Dakota Lennix

I put Mr. Denver's luggage to the back of the car and opened the door for him to get inside. After he got inside the car, I ran to the other side and got in. The driver, Julio, drove away from Mr. Denver's mansion right away.

"You have 2 days, Dakota." He said reminding me again that I should go back to New York again to check on the construction.

"Yes, Mr. Denver." I answered right away.

"I think this is your 4th time saying that your grandfather is dying. Is this some kind of joke?" He asked completely annoyed. I understand that he's mad hearing it again and again but I never lie to him, I mean.. lie to him.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Denver, but this time he's in the hospital with machines attached to him. I think this time his condition is getting worse and worse." I said and he sighed.

"If I found out that you're lying, you will be fired." He said coldly and I gulped nervously. I don't want to lose this job, I love this job. I love being a secretary even though my boss is.. cray cray but I can manage him now.

"Yes, Mr. Denver." I said.

Let me tell you a little bit about my boss. His name is Kyle Denver and he's a workaholic. He's 30 years old and sinfully handsome. Don't be fooled by his appearance, he's a devil inside a human body so don't get your hopes up because he's not your type of man to begin with. Sometimes he dates women or maybe sleeps with them but nothing serious.

I heard from the previous secretary, he's been working non-stop for 9 years. I mean.. I cried on my first week working here. He's crazy. He likes to make all his employees work on weekends and big holidays. He made me work on Christmas and he didn't give a shit that I have friends that wants me to have dinner together.

I've been working with him for 5 years. I know everything about him that sometimes I think he's my boyfriend. I mean I don't even have time to date and I'm always stick to him almost everyday for 24/7. Cray cray right?

When we arrived at the airport, the employees from the aircraft were already waiting for him. Tommy stopped his car and I quickly got out of the car. I opened the trunk and took out his luggage. One of the employees took his luggage from me and he smiled.

"Have a safe flight, Mr. Denver." I said smiling sweetly and he just ignored me. He walked with the aircraft employees inside the airport. I opened the trunk again and took out my own luggage.

I turned to Julio and bid my goodbyes to him. I walked into the airport and started to line up to check in. After successfully checking in and going through security.. I walked towards my gate. I sat down on one of the empty seats when suddenly my phone rang. I picked it up right away knowing that it's my lil' brother.

"Hey."

"Are you on your way here?" He asked and I sighed.

"Yeah, is he really dying?" I asked and my brother sighed.

"I asked the doctor yesterday and yeah.. grandpa's condition is not good. His heart is getting weaker and weaker everyday."

"I only have time until tomorrow so.. I ca-"

"He said he's going to announce something important for the both of us."

"I bet it's the same old thing." I said as I took out my chocolate bar.

"You know it's not going to work." He said, completely pissed.

"Don't worry, just focus on your study. I'll be the one who will find a way out." I said as I ran my hand through my hair.

"I think you've done enough already."

"Let's just hear him first and then we'll talk about it again."

"Okay, I'll see you later." I ended the call and ate my chocolate bar savagely. I took a really deep breath and let it out slowly. Once I arrive in LA, everything will turn into a shit show.

When I heard that we could board the plane, I got up from my seat and walked towards the gate. They checked my ticket and let me inside. I got into the airplane and sat on my seat. I buckled up my seatbelt and decided to sleep because I've been sleeping for 3 hours everyday lately so I need to recharge myself first.

I fell asleep for the whole 6 hours flight and didn't even wake up once. The air stewardess had to wake me up too. I got up and found all of the passengers already left. I apologized to the air stewardess and walked out. I waited for my luggage and walked out from the airport.

"Ms. Ashton." I turned to see 3 bodyguards walking towards me and I looked at them bored.

"Can you not call me that?" I was completely pissed. I bet my dad set this up.

"Sorry, Ms. Lennix." One of them said and they took my bag and my luggage. They led me to the car and opened the door for me. I got inside and the two guards immediately sat down beside me sandwiching me.

"Where are we going?" I asked.

"Straight to the hospital." The driver said and I sighed. I gestured to them to go. I took out my phone and decided to call my brother again.

"Where are you?"

"Hospital. We're waiting for you." He said.

"Okay." I ended the call. I closed my eyes and started to calm my shit down. Everytime I'm back in LA, something will happen and I don't know whether it's going to be a good thing or a bad thing. I'm not ready for this and I just wish my boss would suddenly call me so I can just get out of here.

LA, please be nice.

Dakota Lennix

I walked into the hospital with 3 bodyguards behind me and everyone's eyes were on me. I hate that feeling but now all I want to do is to check on my grandpa. They led me to the VVIP room and I found my brother sitting outside.

"Cameron!" I called him and he turned to me. He got up from his seat and smiled. He gave me a big hug and we both looked at each other before we decided to walk inside. He opened the door for me letting me go inside first.

I saw my grandpa laying on the hospital bed completely pale and my heart broke. I thought he's joking but it's true. I walked to him right away and he smiled when he saw me.

"Catherina.. I was waiting for you." He said and I held his hand tightly. I bursted crying right away and he patted my hand.

"There there.. I'm still alive." He said and I glared at him.

"Can you stop joking.. you're in this.. condition!" I was completely pissed. He chuckled weakly and I hugged him.

"You'll get better soon, I believe that.." I said and he shook his head.

"I won't get better, the doctor said that I only have 3-4 months left." He said and my eyes widened. I turned to my parents and my brother.. they all nodded their heads and I looked at them disbelief.

"That's nonsense! I will talk to that doctor and-"

"Catherine.. no.. please." My grandpa said and I kept crying and crying.

"Stop crying please.." He said as he caressed my head. I cried a lot and he patted my hand until I started to calm down.

"Catherine, you have to listen to me.."

"What? Listen to what?" I asked as I wiped my tears. My brother gave me a box of tissues.

"Before I die.. I wanna see you get married." He said and I turned to him disbelief. It was like he's joking again.

"What?"

"I.. I.. when I was young, I made a promise to my dear friend, Joseph. You know him right?" He asked me and I nodded. I remember Joseph.. okay.

"He has a grandson and we made a promise to arrange marriage for the two of you." My eyes widened and I turned to my parents. They looked at me sadly and I turned my head back to my grandpa. He took a really deep breath with the help of the oxygen mask and he held my hand tightly.

"His name is.. Jacob Williams." My grandpa said and I sighed.

"Grandpa, I'm busy working.. I don't want to get married now. I still have my career and things that I want to achieve." I said because I hate the idea of arranged marriage. Besides I don't even know who Jacob William is. What if he's a psycho? Ugh!

"Catherine, I want you to get married and take over Ashton company."

"Grandpa, we have dad now. You don't have to worry."

"But I need to assure you that you will take over the company. I know that you will keep avoiding this topic!" He said in an angry tone.

"Grandpa, you don't understand. I love my job now and I don't want to get married to the guy that I don't know and besides.. I don't think I can love or like someone that you're setting me up with." I said seriously and he sighed. He suddenly started to breath weirdly.. My dad quickly called the doctor and my brother dragged me out from the room.

I kept crying and crying seeing my grandpa like this. My brother hugged me tightly trying to calm me down when doctors and nurses rushed over to my grandpa's room.

"Cameron! What should I do?" I cried and cried in his arms.

"I'll just give up.. I'll let-"

"No! You're not giving your dreams, Cammy!" I bursted angrily at him. He looked at me sadly.

"I don't want you to get married to someone that you don't even know either. I mean.. grandpa is crazy! Arrange marriage? It's 21st century for godsakes!" Cameron said and he hugged me again.

"Catherine, we need to talk." I turned to see my dad looking at me seriously. I nodded lightly and he gestured me to follow him.

He brought me to the rooftop of that hospital and we stood side by side. The wind was blowing making my eyes dry right away. I turned to my dad wanting to say something but he gestured me to shut my mouth.

"I think it's time for you to come back and take your place." He said and I crossed my arms in front of my chest. I closed my eyes feeling the wind hitting my face.

"Until when will you be a secretary? You're supposed to be the boss not a secretary!" He bursted angrily.

"I want to achieve something on my own, dad! I want to learn to stand on my own feet!" I answered him with a little bit of anger in it.

"5 years is enough, Cathy! You still want to stay in New York after seeing your grandpa like this? You rarely come home and check on him! Imagine how sad he is!" He bursted angrily again.

"You're going to resign and meet your future husband.."

"I'm not going to get married." I hissed coldly.

"If you don't, then come back and claim your throne. It's you or Cameron.. you two decide." He said and he left me alone. I closed my eyes and there's a lot of things going on in my mind right now.

I love my job back in New York and I can't believe that I have to leave all of that behind. I can't believe this! I ran my hands through my hair, frustrated.

"Catherine." I turned my head and my mom already opened her arms. I cried again and hugged her tightly.

"Mom.. what should I do?"

"I can't decide it for you, honey. You have to make the decisions." She said as she patted my back.

"I love my job back in New York!"

"I know.. but.. you know your grandpa won't get any better so.. I suggest you to come home." She said.

Kyle Denver

I got off the car and Dakota greeted me right away. She gave me my iPad for me to see her reports about the construction site. She started to tell me my schedule for the whole day and we both entered the lift together.

"Set me up a meeting with John Travis tomorrow, tell him that we need to talk." I said to Dakota and she's writing it all down.

"What should I get you for lunch, Mr. Denver?" She asked as we walked out from the lift going towards my office.

"Buy me my favorite steak and don't forget extra mashed potatoes." I said as I entered my office. She followed me towards my desk and my eyes landed on a resignation letter on my desk.

"Anything else, Mr. Denver?" Dakota asked and I picked up the resignation letter. I turned to her and she gulped nervously.

"Who is this from?" I asked as I opened the envelope.

"It's my resignation letter, Mr. Denver." She said and I started to read the letter. I read it fast and my eyes turned back to her.

"Sit down." I said gesturing her to sit on the chair in front of my desk.

"Are you expecting me to let you go tomorrow? Are you crazy?" I asked as I threw the paper in front of her. She looked down, avoiding my eye contact.

"What's your reason?" I asked as I supported my head with my hand. I looked at her waiting for her answer.

"Dakota! What is your reason? Or else.. you can't resign."

"I have to move back to LA, my grandpa is really sick. I want to be on his side." She said.

"How much time do you need?" I asked and she looked up to me. She looked confuse and I sat up straight.

"What do you mean, Mr. Denver?"

"How much time do you need to stay on your grandpa's side? 1 month? 2 weeks? 3 weeks? Give me a time frame." I said and she shook her head.

"I will be moving to LA permanently and I won't go back to New York." She answered and I looked at her suspiciously.

"You can't just leave tomorrow! I have to find your replacement and you need to teach her everyth-"

"Edna will be my replacement." She cut me and I looked at her disbelief.

"I'm the boss here!" I smacked the table and she jumped a little bit. She looked at me a little bit scared and I leaned my body closer to her.

"You can quit next month.. after you teach-"

"I can't, Mr. Denver. I can't quit next month.. I have to go back to LA tomorrow." She said in a panic tone. I looked at her confused and a little bit suspicious.

"Did you commit crime or something?" I asked and she shook her head and hands in front of me.

"No.. no.. I'm getting married." She said out of nowhere and that made me a little surprised. I'm sure that she never dates anyone because she spends her time with me all the time. She's a secretary and I've never seen her dating or even going out with a guy.

"Married?"

"Did you get a cat call?" I asked and she looked at me disbelief. Her jaw dropped and she looked at me completely confused.

"Did you meet this person on Tinder? Did he ask you to go to LA and marry him? Is he rich? Are you a gold digger?" I asked and she looked at me like she wanted to slap my face.

"Mr. Denver, I might be a secretary but I'm not that low." She said in a cold tone. That was the first time in 9 years that I've heard my secretary giving me a cold tone and murderous look.

"Then why are you suddenly going to get married?" I asked.

"It's a long story and it's my privacy, Mr. Denver. I was hoping that you can understand it. I don't have any other choice, Mr. Denver, and I'm sorry. I know I should be more responsible for this but the situation that I'm in is.. not good." She said as she looked at me in the eyes. I took my cup of latte and sipped it slowly.

"So your grandpa isn't really sick? You're going to LA, just to get married?" I asked and she sighed.

"My grandpa is arranged marrying me, it's his last wish." She said and I looked at her.. speechless.

"This is the 21st century.. arrange marriage? You've got to be kidding me!" I laughed and she looked at me seriously.

"Do you need anything else, Mr. Denver?" She asked as she got up from her seat.

"No." I gestured her to get out and she walked out from my office. I took her resignation letter and turned my chair towards the window. I read the resignation letter again and again but.. somehow it's strange.

Why did her grandpa wanted to her to get an arranged marriage? Is it just because he's dying and he wants to see her happy first? Weird. I crushed the paper and threw it to the trash bin.

Let her resign besides there's a thousand secretary out there wanting a job and they will be better than Dakota anyway. I turned my chair back towards my desk and I started to continue to work.

As I'm working, I love to stretch my body a little. My eyes landed on Dakota who is on her phone walking around in her office room. She was talking to someone and it's like she's scolding the other person. She ended up throwing her phone to the ground completely pissed. She plopped her body to the sofa inside her office.

What exactly is wrong with her?