn't do in a year, let alone at all.

"Ms. White, I am impressed at your abilities you perform here."

"Thank you, sir."

"Do tell me, though. You have been here longer than I have been. Why is it that every young women in here were unable to answer my questions like you did?"

"Because they are here for popularity, sir. Money and fame. And who wouldn't? Working with someone like Jay Dean and now you is like working with the president of the United States, the highest authority. Heck, the president of the US himself makes his time to meet and greet Jay Dean. Everyone respects him. You people have everything in the world. All the money in the world lies beneath your feet. Working here is like a dream come true. Major popularity," Catherine explained, chuckling. Reece leaned against his chair, drummed his fingers against his lips lightly again and observed Catherine with a small smirk.

"You are one of them," Reece accused, nonchalantly. Catherine was taken back a little before chuckling.

"No, sir, popularity and fame is not my cup of tea. I'm not here for money. I'm here because of my education. My education is what brought me here. I want to become someone of my own who does good for the others just like Jay Dean. With this experience, I can do almost anything to help other people. Half these girls have a degree but what do they do with it? Put it to one side because they are now here. They don't care. I care because of what this company teaches me to do." Catherine fought back the tears that pricked her eyes but she vowed silently to herself that she will not break down in front of him because of how stupid these girls are working in this company. Reece stopped drumming as he looked deep into her eyes. He remained seated, no words forming.

"Ms. White, you have impressed me. You are an exquisite form of being who is full of hard-working abilities. You don't cease to fail."

"Thank you, sir. And who am I to jump into someone's business? But sir, one word of advice. If you want to pick someone that matches your taste, please don't pick Jennifer. She will fail you, trust me," Catherine murmured, keeping her voice low and minimum. She smiled as Reece let out a full, mind blowing laugh. He shook his head as he stood up, circling around his desk before sitting on top of it.

"I'll keep that in mind, sweetheart." Catherine's heart did a full 360 as the word 'sweetheart' echoed inside her. Her face hurt too much from blushing as her face began to grow far too hot for her liking. She bit her bottom lip.

"If you will excuse me, sir. I think I will leave you to interview other girls waiting outside." Catherine excused herself before slowly walking towards the door. She felt content about herself. If was his decision to pick whoever he wanted as his PA because she said what she had to say.

"Ms.White," Reece called out. Catherine stopped on her tracks before she could open the door.

"Yes, sir?" She asked. He was silent for a moment.

"How would you like to be my very own personal assistant?" Catherine's heart struck an off beat.

"You sure, sir? There are lot's of pretty girls out there waiting for you to interview them. Maybe you might see the better in them?" Catherine murmured.

"I have made up my mind, Ms. Catherine." Simple as that. Catherine fought the urge to smile but failed as Reece smiled back at her.

"It will be my pleasure, sir." Catherine walked out of the office with a glowing smile on her face.

She secretly wanted him to pick her.