Catherine Ashton

First day of work.

My grandpa got me a secretary that will be helping with all my works just like my old occupation. He introduced me to her and her name is Tiffany Brooks. She told me that I can call her Tiff.

She led me to my office and told me a lot of things about the company that I should know. She's been working with my company for 3 years and that's why my grandpa decided to assign her for me.

I looked around the company to get to know everyone who's working with me and get to know the meeting rooms and etc. I'm a little nervous though but I think I can do it. I need to continue my family's legacy and this is the only thing that I can do.

Tonight, I will be taking a flight to Toronto with my grandpa to go to the William's charity event. The charity events are for cancer patients that need help financially. They will have a brunch event and it's a garden charity event so after this I will go shopping to find a dress.

My grandpa told me that I will start officially working next week, he wanted me to get to know the office first and my role so he said he wants me to adapt to my old life first after living as a poor secretary in New York, that's what my grandfather said.

I walked towards my dad's office and knocked on his door. He told me to come in and he smiled when he saw me wearing work attire and just be here in LA. He gestured me to sit down.

"What do you want to drink?" He asked.

"Ice Americano would be nice." I said and he told his secretary, Steve, to buy us Starbucks.

"You know.. I'm happy that you're back, Catherine. It's been a long time since I've seen the original Catherine." He said as he put down his glasses and looked at me.

"Yeah, I guess me too."

"We've missed you, especially your mom. No more working in New York as a secretary, pumpkin." He said and I nodded.

"So I heard that your grandpa will take you to Toronto tonight to see the Williams again, I'm guessing you like him?" He asked in a careful tone.

"I don't know, we just met yesterday. I mean his first impression wasn't bad. It's too early to say that I like him, dad." I said.

"I'm sorry for letting your grandpa arrange this, it's out of my control."

"It's fine, I understand." I said and he smiled.

"So.. how's the office? Do you like it?" He asked excitedly.

"Yeah I love it, thanks Dad."

"What time will you leave?" He asked.

"Uhmm around 7ish, I want to stop by at the mall before that." I said and after that he started to talk about business related topics. He told me about the meeting that will be held next week and he wanted me to attend it. After that, Steve gave me my coffee and I decided to go to the mall.

Fred drove me to the mall and I told Tiff to take my luggage at my house because I don't think I have time to go back to the house to take it after shopping. I walked around the mall to find a dress for tomorrow but it's damn hard.

I walked around the mall for 3 hours and at last I found the perfect dress. I checked the time and it's the perfect time to go to the airport because my grandpa is already texting me where the hell I am now. I quickly called Fred to wait for me in the lobby.

I got into the car and he drove me to the airport. Tiff was sitting beside me asking me if I needed anything or if she wanted me to add some schedules into my agenda. She already got my luggage back at home and they dropped me at the airport.

The airline staff came to pick me up because my grandpa clearly got us a first class flight. I texted my grandpa that I'm at the airport already and he told me that he's waiting for me at the lounge.

The staff helped me check in and they led me to the lounge so I can have my dinner. I saw my grandpa and he's currently eating a mushroom soup.

"Hey grandpa." I said as I sat in front of him. The waiter gave me the menu and I looked at it.

"Where were you? Why are you late?" He asked.

"I was looking for a dress for tomorrow, I don't have a garden theme dress." I said and I turned to the waiter ordering sushi and a cheese cake.

"How's the new office? Do you like it?" He asked and I nodded.

"Yeah, I love it."

"Good."

"You know, I've been thinking.. if you're arrange me with Jacob, I should move to Toronto right? What's the pointing of me moving to-"

"Catherine, I get that you're smart but me and Joseph already talked about it. The Williams have been planning to move the company to LA for years now so.. you don't have to worry about it." He said and I looked at him disbelief.

"I can't believe that you're doing this to me." I said and he chuckled.

"Oh.. you'll thank me later, Catherine."

"I don't think so.." I said confidently.

"Wow.. why is that? I mean me and your grandma were arranged at some point." He said and I shook my head.

"I don't believe that, she told me about your love story and she said nothing about arranged marriage." I said as I raised my hand to call the waiter.

"Nah.. she lied." I can't believe my grandpa said that. He loves my grandma so much that his condition went so down after she passed away.

"What if this arrangement doesn't work?" I asked and the waiter came at the same time, "Can I have wine please?" I asked the waiter.

"It will work." He said confidently and I facepalmed myself.

"You need to calm down, Catherine. Let it go with the flow.. you worried too much." He said and I sighed nodding weakly.

Catherine Ashton

I woke up early this morning to take a long bath because I really need it. I couldn't sleep last night and I just need time to relax. After taking a 40 minutes bath, I walked out of the bathroom getting ready. I dried my hair first and curled it with my curling iron. I put on my dress and started to put on my makeup.

After finishing my makeup, I put my earrings on and necklaces. I put on my white ankle strap heels and checked myself on the mirror to see how I look. I took my LV bag and wore it checking it again on the mirror. I checked the time and I still have 10 minutes left. I turned on some music and started to dance weirdly. I mean.. I bet you all do that at home or somewhere right?

After 10 minutes, I went downstairs to the lobby and waited for my grandpa. He walked towards me with his nurse and his 2 guards. We got into the car and started to drive towards the charity event.

"I can't want to see Jacob's reaction seeing you, I bet he didn't expect you to be here." He said in a really cheeky tone.

"Grandpa, I wonder why aren't you resting at home? Your body needs a lot of rest and here you are in Toronto trying to be cupid for me and Jacob." I said in complete disbelief.

"Catherine, I just want to see you happy. Is that a crime?" He asked and I shook my head. The charity event is around 15 minutes away from our hotel so it's not that far and it's not that hot today too. It's a little bit windy and it was like it's going to rain but I hope it won't.

Our chauffeur stopped at the venue and I got out first. I rushed towards my grandpa and held him. The guards and nurse walked behind us watching for him. We walked into the venue and the staff led us to our seat. There's quite a lot of people here and I don't know anyone here.

Where is Jacob?

I looked around and tried to scan the room but I see no Jacob yet. Maybe he will come in later on with his grandfather.

"Where is your friend?" I asked my grandfather.

"He will come, maybe he's late." He said and I nodded. The waiter asked for our drinks and I ordered a non-alcohol cocktail. Suddenly the charity event started, the MC came out from the backstage welcoming everyone.

He introduced the charity event rundown briefly and he invited the Williams to the stage. He asked us to give a big applause to our host today. My eyes locked on the stage and my eyes widened to see 2 men coming out from the backstage.

"Oh there he is.. Joseph and Jacob." My grandpa said as he poked me. I turned to my grandpa confused and I started to look around the crowd. I got up from my seat and walked towards the man that I have my eyes on.

He saw me and his eyes widened. He gulped nervously and he smiled awkwardly at me.

"If you're not Jacob, who are you?" I asked in a cold tone.

"Okay.. calm down. I'm Brad Reed, I'm Jacob's bestfriend. How did you know about the charity event? I mean.. how did you end up here?" He asked in a nervous tone and I can't believe this. My head turned to the two men on the stage that's currently giving speeches about the charity event.

Once I realized that this is completely not a dream or.. an illusion, my body went numb and my heartbeat started to get shorter.

The two men on the stage were Joseph William and Kyle Denver or should I say.. Jacob William. The real Jacob William was my boss and I can't believe this. I saw Joseph Williams a lot when I was working with Kyle or.. Jacob, he always comes to the office once in 2 months and they always fight every time.

I closed my eyes and let out a frustrated sigh. I turned to Brad and gave him the you-gotta-explain-the-situation-here look. He nodded and he gestured to me to follow him. He led me to the back for a moment.

"Well?"

"He sent me to meet you because he wasn't keen on this arrangement. That's why he asked me to see you in Vegas instead of LA because he knew your grandfather will tag along if I asked you to meet in LA. I never thought you will come to Toronto today, Catherine." He said quickly and suddenly one of my grandpa's guards came to fetch me. My grandpa wanted me back on my seat. I followed my bodyguard again and walked back towards my seat.

They finished giving the speech and now the charity event proceeded. A staff member came to my grandpa and whispered something, my grandpa got up and gestured to me to follow him. I held on to him and we walked towards the backstage.

Oh shit.. I know where this is going..

The staff led us to a room inside the small buidling behind the venue and when we opened the door, there's Joseph and Jacob sitting side by side. Jacob's eyes widen when he saw me and he blinked his eyes a few times checking if it's real or not.

"Hey Joseph!" My grandpa hugged his bestfriend tightly and the staff closed the door behind us. I turned to Kyle Denver or Jacob William and he was still in shock.

"Timmy! I need to visit LA more, I miss you!" Joseph said and they both sat down beside each other. Joseph pushed Jacob towards me and he gestured us to sit together.

"Well well well.. do you think I'm dumb Jacob?" Joseph asked his grandson savagely.

"You told me she's beautiful.. she has blonde hair.. and she was just your type.. I'm surprised that you didn't rant about meeting Catherine because she was your secretary." Joseph said and I can't believe this.

"Same goes to Catherine." My grandpa said and I sighed.

"Sending Brad to Vegas to meet Catherine and now.. we both are trapping you, Jacob, so you can't hide from this again." Joseph said and I looked at my grandpa's disbelief.

"So.. you both can introduce yourselves again." My grandpa said and I turned to Jacob or Kyle awkwardly.

"Jacob Williams." He said as he put his hand in front of me.

"Catherine Ashton."

Kyle Denver

"The wedding is in a month and Catherine will be staying here in Toronto until then. We will have the wedding here before the two of you move to LA for good." My grandpa said in a serious tone. I looked at him completely not liking the idea that he just gave us.

"We'll give you two a time to talk now." Tim Ashton said. He and my grandpa walked out the room leaving me with Catherine or should I say.. Dakota, my ex-secretary. She moved to the seat in front of me and we both looked at each other completely speechless.

"I never thought we will meet again in this way, Mr. Denver." She said and I started to observe her more since she's sitting in front of me right now. She dyed her hair blonde and they way that she dressed completely different when she was my secretary. She was proper and I can see her by the way she sits down.

"So.. Can you explain what's going on here? Why are you not Dakota? You're a freaking billionaire's granddaughter, Dak- Catherine!" I bursted completely not understand the situation.

"It's a long story, Mr. Denver. Long story short, I ran away from my family after graduating from Harvard and I went into your company. I was uncomfortable to have my real name because people know who Ashton is so.." She tried to explain but she was a little nervous.

"Oh God." I said, sighing.

"How about you? You're Kyle Denver or Jacob William?" She asked and I looked at her.

"I'm both, you can call me either way. You can call me Kyle or Jacob but I prefer Jacob in front of people in Toronto. Don't call me Mr. Denver, you're not my secretary anymore." I said in a cold tone because I'm still processing the situation.

"Why did you send Brad?" She asked.

"Because I don't want this arrangement!" I bursted completely frustrated because I have to agree to this arrangement or else my grandpa has another plan in his agenda.

"So what are you going to do about it?" She asked.

"Are you agreeing to this?" I asked her and she shrugged. I looked at her disbelief and I got up from my seat. I walked towards the window to calm myself down.

"We can't back out from this arrangement, Jacob. You know that." She said and I turned to her.

"We can keep it going but remember.. you're nothing, Catherine. You'll just my little decoration everywhere I go, just like when you're working with me but the difference is.. your title is my wife." I said to her in a really cold tone. She looked at me bored and she drank the glass of water in front of her slowly.

"I don't really mind. I mean you'll be working in New York and I'll be in LA so.." She shrugged and I raised my eyebrows.

"So you don't mind about the marriage thing? I thought you said that you're not liking the idea." I asked looking at her a little bit suspiciously.

"I don't but if your idea of marriage is that.. I don't mind. I mean we can get a divorce if we want to. We can end it easily because we don't have anything that will tie us together." She said and I sat down in front of her again.

"Are you sure? Don't you say that you will take love seriously? And how you don't have any luck for love?" I asked as I crossed my arms in front of my chest.

"In the end of the day, it won't work. Why are you trying so hard to make me change my mind? We can't back off from this arrangement. We will get divorce one day so.. chill." She said calmly and I leaned back to the sofa.

"Do you have a boyfriend? Ex? Or.."

"Why do you want to know that?" She asked, looking at me narrowing her eyes.

"Well.. I want to know. I don't want my image to be ruined just because you have a secret boyfriend or a crazy ex." I said and she shook her head.

"Don't worry, I was too busy in someone's office setting up schedules and running errands." She said in a sarcastic tone and I just ignored her. She got up from her seat.

"Anything else, Mr. William? Do you need your coffee? You're getting grumpy." She smiled evilly at me and I shook my head.

"Don't worry, I won't tie you down or be a crazy wife for you if that's what you're worrying about. We can buy a house together and then we can split it in half after we get divorce. I won't use any of your money too so we won't be ranting out each other when we're having our divorce. Anything else?" She smiled sweetly at me.

"No."

"Oh.. you can bring your mistress as long as you won't get caught. Don't do it in the house too.. I won't care." She said.

"Wow.. I can't believe you're so into this." I said letting out a sarcastic chuckle.

"I don't want to fight my family, my grandpa's condition is not that good so.. I rather agree to this then seeing my grandpa get sad that might shorten up his life." She said and she took her bag before walking towards the door.

"Catherine." I stopped her.

"What?"

"My grandpa is smarter than you think, he's not easy to be fooled." I said warning her.

"We can act in front of him, don't worry. I'm staying here for a month and I bet we can fool anyone for a month." She said confidently which made me a little uneasy.

"What's your plan?"

"We'll practice for it, don't worry." She said and then she walked out the room. I took a really deep breath and let it out. I'm still frustrated and still shock about the situation.

I can't believe that the girl I'm marrying is.. my own secretary.