‘Reverse time to when Scarlett was absent from work’



Ricardo P.O.V.



I was having a major headache with this deal with my enemy which is the Benedetti Corporation. They stubbornly insist on arguing with everything I had prepared about the construction project that is due next week. I was about to shout to his face whether he had a better idea for the project but I manage to reign in my anger and gave them a choice of whether to accept the project I had prepared or get out of the contract. To my pleasure that shut them up and sign the necessary papers. Afterwards we said our goodbyes and then they finally left.



Then there is this problem with my missing secretary. She has not shown up for work for three days in a row now. All her work is pilling up on her desk and I need someone to organize them before next Monday.



Miss Jones better have a good excuse as to why she has not been showing up for work or not she is fired. A knock interrupt my thoughts. “Come in” I ordered the person outside the door. The door open revealing the private detective I hired to find out where my secretary is. I hired him yesterday to find out anything he can about my secretary whether or not she ran away with my money even though I could not find any stolen money. Better to be safe then sorry.



“Well do you have the information I ask for?” I said my voice echoing around the office. The private detective whose name is Jonathan sat down on the chair in front of my desk and then took out a file from his briefcase and set it on my desk. “Everything you need to know about her is in that file and where she is currently right now” Jonathan said in a professional voice.



I look through the file and I find out something that froze my already frozen heart. So it is not a coincidence that they have the same last name. They are sisters.



I never knew that she had a sister all she told me was that she was an only child and that she ran away from home because she wants to make something of herself. I should of check her background to confirm whether she was telling the truth or not instead I was too in love with her to do something as simple as to check her background.



I shook my head to get rid of thoughts of her. She is not worth to remember. I concentrate back on the file. I was a bit caught off guard when I read that Miss Jones was kidnapped and found this morning with her friend Bethany Collins. They are now currently in the Madeline hospital recovering from there injuries.



Apparently Miss Jones has receive serious injuries but now is recovering and will not be discharge until the 5th of June which will be a week from today. So now I have to look for a temporary replacement until Miss Jones is fit enough to work again.

I let out a sigh, another thing to sort out. I heard someone clearing their throat so I look up. I forgot about Jonathan who is looking a little uncomfortable in the chair waiting for my opinion on his work.

“You did well. I have already transfer the money to your account and expect a little bonus for the sudden call” I told him sure that the bonus I gave him will be enough to cover the cost for asking him to quit with ex client. “Thank you. It is a pleasure to be working with you” he said in his professional voice afterwards standing up from his chair bowing his head at me then left the office closing the door quietly behind him.

I relax in back into my chair and closing my eyes for a little while. After a few minutes I open my eyes and start going through the documents that is on my desk when there is another knock on my door. I frown. I am not expecting anyone else until lunch time but I call whoever was at the door in.

To my surprise it is Veronica. Veronica usually doesn’t come to my office unless I call for her. I am a little intrigue as to what brought her to my office so I didn’t chase her out but beckon her to come forward and she does having a little trouble walking with her tight skirt. I don’t understand why she wants to torture herself by wearing such tight clothes its not like I’m interested in woman exposing their bodies in fact I hate woman that has no respect for themselves as to show all their body parts for everybody to see.

Nevertheless I ignore her trying to open her blouse a little more so as to expose more of her cleavage and focus on her face. “Why did you come to my office for Miss Hastings” I demanded, my voice making her jump in fright. She better have a good reason as to why she disturbs me while I am in the middle of sorting out important documents.

She looks nervous now as she can see I’m not enraptured with her display of cleavage like other men are. Her small frame began to tremble a little in fear as I continue to give her my cold stare that I give to people who annoys me.

She pull herself together and confidently said “I have evidence that Miss Jones has been absent from work for no good reasons”. I just look at her with a glare. Does she think that I won’t investigate about Miss Jones disappearance and she has the nerve to lie to my face? But I am curious about this evidence that she has so I ask her to show it to me. I also intrigue as to why she hates Miss Jones so much.

Veronica has this triumphant gleam in her eyes like she has won something. She should know better. The only reason I am calling her out on her lie is because I am curious as to what proof does she have that Miss Jones has been absent from work for no apparent reason.

I took the file from her making sure I don’t touch her hand and flip it open and what I saw made me let out a chuckle. Did she think I am so stupid as to believe this nonsense?

In my hands right now is a few pictures of a brownish red hair woman dancing drunkenly in a club and holding a glass of what appear to be alcohol. All the pictures are about the woman but from different angles. The more I look at the picture the more I got mad and when I get mad let’s just say nothing good comes out of it.

Even from one glance I can tell it is not Scarlett because one the hair is not the same shade of red as Scarlett, two the woman in the picture is skinnier than Scarlett and the woman looks to be shorter than Scarlett too. She really does not know how create false evidence even an untrained detective can tell that this evidence is false. I look up at Veronica and for some reason she still has that triumphant smirk on her face. Oh she must of thought I am angry with Scarlett well she could not have been more wrong.

“What is this?” I ask her calmly throwing the file on my desk making it slide to her. The look of triumphant slip from her face replace with nervousness. “Its p-photos on Miss Jones-” she stutters but I cut her off. “Miss Hastings, do you think I am so gullible as to believe this ridiculous evidence you have shown me” I said in a venomous tone.

She looks like she is about to what do the teenagers say this days, ah! She looks like she is about to piss her pants but I continued in my venomous tone “you have not only wasted my time but also insulted my intelligent with this crap”. She flinch and was about to say something to defend herself but again I cut her of by holding my hands up in a quiet gesture. I had enough of her. The only reason I kept her around despite her bad attitude is because surprisingly she does her job well but I can’t her attitude any longer.

I have already given her too many chances and she still keeps up with her bad attitude. It’s time to deal with her. “Miss Hastings I have just about enough of your attitude as I can stand so as soon as I find a replacement for you, you are fired understood?” I told her in a stern voice. “B-but-” she tried to argue but this time I repeated myself in a voice that leaves no argument “understand”.

This time she wisely said a quiet “yes sir”. I nodded and dismiss her waiting until she close the door before I relax in my chair exhausted having to deal with something unnecessary. I look at the clock on the wall and curse. I have wasted 40 minutes dealing with her non sense. It is also somewhat my fault for even entertaining her. I guess the saying curiosity killed the cat is true. In my case my curiosity has killed my time.

I shook my head to clear my thoughts of all the distraction and got back to finish reading all the documents on my desk also making a small note in my mind about finding a replacement for Victoria

The sooner I find her replacement the better it is for everyone who is working on this floor on this floor. With that thought in mind I concentrate fully on my work.



Scarlett P.O.V.



“M-my boss’s ex-wife is my s-sister” I said shock beyond belief.

The sister who ran away from home without a single word was married to my boss. Bethany is also shock with this news. “You mean your sister who ran away from home all those years ago was married to the Ricardo Giovanni!” she shouted once she got out of her shock. All I could manage was o nod still in a shock mode.

I wonder if this is the reason why Mr. Giovanni is treating me harsher than other employee because I resemble his ex-wife or does he know that I’m her sister. Did Sapphire mention about me or our family while she was in a relationship with him.

I read again about what happen to their marriage and I am taken aback that Sapphire was the one who ask for the divorce for apparently no reason. Nobody but Ricardo Giovanni knows as to why Sapphire Jones has ask for a divorce and Ricardo has kept the entire divorce process private so no one can find out what happen.

I tried to find out what happen to my sister but there is nothing about her on the website until I reach the very bottom of the site and found out a place she use to work at which was at a fashion shop called Viva in Manhattan. That is quite far from here but I can check the place out this weekend and if I’m lucky she is still working there.

So I wrote down the address then switch off the laptop then got out of the chair and face Beth who might I say is still shock from the news with her mouth hanging open. I giggle a little and close her mouth with my hand that jarred her out of her shock. “So you’re going to find her aren’t you?” she said as more of a statement then a question. “Well of course I’m going to find her! I mean she broke off her marriage with my boss for no apparent reason and if I know my sister she must have some important reason as to why she broke it off” I explain to her.

“I guess” Beth said uncertainly. “Besides she is not stupid enough to have let a man like Ricardo go without a good reason and I’m going to find out what that reason is” I continued. Suddenly Beth snaps her fingers starling me and making me jump a few inches of the ground. “What is it?” I ask her while putting my hands on my chests as my heart beat slowed down to normal.

“She must be the reason why Ricardo is so cold and distant to people now” Beth said in an overly exited voice. I just stared at her and ask “how is Sapphire the reason he is so cold and distant to people now?” She intern stared at me like I was slow as not to realize it.

“Dah! Sapphire must have broken his heart and now it is hard for him to open up to people because he is afraid he will get hurt again!” Beth explains excitedly almost bouncing from where she is standing. I whistle “that is some imagination”. She glared at me and said “it could be true. Why else has he never been seen with a woman now a day?”

“There must have been some other reason besides that is not important right now. Are you gonna help me find my sister or not?” I ask her. Beth just grins and said “helping you find your long lost sister of course!”

#############################################################################

I’m so sorry for the late update but I was having a little writer’s block!!!!! Nothing I wrote came out write. Thank you so much for those who commented and waited so long for this chapter. I have like over 130 thousand views now!!!!!!!! Again thank you so much hope this chapter is okay its a little rush so excuse any grammar mistake!!

I will update the next chapter this weekend!!!!

Until next time!!!!

Bye!!!!! J