CHAPTER SIX

The Icy Shock

Chase's POV

Theme song :Yesterday by The Beatles

Ice.

I looked at the frightened lady lying on the floor with a bit of shock mixing the contorting pain and nostalgia I felt. She was real and here.

What was she doing in my office!? Yes,I had allowed her into the company,granted her full access and all because of Erin but I wasn't ready to face her. Not yet.

The memories washed in quickly. The demons. They tumbled in my head. The bittersweet memories. Memories that had me having nightmares. Memories I so wanted to leave badly but still prayed it stayed so I could still feel a piece of her.

***

"Ice!" I called.

The flowers were the only companion we had at this time. The birds didn't count because they were silent as hell. The water wasn't even eroding loud. It was past 5:00 pm and the park was totally empty because it was one of the holidays but stubborn Regina had wanted to play.

"Ice!" I screamed again looking for the greyish green eyed brunette. Who plays hide and seek at dusk!? "Ice,come out before you melt."

She giggled. "The sun's down dummy so I won't melt."

"Not fully. Lets go over to the lake and watch the sunset."

"The lake!?"

"We won't swim. I promise you won't get hurt. We'll be feet away from the water."

"I'll melt whichever way...just like daddy" Presently,I had gotten to where her voice had carried me to.

"Boo!" She screamed as I rolled with laughter.

"You cheat! You made me talk."

"Was just being strategic,Ice"

"A strategic thief."

"Ugh,fine. Now let's go watch the sunset. I bet it'll be beautiful"

"It always is"

***

"Sir?" Her shrill whisper jolted me back to the reality of her now standing with a plea in her eyes. The eyes I once loved. The same eyes that tortured me now.

"I'm very sorry sir. Truly,I am. I was just on a mission to keep the folder. Funny of me to call it a mission" She chuckled. "But then,I tripped and the notes came out. I fixed the notes but started mulling over what I had seen. I would've just left then but I was pissed at my boss. No I shouldn't be pissed at her. She's my boss. And then you came in whistling one of my favourite artist song...he's late now by the way. So touching. I became frightened and while making for the door,I tripped again. You shouted and spaced out and I stood up. I am explaining right now to you and I can assure you I wasn't here to steal or anything of such. I am not here for pictures either...sure you have a nice body and things worth stealing but-"

"Shut up!" I was annoyed and happy at the same time. Happy because she was pretty at rumbling. Something she did every time she was nervous. But I was annoyed because it reminded me of the small details. Surely,my nightmares would be heightened tonight. "Bring your sorry ass to my desk"

She gulped audibly but followed me. I sat,now aware of my indecent state but who cares?

She stood few feet from my desk. I scanned my desk quickly and yeah,she really brought in a folder.

"Why are you here?" My eyes were on the folder. Of course it had to be Sarah! The old lady was sluggish for my liking.

"I brought a folder...like I said earlier"

"Obviously. I mean what are you doing in the building by past 6 o'clock?"

"I had to finish up a chart and write an essay for Vil project sir." She had to be in the managing department then.

"And does your head of department know about this?"

"She was the one who ordered me to,sir." I frowned inwardly.

"Hmm. 'Ordered'. Which means it was forced? Are you working extra hours against your wish? Did she pay you more money?"

"Uh,it wasn't forced sir neither am I working against my wish. She didn't pay me extra of course."

"What's you salary miss...?" I knew her whole name but she obviously didn't recognise me so I'll go with the flow.

"Worth,sir. Miss Worth. I don't get paid. Not yet...I'm still an intern"

"Interns don't get paid!?" I ask a bit too loud for my own liking. She frowned but quickly hid it.

"We don't sir."

"Your department?"

"Managing sir." Bloody Sarah fucking Higgins! I pay her more than £1,200 a month for all four interns in the managing department. The thief! I should really consider sacking her. "I don't want to leave this company,please sir. I promise to not repeat this incident" Her eyes were teary so I avoided them.

"Which folder is this?" I picked it up from my sturdy desk and flipped through it. Anything but looking at those haunting eyes.

"The chart on managing Briks,the newly launched product" She sounded enthusiastic,I rose a brow.

"Who arranged it?"

"I did sir" I scoffed. Why give it to an Intern of all workers?

"It's obviously trash then"I threw the folder into a bin close by. "I'd get my male manager to rearrange it tonight. It'll be more efficient." I drew the word male.

"I spent a lot of time on that sir. It's worth the view. I also did a lot of research-"

"Other people's ideas then? It's trash needless to say. You can go,I would spare you just this once. You'll get your internship." She hesitated before heading out. "Women never do better" I muttered and turned to another article.

The door closed and I began reading in order to distract myself from her hips which sashayed out minutes ago. The article was an update on the gains and losses of the Hilton's Enterprise. This writer was obviously paid because our recorded losses weren't published. Hilton had lost over a billion pound this year. I was still trying to decipher who mismanaged my finances. Obviously,I just found out Sarah had been one of them,thanks to Ice...Regina.

I was so engrossed I didn't hear the approaching footsteps till it came near my desk. I looked up to see a red Ice. Pun included. Regina was back.

"70% of customers are still interested in the product but by December,the value would diminish. Not because newer products would be launched but the target customers would have more people around them so wouldn't need the product any longer for that period. The management plan is to conceive a brilliant idea,something alluring that would drive our customers to spend more time with our product because of the new twist. They would however still spend time with their loved ones. What we would have to do is make Briks pocketable.

If we are able to attain this,our customers would help in advertising Briks and they would in turn buy from us thus raising our profits to an estimated 17.71% or thankfully more!

By mid January,a new tactful product similar to Briks would be launched if worked on. Obviously,that's the 'Vil' product. We would increase our customers as usual while finding a way to keep them in.

Right now,the Hilton name is actually the drive for our products because customers keep depreciating. If we however act on that alluring aspect,we would keep our customers." She gasped for breathe then sighed deeply.

"Firstly,my work isn't and wouldn't ever be trash. Secondly,women are still making it and are even better than most men especially the ones with 'old money'. And lastly,you're an arsehole. A cocky male chauvinistic pig!"

She walked out of the office and left me gaping at her speech,confidence and insult.

It was going to be a hell of a long night!