Memories Drifted Like Paper Boats by Zyra Cole 16

Chapter 16 

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Helene walked into the office, dressed to the nines as usual, but day the vile was totally off–everyone was buzzing, loud and hyped up. 

“Did you see the HR memo? Mr. Gibson is shamelessly bold about this. He’s not even trying to keep it under wraps someone whispered. 

“He’s making her his secretary? Kelvin’s never had a female secretary before; he’s breaking his own rule just for her, another person chimed in 

“A bossy CEO and his personal secretary? You just know there’s gonna be some juicy drama. The thought alone is thrilling.” someone else added. 

Hearing all the gossip. Helene looked down, her cheeks turning ink as she couldn’t help but feel a little bashful. 

She was sure Kelvin was into her, and now it seemed like the whole company knew it too; everyone saw her as the frontrunner to become Mrs. Gibson one day. 

“Hey, Ms. Simmons, you’re here,” an employee greeted. Tve already put last month’s Nocturne Designs operations report on your desk.” 

Helene nodded and asked softly, “Did Rupert mention who’s replacing me 

The employee blinked in surprise, looking a bit lost. “Are you getting transferred too? We haven’t heard anything about that.” Helene’s expression soured instantly, a wave of awkwardness and embarrassment flashing across her face. “Wait, what do you mean I’m getting transferred too? Who’s the one going to be Kelvin’s secretary, exactly?” 

“It’s Edwina Lennox, the employee replied. 

The room went dead silent. Helene’s face twisted into something so fierce and scary, the employee couldn’t help but shiver. Helene swallowed her anger and forced a sugary–sweet smile. “Alfight, got it. Go ahead and get back to work.” 

The employee bolted, half convinced she’d just hallucinated that murderous look on Helene’s face. ‘Is that sweet, innocent lady even real? Just now, she looked like she was ready to go full psycho, she thought. 

Back in her office at Nocturne Designs, Helene kicked the door slut, grabbed a crystal glass, and smashed it onto the floor. She swept everything off her desk in a furious rage. 

‘CEO’s secretary? His personal secretary! You’re really somethin Edwina Lennox. 

Just yesterday you said you wouldn’t compete with me, and now you’re sneaking around behind my back, I swear, I won’t let you get away with this, you conniving bitch! Helene raged inwally. 

Meanwhile, Edwina was heading to the Maberly Fashion office, but before she even got to the door, she saw all her stuff had been cleared out of her workspace. Peter was busy packing up her boxes. 

Kelvin’s assistant? 

What’s he doing here?‘ she wondered, unease prickling at her skin. 

Edwina’s instincts screamed at her, and she rushed over to demand what was going on. 

Peter put on his best corporate grin. “Congratulations, Edwina, boks like we’re coworkers now. 

“Kelvin says you’ve got real promise. Since you didn’t want to go Nocturne Designs or take the chief designer spot at 

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Chapter 16 

Maberly Fashion, he figures you must be shooting for something even higher” 

Higher, my ass Edwina cursed inwardly 

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She hanged for her boxes, and Peter didn’t try to stop her. “This all Mr. Gibson’s decision. Im just the go between Genting mad at me won’t change anything.” 

Pauline and Madeline, standing off to the side, both gave Edwing a knowing look that screamed, “You and the bough Something’s definitely up 

Edwina, who was usually cool as ice, was absolutely livid at Kelva’s latest stunt. Her face was burning with frustration as she snapped. Tm going to Kelvin.” 

All eyes were on Edwina as she marched toward the CEO’s office 

ay and 

That’s the woman who landed the secretary gig and tamed the boss, everyone thought, their gazes filled with envy a gossip. 

But none of those looks was as poisonous as the one Helene was shooting her way, 

Edwina didn’t waste time trying to explain herself. She stormed down the hall and threw open the CEO’s office door. 

“Kelvin, what the hell do you think you’re doing?” she demande her voice sharp with anger. 

Inside, two old–timers were sitting on the couch, deep in conversation with Kelvin about company business. They were both senior shareholders who had backed Kelvin’s reform efforts at Gbson Group. 

The two old–timers exchanged a look, glancing between the furus Edwina and the smirking Kelvin. “Kelvin, who’s this?” one of them asked. 

“Douglas, Hank, let’s pick this up another time. I’ve got something to handle here.” Kelvin said, his tone casual but firm. 

The shareholders shared a knowing smile, nodded, and headed out. But the whole time, their eyes never left Edwina, sizing her up from head to toe. 

kelvin sat back on the couch in his black suit, legs crossed, looking totally relaxed. He just waited for Edwina to come in guns blazing. 

The calmer Kelvin looked, the more it pissed Edwina off; he was like taunting her without even saying a word. 

Kelvin pointed at the door behind her. “Edwina, you might want to close the door before we talk. Unless you want the whole office to misunderstand, that is” 

Misunderstand! Isn’t everyone already misunderstanding?” Edna retorted, her voice cold as ice. 

She wasn’t about to let Kelvin play her for a fool. Instead, she flung the office door wide open and threw up all the blinds making sure the whole office could get a front–row seat to whateer happened next. 

Kelvin watched her with a barely there smile, taking a leisurely sip of his coffee as Escina inished her dramatic little show. 

Now, the CEO’s office was completely exposed, their conversation on full display for everyone outside. 

“I refuse to be your secretary, Kelvin, Edwina said, her voice steally and unyielding 

“Why” Kelvin asked calmly, has deep eyes locking onto hers, like he was trying to see straight through her. 

Edwina didn’t back down. She shot him a defiant glare and then a textbook excuse. “Everyone knows I never went to college. Having someone like me by your side would just make your book bad. I don’t know anything about business.” 

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Chapter 16 

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“Oh!” Kelvin drummed his long fingres on his kure, as it he ally hard a plan for her. 

“That’s why I want you as my life secretary, the kind who haulle my daily routine, my clothes, my meals, all of it Kelvin said, deliberately stressing those last words. 

Outside the office, the crowd couldn’t hold back their excited murs and buzzing chatter. 

The flirting vilses in here are maxed out, they thought, practicaly swooning. 

“Mr. Gibson is seriously the ultimate dream guy. He’s hands dove Grindel’s number one eligible bachelor, someone fangirled 

“Nonono, looks like he’s not single anymore, another person teed. 

“Ugh, but what does Edwina even have? Just that seductive face hers? How could she ever be a march for our CEO?” someone scoffed. 

No family connections, no degree, just a couple of design sketchies? Some people just get all the luck, someone muttered. jealousy dripping from their words, 

Edwina clenched her fists at her sides, her emotions all over the place. 

But little by little, she managed to calm herself down. 

This is so weird, Edwina thought. ‘Even when I was staring down a dozen international mercenaries, people who could’ve killed me, not even then did I freak out like this” 

She unclenched her fists, gave the crowd outside a pointed look and made sure everyone could hear her. 

“Since you think so highly of me, Mr. Gibson, I’ll do my job well and take care of my duties. I’ll try to live up to the company’s trust in me,” Edwina said, her voice ringing out, steady and firm. 

With that, she drew a clear line between them, shutting down the rumors. The crowd was left totally confused. 

Edwina’s voice was so full of conviction. Nobody could believe she was just putting on an act. 

Kelvin, if you want to play games, then bring it on. Just don’t come crying to me when you regret it, Edwina thought, her eyes flashing with defiance. 

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