[

7/8,
5:42AM]+233544142683OMEANOI
SH:
Tit
tl
e_ ROOMMATESWI
THTHECEO

Genr
e_ROMANCE,
BETRAYAL,
LUSTSEX

Rat
ed_PG,
+18

MAI
NCHARACTERS

CLAI
RE

A22y earol
dgraduate,
she'sfrom morf
ield,asmalltown.Allherli
feshe'
salwayswant
edtobe
agamedesigner,al
wayslookingforopportuni
tytoleavehersmal lt
own.Final
lyt
heoppor
tuni
ty
comesandf ort
unat
elyforhertheopport
unitylandsherinSanFr anci
sco.Shelef
tmorf
iel
deven
withhermother'
sdi
sagreement ,
butgett
ingtoSanFr ancisco,shefoundoutshe'
sbei
ng
scammed.Whati sshegoingtodoi naplacewher esheknowsnobody ??

KI
LLI
AN

A26year
soldbachel
or,
they
oungestbi
l
li
onair
einSanFranci
sco.He'
sal
i
ttl
ecol
dbutagr
eat
wor
kahol
ic,
hehateswomenwhothrowsthemsel
vesathim.

Histhr
eerul
esar
e(1)Neverspeakatwor
k( 2)Nev
erent
ermyr
oom wi
thoutmyper
missi
on(
3)I
neverwantt
ofi
ndyouundermysheets.
..
..
..
..
..

Fol
l
owCLAI
REandKI
LLI
ANi
nthei
rtwi
stedl
ovest
ory
..
..
..
..
..

[
7/8,
5:44AM]+233544142683OMEANOI
SH: ROOMMATESWI
THTHECEO
 Chapt
er1

Kni
ghti
nshi
nni
ngar
mour

Cl
air
e'sPOV

"
Final
l
y"Iexcl
aimed.

"
Thi
sisi
t!
.SanFr
anci
sco!Thebui
l
dingar
esot
all
!"Isai
dbounci
ngi
nexci
tement
.

Thecabdr
ivergr
unt
sinr
epl
y.

"I
'
m sor
ry,
I'
mjustsoexcit
ed.I
'
mf r
om morf
iel
d,areal
l
y,r
eall
ysmall
townupstatewhere
ev
ery
oneknows,ever
yone.Imadeitmyl
if
e'smissi
ontogotoutoft
her
e".Iexpl
ained.

Pl
us,
Ilandedt
hei
nter
nshi
pofmydr
eam!I
'
m st
art
ingatKni
ghtGami
ngt
omor
row!
"Ibl
abbedon.

"
Woah,
thatbi
gGami
ngcompany
"thecabdr
iverasked.

"Yes!Thebi
ggest
.Andthebestpar
tisImanagedtorentacut
eapar
tmentj
ustabl
ockaway
!
Everyt
hingi
sperf
ect
"Ipausedbutr
esumeinstant
ly

"Say
,isi
tnor
mal
forl
andl
ordst
oaskf
oray
ear
'swor
thofr
entupf
ront
?".

Iwasexpect
ingar
epl
yfr
om t
hecabdr
iver
,buti
nst
eadt
hecabst
opped.

"We'
reher
e"hesai
d.
Il
ookedoutoft
hewi
ndowexpect
ant
lybutt
her
e'snot
hingout
sidej
ustanempt
ypl
otofl
and.

"Er
mm,
arey
ousur
e?Ther
e'snot
hingher
e..
..
."It
rai
lof
f.

"
It
'st
headdr
essy
ougav
eme"t
hedr
iverr
epl
i
ed.

OhmyGod, whatshoul
dIdonow?Idon'
tknowany
bodyher
e,Ibr
oughtoutmyphonef
rom my
backpocket
.

"J-
justl
etmecal
lmyl
andl
ordt
ocheckr
eal
qui
ck"It
oldt
hedr
iver
.

Iqui
ckl
ydi
alt
henumberIwasgi
ven.Butt
her
e'snoanswer
.

"Idon'
thav
eal
ldaymi
ssdr
eamer
"thedr
iversai
d,angerl
acedhi
swor
ds.

"Sor
ry.I
'
llgetoutt
hanks"
.Igotoutoft
hecabandpai
dthedr
iver
,mybr
eat
het
urnsshakyast
he
col
d,har
sht r
uthsi
nkinme.

Wasi
tal
lj
ustascam?WasIcheat
edonmymoney
?It
houghtt
omy
sel
f.

No,
no,no!Thatwasall
thesav
ingsIhad!Ipour
edev
ery
thi
ngIhadi
ntot
heapar
tment
!Andt
he
wor
stparti
s..
..
..
..
..
..
.

Myf
lashbackt
otheconv
ersat
ionIhadwi
thmymom bef
orecomi
ngt
oSanFr
anci
sco.

(
Flashbackconv
ersat
ion)
"Whatdoy
oumeany
ou'
remov
ingt
oSanFr
anci
sco?
!?!
"Mom askedme.

"Iappl
iedforani
nternshi
patoneofthebi
ggestGamingcompani
esi
nthewor
ld,
ayi
ngmom and
Igoti
t"Itol
dher,
lookingatherf
acewasvoidofanyexpr
essi
on.

"
Whycan'
tyoubehappyf
orme?Doy
ouknowhowhar
ditwast
ogeti
t?"

"
You'
regoi
ngal
lthewayt
oSanFr
anci
scot
opl
aygames?
"Mom r
oar
edangr
il
yatme.

Nott
hisagai
n.

"I
'
m notplay
inggames,mom.I
'
m desi
gni
nggames.Youknowit
'smydream t
obecomeagame
desi
gnershe'
sgett
ingmeangr
ywit
hallt
hesewor
dsshesayi
ngt ome.

"
isthatwhyy
ougotanartdegr
ee?t
oplaywit
hitno,youarenotal
l
owedt ogot
here"
shesaid
wit
hfinal
i
tyi
nherv
oice,
butguesswhatI
'
m notgonnahaveanyofthat,
Imustf
oll
owmydr eam

"I
'
m alr
eady22!I
'
m notaski
ngforyourpermissi
onI'
m not
if
yingy
ou,wet
herIgetthejobornot,
I'
m movingt
oSanFranci
scoandthat'
sfinal
.Evenpai
dforanapart
mental
ready.I
'm nev
er
comingbacktot
hissmallt
own"

Ther
e'sabr
iefmomentofsi
l
enceaswebot
hst
aredagger
sateachot
her
.

"Fine.GotoSanFr
anci
sco,
justdon'
tcomebackcr
yingwhenev
ery
thi
nggoeswr
ong.Mom
fi
nall
ysaid

*
'Endoff
lashback.
*
Gr
eat
--
--
-justgr
eat-
--
whatI
'
m Igoi
ngt
odonow?
Isi
gnf
rust
rat
ed.

speakoft
hedev
il,
myphonebeep.

i
t'
smom onvi
deocal
l
,Ican'
tl
etherknowwhathappenedt
ome!
cal
m down,
youcandot
his.
i
encour
agemy
sel
f.

Ianswert
hev
ideocal
landputi
nnmybr
ight
est
,ev
ery
thi
ngi
sfi
nesmi
l
e.OrsoIt
hink-
--
--

"
H-heymom "
Itr
iedt
obeent
husi
ast
ic.

"
I'
m nomywayt
her
e--
-"
Ili
edsmoot
hly
.

"
Hmmm,
i
ssomet
hingwr
ong?
Iknowwheny
ou'
rel
yi
ngt
ome,
Clai
re.
"

whyi
ssheal
way
sthi
nki
ngt
hewor
stofme?shenev
ert
hinkIcanmakei
tany
wher
e

"
wasIr
ight?Ar
eyoual
readyi
ntr
oubl
e?Sheasked.

"so,Imayhavebeenscammed-
--
theaddr
essmyl
andl
ordgav
emewasasham .t
her
e'snot
hing
here--
"It
oldhert
hetr
uth

"
what?!
"sheexcl
aimed

"
it
'sknewi
t!It
oldy
ouso!
youcan'
ttr
ust
_tho_
_"

"
gott
ogomom "
Ihangupbef
oresheget
sachancet
osayanyt
hing.
Wel
lthatwast
heywhatt
odonew?Suddenl
ytheweat
herchanged.

GreatInowit
'sr
aini
ng.Ilookar
oundforshelt
erandspotabarnear
by.Idr
agmyluggageand
runovertot
hebar.Ient
erthebarwi
thmyl uggage.
intow,
it'
sal
mostempty--
--
-

It
ookaseatatt
hebarandt
hebar
tendert
akesonel
ookatme

"
youl
ookl
i
key
ouneedadr
inkwhatcanIgety
ou?
"heasked

"
cocktai
l
"Ir
epl
i
ed.hepouredmeoneshot,Icar
ri
edi
tandbr
oughti
tcl
oset
omymout
h,I
'
mtoo
miser
ablet
osi
pit,Ij
ustdowni
tal
l,
thi
nkingaboumypredi
cament

Ki
LLI
ANPOV.
"

"
Thi
sscot
chi
sn'
tsobad."Isai
daf
tert
aki
ngasi
p.

"
whatdi
dIt
ell
you?
andy
oudi
dn'
twantt
ocomei
nher
e"Lucas,
mysecr
etar
ysai
d

"
wehavetogetbacktothet
heof
fi
cef
orameet
ingwi
thShanghai
at8.
remi
ndmeagai
n,am I
y
oursecr
etar
y?Iasked

HECHUCKLED.

"
it
'safterworkhour
s,andasy
oursecr
etar
y,i
t'
smyj
obt
omakesur
emyCEOi
staki
nghi
s
well
_deserv
edbreaks.

Ir
aisedmybr
owsathi
ssi
l
lyexcuse.

"
Abarononeoftheshadyst
reet
sintown?yousuredomaket
hebestdeci
sion.
whi
chr
emi
nds
me,
didyoupi
ckoutthenewhousekeeper
?"Iaskedhi
m.
Hi
sfaci
alexpr
essi
onchangedf
rom goof
ytoser
iousness.

"Ugh,
notyet.It
'sanabsol
utechor
e.You'
veal
readyf
ir
edfouroft
hem i
nthel
astmont
h.Whydi
d
youevenf
ir
el astone?Shewashot"hesai
dwithasmil
e.

Ishothi
m agl
areandt
hesmi
l
elef
thi
sface.

"I
'ml ookingforal
eave-
inhousekeeper,
Lucas.They'r
ejustther
et ocleanmyapart
mentandrun
errandsnot hi
ngmore"ipausedandfrownal i
tt
le."YetIfoundhernakedi nmybedonemorning.
Shei nvit
edhersel
fundermysheets.Ofcourse,Ichasedherout".Isaidfr
owni
ngmoreasI
recallthatday.

Lucasl
aughedbutqui
ckl
ycov
eredi
twi
thacough.

"Woul
dn'
tbl
ameherf
ort
ryi
ngt
olandashotwi
tht
hemostel
i
gibl
ebachel
orofSanFr
anci
sco"
hesai
d.

"Lucas.
..
"Ical
l
edwar
ningl
y.

"Sor
ryboss"heapol
ogi
zed.

Isi
gh.

"I
'
mj ustsay
ing-you'
vebeenhir
ingquesti
onabl
echar
act
ers.Theyal
lseem t
ohav
eahi
dden
moti
veformov i
ngin"Isai
dincl
enchedjaw.

"
Ify
ou'
reunhappywi
tht
hehousekeeper
sIchoose,
howabouty
oui
nter
viewoney
our
sel
f?"He
suggest
ed.

"YouknowIdon'
thav
eti
mef
ort
hingsl
i
ket
hat
..
."

"Heremeout ,Ki
l
lian!Taket hi
stimet ocreat
eaquest i
onnai
reforpotenti
alhousekeeperstodo
beforet
heyapply.
"Hecl earedhisthroatandlickhi
sdryli
ps."It'
l
lbeanindicati
onoft hei
r
charact
erandpersonali
ty..
..
..l
ikethosecharacter
-basedquizzesjobcandidat
eshav etotake"
heconclude.

Iconsi
der
sLuca'
ssuggest
ion.

"Nomor erudewakeupst
onakedgor
geousl
adi
es.Thenexthousekeeperwi
l
lbepur
elyofy
our
choosi
ng"hesmirked.

"Gi
vemet
hat
"It
ookhi
sphonef
rom hi
m andbegi
ntot
ypeoni
tforabi
t."Her
e"Igi
vei
tbackt
o
hi
m.

Hel
ookedatwhatIt
ypedandgaspeddr
amat
ical
l
y.

"Whyar ethesequesti
onsaboutclassi
cromant
icf
il
ms?Andwhat'
sthis?Look,Ki
ll
ian,Iknow
you'r
etheCEOofKni ghtGaming,butreal
l
y?Whatdoesbecomi
ngyourhousekeeperhavetodo
withthei
rknowledgeofgames?Heaskedut t
erl
ysurpr
ised.

"I
t'
smywayoff igur
ingoutwhot heyar
e.I
fany
oneget
sev
eryquest
ionr
ight
,heorshei
shi
red.
Noquest
ionsasked"Iexpl
ained.

"Ev
eni
fheorsheisaser
ial
kil
l
er?
"Heexcl
aimedal
mostt
ool
oud.Ir
oll
edmyey
esbef
oret
aki
ng
asi
pofhi
sScotch.
"Andkeepmyi
dent
it
yasecr
ett
hist
ime.Idon'
twantany
onewi
thanul
ter
iormot
ive"Iwar
ned
hi
m.

"Nowyousoundl
i
ket
heser
ial
kil
l
er"hesai
d."Any
way
,thej
obadv
erti
sup,
Ihopey
ouf
indt
he
one"

Isi
ghandnodt
hought
ful
l
y.

CLAI
REPOV

I
'
m al
readyatmyt
hir
dgl
ass.Get
ti
ngwast
edseemsl
i
ket
her
ightst
ept
otakei
nthi
ssi
tuat
ion.

"Hic.
..
..
..
..
..
Imovedher e.
..
..
..
..
.Thinki
ngt
hatmywholelife.
..
..
...
,Mywhol el
i
fe.
..
..
.hi
c..
..
..
..
.was
abouttochange..
..
..
.butdamni t.
...
.mymom'sr
ight
..
..
hic..
..
..
..I'
m st
arti
ngmyinter
nship
tomorr
owandIdon' thaveapl acetogooranymoneyleft.
..
..
.."Ihi
ccupedout
,thesmellofthe
cockt
ailf
il
lsmynostril
s.

Thebar
tenderwal
kedupt
ome.

"Al
ri
ght
,that
'sy
ourl
astcup"
.Het
oldme,
try
ingt
otaket
hegl
assofcockt
ail
from me.

Justatt
hatmoment
,onecr
eepyguyt
hathadbeensi
tt
ingnext
,tomet
urnedt
ous.

"Awputt
hel
ovel
ylady
'sdr
inkonmyt
ab.Hav
esomemor
e,sweet
hear
t.
"Thecr
eepyguysai
d.

"Wha.
..
..
whoar
eyou?
"Iaskedmyey
esal
mostdazzl
i
ng.
Hi
sey
esshi
ft
stomyl
uggage.

"
ist
haty
ourl
uggage?
doy
ounothav
eapl
acet
ost
ay,

Sweetl
i
ps?
sheaskedwi
thasi
ckeni
ngsmi
l
e.

"
Ihav
epl
ent
yofspaceofspacei
nmyapar
tment
--
"headded

Event
houghI
'
m wast
ed,Ist
il
lknownottotr
ustcreepyguy
slikehi
m.Istoodupandpickmy
l
uggageandt
ryt
owalkawaywithoutgi
vi
nghim anyatt
ent
ion.buther
eachesoutandgrabs
myarm.

"
awcomeon,
wher
ear
eyougoi
ng,
sweet
hear
t?Thecr
eepyasked.Andpul
lmecl
osert
ohi
m

Al
lofasudden,
I'
m shi
eldedbyat
ower
ingf
igur
e.

"
Whatdoy
out
hinky
ouar
edoi
ng?
"Amal
evoi
ceboomed,
thev
oicef
ull
ofaut
hor
it
y.

"
Stepasi
de,
wiseass.Thi
sisnoneofy
ourbusi
ness"t
hecr
eepyguysai
d.

"She'
scl
earl
ynotint
erested"t
hemy st
eriousguysaidinalowgr
owl.Ev
eni
nmydr unkenstat
e,I
canfeel
thesuddenchill
intheai
r.Butwi t
hhisbackturnedt
owar
dsmeIcan'
tseehisface.Not
thati
tmatt
ers,
everyt
hinglooksf
uzzyrightnow.

"W-w-whoar
eyout
osayt
hat
?,Ar
eyouherboy
fri
endorsomet
hing?
"Thecr
eepyguysai
din
shakyvoi
ce.

"
Stepaway
"themy
ster
iousguyor
der
edi
cel
y.
"
You'r
emessi
ngwit
hthewrongguy"t
hecreepyt
ri
edtobebrav
e.Iheardchai
rsbeendr
agged.I
l
ookedar
oundandr
eali
zedagroupofbur
lymenaresl
owlysur
roundi
ngme.

Thecr
eepyguyhasf
ri
ends!Andt
hey
'r
edef
ini
tel
yupt
onogood.Thecr
eepysmi
rked.

"You'
reonmyt
urfandnobodyget
sinmywayofnai
l
ingachi
ckwhenI
'
m onmyt
urf
"thecr
eep
said.

"
Fuck!
"Themy
ster
iousguyexcl
aimed.

Themy
ster
iousguygr
absmyhand.

"
Weneedt
ogetoutofher
e,don'
tl
etgo"het
oldme.

May bei
t'
sthealcoholort
headr enal
ine,
butthere'
ssomethingel
ectr
ify
ingabouthist
ouch.Hi
s
handsfeel
swar m andcomfort
ing,I'
veneverfel
tanyt
hingl
ikethi
s..
..
..
.Igotgoosebumpsinmy
stomach.Il
ist
enedt ohi
m andwemakear unfori
t.

"
Thanks"It
oldhim af
terwesuccessf
ull
yescapedf
rom t
hatcreepyguy.It
ryt
otakeacl
oser
l
ookatmysav i
orbutI'
mt ooi
ntoxi
catedtomakeouthi
sexactfeatur
es.

"
Theywentt
hatway
"av
oiceshout
edf
rom f
arbehi
ndus.

"
Ohno,
theyf
oundus"Il
ament
ed.

I
'm pressedupagai
nstthewallbythemyst
eri
ousguy.He'scl
oseenoughthatIcanmakeout
thehardnessofhi
sbody .If
eelhi
shotbr
eathonmyf aceaswebothstruggl
etocatchour
breat
h.Thatandami xofhiseart
hycol
ogneweresendingmysensesintoover
driv
e.
"
Sor
ry,
theywon'
tspotusl
i
ket
his"heexpl
ainedawkwar
dly
.

I'
m suddenl
yveryawareofhowcloseourl i
pswer e.
..
..
..
..Andhowmywhol eworl
dseem t
obe
spinni
ng.Dar
nthosedrinks.Ii
nst
inct
ivelyl
eanedagainsthishardchesttobal
ancemysel
f.If
eel
hisarmswrappedaroundmywai stprotect
ivel
y,buti
t'
sagent l
e,tent
ati
vetouch.

"
Arey
ouokay
?"Heaskedme.

"
Notreall
y.
..
..
..
..
.Ever
ythi
ngi
sspinni
ng.
..
..
..
..
."Ist
uttered."
Ijustcan'
tcat
chabr
eakcanI
?,Ori
s
t
hisasign?ShouldIj
ustmovebacktomorfiel
d..
..
..
..
."Heplacedaf i
ngeronmyl
ips.

"
Didwelosethem?Fuck!Theyhumil
iat
edme"t
hatcr
eepyguyv
oiceshout
ed."
Ugh.What
ever
,
i
t'
snotl
i
ket hatchi
ckwascuteanyway"
.

Ihear
dthefootstepsgoi
ngaway
,her
emov
edhi
sfi
ngerandt
akeast
epawayf
rom me.
Str
angel
y.
..
..Ial
readymisshi
swarmt
h.

"
Ithi
nkt
hecoasti
scl
ear
"

"
Sor
ryIdr
aggedy
oui
ntot
his"Iapol
ogi
se.Hechuckl
edsof
tl
y.

"
Areyoukiddi
ngme?Youdi
dn'
tdeser
vet
hat
,fucki
ngasshol
e"hef
etchedhi
sphonef
rom hi
s
j
acketpocket
.

"
Letmecal
lLucas"hesai
d.

"
Lucas?
"Iaskedmy
sel
fconf
usedl
y.
"Fuck,
Ileftmyphonebehi
nd,
I'
m goi
ngt
ogobackt
ogetsomehel
p.Doy
out
hinky
oucanst
ay
herebyy our
sel
f?"

"
S-sur
e..
..
."Ir
epl
i
edunsur
e.

Heli
ngersforabitbef
oreherunsoff
.Isi
nktot
hegroundandt
ryt
owr
apmyheadar
oundwhat
j
usthappened.Suddenl
ythatcr
eepsvoi
cecamebackagai
n.

"
Hey
,di
dwecheckt
hisal
l
ey?
"

Ohno,
notagai
n!

Idashoffi
ntheopposi
tedi
rect
ion,
Iar
ri
vedatapar
kbench,
thecol
dbr
eezehel
pssobermea
l
itt
leasIsl
umpontoit.

Cant
hisdaygetanywor
se?

Mythoughtdri
ftbackt
othemyster
iousguywhost
oodupf orme.It
'ssuchapi
tyIdi
dn'
tcat
ch
hi
sname...
..
orwhathelookedl
i
ke.Butthankst
ohi
m,todaywasn'tal
lbad.

Wai
t.
..
..
.wher
e'smyl
uggage?.No, no,
no,no!
.I'
mli
ter
all
ylef
twit
hnothi
ngnow.If
eel
avi
brat
ion
i
nmypocket,
it'
smyphone.AtleastIhav
eaphone.Icheckedmyphone.

Aspam emai
l
?Gr
eat
.

Ideci
dedtowat
chsomecatv
ideos,
cat
smakesmehappy
.Wai
t.Whatwast
hatspam emai
l
aboutagai
n?
Igasped.

Anewjobpost
ingi
nSanFranciscoarea?.IrememberIsi
gnedupf
ort
hej
obnot
if
icat
ioni
nthe
S.
FareabackwhenIwasdesperatet
ol eavemorfi
eld.

They
'r
elooki
ngf
oral
i
ve-
inhousekeeper
..
..
..

Noway !It'
sclosetoKni
ghtGami ng,hi
ghpayi
ng,hasflexi
blehoursandaccommodat i
onis
provi
ded!.Thisismyanswertoev er
ythi
ng!Butther
e'saquest i
onnair
eIhavet
ocompl et
e
fi
rst
..
..
..Classi
cf i
l
ms?Gamehi st
or y
,thoseweretheonlythingthatkeptmeent
ert
ainedbacki
n
morfi
eld.Thisisgoingt
obeabr eeze,Ismil
ed.

Ki
l
li
anPOV

"
Arey
ouokayKill
ian?Whatt
hef
uckdi
dyout
hinky
ouwer
edoi
ngbackt
her
e?"Lucassai
d
i
mmediat
elyhesawme.

"
Sav
ingadef
ensel
essgi
rl
,whatwer
eyoudoi
ng?
"Iaskedey
einghi
m.

"Cal
li
ngthecopsl
ikeanor
malperson"hesaid"
Itol
dyout
ost
ayput
!Doy
ouknowhow
dangeroust
hatwas?I
t'
smyjobtoprotecty
ou".

"Thenwho'
sgoi
ngt
oprotecther
?"Ifi
redback."
Ihopeshe'
sal
ri
ght
"Ipi
nchedt
hebr
idgei
fmy
noseandsl
umpsbackontothecarseat
.

"I
'
m postponingt
hatmeet
ingwi
thShanghai
..
..
"Lucast
akesouthi
sphone."
Woah!You'
renot
goingt
obelievet
his!
"
"
Whatnow?
"Iaskedbor
edl
y.

"Someoneactual
l
yscor
edfull
mar
ksony
ourquest
ionnai
re.Wef
oundy
ouy
ournew
housekeeper
"hesai
dexci
ted.

Cl
air
e'sPOV

Noway
!Igoti
t?Igott
hej
ob?
!

YES!

Buti
tseemst
oogoodt
obet
rue,
Idi
dn'
tev
enhav
etobei
nter
viewed.
..
.

Whati
fhe'
sacr
imi
nal
?Whati
fthi
sisanot
herscam?

Justthen,Iheardabunchofr owdymenheadingmyway .I
t'
sthoset
roubl
emakersfr
om thebar
.
Onething'
sf orsure,
it'
sdefi
nit
elynotsaf
eouther
e.I
'
llj
usttakeaqui
cklookatt
hisapar
tment
I
'm supposedt otakecareof.

KI
LLI
ANPOV

"Yournewhousekeeperi
salreadyher
e!"Lucastol
dmei mmedi
atel
yIst
eppedf
ooti
nmy
penthouse.Idr
oppedmyjacketononeoft hecouches.

"Whatever
.I'
m goi
ngtotakeashowerandl
aterIdon'
twantt
obedi
stur
bedf
ort
her
estoft
he
night
"Isai
dnonchalant
ly.

"
Goti
t"hesal
ute."
I'
ll
staybehi
ndt
oshowhi
m orherar
ound"headded.
Il
eav
ether
oom.

Cl
air
ePOV

Iar
ri
vedatt
hepent
house.Ir
ingt
hedoor
bel
l
.Amanopent
hedoor
,he'
stal
landqui
tehandsome.

"
Hi.
..
.ar
eyout
heonewhopost
edt
headf
orahousekeeper
?"Iaskedhi
m wi
thasmi
l
e.

Itakeacloserl
ookatthepenthouse,
Ihaven'
tgott
enovert
hegrandeurofthel
obby.
..
..
..
.orthe
securi
ty.If
oll
owedtheaddresshere,
expecti
ngthewor
se.Butt
hedoubt sIhadar
edefinit
ely
chippi
ngaway .

"
Wow"Iawed."
Thi
spl
acei
samazi
ng!Y-y
oul
i
veher
e?"

"
Iwish,buti
tbelongst
omyboss.He'st
heonel ooki
ngforahousekeeperf
orthi
spl
ace.
Congrat
ulat
ionsonget
tingf
ull
marksonthatquesti
onnai
re!Youmusthavequit
eanint
eresti
n
fi
l
msandgames"hesai d.

"
Thanks,
theywer
eahugepar
tofmychi
l
dhood"

"
Waitasecond.
..
..DoIknowy
ou?Youl
ookawf
ull
yfami
l
iar
.Hav
eIseeny
ouf
rom somewher
e?"
Heasked.

"
Idoubtt
hat
,today
'smyf
ir
stdayi
nS.
F"Ianswer
ed.

"Real
ly
?Huh"hewonder
ed."
Mynamei
sLucasbyt
heway
,I'
m hi
ssecr
etar
y"hei
ntr
oduced
himsel
f.
"
Clai
re"It
oldhi
m asmal
lsmi
l
e.

"
Clai
re.
..
..
.i
sthatal
cohol
Ismel
lony
ou?We'
rey
oudr
inki
ng?
"Heaskedi
nadi
sappr
ovi
ngt
one.

Wayt
omakef
ir
sti
mpr
essi
on.

Ichuckl
edner
vousl
y,t
her
e'snoneedt
oli
eabouti
t.

"Y-
yeah,butt
her
e'sast
orybehi
ndt
hatandIcanassur
eyout
hatI
'
mver
ymuchsoberr
ightnow"
Iexpl
ained.

"All
'
scoolCl
air
e!Iwasjustt
easi
ng,
noneedt
ogetsoupt
ight
"hel
aughed,
Irel
easedabr
eat
hI
didn'
tknowIwasholdi
ng.

Iwant
edt
ojoi
nthel
aught
erbutf
ir
stIneedt
obecl
earwi
thsomet
hing.

"
Byt
heway
,am Ir
eal
l
yhi
red?Justl
i
ket
hat
?

"Yup,
justli
kethat"hesaid."
Iknowitallsoundsali
tt
lef
ishybutthestandardhi
ringtechni
que
weadopt edinthepasthasfail
edus.Hence, wecameupwi t
ht hequesti
onnai
re.I'
m surpr
ised
someonecoul devengetpastfir
stquestion.Ihadal
ookatitandevenIwasst umped"he
l
ookedatmel i
keapr oudfat
herprai
singhisson.

Hesoundsr
athergenui
ne.
..
..

"
Let'
sfaceitweknowjustasmuchaboutyouasyouknowaboutus.ButI
'
m someonewho
t
rust
shisinst
inctal
otandIhav
eagoodf eel
ingabouty
ouCl
air
e,whataboutyou?
"Heasked
l
ooki
ngatmeexpect
ant
ly.

"
Youseem ni
ce"Ir
epl
i
ed,
buty
out
alkal
otIwant
edt
oadd.

"
Thanks,
Icanassur
eyouIam"hesai
d

"
Sowho'
stheowneroft
hispent
house?
"Iaskedl
ooki
ngar
oundf
ort
heowner
.

"
Heaskedforhisidenti
tytobekeptasecr
etbecausehedoesn'
twantpeopl
eapproachi
nghi
m
f
orthewrongreason.He'spret
typr
ominentf
igur
einsoci
ety.
..
..
"Hepausedandobservemeas
i
ftoreadmyexpression.

"Butyou'
reaboutt
oli
vewi
thhi
m,soy
ou'
l
lfi
ndoutev
ent
ual
l
y.Icanassur
eyout
hough,
he'
sa
niceguy"

Thatdoesn'
tsoundv
eryr
eassur
ing.

"
Okay,maybehe'
sali
tt
lear
oundt
heedgesandeccent
ri
catt
imes,
butov
eral
l
,he'
sni
ce.You?
What
'syourst
ory
?"

"
It
'sbeenmydr
eam t
omov
etoS.
Fandher
e'sIam!
"It
oldhi
mvaguel
y.

"
Wel
l
,wel
come"

"Iact
uall
yhaveadayjobasanint
ern,
butIpr
omi
set
oful
fi
ll
myhousekeepi
ngdut
ieswhenI
'
m
offwork"Iqui
ckl
yexpl
ained.
"Thatwon'tbeaprobl
em.Ifany
thi
ng,mybossadmiresahar
dworker
.He'
squi
tet
hewor
kahol
i
c
himsel
f,butIdi
gress,
fol
l
owmeI '
l
lshowyoutoyourbedr
oom"hel
edtheway.

WhenIsawt heroom wher

eI'
l
lbestayi
ng,t
hosedoubtIhad,all
goneoutoft
hewindow.Thi
sis
t
hebedroom I'
vealwayswant
ed!Thi
sisthebedr
oom IthoughtIpai
dfor
!NowI'
m beingpai
dto
l
iv
ehere.I
'l
ltakeit
,Ij
umpedexci
ted.

"
Huh"Lucassai
d.Wai
tdi
dIsayi
tout
?.

"
Imeant
hej
ob,
I'
ll
taket
hej
ob"It
oldhi
m.

"
Great
!Whenwi
l
lyoust
art
?"

"
Toni
ght
"Isai
dal
mostt
ooqui
ckl
y.

"
What?Imeanthat
'sper
fect
lyf
inebyme.Buty
ou'
remov
ingi
ntoni
ght
?Don'
tyouhav
etobr
ing
y
ourstuf
fover
?"Heasked.

"
Thi
sisal
lIhav
e"Isai
dsadl
y,t
odayhadr
eal
l
ybeenabarday.

"OhKay..
..
..
.I'
l
ldr
awupthecont
ractandsendi
tov
ertomorrow.Buthey,i
fyouneedanythi
ng,
j
ustletmeknow.Hel
pingdamsel
sindist
ressi
smineand,
from whatI'
vewitnessedt
oday,my
boss'
sthing"

"
Thanky
ou"It
hankedhi
m.

"Doyouwantmet
ogi
vey
ouat
ouroft
hehouseory
oucanexpl
orear
oundbyy
our
sel
f.That
shoul
dbefi
ne"
"
I'
ll
stayi
nmyr
oom"I
'
mti
redaf
terev
ery
thi
ngt
hathappenedt
oday
,Ineedal
ongr
est
.

"Yeah, youshoul
dgetsomer est
.Youlookl
ikeyouhadalongday.Ohright
!Onef
inal
wordof
cautionbeforeIl
eave.
..
..
..
..
.mybosswouldn'
tli
keiti
fhef
oundy ounakedinhi
sbedone
mor ning"hewarnedmewi thateasi
ngsmil
eandleft.

Whati
shet
alki
ngabout
!

Aft
erLucasleave,Itossandtur
nonthebedastheeventsoft
odayplayi
nmyhead.Ican'
t
bel
iev
ehowt odayturnedout
.Iwentf
rom bei
nghomelessonthest
reett
ost
ayi
nginoneofthe
mostluxur
iouspent houseev
er.

Wow.

Myst omachgrowls,
thenIrememberedIneedf
ood.Il
eftmyr
oom andmanagedtolocat
ethe
ki
tchen.Ipi
ckedanapplefrom t
hef
ri
dge.ThenIhear
dsomefoot
stepsshuf
fl
ingacr
ossthe
l
iv
ingr oom t
owardstheki
tchen.

Coul
dthatbet
heowner
?

It
urnedar
ound.
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..

Tobecont
inued.
..
..
..
..

[
7/8,
5:46AM]+233544142683OMEANOI
SH: ROOMMATESWI
THTHECEO
 Chapt
er2

Thegol
denBoy

Cl
air
e'sPOV

It
urnedar
ound.
..
..
..

ButIdi
dn'tseeanyone,soIturnedbacktothef
ri
dgebutt
hesoundofadoorsl
ammedst
art
led
me,almostmakingtheapplefallf
rom myhand.

I
shebacki
nhi
sroom?

Ipri
ckedmyear
sbutdidn'thearany
thi
ngelse.Iwantedtol
ookar
oundthepenthousebutI
deci
dedagai
nst
,it
'sbet
terIstayint
hekit
chenandf i
nishmyappl
ebef
oreIcall
itaday.

*
***
***
***
***
***
***

Thenextmor
ningIwokeupwi
thasat
isf
iedsmi
l
eonmyl
i
ps.Ist
il
lcan'
tbel
i
eveIgett
owakeup
i
nsuchabeautif
ulr
oom.

Thi
sisit
,aft
erev
eryt
hing,
today'
sthef
ir
stdayofmyi
nter
nshi
patKni
ghtGami
ng.IhopeImake
agreatf
ir
stimpr
essi
onatwor k.

Wai
tasecond.
..
..
..
Ilef
tmyl
uggageatt
hebary
est
erday
!

Ihav
enot
hingt
owear
!

Il
ookdownatt
heout
fi
tIf
ell
asl
eepi
n.
Ican'
tpossi
blyshowupatmydr eam j
obi
ncl
othesf
rom y
est
erday
.Ismel
ll
ikebl
endofal
cohol
,
sweat,
droolanddisappoi
ntment
.

Il
ookar
oundt
her
oom andnot
icet
hecupboar
dint
hecor
ner
.

Isi
gh,
Iwonderi
fther
e'sany
thi
ngi
nsi
de.

Iopeni
tandj
ustasl
uckwoul
dhav
eit
,If
oundsomecl
othesi
nsi
de.

"
Wow"Ibouncedi
njoyanddi
dal
i
ttl
ejoydance.

Thisismor elikei t
!I'
m sur
etomaket heperf
ectfi
rsti
mpressi
oninthesecl
othes.Butmyjoy
wasshor tli
ved, asr eal
i
tyst
ruckme, thesecl
othesthatI
'
m happyaboutIdon'
twhot heybel
ong
to.Ikeepthecl othesbackint hecupboardandmyshoulderslumpeddowninsadness.Ibett
er
notweart hose....si
nceIdon'tknowwhot heybelongto,
alsoIdon'
tneedtodependonmyl ooks
toimpresst hem.

Ist
epoutofmybedroom andstri
dedownt
hehal
l
waywi
tht
hist
houghtpl
ayi
ngi
nmyhead'
I
wonderi
fI'
l
lmeett
heownert oday'

ButIguessIwon'
t,
becauset
hepenthousei
sempty.Iguesshelef
tal
ready
,ohwel
l
,Kni
ght
GaminghereIcome.Ibat
handputonmyclothesf
rom yest
erday.

*
***
***
***
***
***
***
**

If
inal
lyar
ri
vedatt
heof
fi
ce,
myst
epsf
alt
erasImakemywayt
hrought
hel
obby
,tr
yingt
otakei
t
al
lin.

Thepost
ers,t
hefi
gur
ines,t
heatmospher
e..
..
..
.I'
m act
ual
l
yher
e,I
'
m act
ual
l
yaboutt
owor
kfor
Kni
ghtGaming!I
twasallwort
hit
.

Aft
erregist
eri
ngatt hereception,I
'
m usheredint
oar oom wi
thal
ltheot
heri
nter
ns.Theladyt
hat
usher
edmeher e,
stoodi nfrontofus,she'
sprofessi
onal
lydr
essedinbl
ackpenci
lski
rtandpi
nk
bodyfi
tlongsleeves.Sheclear edhert
hroattogetouratt
ent
ion.
"WelcometoKni ghtGaming,i
nter
ns.Ibelieveourcompanyneednof urt
herint
roduct
ion.My
namei sRavenandI '
my oursuper
visor.Overthecourseofthenextthreemonths,you'l
lbegiven
plent
yofopportuniti
est
oshowuswhaty ougot ,
andattheendofy ourinter
nshiponlythose
whohav eimpressuswillbeoffer
edahi ghlycovetedful
l
-ti
meposi t
ion"Ravenexplai
nedlooking
atourfacesasifshecant el
lwhoisr eadyforthi
sjobbymer elooki
ngatus.

Wow,
Ihav
etof
ightf
ori
t.
..
..
..
.

"
Nowi
fyou'
l
lfol
l
owmeI
'
llgi
vey
ouaqui
ckt
ouroft
hepl
ace"Rav
ensai
d.

Igathermythi
ngsandf
oll
owbehi
ndhast
il
y.Wegott
oanof
fi
ceandRav
enst
op,
soweal
l
stoppedtoo.

"Thi
soffi
cebelongstoourCEO,MrKil
li
anKni
ght,
hewasonl
ytwent
ywhenhestart
edKnight
Gaming.Fastforwar
dtosixyear
slat
erandwe'
renowoneoft
heworl
d'
slar
gestgaming
companies"Ravenexpl
ained.

Allt
heot
herf
emaleinter
nsareswooningov
erwhatRavenjustsai
d,Iontheotherhand,
I
scoff
edment
all
y.Al
thoughIhaven'
tseenhi
minperson,butwhohasn'thear
dofhim?He'sa
l
egend!

"
Bewarned,MrKni
ghtexpectnot
hingl
esst
hanper
fect
ion,
evenf
rom ouri
nter
ns"shesai
d
f
urt
her
mor e.

IhopeIcanmeethi
sexpect
ati
ons.Iwonderedi
fI'
l
lev
ergettomeethi
minper
son.Af
tert
he
tourRav
enshowmeadeskwher eI'
llbesi
tt
ingwit
hotheri
nter
ns.

"Ther
ewil
lbepl
ent
yofteam pr
ojects,
sotakesometimet
ogett
oknoweachot
herbet
ter
,I'
l
l
comeinanhourwi
thyourf
ir
stassignment"shel
eft
.
Igl
ancedar
oundner
vousl
y.

Therearelotsofi
nter
ns,Idon'
tknowifIshoul
dmaket hefi
rstmov
eandgreetthem fi
rst
.Aft
er
thi
nkingaboutitf
orsomeseconds,Imusteredenoughcour
ageandtaket
helead.Itur
nt ot
he
gir
lonmyr ight
,afri
endl
ysmi l
eonmyl i
ps.

"
Hit
her
e,myname'
sCl
air
e.What
'sy
our
s?"

"
HeyI'm Char
lot
te.Ar
eyouj
ustasner
vousasIam?"Thegi
rlwhom Iknowj
ustnowas
Char
lott
easked.

"
Youbet
,butI
'
m sur
ether
e'snot
hingt
owor
ryabout
.We'
l
ldof
ine"Iassur
edher
.

Justt
hensomeonet
apmeonmyshoul
der
.

"Hey
"amal
evoi
cesai
d.

It
urnar
oundandcomefacetofacewit
honeofthebri
ghtestsmi
l
eI'
veev
erseen.Helooks
ev
erybi
tli
keagol
denposterboyandIcan'
thel
pbutbecharmedbyhi
sfr
iendl
ydeposi
ti
on.

"I
'
m Derri
ckandy
ouare.
..
..
"Hetrai
l
sof fwai
ti
ngformetocomplet
ehi
ssentence.Healso
extendhi
shandf
orahandshakebutIdon'
tdohandshakessoIhi
ghf
ivehi
mi nst
ead.

"
I'
m Cl
air
e"Der
ri
ckseemsl
i
ttl
eabackwhenIdeci
det
osmackhi
shandbutqui
ckl
yrepl
acedi
t
wi
thagri
n.

"
Clai
reIl
ovey
ourener
gy"hesai
d.

"
HeyCl
air
eri
ght
?"Char
lot
tecuti
n,Inod."Sot
heot
heri
nter
nsandIwer
etal
ki
ng,
Igr
aduat
ed
f
rom LAschool
ofar
ts,
onl
yoneoft
hemostpr
est
igi
ousar
tsschool
int
hewor
ld.Nobi
ggi
e"

Shepoi
ntov
ert
oaguyi
ngl
asses.

"Glenovert
herei
sthesonoft heheadofdesignatKnightGaming.AndTi
mot hyovert
herehas
alr
eadydesi
gntwogami ngappswithami l
l
iondownloadseach"shepaused."Ever
yoneseems
tohavesomecrazyincr
edibl
ebackgroundandwe'recuri
ousaboutyou.Whereareyoufrom?"
Shefinal
l
yaskedthequesti
onIhavelongexpectedheraskme.

"Igr
aduat
edf
rom acommuni
tycol
l
egei
nmor
fi
eld!
"Ianswer
ed.

"
Communi
ty.
..
..Col
l
ege?Mor
fi
eld?Wher
eint
hewor
ldi
sthat
?"Sheasked.

"I
t'
sasmal
ltown.Ij
ustmov
edher
eact
ual
l
y"

"Whatabouty
ourpar
ent
s?Orhav
eyoudesi
gnany
thi
ngwemi
ghthav
eseen?
"Sheaskedagai
n.

"Myparent
sownasmal lgrocer
ystor
einthetowncent
er.
..
..
."It
railof
f",
Ihav
en'
tgot
tent
o
desi
gni
nganyt
hingbecauseIbarel
yhadanyresour
cesbut
..
..
...
..
..
."

"Wow"Char l
ott
ecutmeof
f."Kni
ghtGamingactual
l
yacceptspeopl
elikeyou?"Shemocked.I
thoughtshewasact
ual
l
yaniceandfr
iendl
ygi
rl,
whyi sshebehav
ingl
ikethisnow.

Ideci
dedt
ost
aysi
l
entandi
gnor
eher
.

"
LayoffChar
lot
te,
weallhadtosubmitasampleofourwork.Cl
air
emusthav
ebeenj
ustas
i
mpressi
veasyoutogetinher
e"Derr
ickshunnedChar
lot
te.
"Right
.Sorr
y,Igotcarr
iedaway"sheapol
ogi
zed.Anembar
rassChar
lot
tet
urnsawayand
conti
nuetal
kingtotheotheri
nter
ns.

"
Ignor
eher
,somepeopl
ear
ejustl
i
ket
hat
"

"
Thanks.Whatabouty
ou?Dohav
eaf
ancydegr
eet
oo?
"Iaskedhi
m.Hechuckl
ed.

"I
'm notonetobrag.But.
..
..
."Heleansincloserandmyst omachdidali
tt
lefl
i
p.He'
san
at
tract
ivemanal r
ightandupclose,I
'm evenmor ecert
ainofi
t.Der
ri
ckfl
ashesmeanot
herone
ofhisposterboygri
n.Butthist
ime,Idetectahintofcheeki
nessbehi
ndit.

I
shef
li
rt
ingwi
thme?
.

"Gr
abacupofcof
feewi
thmeandI
'
llt
ell
youmor
eaboutmy
sel
f.Wehav
esomet
imet
oki
l
l
anyway
"hesai
d.

It
hinkabouthi
sof
feral
i
ttl
e.

"Iwoul
dlovetobutwej
ustgother
e,soI
'
dli
ket
ost
ickar
oundf
orabi
ttol
ear
nmor
eaboutt
he
company"Ipol
i
tel
ydecl
i
nehisoff
er.

"
Oh,
ofcour
se.Besi
des,
we'
l
lhav
epl
ent
yoft
imet
ogett
oknoweachot
herbet
ter
"hesai
d.

Ri
ghtatt
hatmomentRav
encameback.

"Oh,
ofcour
se.Besi
des,
we'
l
lhav
epl
ent
yoft
imet
ogett
oknoweachot
herbet
ter
"hesai
d.
Ri
ghtf
rom t
hatmomentRav
encameback.

"Cl
air
e,i
sit
?"Sheaskedme.

"Y-
yes?
"Ianswer
ed,
wel
lmor
eli
kequest
ion.

"
Here'
stheli
stofourgames.Fory
ourfi
rstday,I
'
dli
keyoutoplayal
lofthem andsumbita
r
eportonyourl
ikesanddi
sli
keswit
hsuggesti
onsfori
mprovementofcourse"shesai
d.

Icol
l
ect
edt
hel
i
stf
rom her
.

"I
'
llgett
oitr
ightaway
!"

"Looki
ngf
orwar
dtoy
ourwor
k"shel
eft
.

Wel
l
,Iguessmom wasr
ightaf
teral
l
,I'
m her
etopl
aygames.Butf
ort
her
ightr
easons.

Iwentt
hrought
hel
i
standdeci
det
ost
artwi
thpuzzl
ego.

Thepuzzl
eischall
engi
ngt
hatt
easemybr
ainbuti
tisst
rangel
yaddi
cti
ve.Al
lofasudden,
Ihear
murmursall
aroundme.

"He'
sher
e"Ihear
dChar
lot
tegasped.

Il
ookupfr
om myscreen.I
twasneari
mpossi
blet
otakeone'
sey
esof
fhi
m.Hi
stal
lfi
gur
e
commendedt
heatt
entionofev
ery
oneint
heroom.
"
Kil
l
ianKni
ght
"Char
lot
tesai
dinawhi
sper
.

Looki
ngst
rai
ghtahead,
hecr
ossest
her
oom wi
thaconf
identst
ri
de.

"He'sj
ustashotinreall
i
fe.Ri
ch,int
ell
igent
,dashingandsi
ngl
e.Iknowwe'ret
echni
cal
lywor
king
underhim,butwhatI'
ddot ogetunderhim.IfyouknowwhatImean..
..
."Char
lot
tesai
d
dreamingl
y.

Real
l
y?

"Al
i
ttl
einappr
opr
iat
e,don'
tyout
hink?
"Der
ri
ckt
oldher
.

"
Oops"shef
akegasped.

Idoknowwhatshemeansi t'
sundeni
ablethatKi
ll
ianKnighti
saver
yat
tract
iveman.Whi
l
ehe'
s
beenratherpr
ivat
eabouthisper
sonalli
fe,
tabloi
dssti
ll
clamourf
orapi
eceofhim.Ashewal
ks
fur
therawayfrom me,Ican'
thel
pbutlongeronhisback.

Whydoesheki
ndofl
ooksf
ami
l
iarf
rom t
heback?

It
urnedmyatt
enti
onbacktot
hegamesbutIcan'
tshakeofft
henaggi
ngfeel
i
ngthatI'
vemet
Ki
ll
iansomewher
e.Ravenwal
ksbacki
n,don'
tsheeverget
sti
redofwal
ki
ngtoandfro?.

"Al
soint
erns,
didIfor
gett
oment
iont
hatMrKni
ghtwi
l
lbeper
sonal
l
yrev
iewi
ngev
erysi
ngl
eone
ofyourr
eport
stoday?"

"What
?!"Char
lot
tewhi
sper
ed,
canshepl
easel
ear
ntokeepqui
et.
"AtKnightGaming,i
t'
simpor
tantt
obeony
ourt
oesandhandl
eanycur
vebal
lthr
owny
ourway
.
Goodluck."Wi
ththatshel
eft
.

"Shi
t"Der
ri
ckcur
sed.

Thi
sismychance!I
fIdowel
l
,I'
l
lbeabl
etopr
ovemy
sel
ftot
heot
heri
nter
ns.
..
..
..andmay
be
i
mpressMrKnight
.

Hmmm wel
li
nreal
i
tyIknowI
'
llnev
eri
mpr
essMrKni
ght
.

*
***
***
***
***
**

Af
terworki
ngonmyr epor
t,gi
vi
ngitmyal
l.Iknowt
hereportImadewon'tbeenought
oimpr
ess
MrKnight
,soj
usthandinanordi
naryr
eport
,butwi
thenoughinf
ormat
ion.

Rav
engl
ancedt
hroughmyr
epor
t.

"Hmmm, i
t'
sokay,Iguess.Becauset
odayi
syourf
ir
stdaysoIunder
stand.I
'
dli
ket
oseej
usta
bitmor
eeffor
tfr
om ourinter
ns"

"Ofcour
se"Ir
epl
i
ed.

Af
termuchwor
k,i
t'
sfi
nal
l
yti
met
ogohome,
Rav
ent
ousagai
n.Isweart
hiswomani
saRobot
.

"Goodj
obev
ery
one.Hav
eagr
eatr
est
,youal
ldeser
vei
t.I
'
llseey
oubackher
etomor
row"
.She
l
eft
.

Char
lot
tej
umpedf
rom herseat
.
"I
t'
sfinal
l
ytheendoftheday!
"Shetur
nedtoDerri
ck"Der
ri
ck,doyouhaveanyplans?Theother
i
nter
nsandIwerethi
nkingofhavi
ngdi
nnertoget
her,
woul
dy oul
iketocomealong?"Sheasked
hi
m.

"Sur
e,t
hatsoundsawesome"her
epl
i
ed.

"Cool
.I'
d,Imean,
we'
dlov
etohav
eyouar
ound"shesai
dbl
ushi
ng.

Canshebemoreobvious?Ican'
tbel
i
eveshewasdr
ool
i
ngov
erKi
l
li
anKni
ghtj
ustf
ewhour
sago.
NowDerri
ck?Gosh.

"
Whatabouty
ouCl
air
e?Woul
dyouj
oinus?
"Der
ri
ckaskedme.

"
What?"Charl
ott
ey el
l
edandDerri
ckwhippedhi
sheadt
oherdi
rect
ion"
Imean,
yeah,
sur
e..
..
..
woul
dy oul
iketotagalongt
oo,
Clair
e?"

Ir
oll
edmyey
ebal
l
sather
.

"Nothanks,
Ihavetogodowntot
hebart
opi
ckupmyl
uggageorI
'
llhav
etoweart
hissame
out
fi
ttomorrow"It
oldDer
ri
ck.

"Youl
efty
ourl
uggagei
nabar
?"Der
ri
ckaskedshocked.

"It
'salongstory
.Ibasi
cal
l
ymetacr
eepwhowoul
dn'
ttakenof
orananswer
,Ihadnochoi
cebut
toleav
eitthere"
.

Hef
rowns.
"Andy
ouar
egoi
ngbackt
her
eal
one?
"

"Yeah.
..
."

"No,
thatwon'
tdo,
pleasel
etmeaccompanyy
out
her
e"heof
fer
ed.

"Whataboutt
hedi
nner
"Char
lot
tewhi
ned,
Ial
mostf
orgetshei
sher
etoo.

"
Sor
ryChar
lot
te,
butIcannotl
etCl
air
egobackt
her
eher
sel
f"

Ir
eal
l
ydon'
twannaquar
rel
wit
hChar
lot
te.

"
Gohav
edi
nnerwi
tht
hem.I
'
m sur
ethecr
eepi
snotar
oundany
mor
e"

"Howcany oubesosureaboutt
hat
?Onethi
ngi
scer
tai
n,I
'm nottaki
ngnoforananswer
.I'
m
sor
rybecauseI
'm escor
ti
ngyout
her
e"hesai
dgi
vi
ngnoroom forargument
s.

"I
'
llt
hrowi
nacoupl
eofhooks,
ifImeethi
sass"headded.

"
Butt
hedi
nner
..
..
..
..
..
..
."

"Hav
efunChar
lot
te,
I'
ll
seey
out
omor
row"het
oldher
.

Char
lot
tegr
umbl
esandst
ompsof
fangr
il
y.
"
Leadt
heway
,Cl
air
e"

"
Der
ri
ck.
..
..
"It
ri
edt
oar
gue.

"
Shi
t,am It
hecr
eepwhowoul
dn'
ttakenof
orananswernow?
"Hechuckl
ed.

"Ki
nda"

"Sor
ryaboutthat,butyouj
ustmovedher
efrom mor
fi
eldandIhat
et hatyouhadt
oexper
ience
somethi
ngli
ket hat"hesai
dandputhi
shandsonmyshoulder
."Pleaseletmehel
pyou"

He'
stoocut
e..
..
..
..andIcan'
tbel
i
evehej
ustt
urneddownadi
nnert
ohel
pme.

Ist
epcl
oserandhuggedhi
m.

"
Thanksal
otDer
ri
ck,
butIt
hinkI
'
m goodmy
sel
f"
.

"You'
resur
e,Cl
air
e?"

"Yeah,
I'
ll
seey
out
omor
row"

Al
ri
ght
,justsav
emynumber
,incasey
ouneedanyhel
p"

"Soundsgood"

Der
ri
ckandIexchangenumber
sandIl
eftf
ort
hebar
.

Ipr
ayt
hatcr
eepdoesn'
tat
tackmet
oday
..
..
..
TobeCont
inued.
..
..
..
.

[
7/8,
5:48AM]+233544142683OMEANOI
SH: ROOMMATESWI
THTHECEO

Chapt
er3

Thesecr
etr
oom

Cl
air
ePOV

AfterIgetDerri
ck'snumber,
Iretur
ntot
hebarandIshudder
edatt
het
houghtofwhathappened
yesterdayIapproachthebar
tender.

"
Hi.
..Il
eftmyl
uggageher
eyest
erday
"It
oldhi
m,Ipr
ayt
heyhav
en'
tthr
owni
taway
.

Thebar
tenderdoesadoubl
etakewhenheseesme,
hepoi
nti
tmyl
uggagebehi
ndt
hebar
.

"I
'
mreal
lysor
ryaboutwhathappenedyest
erday.Restassur
ed,apoli
cereporthasbeenf i
ll
ed
andt
hosemenhav ebeenbarr
edentryf
rom anybarsinthevici
nit
y"t
hebartenderexpl
ained.

"Thankyou"It
oldhi
m smil
i
ngal
itt
le,
Icheckedthroughmyluggaget
oseei
fany
thi
ngi
s
missi
ngandasexpectedmywal
l
etismissing.Ir
aisedmyhead.

"
Andmywal
l
et?
"
"
Sor
ryMi
ss,
Idi
dn'
tseenowal
l
etar
ound"het
oldme.

"Damn.
..
..
."Icur
sed"
Thendoy
ouhappent
oknowwhowast
hatmant
hatt
ri
edt
ohel
pme?
"

Hedi
ginhisapr
onandbr
oughtoutanot
epad"
Her
e,hel
efthi
snumberbehi
ndi
ncasey
ou
cameback"
.

Hepull
sthepagewherehenotdownthenumberandhandsi
ttome.It
ooki
tandt
hankedt
he
bar
tenderandl
eftt
hebardr
aggingmyluggagebehi
nd.

*
***
***
***
***

Af
terat
went yortwent
yfi
veminut
escanri
de,
Ifi
nal
l
yar
ri
vedatt
hepent
house.Iqui
ckl
ywentt
o
myroom andtossmyluggagei
nacorner
.

'
notbadf
oraf
ir
stdayatwor
k,i
fIdar
esaysomy
sel
f'Isi
ghedandf
all
onmybedwi
thasof
t
t
hud.

Thingsarefi
nal
l
ylooki
ngupnow.It
akeoutt
hepi
eceofpapert
hebar
tenderhandedt
ome,
I
ty
pedt henumberi
nmyphoneanddecidet
osendamessage.

Me:
_Hi
ther
e,i
t'
sthegi
rlf
rom t
hebar
.

Me:
_Saf
eandsoundnow.

Me:
_Sor
ryIl
eftabr
upt
lyl
astni
ght
,butt
hanksf
orhel
pingme.Letmebuyadr
inksomet
ime:
)

Ori
sthatt
oosuggest
ive?
Iscof
fed,
what
ever
!Ipr
essedt
hesendbut
ton.Iwonder
edi
fhe'
l
lrepl
y.
..
..
..
..

Ii
nst
ant
lyr
ecei
vedanot
if
icat
iononmyphone.

St
ranger
:_Gl
adt
oknowy
ou'
ref
inenow.

St
ranger
:_Ther
e'snoneedt
obuymeany
thi
ng.Idi
dwhatany
onewoul
ddo.

Me:
_CanIatl
eastgety
ourname?
.

Ther
e'snor
epl
yforawhi
l
e,may
behi
sphonebat
ter
ydi
ed.

Ohwell
..
..Ibet
tergetst
art
edonmychoresbef
oretheownerget
sback.I
t'
sgr
eatt
ohav
emy
l
uggageback,Icanchangeint
osomet
hingmorecomfor
tabl
enow.

Bef
oreIbegi
nmychores,
Ipluginmyheadphonesandsel
ectapopmusic.Theseheadphones
ar
ereal
lyamazi
ng,
Icanbarelyhearany
thi
ngel
se.Letmef
indsomet
hingtodanceto.

Themusi
cbl
asti
nmyear
s,Imov
edt
othet
imeasIbegi
ntov
acuum t
hepl
ace.

I
t'
snotl
ongbefor
eIwindupinf
rontofthemast
erbedr
oom.Ienter
edtheroom,
it'
sdar
kinside
andI
'
mf ai
rl
ycert
aint
hati
t'
sempty,butIf
eel
myheartpal
pit
ati
ngexci
tedl
yasIt
akeastepin.

'
what
'swr
ongwi
thme?'

I
t'
sneatinside,butt
henagain,t
heent
irepenthouseisi
mpeccabl
eI'
m nott
oosurei
fa
housekeeperisevennecessar
y.Myeyeslandont heki
ngsi
zebedinthemiddl
eoft
heroom as
Lucas'
swor dsplaybackinmyhead.

"
Hewoul
dn'
tl
ikei
tifhef
oundy
ounakedi
nhi
sbedonemor
ning"Lucashadt
oldme.
Hmmm. .
..
..
..
..Asift
hati
severgonnahappen.Thef
urt
hestI
'
veev
ergonewi
thaboywashol
d
hi
shandandt hatwaswaybackinpreschool
.

Morfi
eldwasasmal
ltownandt
hei
deaofdat
ingmynei
ghbororsomeonemymom knew
t
urnedmeof f
.

I
'
dnev
er.
..
..
.Ican'
tpossi
blygetnaked.
..
..
.

ButIcan'
tshaket
hei
mageoutofmyhead.

Whati
f.
..
..
..
..
.

Ii
maginemy sel
fnakedunderhi
ssheet
sonemor
ning.Buti
nmyi
magi
nat
iont
hemy
ster
ious
ownerdoesn'
thateit
,hel
ovesit
.

"
Clai
re"hewhi
sper
s.

Hetr
iest
otakeapeekundert
hecoversbutIpl
ayf
ull
ywr
apitaroundmyself
.Hecheeki
l
ypl
ays
al
ong,webot
hknowv er
ywell
thathecanri
pthem of
fmeeasil
yifhewantedto.

I
tstar
tsoffwit
hal i
ghtkissbutit
'snotl
ongbefor
eitt
urnsintoafullbl
ownmakeoutsessi
on.
Hesimplycan'
thelphimselfwhenheisaroundme.Ineverknewsomeonecouldtast
eso
addi
cti
ve.SoonI'
m cli
ngingint
ohisbedsheet
sdesper
ately
,writ
hinguncont
rol
l
abl
y,ashe
pl
easuresme.AforbiddenRomancebet weenmeandmyboss. ..
...
..
..

Ismackmysel
fint
heforeheadandwokeupfr
om myimaginat
ion.Ineedtostopbehav
ingli
kea
hor
monalt
eenager
.Ibegintovacuum t
her
oom.Tuckedawayinthecorner,
Isawadoor .

What
'st
his?Acl
osetdoor
,?

It
urnt
heknob,
buti
t'
slocked.That
'sst
range.
..
..
Iwonderwhat
'sont
heot
hersi
de.
..
..
.
Itr
yagainbuti
t'
slockedshut
.Wel
lwhat
evert
hat
'si
nther
eisn'
tmybusi
ness.Iqui
ckl
yfi
nishup
therestoft
heroom andl
eave.

*
***
***
***

SometimepassedandI
'
mjustaboutdonewi
tht
her
estofmychor
eswhenIf
indasui
tjacket
l
yingonthesof
a.

What'st
hisdoinghere?Itwasn'therej
ustnow.I
'
m cer
tai
nthisbel
ongst
ot heowner.Ihead
backtothemast erbedr
oom wi t
hthejacket
.WhenIgott
here,t
hedoori
sopen, Ir
emember
cl
osingi
tafterIfi
nishcl
eaning.Istepi
nandsearchf
orahangerfort
hejacket
.

Wai
tasec.
..
..Thel
ockedcl
osetdoori
sopen!
!!

Cur
iosi
tyget
sthebet
terofmeasIi
ncht
owar
dst
hedoorcar
eful
l
y.

Ithoughtt
hecl
oseddoorwi
ll
leadt
oasecr
etroom andsomethi
ngdi
rt
ymustbegoingonther
e,
butasIstepi
nIsawsomethi
ngamazi
ng,i
t'
sahomet heat
rewit
hshel
vesf
il
ledwi
thfi
lms.

Notj
ustanyf
il
ms.
..
..

Cl
assi
cromant
icf
il
ms?

It
akeacloserl
ookatt
hetit
les,
I'
vewatchedsomeoft
hesefi
lms.Ipi
ckedtwoofthefi
l
ms,
l
ooki
ngatthem.Thisi
sthemov i
ethatmademecrywhenthemaincharact
erdi
ed.Andthe
ot
heroneistheul
ti
mategoforabreak-
up.

Whydoestheownerhav eacol
l
ect
ionofcl
assi
cf i
l
msinhisbedroom?Andnotj
ustanyf
il
ms,
r
omanti
c,cheesyones!Andwhydoeshekeepsthem l
ockedaway?
Al
lofasuddenIf i
ndmyselft
rappedagai
nstt
heshel
f.Iturnedandsti
fl
eagaspasItakea
cl
oserlookatthemanresponsi
ble.Hewaswear
ingnothingbutatowelhangi
ngdanger
ousl
y
l
owar oundhiswaist
.

"Whoareyouandwhatar
eyoudoingi
nhere?"Heasked,Icl
osemyey es,
I'
mtooscar
edt
oface
him,
causejudgi
ngf
rom t
hesoundofhi
svoice,he'
spi
ssedashell
..
..
..
..
..

Tobecont
inued.
..
..
..
..

[
7/8,
5:49AM]+233544142683OMEANOI
SH: ROOMMATESWI
THTHECEO

Chapt
er4

Thet
rut
hisout

Cl
air
e'sPOV

"
Whoar
eyouandwhatar
eyoudoi
ngi
nher
e?"Heasked.

Ki
l
li
anKni
ght
?!Whati
shedoi
ngher
e?!

Ican'
tbeli
evemyey es.YearsagoKil
l
ianKnightwassimplyanameintheheadl
i
nes,afacei
n
magazines.HewassomeoneIadmi r
edbutnev ert
houghtI'
dgett
hechancetomeethim.Hour
s
agohewasmyi nti
midati
ngCEO.Granted,
Inowwor ki
nthesameoffi
ceashim,butt
hatwas
thecl
osestIthoughtIwouldgettohi
m.

Nowhe'sst
andi
ngi
nfr
ontofme,
innot
hingbutabat
htowel
.Hi
schi
sel
ed,
tonedbodyi
nal
li
t'
s
f
ull
glor
y.
"
I'
mthehousekeeper
"It
oldhi
m,hedi
dn'
tsayany
thi
ng,
justst
areatme,
hisl
i
psi
nat
hinl
i
ne.

"
Whatar
eyoudoi
ngher
e?"Iaskedhi
m.

"
Thi
sismyhouse"heanswer
ed.

Hi
s..
..
..House?

Ki
l
li
anKni
ghti
sthemy
ster
iouspent
houseownerLucaswast
alki
ngabout
?

"
You'
ret
henewhousekeeperLucashi
red,
"

"
Y-y
eah.
..
."Ist
utt
ered,
whyam Ist
utt
eri
ng.

I
'
mli
vi
ngwi
thmyCEO?DoesheknowI
'
m ani
nter
nathi
scompany
?Ipr
ayhedoesn'
t.

"
Howdi
dyougether
e?"Heaskedme.

Ni
ce,
itseemsl
i
kehedoesn'
tknowabouti
tyet
.

"
T-t
hedoorwasopensoIst
eppedi
n"

Ki
l
li
ancur
sedunderhi
sbr
eat
h.
"You'
ref
ir
ed"hesai
d.

"What
?"

"
Packy
ourbagsandl
eav
enow"heor
der
ed.

Justl
ikethat
?Idi
dn'
tdoany
thi
ngwr
ongandIcan'
tl
eav
etoo,
becauseIhav
enowher
etogo
fr
om here.

"
Youcan'
tj
ustf
ir
emel
i
ket
hat
"Isai
d."
Idemandt
oknowwhy
".

"Fort
respassi
ngi
ntomyr
oom"

Huh.

"I
'
myourhousekeeper
!It
'smyj
obt
ogoi
ntor
oomsandt
idyt
hem"Isai
d.

"Butnott
hisone,
nott
heonet
hat
'sl
ocked!"Her
oar
edatmeandIal
mostf
li
nch.

"I
twasn'
tl
ockedwhenIgother
e".

Hegl
aresatmebutI
'
m nopushov
er.

Whydoeshekeepthi
sroom locked?Isthatwhyhewantst
of i
reme?BecauseIst
umbl
edupon
hi
ssecr
etcol
l
ecti
onof..
..
..
..Romanticfi
l
ms?I t
'snotev
enporn,sowhat
'shi
sprobl
em.

Anideacrossesmymind,despi
tet
hewar
ningbel
l
sri
ngi
ngi
nmyhead,
Itakeoutmyphoneand
qui
cklyt
akeaphotooftheroom.
"Whatdoyout
hinky
ou'
redoi
ng?"Heroar
edagai
n,ifhedoesn'
tst
opdoi
ngt
hat
,he'
sgoi
ngt
o
haveasor
ethr
oatandt
hatwil
lbenoneofmybusiness.

Iwhi
poutmyphoneandshov
eiti
nhi
sface.

"
Itookaphot
ooft
her
oom!Idon'
tknowwhaty
ou'
ret
ryi
ngt
ohi
de,
buti
fyoui
nsi
stonf
ir
ingme,
I
'
llupl
oadi
t".

Hi
sdar
key
esnar
rowed.

Wayt
ogoCl
air
e,y
ouj
usthadt
oangerhi
mfur
ther
.

"
Arey
out
hreat
eni
ngme?
"Heaskeddar
kly
.

"
May
be.
..
..
"

"
Doy
ouknowwhoIam?
"

I
,emmm,...
..
."Ican'
tl
ethi
m knowt
hatIknowhe'
smyboss,
Ibestl
i
etohi
m."
You'
resome
r
andom r
ichdude"

"
Huh?
"

Ir
oll
edmyey
es.

"Fi
ne.May
beI'
veseeny
ouinmagazi
nes"It
oldhim.AndIhappenedt
obeaninter
niny
our
company,
Iwantedt
oadd,
butnowdoesn'
tfeel
li
ketheri
ghtti
met oment
ioni
t.

"
Didsomeonesendy
ouher
e?"Heasked.
"N-
no,Iwasdupedi
ntospendi
ngal
lmysav
ingsonanapar
tmentt
hatdoesn'
texi
st.
..
.."I
expl
ained.

Hescof
fed,
asi
fhedoesn'
tbel
i
eveme.

"
Nobodyi
sther
edumb"

"
Wel
l
...
..
"

"
Wai
tami
nut
e"hecut
smeof
f.
"Ir
ecogni
zey
ou"

Kil
l
iantakesast
epbackandcr
osshi
sar
msacr
osshi
schest
.Hecockshi
sheadandt
akesa
goodlookatme.

Ohno!Ther
egoesmyi
nter
nshi
p.

"You'r
ethegirl
from t
hebar!Theonewhodr
aggedhersui
tcasei
n..
..
..
.Theonewho.
..
..
.."
He
can'tseem t
ofindtheri
ghtwords.

"Thebar?We'
rey
out
her
eyest
erday
?Wer
eyout
heonewhosav
edme?"Iaskedqui
ckl
yinone
breat
h.

Her
uff
leshi
sdamphai
rinf
rust
rat
ion.

"Ihavenowhereelset
ogo..
..
..
..
.Yousawmewi t
hmysuitcase..
..
.Iwaspr omisedal i
ve-
in
housekeeperposi
ti
oni
fIscor
edf ul
lmar ksonaquesti
onnair
e.Ialreadysignedthecontract
,you
can'
tjustfi
remefornogoodreason,especial
l
yforent
eri
ngr oom bymi st
ake"Iblackmailhi
m.
Hesi
ghed,
asi
findef
eat
.

"Threecondi
ti
ons.One,
youwi l
lnotspeakofwhatyouseei
nhere.Notev
entoLucas.Two,
you
wil
lneverent
erthi
sroom agai
n.Three,del
etet
hatphot
onow"heseri
ousl
y.

"ButhowdoIknowy
ou'
renotgoi
ngt
ochasemeoutaf
terIdel
etei
t?"

Iswal
lowner
vousl
yasKi l
l
iant
akesastepcl
oser.Hel
eansdownandIcat
chawhi
ffofhi
smi
nty
shampooandaft
ershav
e.Hissmir
ksendschi
ll
sdownmyspi ne.

"Ar
ey ouchal
l
engi
ngme?
.Cheeky
,ar
en'
twe?
.Andy
ousai
dyouwer
etr
ickedoutofy
our
savi
ngs"

"Il
ear
nedmyl
esson"

"Ihatetol ose"hesaid."Thi
spenthousebel
ongstome, I
'mtheboss,butwhydoesitfeell
i
ke
youhav etheupperhand?I fyouneedaplacetost
ay,Ihaveotherapar
tmentsIcanspare.I
fit
's
cash.
...
..Wel l
,I
'm notoneforhandout
s,butI
'
m notshortofmoney.Butyou'
reri
ght,
yousigneda
contr
act "hesaid.

"Whydoesi
tfeel
li
keI
'
m aboutt
oregr
etmywor
ds?He'
sdef
ini
tel
yupt
osomet
hing.

"
Itwoul
dn'
tber
ightofmet
odi
smi
ssy
ouunf
air
ly.St
ay.Dowhaty
ouwant
"

Oh,
myGod!He'
slet
ti
ngmest
ay!

"Thanky
ou,
thanky
ou,
thanky
ou"Ichant
.
Ididn'
tknowwhathappenedorhowithappenedbutIf
oundmy
sel
fthi
nki
ngwr
appi
ngmyar
ms
aroundKil
li
anandgi
vinghim ahug.

Whatdi
dIj
ustdo?Igott
ooexci
tedand.
..
..
..
..

Myey
eswi
deni
nhor
ror
.

He'
ssogoi
ngt
ofi
remenow.Tomysur
pri
se,
hepushmeof
fgent
ly.

"
Don'
tdot
hatagai
n"hescol
dedme,
het
urnsar
oundandwal
kedaway
.

Ir
eleasedabr
eat
hIdi
dn'
tknowIwashol
ding.

Idi
dit
!It
hink.
..
..

Itakeonef
inal
lookatt
hemy
ster
iousr
oom bef
oreIcl
osedt
hedoorbehi
ndmeandr
etur
ntomy
room.

Il
ayonmybedwi t
hsev eral
thought
spl
ayi
ngi nmyhead.Whydoesheownshelvesofcl
assi
c
fi
lms?Morei
mportant
ly,whyishesosecr
etiv
eaboutit
..
..t
otheext
entofl
ocki
ngthedoor?I
can'
tbel
i
evehe'
stheonewhosav edmeatthebar
.I'
mf l
att
ered.

Sot
hatt
ower
ingf
igur
ewasKi
l
li
anKni
ght
.Tal
kabout'
Kni
ghti
nshi
nni
ngar
mour
'

I
sitreal
l
yov ert
hough?Ishereal
l
yokaywit
hlett
ingmestay?What'
sgoi
ngt
ohappenwhenhe
f
indsoutI'
m anint
ernatKni
ghtGaming?
!.I
'
lll
eavethatt
houghtf
ornow,
we'
llcr
osst
hatbr
idge
whenwegett her
e.

Ican'
tbeli
eveItr
iedt
oblackmai
lhim..
..
.That'
snotgoi
ngtogodownwel
l
.Ir
oll
overandbur
ymy
headinthepil
l
ow.JustwhenIthoughtthi
ngswerefi
nal
lyl
ooki
ngup.

Kil
li
anKni
ght.
..
.Ican'tbel
i
eveI
'm act
ual
l
yli
vi
ngwi
tht
heKi
l
li
anKni
ght
.Wel
lIhav
ewor
k
tomorr
ow,Ibet
tersleepnow.
*
***
***
***
**

Livi
ngwit
hKil
li
anKni
ghtbl
ewmymi ndlastni
ght.Butt
oday'
sanewday,Ineedafreshst
art
.I
tookmybathandsel
ectacut
eoutfi
tfr
om myluggage,Iwantt
oimpr
essmycolleaguesand
Raven,
Iwannashowthem whatI
'
vegot.

NowallIhavetodoisavoi
dKil
li
anatworkandi
t'
l
lal
lbefi
ne.Besi
des,
he'
stheCEOandI'mjust
alowl
yinter
n,sotheoddsofuscrossi
ngpat
hsi
nthecompanyarever
ysl
im.Ij
usthopeIdon'
t
meetonthewayout .

Iopenedt
hedoorasqui
etl
yaspossi
bleandst
ickmyheadoutt
oseei
fthecoasti
scl
ear
.

"Toomorning,
housekeeper
"I'
m st
artl
edbyKil
li
an'
svoi
ce.Gr
eat
,whydoIal
way
shav
ethe
ugli
estl
uck?WhatsindidIcommit?.Ist
epoutofmyroom.

"
Thatr
emi
ndsme,
Ihav
en'
tgot
teny
ourname"hesai
d.

"Lucasdi
dn'
ttel
lyou?"

"Wher
e'st
hef
uni
nthat
?"Heaskedmeback.

Hmmm, thi
nki
ngabouti
t,i
fItel
lhi
m mynamehemi ghtr
ecogni
zeitandknowI
'
m anint
ernat
Kni
ghtGamingsi
nceIhavesubmit
tedmyinf
ormati
ons.hemightevenfi
remef
rom Kni
ght
Gaming,
noIcan'
taff
ordthat
.I'
l
lgi
vehi
m afakename.

"
Mynamei
sHazel
"

"
Wel
lHazel
,goodmor
ning"hesai
dsur
pri
singl
ycheer
ful
."Wher
ear
eyougoi
ng?"
"W-
wor
k..
..
..It
oldLucasaboutt
his.Ihav
eadayj
ob,
soI
'
llcompl
etemychor
eswhenIgetback"

"Hmmmm, yousee,Ist
ay edupal
lni
ghtlooki
ngthrought
hecont
ractLucasdr
aft
edandther
e's
not
hingaboutli
miti
ngchor est
oni
ght.Ineedyoutorunsomeerr
andsforme"hepausedand
l
ookmest rai
ghtint
heey es"Now!"Heor der
ed.

Hehandedmeal
i
stofchor
est
obedone.
..
..Pi
ckuphi
ssui
t,pi
ckuphi
sgr
ocer
ies.
..
.

Ser
iousl
y?

Iwantedtotel
lhi
mthatthesearel
it
tl
ethi
ngshecandof
orhi
msel
foraskhi
sPAt
odof
orhi
m,
butIdidn'
t,
myjobwi
llbeatstake.

"
But
..
.but
..
..I
'
llbel
atef
orwor
kifIdoal
lthi
snow"It
ri
edt
oreasonwi
thhi
m.

"I
sn'
thousekeepi
ngy
ourj
obt
oo?
"Heaskedr
aisi
nghi
sbr
ows,
asmi
rkonhi
sli
ps.

Hmmmm,
soi
t'
sat
rap.He'
slooki
ngf
orway
stof
ir
eme.

"I
fyoufai
ltocomplet
ethesechor
es.
..
.Thensurel
ythat'
sagoodenoughreasontofi
rey ou"he
pausedandhisey
esmov etomyphone"unlessther
e'sacer
tai
nphotoyou'dli
ketoerase"

I
fIerasethephoto,Iwi
ll
loset
hel
ever
agetostayher
e.Andi
fI'
mlat
eformyseconddayof
work,whatwi
llRaventhi
nkofme?Thi
sisr
eall
yhard.

"
Whatar
eyougoi
ngt
odonow?
"Heaskedawi
ckedgr
inonhi
sface.
Igr
itmyt
eet
hindet
ermi
nat
ion,
Iwon'
tl
ethi
m wi
neasi
l
y.

"
Chal
l
engeaccept
ed!
"

TobeCont
inued

[
7/8,
5:58AM]+233544142683OMEANOI
SH: ROOMMATESWI
THTHECEO

Chapt
er5

HeknowsI
'
m ani
nter
n

Cl
air
e'sPOV

Itr
iedmybestt
ocompl
etet
hechor
esi
nti
mebutbyt
het
imeIgott
otheof
fi
ce,
I'
m al
readyan
hourlat
e.

It
ryt
osneakt
omydeskbutRav
encaughtmewi
thhereagl
eli
keey
es.

"
Iseey
ou'
ref
inal
l
yjoi
ningus,
Clai
re"shesai
d.

Dar
nit
..
..
..

"Sor
ry.
."

"I
'
lll
eti
tsl
i
desi
ncet
hisi
syourseconddayatwor
k"t
hankGod.
"Thanks"I
'
m gl
adshedi
dn'
tthr
eat
enedmyi
nter
nshi
p.

Shet
urnedt
ofaceev
ery
one.

"AsIwassay i
ng. .
..Foryoursecondassignment ,you'
llbepair
edupwi thanot
herinter
ntocome
upwithanent i
relydiff
erentcharacter
sforourupcomi ngf ant
asyRPGgame.You' ll
begivena
weekatthistaskandatt heendofi t,
youwillpresentyourcharactertoapanelofseniorst
aff
whowi l
lgradey ourperformance.Yourpairi
nghasal readybeendeci ded"shesai
dwi thno
expr
essionatall,Iwonderi ft
hisladyeversmi l
eherfaceisalway sblank.

IwonderwhoI
'
llendupwi
th.
..
..Ipr
aymypr
ojectpar
tnerwi
l
lbef
ri
endl
y.

"Cl
air
eyou'
ll
bepai
redwi
th.
..
."Rav
enl
ookar
oundasi
tsear
chi
ngf
orsomet
hing,
goshwhydi
d
shehavetocal
lmynamefi
rst.

Il
ookovermyshoul
derandr
eali
zedDerr
icki
slooki
nginmydi
recti
on,Icaughthisgaze,
he
bl
ushedandl
ookaway,embar
rassed.Hmmm, Ismi
rkedment
all
y,soguysdobl ush.

"
Char
lot
te"Rav
ensai
dandt
hatgotmyundi
vi
dedat
tent
ioni
nst
ant
ly.

"
Huh?
"Il
ookedatRav
eni
nconf
usi
on.

"
You'
l
lbepai
redwi
thChar
lot
te"sher
epeat
ed.

What
?!Whyher
?.

"Looksl
ikei
t'syouandme, morf
iel
d.Don'
tworr
y,I
'l
lgui
deyout
hroughi
t.Wi
thmyskil
lwe'
re
suretoacethis"shesai
dwithawarm smil
ebutIknowshemeanssomethi
ngel
se,
thesmil
e
didn'
tevenr
eachherey es.
Damn,
IknowIhav
etheugl
i
estl
uck,
I'
m sonotl
ooki
ngf
orwar
dtot
his.

Rav
enannouncedt
her
estpai
rupandl
eft
,immedi
atel
yChar
lot
tet
urnst
ome.

"Soit
'safantasyRPGgameaboutay oungboyonaquesttofi
ndamyst
ical
swor
dtodefeatt
he
evi
ldragonthathasbeent
err
ori
zinghisvi
ll
age.Whatchar
act
erdoy
ouhaveinmi
nd?"She
askedlooki
ngatmeexpectant
ly.

Charl
ott
eisgoi
ngt
otor
tur
emewi t
hthi
sproj
ect,sheal
readydoesn'
tl
ikeme.Nowshewant
s
met ocomeupwit
hachar
act
er,
whichchar
actercanIcomeupwi ththatwomanmat
chher
expect
ati
on.

Idi
dn'
tputmuchthoughti
ntoi
tsi
nceshewant
sani
nst
antchar
act
er,
Ijustopenmymout
hand
saywhat
evercomesout.

"Whataboutawi dedragonhebefr
iendalongt heway?
, I
t'
ll
helphi
m underst
anddragonsbetter
topreparehimforhisfinal
bat
tl
e"Ipaused,IhopeI'
m notblabbi
ngnonsensenow"wecanev en
doat wistwher
et hedragonul
ti
matelysi
dest heevi
ldragonandhe'sf
orcedtofi
ghtagainsthis
fr
iend"Iconcl
uded.

Char
lot
tekeptqui
etf
orami
nut
eort
wo,
thenbl
i
nkedr
api
dly
.

"
Itsoundspr
ett
ygoodbutI
'
mthi
nki
ngabout
..
..
.Asnai
l
"

"
Awhatnow?
"Iasked.

"Asnai
lthathemeet
sal
ongt
heway
.Oh,
oh,
amagi
cal
snai
l
!Wi
thmushr
ooms?"Shesai
d.

"What
'st
hesnai
lgoi
ngt
odo?"
"Gi
vehi
m mushr
ooms,
trustmeCl
air
eIknowbet
ter
.Thesnai
li
sgoi
ngt
obeasmashhi
t"

Sowithherfancydegreet
hisi
swhatshecomesupwi
th?Thi
sishowhi
ghherI
Qcanget
?Gosh
Ican'
tbel
iev
eI '
m pai
redwit
hher.

"OMG"Charl
ott
esuddenl
yexcl
aimedl
ooki
ngov
ermyshoul
der
."Don'
tl
ook,
butMrKni
ghti
s
comi
ngthisway"shesai
d.

Uhno,
whatt
odo?

Iduckundert
het
abl
etohi
de.

"Cl
air
e?Whatar
eyoudoi
ngundert
het
abl
e?"Char
lot
teaskedl
oudl
y.

"
Er,
Idr
oppedsomet
hing"dummy
,can'
tyouseeI
'
m hi
ding?

Shei
gnor
esmeandf
acest
hedi
rect
ionshesawMrKni
ght
.

"
MrKni
ghtov
erher
e,hi
"shesai
d.

No,
no,
nowhati
sshedoi
ng?

Ihear
dfoot
stepsappr
oachi
ng,
theyst
oppedr
ighti
nfr
ontoft
het
abl
e.

"
Mynamei
sChar
lot
te,
I'
m ani
nter
nher
e.CanIj
ustsayt
haty
ou'
reahugei
nspi
rat
iont
ome?"

Evenundert
hetabl
eIcanpi
ctur
eChar
lot
tebat
ti
ngherey
elashesandt
hrowi
nganov
er-
the-
shoul
dercoysmil
e.
"
Thanks"Ki
l
li
anr
espondhowev
er,
soundedCur
t.

"Woul
dy ouli
ketocomeoutfrom undert
het
abl
e..
..
"Char
lot
teasksr
efer
ri
ngt
ome,
ugh,
that
dummy .Ismackedherankl
es.

"
Ow!Whatwast
hatf
or?
"Shecr
iedout
.Idi
dn'
trepl
yunt
ilIhear
dthef
oot
stepswal
kaway
.

"WaitMrKni
ght,
I.
..
..
..
"Shepausedwhenshecoul
dn'
tfi
ndther
ightwor
dst
ouse."
Clai
re!Di
dyou
dothatonpur
pose?Youmademel ookli
keafooli
nfr
ontofMrKnight
"

"I
shegone?"

"Yes"

Icr
awl
edoutf
rom undert
het
abl
e.

"Hemustt
hinkI
'
m at
otal
wei
rdof
ory
elpi
ngl
i
ket
hat
,Ihav
etogoapol
ogi
se"shecompl
ained.

"Wai
t,weshoul
dbedoi
ngourassi
gnment
"

"Idon'
tcar
eaboutt
hat
,Ihav
etogof
indhi
m"t
hatsai
d,shel
efti
nahur
ry.

Igr
oanedandsl
umpi
nmychai
r.

"Ar
eyouokay
?"Ihear
dDer
ri
ck'
svoi
ceasked.
"
We'r
eabouttodesi
gnaSNAI
Lforanepi
cfant
asygameandt
heper
sonwhoi
nsi
stsondoi
ngi
t,
i
sn'
tevenher
e"

Hechuckl
ed.

"Ifi
thelps,
I'
m nothavingagr eatt
imewi
thmypartnerei
ther
.Gl
enthi
nksthatjustbecausehi
s
dadwasont hedesi
gnt eam heknowsev
ery
thi
ng.Ihavenosay.Whataboutyou?I'm sur
ethe
snai
lisn'
tyourfi
rstchoice"

"Iwant
edt
ocr
eat
eawi
sedr
agon"It
oldhi
m.

"Noway!ThatwaswhatIhadi
nmindt
oo"hesai
dwi
thanexci
tedgr
in"Iev
endr
ewsome
sket
cheswhil
eGleny
appedaway"

HehandsmehissketchbookandIwast
akenabackbyhi
sdr
awi
ngs.They
'r
esoi
ntr
icat
eand
det
ail
ed.Hi
stal
enti
scertai
nlynott
obet
ri
ff
ledwit
h.

"
Wewoul
dmakeaper
fectt
eam"hesai
d.

Ismi
l
edandnodi
nagr
eement
.

"
Noki
ddi
ng,
GlenandChar
lot
tewoul
dbeaper
fectmat
ch"Isai
d

"Theywoul
d..
..
.Youknowwhat
,It
hinkRav
enwoul
dn'
tmi
ndi
fwet
eam upi
nst
ead"he
suggest
ed.

"Ar
eyousur
e?"
"Yeah,notev
enRav
eni
simmunet
oachar
mingsmi
l
eli
kemi
ne.I
'
m sur
eifIaskni
cel
yshe'
l
l
agree"

"Der
ri
ck.
..
.."

"Whatdoy
ousayCl
air
e,l
et'
sdi
tchourpar
tner
sandf
ormt
hedr
eam t
eam"

Ir
eal
l
ywantt
oteam upwi
thhi
m,andi
mpr
essRav
enwi
thmypr
oject
,butt
henagai
n,Char
lot
te
i
sadummyandGlen..
.

Ican'
taf
for
dtowat
chChar
lot
tef
ail
event
houghshei
smeant
ome,
Ican'
tbet
hatsel
fi
sht
oher
.

"
Ithi
nkI
'
llst
ickwi
thChar
lot
te"

"
Alr
ightt
hen.I
'
llt
ryt
omakei
twor
kwi
thGl
ent
oo"hesai
d."Goodl
uckt
othebot
hofus"

"We'
regoi
ngt
oneedi
t"Ir
epl
i
ed.

Justt
henChar
lot
tecameback,
beadsofsweatonherf
orehead.

"Icouldn'
tfindMrKnight
.Butonmyway ,It
houghtofsomet
hingt
hatwoul
dreal
l
ymakeour
snailcharacterst
andout
.Atalki
ngsnai
l
!"

Ohboy
..
..
.Shest
il
lont
hat
,Godhel
pme.Ij
usti
gnor
eher
.

*
***
***
***
**
I
t'
snear
lyt
heendoft
heday
,whenDer
ri
ckcamet
ome.

"
Arey
oul
eav
ingal
ready
,Cl
air
e?"Heasked.

"
Yeah,
Ihav
esomechor
est
odobackhome"

"
IhearaTVstati
onisher
etoint
erv
iewMrKnight
.Theot
heri
nter
nsar
egoi
ngov
ert
owat
ch.
Wanttocat
chthatbef
oreyougo?"Heasked.

Hmmm,
Icanwat
chf
rom af
ar.
..
..

I
'
dli
ket
ogett
oknowhi
m al
i
ttl
ebet
tert
oo.

Der
rickandIar
ri
vedatt
hesceneoft
hei
nter
view,
butwedi
dn'
tgett
oocl
ose,
justi
nasaf
e
di
stance.

I
nter
viewer
:-soMrKni
ght
,whatar
esomeupcomi
nggamesf
orKni
ghtGami
ng?

Kil
li
an:-KnightGami
ngwillbel
aunchi
nganepicfant
asyRPGgameaboutdr
agons.I
t'
ll
bet
he
fi
rstofit'
skindVRexper
iencewhereuser
sgettoactual
l
ysl
aydr
agons.

I
nter
viewer
:-Ever
yoneofyourgameshasbeenahugehi
t,ev
ent
hemor
eromant
icgenr
e-hav
e
y
ouconsidereddoingmor
eofthose?

Ki
l
li
an:
-TobehonestI
'
m notonef
orr
omance.

I
nter
viewer
:-i
sthatwhywehar
dlyhearaboutdat
ingscandal
s?
He'
snotonef
orr
omance?Thenwhat
'shi
ssecr
etcol
l
ect
ionsabout
?

"
Igeti
t,y
ouknow"Der
ri
ckcutof
fmyt
hought
s.

"
Huh,
whatdoy
ouget
?"

"
WhyMrKni
ghtsay
she'
snotonef
orr
omance"

"
Whatdoy
oumean?"Iaskedhi
m.

"Justthi
nkabouti
t:he'
stheheadofagami ngcompany,thatspeci
ali
zesinbattl
e-styl
eRPG
games.Sure,t
heyhadsomesmal lerscal
eromanti
cgamesbutourt argetconsumer sare
ul
timatel
yboys.Whatwouldtheythi
nkiftheCEOclai
mst obear omanti
catheart?Acol d,
chari
smatici
mageisonet hathehastomaintai
n"hepausedasiftocatchsomebr eat
h,thenhe
conti
nues.

"Besi
des,who'shear
dofaCEOwho'
saromant
ic?Tabl
oidswoul
dlabel
him af
li
rtorasof
ti
e,
bothofwhicharedet
ri
ment
alt
ohi
simage"

I
sthatwhyhedoesn'
twantt
oletany
oneknowabouthi
slov
eforr
omant
icf
il
ms?

Justt
henMrKni
ghtgl
ancesmyway
,inast
ateofconf
usi
on,
Iduckbehi
ndChar
lot
te.

"
Clai
re"
?Ugh!What
'swr
ongwi
thy
out
oday
?"

"Sor
ry,
justl
etmehi
deher
eforawhi
l
e"It
oldher
.

Shor
tl
yaf
tert
hei
nter
viewendedandweal
lwenthome.
*
***
***
***
**

OnceIgotbackt
othepent
house,
Ifal
li
ntot
her
out
ineoft
idy
ingupt
hepl
ace.

Iwi
ndupi
nfr
ontofKi
l
li
an'
sbedr
oom door
.

Ishouldpr
obablyavoi
dhisroom ent
ir
ely.ButIt
hinkbacktowhatDerr
icksai
datt
heoffi
ce.So
that
'swhyhe'
ssoupt i
ghtabouti
t?Her eal
lyhasnoreasonfort
hat,
butIguessi
t'
snoteasyto
beKill
i
anKnightaft
erall
..
..
..

"
Areyouthinki
ngofway
stogetint
other
oom agai
n?"Ki
l
li
an'
svoi
cest
art
ledme,
Ijumpedathi
s
v
oice.Gosh,whendi
dhegetback.

"
Wow!Youneedt
ost
opscar
ingmel
i
ket
hat
"

"Youneedt
obeawar eofyoursurroundi
ngs.Wel
lcongr
atul
ati
ons,
itseemsy
oumanagedt
o
complet
eyourchor
esthi
smor ning"hesaid.

"I
'
m sor
ry"heseemst
akenabackbymysuddenapol
ogy
.

"For
?"Heasked.

"Yoursecr
eti
ssafewi t
hme, youknow? "Her
aisedaneyebrow,thenIcontinue"IgetI
-TheCEO
ofKnightGamingissecret
lyaclassi
cromant
icfil
msbuf f
?Itprobablywouldn'
tgodownwell.So,
restassur
ed,Iwon'
ttel
lanyoneaboutwhatIsawy est
erday.I
nf act
..
..
..
.."

Itakeoutmyphoneandopent hephot
oItooklastnight
.Iwantedt
odel
etei
butIcoul
dn'
tri
sk
getti
ngkickedout
,Icanj
ustuseitt
othr
eatenhim somemor e,
soIdeci
dedt
okeepi t
.
"I
'
llkeepi
tfornow,
butIpr
omi
sey
ounoonewi
l
lev
ergett
hei
rhandsont
hisphot
o"Iassur
ed
hi
m.

"
Idon'
tseear
easonwhyIshoul
dtr
usty
ou"

"Wel
lyoudon'
thav
eachoi
ce"Ikeept
hephoneaway
.

"So,isthatwhythequest
ionnai
rehadthosequesti
onsabout'
Thesket
chbook?'
Ilov
ethatf
ilm
too"Isaid."Backi
nmorfi
eldwebarelyhadenter
tai
nment,soIwoul
drentt
hosefi
lmstowatch.
That'
spr obabl
yhowIscoredful
lmarks"

Ther
ewasaf
li
ckerofundeci
pher
abl
eemot
ioni
nhi
sey
es.

"Goodf
ory
ou"andt
hatwasi
t.Hewal
ksi
ntohi
sroom andsl
amst
hedooronme.

Whatwast
hat
?

Al
lofasuddent hedoorreopen,
Kil
l
ianhastakenoffhi
sjacketandundoneacoupl
eofbutt
ons
onhiswhit
edressshirt
.Hischesti
ssli
ght
lyexposedanditjustsohappenst
hatwi
thourhei
ght
di
ff
erence,
I'
mi ndir
ectviewofit
.

"
Idohav
eaquest
ion"hesai
d.

"
W-what
?"

"Whati
syourdayj
ob?"Heasked.
Noway
!

"I
'
m achef
"Ibl
untoutt
hef
ir
stwor
dthatcomei
nmymout
h.

"Real
l
y?Youwer
en'
tdr
essedl
i
keonet
hismor
ning"hesai
dmor
eli
kewonder
.

"Whydoy
ouask?"

"Isawsomeonewholookedl
ikeyouatKnightGamingt
oday
.It
hinki
t'
soneoft
hosei
nter
ns.
..
.I
guessy
ouhaveoneofthosegeneri
cfaces"hesai
d.

Heshutt
hedooronmeonceagai
n.

Phew!Thatwascl
ose,
Ihav
etobemor
ecar
eful
att
heof
fi
ce.Wai
t,whatdi
dhemeanbygener
ic
faces?

Ki
l
li
an!

Ibangonthedoor,
li
tt
ledidIexpectKi
ll
i
ant oopenthedoorr
ightwhenIrai
sedmyf i
st,
andit
l
andsonhishardchest.I
'
m prett
ysureIexert
edallmyfor
ce,buthehar
dlyfl
inchf
rom i
t.Ki
l
li
an
cl
earshi
sthroat
,hewraphishandaroundmywr istandmovedmyhandaway .

"
That
'sMrKni
ghtt
oyou"

Heshutst
hedoor,
I'
mtooembar
rassedt
ost
andt
her
e,soIr
ant
omyr
oom andt
ossonmybed
andf
orcemysel
ftosl
eep.
*
***
***
***
***
***

Thenextmor
ningIar
ri
vedattheof
fi
cei
nti
me,
sincet
her
ewasnoKi
l
li
an,
no,
scr
atcht
hatMr
Kni
ght,t
odel
aymewi t
hchores.

"
Mor
ningDer
ri
ck"Igr
eet
edDer
ri
ckcheer
ful
l
yimmedi
atel
yIst
epi
ntheof
fi
ce.

Il
ookar
oundbutal
lthet
abl
esar
eempt
y.

"
Wher
ear
eal
ltheot
heri
nter
ns?
"Iaskedhi
m.

"
Ever
yonei
sgat
her
edi
nMrKni
ght
'sof
fi
ce.Youshoul
dbeony
ourwayov
ert
oo"Der
ri
cksai
d.

"MrKni
ght
'sof
fi
ce?Whyi
sev
ery
onet
her
e?"

"Hewouldl
iket
omeetal lt
heinternstoday.Rav
ensayshenormall
ymakesitpoi
nttomeetthe
i
nter
nsonthei
rfi
rstdaybutapparentl
yhe'sbeenswapped.SoIguesst
oday
'stheday.Comeon,
l
et'
sgo"

No,
no,no,
thi
scan'
tbehappening,
Ineedt
ofi
ndsomet
hingt
ocov
ermyf
ace.Ispotaf
ewi
tems
i
nfr
ontofme.Afol
der
.Itookthefol
derwi
thme.

Whenwegott
her
e,Rav
enst
art
edt
alki
ng.

"Goodmor
ningMrKni
ght
.Thi
sist
henewbat
chofi
nter
nswhoj
oinedus"Rav
ensai
dtome
Knight
.

"Goodmor
ning"her
epl
i
ed.
ThenRav
enbegi
nthei
ntr
oduct
ion.

"
Wehav
eChar
lot
te"

"
Goodmor
ningMrKni
ght
"Char
lot
tegr
eet
shi
m.

"
Yeah.
..It
hinkwemety
est
erday
"hesai
d.

"Thi
sisDerr
ickYang"Rav
engest
urest
oDer
ri
ck.
"Andt
hisi
s..
..
."I
'
m hol
dingt
hef
olderi
nfr
ont
ofmyface.

"
Erm,
Clai
re?What
'sgoi
ngon?
"Rav
enasksme.

"
Ijustreall
ywanttost
artonmyassi
gnmentr
ightnow"Isai
dinal
owv
oice,
sot
hatMrKni
ght
wouldn'thearme.

"Wel
lthatcanwai
t.Woul
dyoul
i
ket
oputt
hef
olderdown?"

"Er
m..
..
."

Isl
owl
yputt
hef
olderdownt
orev
eal
myf
ace.

"
Wai
tasecond.
..
..
.Ist
hat
..
..
"Lucas,
whodi
dn'
tnot
icewasi
ntheof
fi
ce,
excl
aimedshocked.

"Goodmor
ning,
Clai
re"MrKni
ghtgr
eetmewi
thasl
ysmi
l
e.
I
sthi
sgoi
ngt
obet
heendofmyi
nter
nshi
p?

Tobecont
inued.
..
..
.

[
7/8,
5:58AM]+233544142683OMEANOI
SH: ROOMMATESWI
THTHECEO

Chapt
er6

Unexpect
ed

Cl
air
e'sPOV

"
Goodmorni
ngCl
air
e"MrKni
ghtgr
eetmewi
thasl
ysmi
l
e."
Orwoul
dyoupr
eferIcal
lyou
Hazel
?"

I
'
m doomed.
..
..
.

Het
urnedhi
sat
tent
iont
otheot
heri
nter
ns.

"
It
'sbeenapleasur
emeet i
ngall
ofyou,
Ihav
eaf
eel
i
ngI
'
llbeseei
ngsomeofy
ouar
ound,
.
..
.A
l
ot"hesai
dthelastpar
tlooki
ngatme.

Uh-
oh.

MrKni
ghtdi
smi
ssmeusandt
her
estoft
hedaywentbyi
nabl
ur.
BeforeIknewit,i
t'
sti
met ogohome,
Igat
hermythi
ngsandl
efttheof
fi
ce.Iar
ri
vedatthe
penthouse,Idi
dn'
texpectMrKni
ghtt
ogethomebef
oremeorsitonthesofawai
ti
ngformet
o
comeback.

"Soletmegetthi
sst
raight
,notonl
yam Iy
ourbossundert
hisr
oof
,I'
m al
soy
ourbossatt
he
off
ice"hesai
dimmediatel
yhesawme.

I
'
m scr
ewed,
.
,.
..
..

"Youli
edto,andnotjustaboutyourname.WhenIaskedabouty
ourdayj
ob,
'i
nter
natKni
ght
Gaming'wasnotyouranswer".

"Ther
e'saper
fectexpl
anat
ion.
..
..
.."It
ri
edt
oexpl
ainbuthedi
dn'
tl
etme.

"Meeti
ngy
ouatt
hebar
..
.Hi
ri
ngy
ouasmyhousekeeper
..
.Wast
hatal
lpar
tofy
ourpl
an?"He
asked.

Whati
nGod'
snamei
shet
alki
ngabout
?

"Pl
an?"I
'
m conf
used.

"Ishouldhaveknownbettert
hantotrustLucas'
slousyidea.Aquest i
onnair
etodiscern
character
?Nonsense!You'
rejustl
i
kethehousekeepersfrom before,you'
reall
aft
ersomethi
ng
fr
om me, exceptyouaremoreambiti
ousthantheothers.It
'snotjustabouttheapart
ment,i
sit
?
You'reaft
errecogni
ti
onatworkaswell"heyell
edangri
ly.

"N-
no,
ofcour
senot
"
"Thephotoyoutook..
..
."Hepausedandr anhisfi
ngerst
hroughhi
shairinf
rust
rat
ion.Then
somethi
ngli
kereali
zati
onflashedinhiseyes."
Itall
makesperf
ectsensenow,howwer eyou
evenhir
edatmycompany ?Wasi tt
hroughdeceitf
ulmeansaswell
?"

MrKni
ghtt
akesouthi
sphone.

"Ihav
etospeakt
oRav
enaboutt
his"

Thi
sis,
Idr
awtheli
nehere,
I'
m absol
utel
yli
vi
d,howdar
ehesuggest
ssomet
hingl
i
ket
hat
.I
st
andonmyti
ptoesandsnatchhi
sphone.

"
Whatdoy
out
hinky
ouar
edoi
ng?
"Heasked.

"
Isubmittedaport
fol
iojustli
ketheot hercandi
dates!Igoti
nfairandsquar
e!Ihavenoi deahow
wemetatt hebar,
butyoukepty ouridenti
tysecretfort
hehousekeeperappl
icat
ion.Thereisno
wayIcouldhaveknowni t
'syou"Itakeinashakybr eathtocal
m my sel
fdown."Call
itacrazy
t
wistoffateorsomethi
ng...
..
..
."

Ki
l
li
ancut
smer
ightof
f.

"Idon'
tbel
i
evei
nfat
e"

Ther
ewaspi
n-dr
opsi
l
enceashi
swor
dshangi
ntheai
r.

"
Yourcol
l
ect
ionoff
il
mssay
sot
her
wise"

Hecl
enchedhi
sjawi
nfr
ust
rat
ion.I
'
vedef
ini
tel
yhi
tther
ightner
vet
hist
ime,
hisdar
key
esar
e
glar
ingdaggersatme.Thist
ime, howev
er,I
'm notafr
aidtostanduptohi
m.Butgetti
ng
emot i
onalhasneverbeenmystrongsuit
.It
'sasifthefl
oodgateshav
ecrashr
ightopenand
tear
sbegint owel
lupinmyey es.

"I
..
.di
dn'
tasktobecheatedoutofmysav i
ngs.
..Idi
dn'
taskt
obehar
assedatthebar.
..Idi
dn'
t
asktobesomeone'
shousekeeper.
..Ij
ustwant
edt opr
ovemymum wrong.Ij
ustwantedtoget
outofmorf
iel
danddesignagameofmyown"

Ki
l
li
anseemst
akenabackbymysuddenout
bur
st.Hi
sexpr
essi
onsof
tenal
i
ttl
e.

"
I.
..
."Thedoor
bel
lrang,
cut
ti
nghi
m of
f.

"
Who'
sther
e?"

Kil
l
ianwalksovert
ot hev ideoint
ercom andItrai
lbehi
ndhi
m,wi
pingmytearsaway
.Onthe
i
ntercom i
sabeauti
ful brunett
ethatcouldeasil
ypassasamodelwit
hhertal
lfr
ame,per
fect
curvesandimmaculatelysy mmetri
calf
eatures.

Herl
usci
ousl
i
psar
epr
essedi
ntoapoutasshegl
aresatt
hescr
een.

Ki
l
li
an'
sPOV

Fuck!Howdi
dshegetupher
e?.

"
Who'
sthat
?"Cl
air
easkedme.

"
Opent
hedoorKi
l
li
an!IKnowy
ou'
rei
nther
e!"Chl
oey
ell
edi
ntot
hei
nter
com.
Ipi
nchedmynosebr
idge,
myey
esl
andonCl
air
e,t
henani
deapoppedi
nmyhead.

"
Ican'
tbel
ieveI
'
m sayi
ngthi
s,butIneedyourhel
p.Pl
ayalong"It
oldher.Befor
eshehav
etime
t
oreact
,Iwrapanarm ar
oundherwaistandpull
shercl
osetomysi de.ThenIopent
hedoor.

Cl
air
e'sPOV

Ki
l
li
anopent
hedoorandIcomef
acet
ofacewi
tht
hewoman.

"
Aboutt
ime.
..
.Who'
sthi
s?Thel
ast
esti
nyourst
ri
ngofconquest
s?"Thewomanasked.

Real
l
y,Ki
l
li
an?Theol
d'f
akegi
rl
fr
iend'
tri
ck?Any
wayIdeci
dedt
opl
ayal
ong.

"
Who'
sthi
ssweet
ie?
"Ical
l
edhi
m asweetnameassi
gnt
ost
artpl
ayi
ngal
ong.

"Er
..
."Ki
l
li
anwasshor
tofwords,
hewasn'
texpect
ingt
hat
."Noonei
mpor
tant
,myl
ove"hesai
d.I
suddenl
yfor
gethowt
obreat
h.

Thewoman'
scheeksfl
ushwi
thanger
.Ifshewer
eacar
toonchar
act
er,
smokewoul
dbe
bi
ll
owi
ngfr
om herear
sandnosebynow.

"I
'
m sor
elydi
sappoi
ntedKi
l
li
an,
atl
eastpi
cksomeonebet
tert
omakei
tlookmor
econv
inci
ng"
shesai
d.

What
'swr
ongwi
tht
hewayIl
ook?
.

Wel
li
fit
'sconv
inci
ngshewant
s..
.she'
l
lhav
eit
..
.

Ir
eachf
orKi
l
li
an'
sneckandpul
lhi
m cl
osert
ome,
hef
urr
owshi
sbr
owsi
nconf
usi
onbut
doesn'
tresi
st.Ipl
antmyl
i
psonhi
s.

Hef
reezes.

Uh-
oh,
Ishoul
dn'
thav
edonet
his.
..
ifIpul
lawaynow.
..
.

IgaspinshockwhenIf eelhi
stonguebrushagainstmyli
ps.Thewayhi smouthmoveexper
tl
y
againstminehadmecur l
ingmyt oesinr
esponse.Hecupshisotherhandaroundmyneckand
anglesmyheadt odeepenthekiss.Ourl
ipsmoveper f
ect
lyinsy
ncast heki
ssgrows
passionat
e.Ihavenoideawhenhet ookcontr
olbutI'
m notcomplai
ning.

Nevermindingthere'
sawomangapingatthetwoofus.Il
osemysel
ftomysenses.There'
s
somethi
ngi nt
oxicati
ngaboutt
hewayhetastesandf
rom t
hewayhe'
slicki
ng.
..
..Sucki
ng.
..
..
Bit
ti
ng..
..
..

Ican'
thel
pbutwonderi
fhef
eel
sthesamewayaboutme.

"
OkayIgeti
t"t
hewomani
nter
ruptus.

Bot
hofusar
ebr
eat
hlessbyt
het
imewepul
lapar
t.

"
Canwet
alk,
Kil
l
ian?
"Shel
ooksatme,
thenbackt
oKi
l
li
an"
Alone"
.

Ki
l
li
ansi
ghs,
het
urnst
ome.

"
We'
l
lcont
inuet
hisl
ater
,lov
e"Inod.

Itakeonefi
nall
ookatthewomanbef or
egoi
ngbackt
omyr
oom.Ipr
essedmyearupagai
nst
thedoortol
ist
entothei
rconv
ersat
ion.
"
Whatar
eyoudoi
ngher
e?"Ihear
dKi
l
li
anaskt
hewoman.

"Your
efuset
oansweranyofmycal
l
s!"Sher
epl
i
ed.

"
Itol
dyouwe'
reov
er"

"
Youdi
dn'
tgi
vemear
eason!
"

"Wewerehar
dlyt
oget
hertobeginwi
th.Ir
emembertel
li
ngy oucl
ear
lyt
hatI
'
m notl
ooki
ngf
or
any
thi
ngseri
ousandyousai
dy ouwereokaywi
tht
hat"Kil
l
iantol
dher.

Shescof
fs.

"
Wehardl
yeverhangout
.You'
real
way
sbusywi
thwor
kandwheny
ou'
renot
,you'
repl
ayi
ng
t
hosel
ame-assgames!
"

"That
.Thati
sexact
lywhywedi
dn'
tandwi
l
lnev
erwor
k"Ki
l
li
ansai
dsoundi
ngangr
y.

"Iagreedt
oitwhenyouinsi
stedwekeepourr elat
ionship,
orwhat ev
ert
hiswas,asecret
,and
thi
siswhatIget?
"SheaskedKill
i
an."IwasdatingKill
ianKnightandIdi
dn'
tevengettotel
l
anyoneabouti
t.Wedon'
tevenhav eacutecouplepostonmyf eed".

"Whydoy
ouhav
etot
ell
any
oneabouti
t?"Ki
l
li
anask.

"Ugh!Youwouldn'
tunder
stand"shesaidandmumbledsomethingt
hatIcoul
dn'
tcat
ch.But
evenfr
om behi
ndthedoor,Icanhearthesar
casm i
nhertone.
Iguesssomeonecaughty
est
erday
'si
nter
view.

"
Wel
l
,I'
m sor
ryIr
efusedt
obey
ourshowpony
"Ki
l
li
ansai
dtoher
.

ThenIhear
dgl
asssmashi
ng.
..
..Foot
stepsst
ompi
ngout
..
..Adoorsl
ammi
ngshut
.

Whathappened?

Ist
epoutoft
her
oom i
mmedi
atel
y.

"
Kil
l
...Imean,
MrKni
ght
,isev
ery
thi
ngal
ri
ght
?"Iaskedhi
m.

Iseebrokengl
assf
ragment
sallov
ert
hefl
oor.Ki
ll
ianisst
andi
ngi
ntheki
tchenwi
thhi
sback
towar
dsme.Itakeaclosel
ookatt
heshar
ds.Ist
hat..
..
.bl
ood?
.

"
Staywher
eyouar
e.Ther
e'sgl
assev
ery
wher
e"Ki
l
li
ant
oldme.

He'
sransacki
ngt
hecupboar
dssl
ammi
ngdoor
sshutwhenhecan'
tfi
ndwhathe'
slooki
ngf
or.

"
Wher
e'st
hegod-
damnedbandagewheny
ouneedone.
."hemut
ter
edangr
il
y.

Iqui
ckl
ymakemywayov
er,
taki
ngex
tracar
etoav
oidt
heshar
ds.

"
Erm.
..Thef
ir
stai
dki
tisher
e..
."
Ki
l
li
ant
urnst
ofacemeandmyj awdroppedt
othegr
ound.Ther
e'sadeepgashacr
osshi
spal
m.
Bl
oodi
soozi
ngout,
stai
ninghi
scl
oset.

"
Abandagei
sn'
tgoi
ngt
ost
opt
hebl
eedi
ng!Weneedt
ogety
out
oA&E!
"

"
There'
snoneedf orthat
..
..I
t'sj
ustasmall
cut
"fr
om hi
stone,
I'
dthi
nkt
hegapi
ngwoundi
sjust
asuper
fici
ali
njur
y,exceptit
'scl
earl
ynot
.

"
Atl
eastputsomepr
essur
eoni
t"

Igrabacleant
owel
andweti
twi
thwar
m wat
erbef
orecar
eful
l
ypr
essi
ngi
tdownt
hecut
.Ki
l
li
an
winces.

"
Sorry
"Icooedhi
m.Ilookedupt omeethisgaze,
andI'
m suddenl
yawareofhowcloseour
f
acesare.Upcl
oser,
hisdarkbrowney eshel
dagent
lehueIdidn'
treal
i
zewasther
ebefore.
Nobodysaidaword,
buttheairfel
theavy.

Kil
li
anclear
shisthr
oat,
he'st
hefir
sttol ookawayashetur
nstotakeoutaroll
ofbandagef
rom
thefi
rstai
dkitwi
thhisgoodhand.Hef umblesalit
tl
eashetr
iest
ounravel
it.Hefi
nal
lyget
sthe
hangofitandwrapsthebandagearoundhi scut
.

"
Hel
lhat
hnof
uryl
i
keawomanscor
ned,
huh"Isai
d.

"Youmusthav
ehear
dus"

"Sor
ryIgotcur
ious"

"Youpr
obabl
ythi
nkIdeser
vet
his.
..
."Hesai
d.
Ichoosenott
osayany
thi
ng.

"Thankyouf
orwhaty
oudi
djustnow.
..
.Leav
ethegl
ass.I
'
llhav
esomeonecl
eani
tup
tomorr
ow"hesai
d.

"Huh,
who?I
'
mthehousekeeper
"buthe'
sal
readyheadedt
ohi
sroom.

"Andwhataboutourconv
ersat
ionf
rom bef
ore?
"Iasknoonei
npar
ti
cul
arasheshut
shi
s
bedr
oom doorbehi
ndhim..
..
.

ToBeCont
inued.
.

ROOMMATESWI
THTHECEO

Chapt
er6

Unexpect
ed

Cl
air
e'sPOV

"
Goodmorni
ngCl
air
e"MrKni
ghtgr
eetmewi
thasl
ysmi
l
e."
Orwoul
dyoupr
eferIcal
lyou
Hazel
?"

I
'
m doomed.
..
..
.
Het
urnedhi
sat
tent
iont
otheot
heri
nter
ns.

"
It
'sbeenapleasur
emeet i
ngall
ofyou,
Ihav
eaf
eel
i
ngI
'
llbeseei
ngsomeofy
ouar
ound,
.
..
.A
l
ot"hesai
dthelastpar
tlooki
ngatme.

Uh-
oh.

MrKni
ghtdi
smi
ssmeusandt
her
estoft
hedaywentbyi
nabl
ur.

BeforeIknewit,i
t'
sti
met ogohome,
Igat
hermythi
ngsandl
efttheof
fi
ce.Iar
ri
vedatthe
penthouse,Idi
dn'
texpectMrKni
ghtt
ogethomebef
oremeorsitonthesofawai
ti
ngformet
o
comeback.

"Soletmegetthi
sst
raight
,notonl
yam Iy
ourbossundert
hisr
oof
,I'
m al
soy
ourbossatt
he
off
ice"hesai
dimmediatel
yhesawme.

I
'
m scr
ewed,
.
,.
..
..

"Youli
edto,andnotjustaboutyourname.WhenIaskedabouty
ourdayj
ob,
'i
nter
natKni
ght
Gaming'wasnotyouranswer".

"Ther
e'saper
fectexpl
anat
ion.
..
..
.."It
ri
edt
oexpl
ainbuthedi
dn'
tl
etme.

"Meeti
ngy
ouatt
hebar
..
.Hi
ri
ngy
ouasmyhousekeeper
..
.Wast
hatal
lpar
tofy
ourpl
an?"He
asked.

Whati
nGod'
snamei
shet
alki
ngabout
?
"Pl
an?"I
'
m conf
used.

"Ishouldhaveknownbettert
hantotrustLucas'
slousyidea.Aquest i
onnair
etodiscern
character
?Nonsense!You'
rejustl
i
kethehousekeepersfrom before,you'
reall
aft
ersomethi
ng
fr
om me, exceptyouaremoreambiti
ousthantheothers.It
'snotjustabouttheapart
ment,i
sit
?
You'reaft
errecogni
ti
onatworkaswell"heyell
edangri
ly.

"N-
no,
ofcour
senot
"

"Thephotoyoutook..
..
."Hepausedandr anhisfi
ngerst
hroughhi
shairinf
rust
rat
ion.Then
somethi
ngli
kereali
zati
onflashedinhiseyes."
Itall
makesperf
ectsensenow,howwer eyou
evenhir
edatmycompany ?Wasi tt
hroughdeceitf
ulmeansaswell
?"

MrKni
ghtt
akesouthi
sphone.

"Ihav
etospeakt
oRav
enaboutt
his"

Thi
sis,
Idr
awtheli
nehere,
I'
m absol
utel
yli
vi
d,howdar
ehesuggest
ssomet
hingl
i
ket
hat
.I
st
andonmyti
ptoesandsnatchhi
sphone.

"
Whatdoy
out
hinky
ouar
edoi
ng?
"Heasked.

"
Isubmittedaport
fol
iojustli
ketheot hercandi
dates!Igoti
nfairandsquar
e!Ihavenoi deahow
wemetatt hebar,
butyoukepty ouridenti
tysecretfort
hehousekeeperappl
icat
ion.Thereisno
wayIcouldhaveknowni t
'syou"Itakeinashakybr eathtocal
m my sel
fdown."Call
itacrazy
t
wistoffateorsomethi
ng...
..
..
."

Ki
l
li
ancut
smer
ightof
f.
"Idon'
tbel
i
evei
nfat
e"

Ther
ewaspi
n-dr
opsi
l
enceashi
swor
dshangi
ntheai
r.

"
Yourcol
l
ect
ionoff
il
mssay
sot
her
wise"

Hecl enchedhisjawinfrust
ration.I
'v
edefi
nitel
yhittheri
ghtnerv
ethi
sti
me, hi
sdarkeyesar
e
glar
ingdagger satme.Thistime, howev
er,I
'm notafrai
dtostanduptohi
m.Butgetti
ng
emot ionalhasneverbeenmyst r
ongsuit
.It
'sasifthefl
oodgateshav
ecrashri
ghtopenand
tear
sbegi nt owell
upinmyey es.

"I
..
.di
dn'
tasktobecheatedoutofmysav i
ngs.
..Idi
dn'
taskt
obehar
assedatthebar.
..Idi
dn'
t
asktobesomeone'
shousekeeper.
..Ij
ustwant
edt opr
ovemymum wrong.Ij
ustwantedtoget
outofmorf
iel
danddesignagameofmyown"

Ki
l
li
anseemst
akenabackbymysuddenout
bur
st.Hi
sexpr
essi
onsof
tenal
i
ttl
e.

"
I.
..
."Thedoor
bel
lrang,
cut
ti
nghi
m of
f.

"
Who'
sther
e?"

Kil
l
ianwalksovert
ot hev ideoint
ercom andItrai
lbehi
ndhi
m,wi
pingmytearsaway
.Onthe
i
ntercom i
sabeauti
ful brunett
ethatcouldeasil
ypassasamodelwit
hhertal
lfr
ame,per
fect
curvesandimmaculatelysy mmetri
calf
eatures.

Herl
usci
ousl
i
psar
epr
essedi
ntoapoutasshegl
aresatt
hescr
een.
Ki
l
li
an'
sPOV

Fuck!Howdi
dshegetupher
e?.

"
Who'
sthat
?"Cl
air
easkedme.

"
Opent
hedoorKi
l
li
an!IKnowy
ou'
rei
nther
e!"Chl
oey
ell
edi
ntot
hei
nter
com.

Ipi
nchedmynosebr
idge,
myey
esl
andonCl
air
e,t
henani
deapoppedi
nmyhead.

"
Ican'
tbel
ieveI
'
m sayi
ngthi
s,butIneedyourhel
p.Pl
ayalong"It
oldher.Befor
eshehav
etime
t
oreact
,Iwrapanarm ar
oundherwaistandpull
shercl
osetomysi de.ThenIopent
hedoor.

Cl
air
e'sPOV

Ki
l
li
anopent
hedoorandIcomef
acet
ofacewi
tht
hewoman.

"
Aboutt
ime.
..
.Who'
sthi
s?Thel
ast
esti
nyourst
ri
ngofconquest
s?"Thewomanasked.

Real
l
y,Ki
l
li
an?Theol
d'f
akegi
rl
fr
iend'
tri
ck?Any
wayIdeci
dedt
opl
ayal
ong.

"
Who'
sthi
ssweet
ie?
"Ical
l
edhi
m asweetnameassi
gnt
ost
artpl
ayi
ngal
ong.

"Er
..
."Ki
l
li
anwasshor
tofwords,
hewasn'
texpect
ingt
hat
."Noonei
mpor
tant
,myl
ove"hesai
d.I
suddenl
yfor
gethowt
obreat
h.
Thewoman'
scheeksfl
ushwi
thanger
.Ifshewer
eacar
toonchar
act
er,
smokewoul
dbe
bi
ll
owi
ngfr
om herear
sandnosebynow.

"I
'
m sor
elydi
sappoi
ntedKi
l
li
an,
atl
eastpi
cksomeonebet
tert
omakei
tlookmor
econv
inci
ng"
shesai
d.

What
'swr
ongwi
tht
hewayIl
ook?
.

Wel
li
fit
'sconv
inci
ngshewant
s..
.she'
l
lhav
eit
..
.

IreachforKil
l
ian'
sneckandpul
lhi
m cl
osert
ome,
hef
urr
owshi
sbr
owsi
nconf
usi
onbut
doesn'tr
esist
.Ipl
antmyli
psonhis.

Hef
reezes.

Uh-
oh,
Ishoul
dn'
thav
edonet
his.
..
ifIpul
lawaynow.
..
.

IgaspinshockwhenIf eelhi
stonguebrushagainstmyli
ps.Thewayhi smouthmoveexper
tl
y
againstminehadmecur l
ingmyt oesinr
esponse.Hecupshisotherhandaroundmyneckand
anglesmyheadt odeepenthekiss.Ourl
ipsmoveper f
ect
lyinsy
ncast heki
ssgrows
passionat
e.Ihavenoideawhenhet ookcontr
olbutI'
m notcomplai
ning.

Nevermindingthere'
sawomangapingatthetwoofus.Il
osemysel
ftomysenses.There'
s
somethi
ngi nt
oxicati
ngaboutt
hewayhetastesandf
rom t
hewayhe'
slicki
ng.
..
..Sucki
ng.
..
..
Bit
ti
ng..
..
..

Ican'
thel
pbutwonderi
fhef
eel
sthesamewayaboutme.

"
OkayIgeti
t"t
hewomani
nter
ruptus.

Bot
hofusar
ebr
eat
hlessbyt
het
imewepul
lapar
t.
"
Canwet
alk,
Kil
l
ian?
"Shel
ooksatme,
thenbackt
oKi
l
li
an"
Alone"
.

Ki
l
li
ansi
ghs,
het
urnst
ome.

"
We'
l
lcont
inuet
hisl
ater
,lov
e"Inod.

Itakeonefi
nall
ookatthewomanbef or
egoi
ngbackt
omyr
oom.Ipr
essedmyearupagai
nst
thedoortol
ist
entothei
rconv
ersat
ion.

"
Whatar
eyoudoi
ngher
e?"Ihear
dKi
l
li
anaskt
hewoman.

"Your
efuset
oansweranyofmycal
l
s!"Sher
epl
i
ed.

"
Itol
dyouwe'
reov
er"

"
Youdi
dn'
tgi
vemear
eason!
"

"Wewerehar
dlyt
oget
hertobeginwi
th.Ir
emembertel
li
ngy oucl
ear
lyt
hatI
'
m notl
ooki
ngf
or
any
thi
ngseri
ousandyousai
dy ouwereokaywi
tht
hat"Kil
l
iantol
dher.

Shescof
fs.

"
Wehardl
yeverhangout
.You'
real
way
sbusywi
thwor
kandwheny
ou'
renot
,you'
repl
ayi
ng
t
hosel
ame-assgames!
"

"That
.Thati
sexact
lywhywedi
dn'
tandwi
l
lnev
erwor
k"Ki
l
li
ansai
dsoundi
ngangr
y.
"Iagreedt
oitwhenyouinsi
stedwekeepourr elat
ionship,
orwhat ev
ert
hiswas,asecret
,and
thi
siswhatIget?
"SheaskedKill
i
an."IwasdatingKill
ianKnightandIdi
dn'
tevengettotel
l
anyoneabouti
t.Wedon'
tevenhav eacutecouplepostonmyf eed".

"Whydoy
ouhav
etot
ell
any
oneabouti
t?"Ki
l
li
anask.

"Ugh!Youwouldn'
tunder
stand"shesaidandmumbledsomethingt
hatIcoul
dn'
tcat
ch.But
evenfr
om behi
ndthedoor,Icanhearthesar
casm i
nhertone.

Iguesssomeonecaughty
est
erday
'si
nter
view.

"
Wel
l
,I'
m sor
ryIr
efusedt
obey
ourshowpony
"Ki
l
li
ansai
dtoher
.

ThenIhear
dgl
asssmashi
ng.
..
..Foot
stepsst
ompi
ngout
..
..Adoorsl
ammi
ngshut
.

Whathappened?

Ist
epoutoft
her
oom i
mmedi
atel
y.

"
Kil
l
...Imean,
MrKni
ght
,isev
ery
thi
ngal
ri
ght
?"Iaskedhi
m.

Iseebrokengl
assf
ragment
sallov
ert
hefl
oor.Ki
ll
ianisst
andi
ngi
ntheki
tchenwi
thhi
sback
towar
dsme.Itakeaclosel
ookatt
heshar
ds.Ist
hat..
..
.bl
ood?
.

"
Staywher
eyouar
e.Ther
e'sgl
assev
ery
wher
e"Ki
l
li
ant
oldme.

He'
sransacki
ngt
hecupboar
dssl
ammi
ngdoor
sshutwhenhecan'
tfi
ndwhathe'
slooki
ngf
or.
"
Wher
e'st
hegod-
damnedbandagewheny
ouneedone.
."hemut
ter
edangr
il
y.

Iqui
ckl
ymakemywayov
er,
taki
ngex
tracar
etoav
oidt
heshar
ds.

"
Erm.
..Thef
ir
stai
dki
tisher
e..
."

Ki
l
li
ant
urnst
ofacemeandmyj awdroppedt
othegr
ound.Ther
e'sadeepgashacr
osshi
spal
m.
Bl
oodi
soozi
ngout,
stai
ninghi
scl
oset.

"
Abandagei
sn'
tgoi
ngt
ost
opt
hebl
eedi
ng!Weneedt
ogety
out
oA&E!
"

"
There'
snoneedf orthat
..
..I
t'sj
ustasmall
cut
"fr
om hi
stone,
I'
dthi
nkt
hegapi
ngwoundi
sjust
asuper
fici
ali
njur
y,exceptit
'scl
earl
ynot
.

"
Atl
eastputsomepr
essur
eoni
t"

Igrabacleant
owel
andweti
twi
thwar
m wat
erbef
orecar
eful
l
ypr
essi
ngi
tdownt
hecut
.Ki
l
li
an
winces.

"
Sorry
"Icooedhi
m.Ilookedupt omeethisgaze,
andI'
m suddenl
yawareofhowcloseour
f
acesare.Upcl
oser,
hisdarkbrowney eshel
dagent
lehueIdidn'
treal
i
zewasther
ebefore.
Nobodysaidaword,
buttheairfel
theavy.

Kil
li
anclear
shisthr
oat,
he'st
hefir
sttol ookawayashetur
nstotakeoutaroll
ofbandagef
rom
thefi
rstai
dkitwi
thhisgoodhand.Hef umblesalit
tl
eashetr
iest
ounravel
it.Hefi
nal
lyget
sthe
hangofitandwrapsthebandagearoundhi scut
.

"
Hel
lhat
hnof
uryl
i
keawomanscor
ned,
huh"Isai
d.
"Youmusthav
ehear
dus"

"Sor
ryIgotcur
ious"

"Youpr
obabl
ythi
nkIdeser
vet
his.
..
."Hesai
d.

Ichoosenott
osayany
thi
ng.

"Thankyouf
orwhaty
oudi
djustnow.
..
.Leav
ethegl
ass.I
'
llhav
esomeonecl
eani
tup
tomorr
ow"hesai
d.

"Huh,
who?I
'
mthehousekeeper
"buthe'
sal
readyheadedt
ohi
sroom.

"Andwhataboutourconv
ersat
ionf
rom bef
ore?
"Iasknoonei
npar
ti
cul
arasheshut
shi
s
bedr
oom doorbehi
ndhim..
..
.

ToBeCont
inued.
..

[
7/8,
6:01AM]+233544142683OMEANOI
SH: ROOMMATESWI
THTHECEO

Chapt
er7

Thesi
l
entt
reat
ment
Cl
air
e'sPOV

Thenextmor
ning,
IwokeuptonoKi
l
li
ani
nthehouse.Doesn'
thewant
stot
alkaboutl
astni
ght
?,
Doesthi
smeanthatIcanst
ay?
.

Any
way
,Igotr
eadyandl
eftf
ort
heof
fi
ce.

"
Goodmorni
ngClair
e"Der
ri
ckgr
eet
sme,
hedi
dadoubl
echeck."
Youdon'
tl
ookl
i
key
ousl
ept
t
oowel
ll
astnight
"

"
Ist
hatsomebackhandedwayt
osayIl
ookt
err
ibl
e?"It
easedhi
m.

"What?Noofcour
senot
!Idi
dn'
tmeani
tthatway
"het
ri
est
oexpl
ain.I
'
m amusedbyhow
fl
ust
eredhei
s.

"Youcannev
erl
ookt
err
ibl
e"hemut
ter
edunderhi
sbr
eat
hbutIhear
dhi
m,Ir
aisedaney
ebr
owat
him.

"I
'
m goi
ngt
ost
opt
alki
ngno"her
aisedhi
shandi
nsur
render
.

"Goodmorningevery
one"Ravengr
eet
susal
lasshewalksin.Rav
en'sentr
ancecommandst
he
at
tent
ionofall
incl
udingme.Thi
smorni
ngt
hough,shei
nsti
l
lsadiffer
entki
ndoffeari
nme.

HasKi
l
li
ant
alkedt
oheraboutme?I
sshegoi
ngt
opul
lmeasi
det
ofi
reme?

"You'
l
lcontinuetoworkony
ourdesi
gnst
oday
"wi
thoutsomuchascast
ingagl
ancei
nmy
dir
ect
ion,sheleaves.

Iguessnot
.Phewt
hat
'sar
eli
ef.
Ipusht
het
houghtofl
astni
ghtt
othebackofmymi
ndadIbegi
ntowor
konmychar
act
er.

"
Soaboutt
hesnai
l
...I
fwe'
rest
icki
ngt
oit
,Ihappenedt
ohav
eagr
eati
dea"It
oldChar
lot
te.

"SodoI
!Whatdoy
out
hinkofasnai
lthatr
oll
erbl
ades?"

"Er
m..
.Let
'shearmi
nef
ir
st"It
oldher
.

Geti
nthr
oughdecei
tf
ulmeans?I
'
llshowKi
l
li
ancauser
ightnowI
'
m sodet
ermi
nedt
odoagood
j
obtoday
.

Myphonebeeped.
.

Il
ookedati
t,i
t'
samessagef
rom Lucas?

Lucas:
-meetmeatt
hecaf
ear
oundt
hecor
nerf
orl
unch.

Lucaswant
stomeetmef
orl
unch?Why
?

Ti
mef
lewbyqui
ckl
yandbef
oreIknewi
t,I
'
m si
tt
ingi
nfr
ontofLucasi
nthecaf
e.

"
Ist
hisi
t?I
sthi
sagoodby
elunch?I
sKi
l
li
anf
ir
ingme?
"

"
What
?Shar
edi
dyougett
hati
dea?"
Oh?Am Iov
ert
hinki
ng?

"Thenwhyar
ewehav
ingt
hisl
unch?"

Hechuckl
edsof
tl
y.

"
Can'
tIj
ustwantt
ohav
elunchwi
thy
ou?"

"
Wel
l
,wheny
ouputi
tthatway
..
."It
rai
lof
f."
sowhyar
eyouwear
ingsungl
assesany
way
?"

"It
houghti
t'
dbewei
rdi
fani
nter
nhav
elunchwi
tht
heCEOssecr
etar
y"hesai
d.

"
It
'swei
rderf
orsomeonet
obei
nsungl
assesi
ndoor
s,y
ou'
redr
awi
ngmor
eat
tent
iont
hisway
"

"Oh,fi
ne"hetookoffthesungl
asses."Ican'
tbel
iev
eIhi
redoneofouri
nter
nsashi
s
housekeeper
.Kil
l
ianissogoingtokil
lmet hi
sti
me"

"
Hashet
alkedt
oyouabouti
t?"Iaskedhi
m.

"Wel
ltobehonest
,whenwef oundouty
ouwereanint
ern,
IexpectKi
l
li
ant
ofi
rey
ou
i
mmediatel
ybuthehasn'
tsai
danythi
ngabouti
tyet
"

"
Oh.
.."

"
Butashissecr
etar
yit'
smydutytomakesureyoukeepy
ourl
i
vingar
rangement
sconf
ident
ial
.
Wewouldn'
twanttongueswaggi
ngunnecessar
il
y"
"Ofcour
se,
Iguesst
her
e'sar
easonf
ort
hismeet
ingaf
teral
l
".

Lucassmi
l
es"
Wheny
ouputi
tthatway
".

"Buty
ouhav
etobel
i
eveme,
Idi
dn'
tpl
anf
oranyoft
hist
ohappen"

"
Ofcour
se,
Ibel
i
evey
ou.It
oldy
ouIhav
eagoodf
eel
i
ngabouty
ou,
remember
?"

"Thanks"It
hankedhi
m,atl
easthebel
i
evesme,
notev
ery
onei
sli
keKi
l
li
an.

"
That
,pl
usIdi
dat
hor
oughbackgr
oundcheckony
oul
astni
ght
"hesai
d.

"Hey
!"Ibangt
het
abl
eal
i
ttl
e.

"Iknowaboutthei
niti
alagreementwit
hthequesti
onnair
e,butyoucan'
tfaul
tmeforbei
ngext
ra
careful
withev
eryt
hingthathashappened.But
..
.IcanjustsayIlov
eanunderdogt
aleofasmall
-
towngirlmovi
ngtothebigcity.
..
.."

Sohe'
sact
ual
l
yteasi
ngme.

"Lucas!"Ical
l
edwar
ningl
y.

"What
?I'
mroot
ingf
ory
ou"hesai
d.

"
Doy
out
hinkhe'
l
lev
ent
ual
l
yfi
remet
hough?"
Whydoest
hist
houghtl
i
nger
sinmyheadev
enwhenIt
ryt
otakemymi
ndf
rom i
t.
?

Lucasponder
sont
hosewor
ds.

"I
'
v ebeenworkingforKi
ll
ianf
oralmostfi
veyear
snow, andIli
ket
ot hi
nkifmysel
fashi
sol
der
brotherofsor
ts.Thoughhehatesthatal
ot,
eventhen.
..
.Ifi
ndhim dif
fi
cul
ttofi
gur
eout
somet i
mes"Igulpednerv
ousl
y.

WhyKi
l
li
ansodamnhar
dtodeal
wit
h.

*
***
***
***
***
***

Af
termylunchwit
hLucas,Ir
ushedbacktot
heof
fi
ce,
ther
e'snomuchwor
kformet
odo,
soi
t
di
dn'
ttakel
ongformyclosi
ngti
met ocome.

Rightnow,
I'
m backi
nthepenthouse.Ther
e'sst
il
lsomuchtodoont
hechar
act
erdesi
gn,
I'
ll
just
fi
nishmychoresqui
ckl
y,bef
oreIstartwor
kingonitagai
n.

Ihear
dthedooropenbehi
ndme.

"
Oh,
you'
reback"Isai
d.

ButKi
ll
i
andidn'
tacknowledgeme,hemarchesint
ohi sr
oom withoutawor
d.That
'sst
range.
..
..
Li
tt
ledi
dIexpectthathi
ssil
entt
reat
mentwill
continueforday
s.

Twoday
slat
er
I
'
mint
heof
fi
cewor
kingonmychar
act
er,
Kil
l
iani
sst
il
lgi
vi
ngmet
hesi
l
entt
reat
ment
.

"MrKni
ghti
scomingourway
"Char
lot
tet
oldme,
butIdi
dn'
tpayat
tent
iont
ohercauseIknow
Kil
l
ianwon'
tl
ookourway.

"
Goodmor
ningMrKni
ght
"sheav
ert
edherat
tent
iont
oKi
l
li
an.

Wi
thoutpay
ingat
tent
iont
omeorChar
lot
te.
..Hesi
mpl
ywal
ksby
.

Thatbast
ard.
..
.

"
Socool
"Char
lot
tesai
d,somewhatembar
rassed.

Ki
l
li
anandInev
eracknowl
edgeseachot
heratt
heof
fi
cesohi
sbehav
iorhar
dlyf
azesme.

Butev
enatthepent
househeignor
esme,whenev
erItr
iedt
ost
artaconv
ersat
ionhej
ustwal
ks
bywit
houtsay
ingaword,asi
fI'
mtalki
ngt
oaghost.

Ever
yni ghtwhenheget
shome,hegr
absaglassofwaterandent
ershisroom.Andinthe
morningshewakesupandleav
ethehousebefor
eIdo.ButIdon'
thaveti
met oleti
tgett
ome,
si
l
encemeansIgett okeepbot
hofmyjobs.Besi
des,
Ihaveenoughonmypl atewithmyfir
st
majorpr oj
ect
.

Hissil
enttr
eatmentconti
nueunti
lonenight.It
oldmy
sel
fthatt
hesi
l
encei
snowunbear
abl
e.I
'
m
surehe'
llr
espondifIaskther
ightquest
ions.

He'
sreadi
ngamagazi
nei
nthel
i
vingr
oom,
soIwal
kupt
ohi
m.Ij
ustpr
ayhedoesn'
twal
kpass
measIspeak.

"
How'
syourwound?
"Iaskedhi
m.
Fort
hefi
rstt
imeinweeks,Ki
ll
i
anstopwhathe'
sdoi
ngandlookatme.Forast
ranger
eason,
my
hear
tski
psabitwhenoureyesmeet.Hecl
enchedt
henuncl
enchhi
sfi
st.

"
It
'sbet
ter
"heanswer
ed,
wit
houtgi
vi
ngi
tmucht
hought
,Igr
abhi
shandgent
lyandpul
li
tdown
t
oexaminehi
swound.

"Hmmm, youcoul
duseanewdr
essi
ng"Iqui
ckl
ygr
abt
hef
ir
stai
dki
tandbegi
ntowor
kont
he
bandage.

"Cl
air
e..
..I
t'
sfi
ne"

"
Hol
dsti
l
l"Isoundst
ernert
hanIexpect
ed,
buti
tseemst
owor
k.Ki
l
li
anst
ayper
fect
lyst
il
lasI
r
epl
acet
hebandage.

OnceI
'
m done,
Itakeast
epbackt
oadmi
redt
hedr
essi
ng.

"
Arey
oupl
easedwi
thi
t?"Ki
l
li
anasked.

"
Ver
y"Ismi
l
edt
ri
umphant
ly.

"Thanky
ou"hedidn'
tsayany
thi
ngelseaft
erthat
,butIknowI
'
vedef
ini
tel
yeasedt
het
ensi
on
bet
weenus.Iwentbacktomyroom andstr
etchl
azil
y.

Ti
mereal
l
ypassqui
ckl
y,Ican'
tbel
i
evewehav
etopr
esentourchar
act
erst
omor
row.Ther
e'sst
il
l
somuchtodo.

Anot
hert
houghtl
i
nger
sinmyhead.
Todayalsomar ksthefour
teendayKil
l
ianstoppedtal
ki
ngtome.Nott
hatI
'
m keepi
ngt
rackor
anyt
hing.I
'm nottoosurewhy,butt
hatweighalit
tl
eheavyi
nmychest.

Ugh!FocusCl
air
e.

It
ryt
ogetmysel
ftof
ucusont
hewor
klai
doutonmydesk,
buti
tdoesn'
thel
pthatt
hebedj
ust
l
ooksoi
nvi
ti
ng.

Ij
ustcan'
tseem t
oconcent
rat
etoni
ght
, maybeachangeofscener
yiswhatIneed.LastI
checked,
Kil
l
iani
sn'thomeyet
,si
ncel
eftforwher
everhewent.

SoIpackmyst
uffanddeci
det
owor
kint
hedi
nni
ngr
oom.

Iseatmysel
fcomfort
abl
yonthedi
nningchai
r,andl
aymylapt
op,not
esandsket
chbookonthe
dinni
ngtabl
einf
rontofme.Toot
hersitmayseem l
ikeacompl
etemess,
butIbel
iev
einthe
term'or
gani
sedmess'

Nowl
et'
sdot
his!

Iaddt
hef
inal
touchest
omychar
act
er.

Iwokeupt
othebl
ari
ngofmyal
arm cl
ockt
henextmor
ning.

Hmmm?I
'
minmybed?Whathappenedl
astni
ght
?
Thel
astt
hingIr
ememberwascomplet
ingmywor
k,t
hendeci
dingt
ocat
chsomeshutey
eby
l
ayi
ngmyheadinthedi
nni
ngtabl
e.

Si
l
lyme!IguessIcr
awl
edi
ntobedonmyown.

Iy
awnedsl
eepi
l
y.

I'
dbet t
ergetr
eadywoul dn'twanttobelateforworktoday.Butwhatshoul
dIwear
,af
terr
acki
ng
throughmycloset,Idecidetowearsomet hi
ngsimpl ebutcut
e.Youcanhiome
on+233544142683t obeaddedt ostorybaze,st
ory
line,unl
imi
tedstor
yplat
for
mtogetmore
stori
esfrom t
here.Afteral
l I
'
m notdressi
ngtoimpressnobody .

Il
ookedar
oundmyr oom andnot
icedt
hatmynot
eshav
ebeenst
ackedneat
lyonmydesk.I
gr
abthenotesandheadtowork.

*
***
***
***
***
***
*

"Today'
sthedayyoupr
esentyourcharact
ert
ous,myteam andIwi
ll
beselect
ingt
hebest
charact
erdesi
gnandit
'l
lbefeat
uredinourupcomi
nggames"Raventol
dus.

"Agreathonorf
oranint
ernr
eal
l
y,wi
thoutf
urt
herado,
let
'shav
eTi
mot
hyandKai
presentt
hei
r
char
acter
"shesaid.

Ti
mothyandKai st
rutconf
ident
lyt
it
hefr
onttosetupthei
rpresentat
ion.Il
ookedov
ert
oDer
ri
ck,
who'
sseatednexttome.He'sbeenfi
dget
ingonhisseatal
lmor ni
ng.

Ishoul
dhel
ptakehi
smi
ndof
fthepr
esent
ati
onal
i
ttl
e.

"
HeyDer
ri
ckwantt
ohearaj
oke?
"Iaskedhi
m.
"Huh?
..
.Imean,
sur
e"

"Knockknock"Isai
d.

"Who'
sther
e?"Her
epl
i
ed.
..

"Boo"

"Boowho?"

"Ther
e,t
her
e.Ther
e'snoneedt
ocr
y"

"That
's.
..
..Real
l
ybadCl
air
e"hesai
dwi
thasmal
lsmi
l
e.Atl
eastImadehi
m smi
l
e.

"Buti
thel
pedt
akey
ourmi
ndof
fthepr
esent
ati
on"

"
Itdi
d,t
hanks"het
hankedme.

Iturnmyat tent
ionbacktoTimothywho'
saboutt
opresent
,myeyeswideninshock.Ont
he
screenisachar act
erthatbear
suncannyr
esembl
ancetomine,
grant
ed,ther
eareaf ewminor
modi f
icat
ions,buti
t'
sclearl
yacopyofmywork.

It
urnt
omyl
eftandChar
lot
tei
sjustasmuchasshockedasIam.

"
That
's.
..
..
.That
'sourwor
kisn'
ti
t?How.
..
."Char
lot
tesucksi
nherbr
eat
htocal
m her
sel
fdown.
Shet
urnst
omewi
thanapol
oget
icl
ookonherf
ace.

"Ti
mot hyaskedtoseeourwor kacoupl
eofdaysago,butIt
houghthewasjustcuri
ousabout
ourprogress.Idi
dn'
tthinkhe'
dact
uall
ycopyi
t!AndIcan'
tbeli
evehe'
spresent
ingbefor
eus,
Ravenwi l
lthi
nkwe'r
et heoneswhocopiedhi
m.Whatdowedonow?"Char lot
telamented.

Aroundofappl
auset
urnedmyat
tent
ionbackt
oTi
mot
hyandKai
.Theyhav
ejustcompl
eted
t
heirpr
esent
ati
on.

"
Excel
l
entj
obboys,thesear
ethekindoftal
ent
swewantinKnightGaming,
ifyouboy
scont
inue
l
i
kethi
s,t
herewi
l
l surel
ybeaplacefory
ouatKnightGami
ng"Ravenprai
sedthem.

That
'sourchar
act
er,
he'
sst
eal
i
ngal
lourcr
edi
ts!Iwant
edt
oscr
eam.

Timot
hy'
sBr
adyey
esshif
tstome,
thecor
nerofhi
sli
pscur
ledi
ntoasi
nist
ersmi
l
e.Ihav
eto
comeupwit
hsomethi
ngreal
l
yqui
ck.

Mytrai
nofthoughti
sbrokenbythesuddenmurmur
sallar
oundme.Iwhi pmyheadar
oundto
fi
ndthesour
ceofit,
andmyey eslandonthosef
ami
li
ardarkones.Leani
ngonthewal
l
,att
he
backofther
oom isKil
l
ianKni
ght.

Whendidhegether
e?NowIunder
standwhyi
t'
swei
rdl
i
vingundert
hesamer
oofwi
thy
our
boss.

"MrKnight!Ididn'
tnot
iceyouwerether
e!Howlovel
yofyout
ojoi
nus,Isenty
ouaninvi
tebut
Lucassaidy ouhadani mpor
tantmeeti
ngtoat
tend"Rav
enbl
abbedsomehownervousl
y,hmm
thi
sisaf i
rst.
"
Idi
d"Ki
l
li
anst
ri
dest
othef
rontoft
her
oom.

ToBeCont
inued

[
7/8,
6:05AM]+233544142683OMEANOI
SH: ROOMMATESWI
THTHECEO

Chapt
er8

Wi
l
danduni
nhi
bit
ed

Cl
air
e'sPOV

"I
ntegr
it
yissomethi
ngIhol
dinhi
ghregard.Idon'tcar
eifyourapphaveabi
l
li
ondownloads,
whatuseareyoutomycompanyifyouhadt oresortt
oplagiar
ism?Doyout
akeusforfool
s?"
Kil
li
ansaidl
ooki
ngatTimot
hyindi
sappointment.

IsneakaglanceatTi
mothy,
whohashi
sheadhungl
ow.Justawhi
l
eagoKi
l
li
ansummonedhi
m,
Raven,andIint
ohisof
fi
ce.

"
You'
ref
ir
ed!
"Ki
l
li
anr
oar
ed.

Wow,
that
'sso.
..
.Hot
!Wai
t,whatam It
hinki
ng?

"
MrKni
ght
,pl
ease.Icanexpl
ain.
..
..
"Ti
mot
hyt
ri
est
oexpl
ainbutKi
l
li
ani
snotget
ti
nganyofi
t.
Ki
ll
i
anhasgloweredatmebefor
e,butnotli
kethi
s.Thi
sisdi
ffer
ent
.Event
heusuall
ycomposed
Ravenseemsshaken.It
hankmyluckyst
arsthatI
'
m notatt
herecei
vi
ngendofhiswrat
h.

"
Securi
ty"Ki
l
li
ansai
dashepushbut
ton,
twobur
lymenent
ert
heof
fi
ceandescor
tTi
mot
hyout
i
naflash.

"
I'
m sor
rysuchani
nci
denthappenedundermysuper
visi
on"Rav
enapol
ogi
zed.

"Theprojectshal
lbeter
minat
ed.Iwantadet
ail
edinv
est
igati
onintothi
smat
terandIexpecta
cont
ingencyreportonmydeskfi
rstt
hingt
omorrowmorning"Ki
l
liansai
d.

"Ofcour
se.I'
l
lgett
oitri
ghtaway"Ravenr
epl
i
esandl
eav
est
heof
fi
ce,
Ishi
ftuncomf
ort
abl
y,
cont
emplat
ingther
ightwordst
osay .

"
Whyar
eyoust
il
lher
e?"

I
tev
identi
nhi
svoi
cet
hatt
hest
orm wi
thi
nhi
m wasst
il
lbr
ewi
ng.

"
T-t
hanky
ou,
MrKni
ght
"Iqui
ckl
yexi
thi
sof
fi
ce.

Isatonmydesk,
immedi
atel
yChar
lot
ter
ushedt
ome,
gui
l
tcl
ear
lywr
it
tenal
lov
erherf
ace.

"
I'
m sor
ry,
Clai
re.Thi
sisal
lmyf
aul
t"

"
It
'sokay
.Youdi
dn'
tmeanf
ori
ttohappen"It
oldher
,af
teral
lnobodyi
sabov
emi
stakes.

Char
lot
tet
hrowsherar
msar
oundmeandpul
l
smei
nforahug.
Whatt
he.
..
.

"
Thanks"shesai
dandpul
l
sbackshy
ly.

"
Whatdoy outhi
nkhappenedbackt
her
e?Whyweret
heysummonedintoMrKni
ght
'sof
fi
ce?
"
Char
lot
teasked.Sodi
dn'
tsheknewIwasal
sosummonedint
otheof
ficet
oo?

"
I'
m notsur
e"Ir
epl
i
ed,
shewant
stohearev
ery
thi
ngf
rom mymout
h,Iwon'
tl
ether
.

"
Didt
heydosuchagoodj
obwi
thourchar
act
ert
hatMrKni
ghtdi
dn'
tneedt
oheart
her
est
?"

"
itdi
dn'
tsoundt
hatway
..
."

Justt
hen,Rav
enexi
tst
heof
fi
ce,
shewal
ksov
ert
othei
nter
ns'
seat
ingar
ea,
herf
oot
steps
heavi
ert
hannormal
.

"Ti
mothyhasbeenfir
ed,eff
ect
ivei
mmedi
atel
y.Thati
sal
l
"Rav
enannounced,
butIal
readyknew
abouti
tsoI'
m notshocked.

"
Ohmy
..
..Why
?!"Char
lot
teasked.

"
It
'sconf
ident
ial
.Getbackt
owor
k"Rav
enor
der
edandl
eft
.ThankGodIdi
dn'
ttel
lChar
lot
tewhat
wentdownthere.

"
Didy
ouheart
hat
,Cl
air
e?"Char
lot
teaskedexci
ted.
"
I'
mri
ghtbesi
dey
ou"
.

"
Ther
e'sj
ust
icei
nthewor
ldaf
teral
l
"

"
Yeah.
..
.Iguess"

*
***
***
***
***
***
***
*

Backatt
hepenthouseIspeedthroughmychor
esbeforetaki
ngaseatont
hecouch.Whatt
ime
i
sKill
i
ancominghomet oday?Ihavesomanyquest
ions..
.

One..
..Two.
..
.Thr
eehour shav
epassed,
Kil
l
ianst
il
lhasn'
tcomeback,
Iwai
tedf
orhi
m unt
ilmy
eyesbecameheavierandheavi
er.

Ki
l
li
an'
sPOV

Ient
eredt
hepent
houseandsawCl
air
esl
eepi
ngont
hecouch.

Whyi
ssheasl
eepout
sideagai
n?

Iremember
edy est
erdaywhenIcamebackf r
om wor
k,shewasal sosl
eepi
ngont
hecouch,
I
hadtocar
ryhertoherroom andkeephernot
esandsketchbook.

ThatwashowIknowTi
mot
hycopi
edherwor
k.

Taki
ngagoodl ookathernowshedoesn'
tlookbad,infactIcancal
lherbeaut
if
ul.Idi
dn'
tknowI
wasstari
ngatherunti
ll
sheopenedhereyes.Icoughedandclearmythroat
,Icanfeelmyface
warmingup.
Cl
air
e'sPOV

Idon'
tknowforhowlongIslept
,butmyeyessuddenl
ysnapopenandI'
m greetedbyfami
li
ar
brownones.I
twasonlyforaspli
tsecond,
butKi
ll
ianseemsali
tt
lef
lust
ered,asifhewas
caughtdoi
ngsomethi
ngheshoul dnothav
edone.

"
Youhav
eaper
fect
lycomf
ort
abl
ebedi
nther
e,y
ouknow?
"

"Iwaswai
ti
ngf
ory
ou"Ir
epl
i
ed.

"Wai
tforme?
,Whatf
or?
"Heasked.

"Aboutt
odayatt
heof
fi
ce.
..
..
"Ki
l
li
ancut
smeof
f.

"Thi
nknot
hingofi
t"hesai
d.

"ButIwantt
oknowmor
e"Iar
gued.

"If
ir
edani
ncompet
enti
nter
nthat
'sal
lther
eist
oit
.Not
hingmor
e".

"Um.
..
..Thenar
ewebackont
alki
ngt
ermsnow?
"Iaskedhi
m.

"Whati
sthatsupposedt
omean?
"Heaskedmeback.

"Well
,i
t'
sbeenawhil
esinceweactual
l
ytal
ked.
..
..Thi
ngsforheat
edbackthen,andIsuppose
webothneededt
imetocooldown.Iwashopi
ngthefi
rstproj
ectwoul
dprovethatI
'm notaf
ter
any
thi
ng"
Il
ookupathim ner
vousl
y,expect
ingar
epl
y.ButKi
l
li
ansi
mpl
ycockshi
sheadt
othesi
deasi
f
i
t'
she'
swait
ingtohearmor e.

"Youhav en'
tmadeyourdeci
sionaboutmeandI'
vebeenli
vi
ngever
ydayl
ikei
t'
smyl astni
ght
here.Ihaven'
tgot
tentounpacki
ngmysuitcasei
ncaseyoudodeci
detof
ireme..
..
..
"

"
Ther
e'sst
il
lasecondandt
hir
dpr
oject
,youknow?
"Hecutof
fmybl
abbi
ng.

"What
?"

"Sure,y
oudidn'
taskformyhelpfort
hef
ir
stpr
oject
,butwho'
stosayy
ou'
renotgoi
ngt
oaskf
or
i
tforthesecondorthi
rd"hesai
d.

Sohei
sbel
i
ttl
i
ngme.

Wi
thasmi
rk,
Kil
l
iant
urnsar
oundandwal
kst
ohi
sbedr
oom.

What
?That
'si
t?He'
sgoi
ngt
oleav
emehangi
ngl
i
ket
hat
?Hest
il
ldoesn'
ttr
ustme.

Thatbast
ar.
..
..
.

"
Unpack"Ki
l
li
ansai
d,Idi
dn'
tev
enknowwhenhecamebackt
othel
i
vingr
oom.

"
Huh?
"Hest
opsi
nhi
str
acksandl
ookov
erhi
sshoul
der
.

"
Stopl
i
vingoutofasui
tcase.Unpacky
ourst
uff
,uset
hef
ucki
ngdr
awer
s"

"I
sthatay
es?You'
ref
inal
l
yokaywi
thmest
ayi
ngher
e?"Iaskedhappi
l
y.
"Thr
eerul
es.One,
nev erspeakoft
hisatwor
k.Two,nev
erentermyroom wit
houtmy
per
missi
on.Thr
ee,Ineverwanttofi
ndyouundermysheet
s,naked"
.Hesaid.

"Andi
fIagr
eet
oal
lthat
,you'
l
lletmest
ay?
"Iasked.

Ther
e'snor
epl
y.Heent
ershi
sroom andshut
sthedoorbehi
ndhi
m.

"
I'
mtaki
ngt
hesi
l
enceasay
es!
"Ical
l
edaf
terhi
m,notapeepi
shear
d.

He'
sokaywi
thi
t!Ki
l
li
anKni
ghti
sact
ual
l
yokaywi
thi
t!Lucaswasn'
tki
ddi
ngaboutt
hesheet
s
t
hough.

Il
ookedar
oundt
hepent
houseandsmi
l
ed,
Icanf
inal
l
ycal
lthi
spl
acehome.

*
***
***
***
***
**

"
You'
rei
nagoodmoodt
oday
"Der
ri
cksai
d.

"
WhatcanIsay
?Thi
ngsar
efi
nal
l
ylooki
ngup"It
oldhi
m.

"That
'sgr
eatCl
air
e,Iwaswor
ri
edabouty
ou"

"Youwer
e?"Iasked.

"Yeah,Imean,asi
defr
om t
hepr
oject
,youl
ookedl
i
key
ouhadal
oti
nyourmi
nd"Der
ri
ck
reachesoutt
ome. .
.
Hecupsmyfacei
nhi
swarm,gent
lehandsl
i
kei
t'
sthemostnat
ural
thi
ngt
odo.Wi
thhi
sthumb,
hebr
ushest
heski
nundermyeye.

"
Youhadaney
elashony
ourcheekandIhat
edt
hatIcoul
dn'
tdoany
thi
ngabouti
t"hesai
d.

Henoti
ced?Iguesst
hat'
sDerr
ickforyou.Hemaypassesof
fassomeonecheekyandpl
ayf
ul,
buthe'
ssensi
ti
vetol
it
tl
edetai
l
slikethis.

"
That
'ssweetofy
out
osay
"It
oldhi
m.

If
eel
mycheeksheat
ingup.

"Ahem"Char
lot
tecl
ear
edhert
hroat
.Der
ickpul
l
shi
shandsaway
.

"Areyouguy sexci
tedforthecelebr
atorydi
nnertonight?Sure,wewer esupposedtocel
ebrat
e
thecompl et
ionofourfi
rstproj
ectwhichisonholdi ndefi
nit
ely
, andifyouasme,acomplete
disaster
.Butthesnakeisgoneandt heparty
'ssti
llon.Iheardev er
yonefrom Kni
ghtGamingis
i
nv i
ted!IhopeMrKnightistheretoo"shesaid.

"Real
l
yChar
lot
te?Am Inotenoughf
ory
ou?
"Der
ri
ckt
easedher
.

"D-
derr
ick,
I..
..
..
wel
l
,Imean,
you'
recut
e.Butl
et'
sfacei
t,y
ouobv
iousl
yhav
eyourey
eon
someoneelse"

Hedoes?May
beIshoul
dteasehi
m abouti
t.

"
Who?
"Iaskedhi
m,waggi
ngmybr
ows.
"
Uh.
..
.um.
..
..
I"

"
Leav
ethepoorboyal
oneCl
air
e"Char
lot
ter
escuedhi
m.

"Ithi
nksomeonei
slooki
ngf
orme,
seey
oul
adi
esar
ound"hesai
d,he'
sobv
iousl
yly
ingt
o
escapefr
om me.

Char
lot
tedoubl
esi
nlaught
er.

"
So.
..
whatar
eyouwear
ing,
Clai
re?
"

Itst
il
lfeelsawkwar
dbet
weent
het
woofus,
butIappr
eci
ateChar
lot
tei
str
yingt
omov
eonf
rom
every
thing.

"
I'
m goi
ngt
oswi
ngbymyapar
tmentt
ochangebef
oreIheadt
her
e"

"
Yourapar
tment
?Wi
l
lyoumakei
tont
ime?Andwher
edoy
oul
i
vebyt
heway
?"Sheasked.

Kil
l
ian'
swarni
ngsoundsi
nmyheadonceagai
n,Ican'
tl
etherknowIl
i
vewi
thKi
l
li
anKni
ght
undert
hesameroof.

"
Just
..
..
.downt
own"It
oldher
.

Ti
meski
ps

I
'minmyroom t
hinkingofwhattowear.
iheardwe'
rehavi
ngdinneratacl
assyr
est
aurant
,
bef
oregr
abbi
ngdrinksataclub.Butwhatshoul
dIwear?I
'veneverbeent
oaclubbef
ore,I
guesswhatIneedi
ssomet
hingsexy
,atl
eastt
hat
'swhatIseemostcl
ubgi
rl
swear
.

Ipi
ckedoutasexygownandheadt
other
est
aur
ant
.

*
***
**

Therestaur
antisreadypackedful
lofemploy
eesf r
om Kni
ghtGaming.Ilookaroundandspot
thei
nternsseatedatthefarcor
nerofalongtabl
e.Asexpect
ed,Ki
l
lianisseatedattheheadof
thet
able.Every
oneseemst obecl
amouringf
orhisatt
enti
on.

JustasDerri
ckwav esmeover,t
hepersonseat
ednextt
oKi
l
li
anl
eav
es,
butIdi
dn'
tsi
tint
hat
vacantchai
r,Ideci
dedtosi
tnexttoDerr
ick.

"
I'
m sogl
ady
oucoul
dmakei
t"Der
ri
ckwhi
sper
edi
nmyear
.

Thewai
tercomesov
erandaskedwhatI
'
dli
ket
odr
ink.

"
Redwi
ne,
please"It
oldhi
m.

"
Andsomeor
angej
uicef
orme"Der
ri
ckchi
psi
n.

"
Orangejui
ce,
real
ly
?"Iasked,hejustgiv
emeal itt
lewink.Andforawhil
e,i
tfel
tli
ket
herewas
morethanwhathe'
slet
ti
ngon.Bef oreIknowit
,dinnerisser
vedandItucki
n, I
'
m sodar
nhungry
,
t
hankful
lyt
hefoodserv
edt ousismor ethandel
icious.

Wedi
dn'
tspendt
oomucht
imeatt
her
est
aur
ant
.Soonwe'
rei
nthecl
ub.

Thebl
ari
ngofl
oudmusi
cwel
comemei
n.
"
Themusi
cist
ool
oud"Isai
dtoDer
ri
ckandChar
lot
te.

"You'
rei
nacl
ubbabe,
whatel
sedoy
ouexpect
"Char
lot
tesai
danddi
daney
erol
l
.

"Ican'
thearwhatyouguysar
esay
ing"Der
ri
cksai
dov
ert
hemusi
c,hi
svoi
cer
eal
l
yloudsot
hat
wecanhearhim cl
earl
y.

"
ISAI
DTHEMUSI
CISTOOLOUD"Isai
dmor
elouder
.

"
Ist
il
lcan'
theary
ou"Der
ri
cksai
d.

Ugh!Iguessmyvoicei
stooti
ny,
Igiv
eup.Thet
hreeofusstar
eateachotheri
nconfusi
onas
ever
yonearoundusgyr
atest
othethr
obbi
ngmusicthat
'scl
osetobur
sti
ngmyeardrums.

"
It
'samazi
nghowwi
l
dthesepr
udescanget
.Whent
heypar
ty,
thatpar
tyhar
d"Char
lot
tesai
d.

"I
sthatRav
engr
indi
ng?
"Ipoi
ntsatRav
en.

"Theyl
ooksopr
im andpr
operinthei
rsuit
sandt i
es,butl
ookatthem goonthedancef
loor
.I'
l
l
gogetussomet
hingtodr
ink"wi
ththatCharl
ott
edisappear
sint
ot hecrowd.

"Whatdoy
ouwantt
odo?
"Der
ri
ckaskedme.

Idon'
tknowifi
t'
sthewi
newor
king,
butt
hewor
dthatl
eftmymout
hshockedme,
yetIcoul
dn'
t
contr
olmyacti
ons.
"
Let
'sdance"Igr
abDer
ri
ck'
shandandpushmywayt
hrought
hecr
owdandont
othedancef
loor
.

"
Clai
re?
"Il
etgoofhi
shandandgi
vehi
m awi
nk.NowI
'
m sur
eit
'st
hewi
newor
king.

Ist
artedoffsl
owly
, swayi
ngmyhipsasItr
ytofi
ndtherhyt
hm.Butwhenthebassdrops,Ifi
nd
myselfdanci
nginway sInev
ert
houghtIwoul
d.Der
rick'
sgl
azedexpr
essi
ononlyencourageme
topushthoseli
mits.

"
Wow"Der
ri
ckawed.

I
t'
sdarkintheclub,butIcanfeelofeyeswatchi
ngmef r
om acorner
.Thoseeyeswer
e
unmi
stakable.Ki
ll
ianisseatedattheVIPbooth,
sur
roundedbypeople,
buthi
seyesar
efocused
onme.Idecidedtostopr i
ghtabrupt
ly.

"
What
'swr
ong"Der
ri
ckasked.

"
Not
hing,
Ijustneedal
i
ttl
ebr
eak"

"
Ofcour
se,
doy
ouwantt
ogor
estf
orabi
t?"

"Sur
e"

Der
ri
ckescor
tmebackt
oourseat
s.

"I'
m backwi
thmor
ebooze"Char
lot
ter
etur
ns,
shehandsDer
ri
ckandIashoteach.Iaccept
edi
t
anddownital
li
nonegul
p.
I
ffeel
sjustl
ikeyest
erdaywhenIwasdrowni
ngmysor
rowsi
nal
cohol
becauseIwascheat
edof
mysavings,
butseehowf arI
'
vegone.

Il
ookupandsawDer
ri
ckl
ooki
ngathi
sshotgl
assabsent
mindedl
y.

"
Issomet
hingwr
ong?
"Iaskedhi
m.

"
Huh?No,
not
hing"

"
Thenwhatar
eyouwai
ti
ngf
or?Dr
ink!
"Char
lot
teur
geshi
m.

Derr
ickhesi
tat
eforabit
,bef
oreheslamshi
sey
esshutandl
i
ftst
heshott
ohi
smout
h.He
sput
tersi
toutalmosti
mmediatel
y.

"
Itbur
ns!
"

"
Ohmygosh,
arey
ouokay
?"Iaskedhi
m.

"
Ofcour
sei
tbur
ns,
hav
en'
tyouhadashotbef
ore"Char
lot
temockedhi
m.

Der
ri
ckwi
peshi
smout
hwi
tht
hebackofhi
shand.

"
Pleasedon'
ttel
lmet
hisi
syourf
ir
stt
imet
aki
ngal
cohol
"Char
lot
tesai
d.

"I
t'
s.
..
."
IgaspasDer
ri
ckf
all
sbackwar
dst
owar
dst
hegr
ound.

"Der
ri
ck!
"Ical
l
ed.

"
He'
spassedout
,qui
ck!Let
'st
akehi
m somewher
elessst
uff
y"Char
lot
tesuggest
.

Wemanagedt
ocar
ryDer
ri
ckt
othebackoft
hecl
ub,
hesl
umpsagai
nstt
hewal
l
.Hegr
oans.

"
Wel
l
,that
'sasf
arasIam goi
ngt
ohel
p.I
'
mleav
ingt
hechaper
onedut
iest
oyou"

"
Wai
twhatdoy
oumeanbyt
hat
?"IaskedChar
lot
tebutshe'
sal
readygone.

"Char
lot
te!
"Ical
l
edbutIknowshewon'
thearme.

"
Ugh,
I'
m sosor
ryf
orr
uini
ngt
hef
un,
Clai
re"Der
ri
ckgr
oanedt
ir
edl
y.

"Don'
tsayt
hat
,weshoul
dn'
thav
emadey
oudr
ink"

"No,i
t'
smyfaul
t.Idi
dn'twantt
olookli
kealoseri
nfr
ontofy
ou.
..
..
.Youdon'
tdeser
vet
his
especi
all
ywhenyoulooksoprett
ytoni
ght
"

"Ri
ght
"

"Shi
t,myheadi
sspi
nni
ng"hecompl
ained.

"Letmeseei
fIcanf
indanaspi
ri
nsomewher
e.St
ayher
e"It
oldhi
m.
"I
'
llber
ighther
ewai
ti
ngf
ory
ou"

Iheadt
othefr
ontdesktogetanaspir
in.AsIwalkal
ongthehall
waybackt
oDerr
ick,Ispotone
i
ftheseni
orst
aff
schatt
ingDerr
ickup.Iconnectmyi
nneranthenat
oheart
hei
rconversati
on.

"
You'
reacut
ie.I
'
vehadey
esf
ory
ousi
ncey
ouj
oinedourcompany
"theseni
ort
oldhi
m.

"Thanks?
"

"Wantt
ocomeov
ert
omypl
ace?
"Sheasked.

"Notr
eal
l
y..
..I
'
m wai
ti
ngf
ormyf
ri
end"Der
ri
ckr
epl
i
ed.

"Fr
iend?y
oumeant
hatj
ustl
eft
?"Real
l
y?

"Cl
air
ewoul
dn'
tl
eav
emeher
eal
one.
..
..
"

"Isawherl
eav
ingwi
thanot
herguy
.Comeony
oucanr
esti
nmybed"shet
oldhi
m.

Thi
sgi
rli
sreal
l
ydesper
ate,
I'
vehear
denoughi
fhernonsense.Ist
ompupangr
il
ytot
hewoman.

"
Whatdoy
out
hinky
ouar
edoi
ng?He'
sobv
iousl
yuncomf
ort
abl
ewi
thy
ouradv
ances"It
oldher
.

"Andwhoar
eyou?
"Sheaskedme.
"Thef
ri
endy
ousawl
eav
ingwi
thanot
herguy
"Ianswer
ed.

"
Ugh!
!"Shewal
ksof
fhast
il
y.

"Thanks"Der
ri
cksai
d.

"
Noprobl
em.I
t'
snott
hef
ir
stt
imeI
'
vehadt
odeal
wit
hcr
eepsl
i
ket
hat
.Butwer
eal
l
yneedt
oget
y
ouhome,Der
ri
ck"

"Idon'
twantt
orui
nyourni
ghtanyl
onger
.I'
l
lgetacabmy
sel
f"hesai
d.

"What
?No!Atl
eastl
etmest
aywi
thy
ouunt
ilt
hedr
iverget
sher
e"

"I
'
llbef
ine"

Der
ri
ckst
ruggl
est
ost
anduponhi
sown.Hest
umbl
edf
orwar
dandIcat
chhi
mjusti
nti
me.

"
Der
ri
ckbecar
eful
"Iwar
nedhi
m.

"
Act
ual
l
y,Cl
air
e,Ihav
esomet
hingt
otel
lyou.
..
..
."

Tbc

[
7/8,
6:07AM]+233544142683OMEANOI
SH: ROOMMATESWI
THTHECEO
 Chapt
er9

Dr
unkCl
air
e

Cl
air
e'sPOV

"
Act
ual
l
y,Cl
air
e,Ihav
esomet
hingt
otel
lyou.
..
."

Ohno!He'
snotinhi
sri
ghtsenses,what
everhesay
sisn'
tgoingtomakesense,
Ineedt
oget
hi
m homebefor
ehesayssomet hi
nghe'
sgoingtor
egretl
ater.

Justt
hen,
Ispotthewomanfr
om bef
orewal
ki
ngt
owar
dsourdi
rect
ionagai
n.Sheshoul
dn'
t
comeandbotherusagai
n.

"
Clai
re,
I.
..
"

"Al
ri
ght
,I'
l
lgetsomeoneweknowwho'sgoinghometoshar
eacabwi
thy
ou,
I'
mreal
l
ynot
comfor
tabl
elet
tingy
ougohomealone"Icuthi
m of
f.

Hesi
ghs.

"Soundsl
i
keaf
airpl
an"hesai
d.

Isawoneofouri nt
ernswho'
sgoinghome,
Ibeghi
mtohel
pDer
ri
ckgethomeandt
hankf
ull
yhe
agreed.Iwentbacki
ntothecl
ub.

"
You'
reback,
Iseey
oumanagedt
odi
tchDer
ri
ck"Char
lot
tesai
dimmedi
atel
ysheseesme.
"Whaty
oudi
dbackt
her
ewasn'
tcool
"It
oldher
.

"Oh,
comeon, webot
hknowhe'dprefert
ohav
eyouar
oundi
nst
eadofme.Her
e"shehandsme
anot
hershot
."Theni
ght
'sst
il
lyoung"

Irol
lmyeyes,
butaccept
edi
tany
way
.Oneaf
tert
heot
her
..
.SoonIl
ostcountoft
henumberof
shotsI
'
vehad.

Thef
loorbegi
nst
ospi
nuncont
rol
l
abl
y.

"OkayI
'm goi
ngtobet
her
esponsi
bleadul
tnow"Char
lot
tesai
d."Wher
edoy
oul
i
veCl
air
e?We
needtogetyouhome"

Igi
ggl
ed.

"
You'
renotgoi
ngt
obel
i
evewher
eIl
i
ve!No,
no,
you'
renotgoi
ngt
obel
i
evewhoIl
i
vewi
th.
..
.."

"That
'senoughdr
inksf
ory
ou,
youngl
ady
"Ihear
dLucas'
svoi
cecutmeof
f.If
rown.

"Lucas?
!Youar
eMrKni
ght
'ssecr
etar
y"Char
lot
teexcl
aimed.

"
Nicetomeetyou.Restassur
ed,she'
singoodhands,
I'
ll
bri
ngy
ourf
ri
endhome,
saf
eandsound.
I
'
mt hedesi
gnateddri
ver"het
oldher.

"
youknowwher
eshel
i
ves?"
"Yup"

Char
lot
tehesi
tat
eforawhi
l
e.

"
Okay
yy"t
henshewal
kedaway
.

Idi
dadoubl
etakeatLucas,
hel
ookki
ndacut
ethi
sev
eni
ng,
ugh,
thi
sal
cohol
isr
eal
l
yget
ti
ngt
o
me.

Ipi
nchedhi
scheeks.

"
Ow!Ow!
"Hewi
nches.

Igi
vehi
m Themosti
nnocentsmi
l
eIcanconj
ureup.Lucassi
ghs.

"Thethi
ngsIdo..
..
"Hetr
ail
off
."Comenow,Cl
air
e"hel
edmeoutoft
hecl
ub."
Thatwasadamn
closecal
l"hewhi
sper
edunderhisbr
eat
h.

"Younear
lyt
oldherabouty
ourspeci
all
i
vingar
rangement
s"

"You'
rer
ight
!Idi
dn'
tgett
otel
lher
,Ihav
etogobackandt
ell
hert
hatI'
ml i
vi
ngwi
th.
..
."Lucas
cover
smymout hwit
hhishandashecont
inuest
odr
agmeoutoftheclub.

Igr
unt
sasI
'
mfl
ungi
ntot
hebackseatoft
hef
anci
estl
i
moI
'
veseeni
nmyl
i
fe.

"
Wow"Iawed."
It
'sasbi
gasmybedr
oom backi
nmor
fi
eld"

"
Dri
ve"Ihear
dKi
l
li
an'
svoi
ceor
der
ed.Hi
scol
dvoi
cesendsshi
ver
sdownmyspi
ne.Butbynow,
I
'
mtooi
ntoxi
cat
edt
ofi
l
termyt
hought
s.

Hesoundsangr
y.

"
Soundsl
i
kesomeonei
sangr
y"Ibl
untout
.

"Youwer
eaboutt
obl
urtoutoursecr
et.Ofcour
seI
'
m mad!"

"Oops.Sor
ry"Imut
ter
ed."I
'
vebeent
hinki
ng.
..
.."

"Idon'
tcar
ewhaty
ou'
vebeent
hinki
ng,
Clai
re"
.

"Youmusthav
eknownaboutTi
mot
hy,
thatbast
ardcopi
edmydesi
gnandy
ouknew.But
how.
..
..
.."

"Idon'
tknowwhaty
ourar
etal
ki
ngabout
"hei
nter
ruptme.

"Thatni
ght
..
..We'
rey
out
heonewhot
idi
edmynot
es?Di
dyoucar
rymebackt
omybedr
oom?"

Ki
l
li
anst
aresoutoft
hewi
ndowwor
dlessl
y.

"Letmemakeitupt
oyou"Isl
i
desmy sel
facrosst
heseat
..
..
.Andont
oKi
l
li
an'
slap,
str
addl
i
ng
him.Ev
enthr
oughmyfuzzyvi
sion,
Iseehim swal
l
ownervousl
y.

"
Whatar
eyoudoi
ng?
"Heasked.
Fr
om t
hisdi
stance,
Icansmel
lami
xofwi
neandwhi
skyonhi
sbr
eat
h.

He'
sjustasdr
unkasIam.

Iwr
apmyar
msar
oundhi
sneck.

"
Hasany
oneev
ert
oldy
ou,
you'
rehot
?Li
ker
eal
l
y,r
eal
l
yhot
?"Iaskedhi
m.

Hechuckl
ed.Hegr
absmyar
m andt
ri
est
opul
lmeaway
,buti
tonl
ypr
ompt
smet
oleanev
en
cl
osert
ohim.

"
Whydon'
tyouwannaf
indmei
nyourbednaked?Whyi
sthatev
enar
ule?
"

"Cl
air
e,Clai
re.You'
vecer
tai
nlyhadtoomucht
odr
ink"hesai
d,butI
'
m notget
ti
nganyoft
hat
.
Bei
ngdr unkmademebol derthanbef
ore.

"
Doy
ounotf
indmeat
tract
iveenough?
"

Inthatmoment ,
Ifeelapangofdesirehitme.HaveIal
wayswantedtoknowt heanswertot
his?
IguessIhave.IthoughtIwascontentwitht
heideaofworki
ngasbothhisint
ernandhis
housekeeper,
contentwitht
heideaofliv
inginthesamespaceashim..
..
.Butcouldi
tbethatI
wantedmor e?

"
Clai
re,
what
'swr
ong?
"Ki
l
li
anasksme.

"Sor
ry.You'r
eri
ght
.I'
vehadtoomucht
odri
nk".It
ryt
osl
i
deof
fhi
slapexcept
..
..
.Hewr
apshi
s
arm aroundmywaist
,locki
ngmei
nhisembrace.

"I
sthathowyout
hinkIseey
ou?
"Heasked,
IgaspedwhenImeethi
sgaze,
foral
lIseei
sdesi
re.
Puredesi
re.
"
Fucki
nghel
l
!"Hemut
ter
ed.

Hecrasheshislipsagainstmi
newithoutwar
ningandpull
smei mpossi
blycl
osetohim.Without
hesi
tat
ing,Iopenmymout handheeagerl
ydelvesi
n,ni
ppingandsucki
ng.I'
mlosti
nhistaste,
l
ostinhisscent.Thekisswaswild.

"
MrKni
ght
..
..
."Ical
l
ed.

"Fuck.I
tdr
ivesmecr
azywhenevery
oucal
lmet
hat
"hebr
eaker
stheki
ssandl
eanshi
sfor
ehead
againstmi
ne,bot
hofuspant
ing.

Hi
sey
esar
est
il
lhoodedwi
thdesi
re.

"
Arey
ousur
eyouwantt
his?
"Heaskedme.

"
N-no.
..
.."

"That
'sokay
"hepl
ant
sasof
tki
ssonmyl
i
pst
hist
ime.

Awav
eofexhaust
ionhi
tsmeandIf
eel
myey
eli
dsget
ti
ngheav
ier
..
..
..

*
***
***
***
***
***
***
*

Thenextmor
ning.
..
.

Ugh!Whyi
sitsobr
ight
?
Ow,
myhead!

Wai
t.
..I
'
m backi
nmyownbed?How?

Fl
ashbacksofmyki
sswi
thKi
l
li
anpl
aybacki
nmyhead.

WHATHAVEIDONE?

No,
no,
no,
no!

Iqui
ckl
ychangeoutofmydr
essf
rom l
astni
ghtanddashoutofmyr
oom.

"K-
kil
li
an?Imean,MrKnight
?"I'
dbett
ergobacktolastnamebasi
sev
ent
houghIwasal
lupon
himlastni
ght
.Ilookar
ound,butdi
dn'tseehi
m any
wher e.

He'snotar
ound.
..Coul
dhebeinhisroom?Iwal
ktohi
sbedr
oom andknock,
butt
her
e'sno
answer.It
urnhi
sdoorknob,
it'
sunl
ocked.

Ipeeri
nsidet
hedar
kroom andsur
eenough,
ther
ewasKi
l
li
an,
spr
awl
edunderhi
scov
ers,
topl
ess.

"
MrKni
ght
?"Ical
l
ed,
heshi
ft
sinhi
sbed,
groani
ngl
i
ght
ly.

GuessI'm nott
heonlyonewithabadhangover.Ishutthedoorbehi
ndmeandslumpsont
othe
fl
oor.It
ouchmyl i
psasIt hi
nkbacktohowKill
i
anr avagedthem l
astni
ght
.If
eel
ablush
creepi
ngov ermycheeks.Thethr
obbi
ngheadacher et
urn.

Ugh,
Ineedmyhangov
ercur
etot
hinkst
rai
ght
.
Iheadtothekitchenandr ansackedthecupboardsandf ri
dget oconcoctmyveryownhangov er
el
ixi
r.Thesecretistoaddpl entyoforangejui
ce,If
eelsurpri
singl
yhealthi
eraf
terdri
nkingit
.
Kil
li
andidn'
tsoundt oorosyei t
her.Heprobablyhadjustasmucht odr i
nkasIdidlastnight
..
.
That'
showi tl
edt o.
..
.

Mypassi
onat
etr
ystr
esur
facesi
nmyhead.

Argh!ButIr
eal
l
yshouldbringhi
m aglassofmyhangovercure.Icoul
dtaket
hisopport
unit
yto
talkt
ohimtoo.
..
..ButIdon'
tthi
nkIhavethecour
aget
of acehim now.NoIcan'
t,notaf
terl
ast
night
.

Ihaul
mysel
fint
omyr
oom andt
ryt
odosomewor
ktot
akemymi
ndof
fev
ery
thi
ng.

Awhi
l
elat
er,
Ihear
daknockont
hedoor
.

Uh-
oh

Ishuf
fl
eunwi
l
li
ngl
ytoopent
hedoor
.Sur
eenough,
ther
ewasKi
l
li
anst
andi
ngatt
hedoor
.

"
Aboutl
astni
ght
..
..
..
"

OhmyGod!Whati
shegoi
ngt
osaynow?Pl
easedon'
tfi
remebecauseofl
astni
ght
,Ipr
ayedi
n
myhead.

Tobecont
inued

[
7/8,
6:08AM]+233544142683OMEANOI
SH: ROOMMATESWI
THTHECEO

Chapt
er10
 Ami
stake

Ihaulmy
sel
fint
omyroom andt
ryt
odosomewor
ktot
akemymi
ndof
fev
ery
thi
ng.Awhi
l
elat
er
Ihear
daknockont
hedoor.

Uhoh

Ishuf
fl
eunwi
l
li
ngl
ytoopent
hedoor
,sur
eenough,
Kil
l
iani
sst
andi
ngbyt
hedoor
.

"
Aboutl
astni
ght..
..
."Hest
art
ed,
noI
'
mtooembar
rassedt
otal
kabouti
t,I
'
dbestpr
etendIdon'
t
r
ememberathing.

"
Whathappenedl
astni
ght
?Idon'
trememberat
hing"If
eignmemor
yloss.

"
Lastni
ghtwasami
stake"hesai
d.If
eel
mysel
ffr
eezeup.

Mi
stake?

"
Icr
ossedal
i
ne.
..
.I'
m sor
ry.Restassur
edt
hati
t'
l
lnev
erhappenagai
n"hesai
d.

"Okay"t
hatgood,
right?Iwaswor
ri
edl
astni
ghtwoul
dcompl
i
cat
ethi
ngs,
buti
tseemsKi
l
li
an
i
sn'
ttoobother
edbyi t
.

Onet
hingledtoanot
her.
..
.Wesi
mpl
ygotcar
ri
edawayl
astni
ght
.Itmeantnot
hing.Sowhydoes
myheartf
eelsoheavy?
.

"
I'
ll
best
ayi
ngi
ntoday
,soI
'
llkeepmyr
oom unl
ocked.I
t'
sbeenawhi
l
esi
ncewe'
rechanged"he
sai
d.

Yeah,
that
'sr
ight
,I'
mjusthi
shousekeeper
.

"Whataboutt
hatr
oom?Shoul
dIt
idyupi
nther
etoo?
"

"
That
'sst
il
loutofboundst
oyou"hel
eft
.

Ahousekeepert
hathest
il
ldoesn'
ttr
ustcompl
etel
y.
..
.WhatwasIexpect
ing?
.

"
Ami
stake.
..
.That
'sal
lIam t
ohi
m,huh?
"

Justt
henIr
ecei
vedamessageonmyphone,
it'
sfr
om Der
ri
ck.

Der
ri
ck:
-Mor
ningCl
air
e,Ihopey
ougothomef
inel
astni
ght
:)al
sot
hanksf
ort
aki
ngcar
eofme.

Me:
-Any
time,
drunkDer
ri
cki
sacut
ie.

Der
ri
ck:
-Damn.Iwashopi
ngy
ouwoul
dseet
hatsi
deofme.

Me:
-Oops

Der
ri
ck:
-Lastni
ghtwasf
un,
weshoul
ddoi
tsomeot
hert
imeagai
n.

Atl
eastl
astni
ghtwasn'
tami
staket
oDer
ri
ck.
..Ikeepmyphonei
nmybackpocket
.
"Al
ri
ghtCl
air
e,snapoutofi
t.Whatiswrongwi
thy
ou,chor
es.Let
'sgetst
art
edont
hosechor
es!I
shoul
dprobabl
ystar
twithmylaundry
"Isai
dtomysel
foutl
oud.

Bythet imeI'm donepicki

ngoutallmydir
tyclot
hes,
I'
mleftwi
thnot
hingbutanov
ersi
zedtee-
shir
t.Itbarelycoversmybutt.
..
..Buti
fwatchi
ngromanti
cmovi
eshavetaughtmeanyt
hing,i
t'
s
thatthisistheperfectout
fi
ttodrivemencrazy.

IdoubtKi
l
li
anwoul
dbei
mmunet
othi
s.I
t'
stoomuch.

Ideci
dedt
oputonmycl
eanestdi
rt
yout
fi
t.

Tidyi
ngKi
l
li
an'
sroom i
sli
ter
all
ynochoresforme,butt
her
e'sagl
ari
ngdi
str
acti
onthatseemst
o
call
tomeli
keasir
en.
..
.Thatlockeddoor
.Iwonderi
fI'
l
lev
ergeti
nther
eagain.
..
..

Ki
ll
ianisseat
edont hecouchwit
hacont r
oll
erinhi
shand.Heseemsabsor bedinwhat
everi
s
pl
ayingonhisfl
atscreenTV.I
'
m usedt oseei
ngKill
i
aninbusi
nesssui
ts,buttoday
,he'
sweari
ng
ahoodieandapairofsweatpants.Ev
enhishairseemsmoretousl
edthannor mal
.

Whydoeshel
ookcut
ert
hannor
mal
.

Al
oudbangcapt
uremyat
tent
ionandIt
urnedt
olookatt
hescr
een.

"
Isthat'enchant
ressoft
heni
ght
?'t
hatgamei
sonl
ysl
atest
ober
eleasednextsummer
!
How...
."It
rai
loff
.

"Oh?
,You'
vehear
dofi
t?"Ki
l
li
anasked,
hehi
tspausedandt
urnt
ofaceme.

"Ofcourse,
Iwasahugefanof'
echant
ressoft
heDay
'I'
veonl
ybeenwai
ti
ngf
ort
hesequel
since
Forever
"heeyesmecuri
ousl
y.
"It'
soneofther ar
erRPGgamest hatfeat
uresast
rongfemaleleadwhosearmourisn'
t,well
,a
bra.Thedevelopersactual
l
ynail
editf
orthi
sone!I
'vewatchedeveryt
easerandreadevery
discussi
onont heforum!Didy
ouhearhowt heyt
urnedaglit
chinthegameintoanactualquest
featur
e?"Igushed.

"NoIdidnot
.IhadLucasgethishandsonanearl
ypre-
rel
ease.Iam t
heCEOofagaming
companyaft
eral
l.I
t'
sfundamentalt
hatIknowwhatt
helatestgami
ngt r
endsar
e"Ki
l
li
ansai
d.

"Ofcour
se"

"Youwer
en'
tl
yi
ngwheny
ousai
dyoul
ovev
ideogamesony
ourr
esume"

"Your
eadmyr
esume?
"Iasked,
sur
pri
sed.

"Well
,Idon'
tnormall
ymeddl eintheselect
ionofint
erns,
butIgot..
.Cur
ious.Ir
equest
edacopy
whenIlear
nedifourunexpectedarrangement.Thewayy ouport
rayedvi
deogamesandyour
passi
onforthem..
..I
t'
sadmirable.IseewhyRav enhir
edy ou"

Wai
tasec.
..
..
.IsKi
l
li
anpr
aisi
ngme?

"Buttal
kischeap,I
'dl
iket
oseejusthowgoodyouareatt
hem.'Enchant
ressoft
heNight
'does
boastatwo-play
ercampai
gn.
..Oneoftheot
herr
easonswhyIadmirethehardworkputi
nitby
thedevel
oper.Noonehaseverbeat
enmeatav i
deogamebefore"hesaid.

"Whatdoy
ouknow?Noonehasev
erbeat
enmeei
ther
"It
oldhi
m.

"Shal
lwechanget
hatt
oday
?"
"Ar
eyouchal
l
engi
ngme?
,I'
l
lpassf
ornow.Enj
oyt
hegame"

Idecidedt
ospendsometimestudyi
ngothergamest
rends.I
'
m soabsor
bedi
nitt
hatIdon'
t
real
izehowmanyhourshavepassed.
..
.

Someoneknocksonmydoor
.Iopenedt
hedoorandcomef
acet
ofacewi
thKi
l
li
an.

"
Um.
..
.Hav
eyouhaddi
nner
?Ior
der
edsomet
akeout
s".Asi
foncue,
myst
omachgr
owl
s.

Heor
der
edf
orme?That
'sunexpect
edl
ythought
ful
ofhi
m.

"
Don'
tmi
ndi
fIdo"Ir
epl
i
ed.

*
***
***
***
***
***
***
***
***

Att
hedi
nni
ngr
oom.

"Di
dyouenj
oy'
echant
ressoft
heNi
ght
?'Iaskedhi
m.

"Itwasr
emarkabl
e.Idef
ini
tel
yseethepot
ent
ial
int
hegame.I
'
llhav
etobeonmyt
oesi
fIhope
tokeepKni
ghtGamingatthetop"

"
Ist
hatwhyy
ouchooset
ospendy
ourSat
urdaycoopedupaty
ourhomepl
ayi
ngv
ideogames?"

Ther
e'sanawkwar
dsi
l
enceasKi
l
li
anseemst
opondermywor
ds.

Cr
ap!Nowt
hatIt
hinkabouti
t,Isoundj
ustl
i
kemymot
her
.
"
S-sor
ry,
Idon'
tmeant
hatt
ocomeofwr
ong.
..
..
..I
..
..
..
."

"No,y
ou'reri
ght
"hecutsmeoff
."I
'
dmuchr
atherspendmyt
imepl
ayi
ngv
ideogamesact
ual
l
y.I
guessthat'
swhyIgotdumped"

"
It
'sherl
oss"Isai
d.

Ki
l
li
ansmi
rked.

"You,
ont
heot
herhand,
justspentanent
ir
edayi
nyourr
oom"

"
Ispentt
heent
ir
edayr
esear
chi
ngt
hel
atestgami
ngt
rends"Idef
endedmy
sel
f.

"
Right
"

"
Iguesswe'
rej
ustsi
mil
ari
nsomeway
s"

"That
'saf
ir
st.
..
..I
'
venev
ermetany
onequi
tel
i
keme"Ki
l
li
anmused.

"Wel
l
,Idon'
thav
easecr
etr
oom f
ull
ofcl
assi
cromant
icf
il
ms"Ij
oked.Ki
l
li
anf
urr
owshi
sbr
ows.

Uhoh.

Meandmybi
gmout
h!MustIal
way
stakei
tonest
ept
oof
ar?

"
So,
whi
chonei
syourf
avor
it
e?"Iaskedt
oeaset
het
ensi
on.
Ki
l
li
anseemshesi
tat
etor
epl
y.Oh,
greatCl
air
e.You'
vedonei
tthi
sti
me.

"I
..
.Il
ovecl
assicfi
lmst oo.WhenI'
m notplayi
ngvi
deogames,I
'
m watchi
ngoneoft hem wi
tha
popcor
nbowl i
nonehand"Isai d."
Igeti
t..
..CEOofabigGami
ngcompany...Mustkeepupa
cooli
mage..
.Hencet hefil
msarekepthiddenaway.Buty
oudonehav
et ofeelashamedofi
t.
Youshoul
dn'thav
et o"

"
Thanky
ou.Andt
hanky
ouf
orhol
dingupt
oyourendoft
hedeal
"hesai
d.

"
Yoursecr
eti
ssaf
ewi
thme"Iassur
edhi
m.

Tothi
nkwe'rehavi
nganact
ualconv
ersat
ionnowwhenwewer eallupatoneachotherl
ast
ni
ght.
..
.Thenital
lcomescr
ushi
ngdown..
..Except
..
..Lastni
ghtwasnothi
ngmorethana
mist
aketohim.

"
Issomet
hingwr
ong?
"Ki
l
li
anasked.

"
No.
..
."

Ishoul
dn'tgetcar
ri
edaway,Ki
ll
ianKnighti
snothi
ngmorethanmyboss.YetIcoul
dn'
tcont
rol
myactions,myhandsreachoutforhi
shands,buthepul
l
saway.

"
Goodni
ght
,Cl
air
e"hesai
d.Hemakeshi
swayt
ohi
sroom.

"
Goodni
ght
"Ir
epl
i
ed.

What
'sgot
teni
ntomet
heseday
s?Whati
sthi
sI'
mfeel
i
ng?
Tobecont
inued

[
7/8,
7:32AM]+233544142683OMEANOI
SH: ROOMMATESWI
THTHECEO

Chapt
er11

TheTour

Cl
air
e'sPOV

Thenextmor
ning.
..
..
.

I
t'
sagoodt hingKi
ll
iani
sn'
taroundtoday.Thi
ngshavebeenweir
dbetweenus.I
tmi
ghtbea
goodideatoheadoutandclearmythoughtstoday
.It
'sbeenawhil
esi
nceImovedher
eandI
haven'
thadthechancetoexplor
ethecit
y.

Myphonebeeped,
it'
sat
extf
rom Der
ri
ck.Iopent
heconv
ersat
ion.

Der
rick:
-Hey
,Ihear
dofthi
snewcaf
eandIwant
edt
otr
yitout
.Whobet
tert
oaskt
hanmy
cof
feebuddyfr
om wor
k?

Me:
-Cof
feebuddy
?

Der
ri
ck:
-Okayt
hatwasbad.I
'
m baratt
his,
IguesswhatI
'
mtr
yingt
osayi
s..
..Doy
ouwantt
o
gr
ababrunchwi
thmetoday?
Me:
-Iact
ual
l
ywant
edt
oexpl
oret
heci
tyt
oday
.

Der
ri
ck:
-Expl
oret
heci
ty?Li
ker
idet
hecabl
ecarandst
uff
?CauseI
'
dlov
etoshowy
ouar
ound.

Me:
-May
beanot
hert
ime,
I'
dli
ket
oex
plor
eonmyown.

Der
ri
ck:
-Sur
e.

Ti
meski
ps

Ican'
tbel
i
eveIgettori
deonacablecar
!Thi
s,t
hisi
swhatIcametoSanFranci
scof
or!I
sthat
thegol
dengat
ebridge?Iwonderwhyi
t'
scal
l
edthati
fit
'snotmadeofgol
d.

Itakeasecondtotakei
tal
li
n.Wow,Ifi
nall
ygotoutofmorfi
eld,I
'
mfi
nal
l
yhere.Idon'
tknowfor
howl ongIt
oured,
butal
as,
it'
sni
ghtf
allandIf
indmy sel
fbackinmyr
oom att
hepenthouse.

Todaywasnice,
IwonderwhereKi
l
li
anwentt
oday
.Hewasal
readyhomebyt
het
imeIgotback.
Notthati
tshoul
dbot
herme...

Knock!Knock!Knock!

Ihear
daknockonmydoor
.It
'si
nthemi
ddl
eoft
heni
ght
,whywoul
dKi
l
li
ancomet
omydoor
?.

Iopent
hedoorandcomef
acet
ofacewi
thaf
lust
eredKi
l
li
an.

"
Clai
re"
"What
'swrong?"I'
veneverseenhi
m soner
vous.Hi
sey
esar
eshaki
ng.Ipl
acemyhandsonhi
s
shoul
der
."It
'sokayKil
li
an..
..What
'swr
ong?"

Het
akesi
nashakybr
eat
h.

"Youhav
en'
tbeendoi
ngy
ourj
obwel
l
,housekeeper
"

What
'swr
ongwi
thhi
m?

"I
'
m sor
ry.Whati
sit
?"Iasked.

"Ther
e'sa.
..
..
.Ther
e'ssomet
hingi
nthet
heat
re"

"Thet
heat
re?Youmeany
oursecr
etr
oom?I
'
m notal
l
owedi
nther
ewi
thouty
ourper
missi
on"I
tol
dhi
m

"Fai
renough.Butt
her
e'ssomet
hingi
nther
eri
ghtnowandIneedy
ourf
ucki
nghel
p"

I
sthi
saf
reepasst
oent
ert
her
oom?Wow!

If
oll
owedhi
mtot
her
oom andr
ightsmacki
nthemi
ddl
eoft
her
oom i
sa.
..
..
.Spi
der
.

"
Aspi
der
?"Iasked.

"
Afucki
ngspi
der
"her
epl
i
ed.
"
Youwer
efr
eaki
ngoutov
eraspi
der
?"

"
Thespi
derwoul
dn'
tbet
her
ehady
oukeptt
hecl
eanl
i
nessoft
hepent
house.Thi
sisy
ourf
aul
t!
"
Hebl
amedme.

Ir
oll
myey
es.

"Ri
ght
.Ist
hemi
ght
yMrKni
ghtaf
rai
dofani
tt
y-bi
tt
yspi
der
?"It
easehi
m.

"Iam not
..
..
.."

"Wai
t,wher
edi
ditgo?"

Ki
l
li
anqui
ckl
yhi
desbehi
ndme.Il
aughed.

"Iwasj
ustki
ddi
ng,
it'
sri
ghtt
her
e,i
thasn'
tmov
edani
nch"

"
Clai
re.I
'
llhav
eyouknowt
hati
t'
sunwi
set
opl
aywi
thf
ir
e"

"Pl
ayi
ngwi
thf
ir
eisgood,
spi
der
sar
eaf
rai
doff
ir
e"

"Cl
air
e!"Hecal
l
edwar
ningl
y.

"MrKni
ght
!"Imocked.

"
Justhel
pmegetr
idofi
t.Pl
ease"
Aw,he'
sli
keachi
ldri
ghtnow,Iwantt
ohel
phi
m sobadl
y.
..
..Butt
hespi
deri
sinnocent
,itdi
dn'
t
bi
tanyonesowhyshoul
dIkil
lit
.

"
Justl
eav
eital
one,
I'
m sur
eitmeansnohar
m"

"
Leav
eital
one?
!"Heasksal
armed.

"Imean,
it'
sal
readygone"

"What
?"

Hei
nspect
sther
oom f
rant
ical
l
y,t
hespi
deri
snowher
einsi
ght
.Ki
l
li
ancl
ear
shi
sthr
oat
.

"
I'
ll
bel
eav
ingt
her
oom unl
ockedf
rom now"hesai
d.

"
What
?"

"Youcancomei
nwhenev
erandmakesur
ether
oom i
sti
died.Ican'
thav
eanot
herspi
deri
n
here"
.

"
But
..
.Rul
enumbert
wo.
..
.."

"Fuckt
hoser
ules"hesai
d.Hi
sgazel
i
nger
sonme.

Whyishelookingatmet hi
sway?Ishoul
dst
opbef
orei
tget
stoof
ar.Idon'
twantt
oheart
hat
i
t'
sjustamistake.Ipoi
ntsathi
sshoul
der
.
"
What
'st
hat
?"

"
Fuck!I
sitanot
heroneoft
hem?
"Hej
umped.

"No.Iwasj
ustki
ddi
ng"

"Cl
air
e!"

"I
'
m sor
ry.
..I
t'
sjust
..
."

Hegr
absmywr
istandpul
l
smet
ohi
m qui
ckl
y.

"You'
reenj
oyi
ngt
hisaren'
tyou?Seei
ngmeont
heedgel
i
ket
hat
?Youknowt
wocanpl
ayt
his
gamer i
ght
?AndIreal
l
yhatetolose"

Igul
pedner
vousl
yasKi
l
li
andi
pshi
sheadt
owar
dsmyneck.Hepl
acedat
enderki
ssonmyneck.

"
Whyi
sitt
hatIj
ustcan'
tcont
rol
mysel
far
oundy
ou?
"

"Don'
t.Don'
tmaket
hesamemi
stakey
oudi
dtheot
herni
ght
"It
oldhi
m,hepul
l
sbackandl
ook
atme.

Ipushedhi
m awayanddashi
ntomyr
oom.Oncet
hedoori
sshut
,Isi
nkt
othegr
oundandhug
mykneescloset
omychest.

Fuckt
hoser
ules?Butt
hoser
ulesr
emi
ndmeoft
hel
i
nebet
weenusandi
fwebr
eakt
hem.
..
.IfI
cr
osst
hatl
i
ne.
..I
'
m af
rai
dI'
l
lwantmor
efr
om hi
m.

Thenextmor
ning

Ist
irmycupitcof
feeabsent
mindedl
yasIl
eanagai
nstt
hecupboar
dint
hepant
ry.Ri
ghtnowI
'
m
att
heoff
ice.

"
Car
eful
.Yourcof
feei
saboutt
ospi
l
l"Der
ri
ckwar
nedme.

"What
..
..Oh!Idi
dn'
tseey
out
her
e"

"Youl
ookedl
i
key
ouwer
edeepi
nthought
"hesai
d.

Ismi
l
edweakyasIt
akeaseatatt
het
abl
e.AndDer
ri
ckj
oinsme.

"I
t'
saboutti
mef
ort
hem t
orev
eal
thenextpr
oject
.Ar
eyouner
vous?
"Der
ri
ckaskedsi
ppi
ngf
rom
hi
scoffee.

"Whatpr
oject
?"

"
Clai
re.Wai
t,ser
iousl
y?"Heasked.

"
Justki
ddi
ng"

"Wel
l,
Ijusthopeal
lgoeswel
lthi
sti
me.Woul
dn'
twantouref
for
tst
ogodownt
hedr
ainagai
n"he
sai
d
"Uh-
huh"

"Cl
air
e..
."Ij
umpedatDer
ri
ck'
stouch,
causi
ngmet
ospi
l
lmycupofcof
feeal
lov
erhi
spant
s.

"
Ah!
"

"
OhmyGod!Der
ri
ck!I
'
m sosor
ry!
"Iapol
ogi
zedwor
ri
edl
y.

"N-
no,
it'
sokay
..
.It
'smyf
aul
tforst
art
li
ngy
ou.
..
..
"

"
No.I
t'
smi
ne!Iwassooutofi
t"Isai
d.

"Thankf
ull
yit
'si
ced!Mycr
ownj
ewel
sar
espar
ed"hesai
d.

Hi
scr
ownwhatnow?

"Yourcrown.
..Di
dyour
eal
l
yjustr
efert
oyour
..
.Ther
e..
.Asy
ourcr
ownj
ewel
s?"Il
aughedathi
s
l
amej oke.

"Yeah.I
'
m goi
ngt
olety
oui
nonasecr
et.Ev
eryguynamest
hei
rjunk"hel
ower
edhi
svoi
ceat
thel
astpar
t.

"I
'
m sur
etheydo"Ismi
l
ed.

"
Ther
e'st
hatsmi
l
e"
Igr
oaned.

"Real
l
yDer
ri
ck?Pl
ease,
don'
ttel
lmey
ouwentt
hisf
art
ocheermeup"

"Wel
l,havi
ngahugecoff
eestai
nonmycrotchwasdefi
nit
elynotpar
toft
hepl
an,butweended
upatthedesir
edr
esul
ts,soI
'
m notcompl
aini
ng"hecont
inuestodabatt
hest
ain,buti
tdoesn'
t
seem tohel
pmuch.

"
Oh,
youmi
ssedaspot
!"Isai
d.

"
Wher
e?"Heasked.It
ookt
hehandker
chi
eff
rom hi
m andbegi
ntowi
pet
hespot
.

Suddenl
y,al
oudbangdr
awsmyat
tent
ion.

"
Justwhatar
ethet
woofy
oudoi
ngi
nher
e?"

Ki
l
li
an?
!

Tobecont
inued.
..
..
..
.

[
7/8,
7:34AM]+233544142683OMEANOI
SH: ROOMMATESWI
THTHECEO

Chapt
er12

Answer
s
Cl
air
e'sPOV

Suddenl
y,al
oudbangdr
awsmyat
tent
ion.

"
Justwhatar
ethet
woofy
oudoi
ngi
nher
e?"

Ki
l
li
an?

"
Goodm-
mor
ning,
MrKni
ght
"Der
ri
ckst
andsupf
rom hi
schai
r.

IwonderwhatgotKi
l
li
ansor
il
edupt
hismor
ning?

"
Issomet
hingwr
ong,
MrKni
ght
?"Iasked.

"
Yes!Somet
hingi
sver
ywr
ong"her
epl
i
edhar
shl
y.

"
Whatbr
ingsy
out
othepant
ryt
hismor
ning?
"Der
ri
ckasked.

"
Thi
sismycompany
.Idon'
tbel
i
eveIneedt
ogi
vey
ouar
easont
obeher
e"

"Idi
dn'
tmeani
tthatwaysi
r.
.."Der
ri
ckt
ri
est
oexpl
ain.

"Whatareyoudoi
ng?
"Ki
l
li
anemphasi
soneachwor
dashi
sey
esdar
tbet
weenDer
ri
ckandI
accusi
ngl
y.
What
'swr
ongwi
thhi
m?Whydoesi
tfeel
li
keIgotcaughtdoi
ngsomet
hingwr
ong?

AndthenIseei
t.Thehur
tinKi
l
li
an'
sey
esashel
ooksatme.Wai
tasecond.
..
.IsKi
l
li
an.
..
.
Jeal
ous?

"
It
'snotwhati
tlooksl
i
keMrKni
ght
"Der
ri
ckexpl
ained.

"
Getbackt
owor
kandst
opf
li
rt
ing"wi
tht
hatKi
l
li
anmar
chesoutoft
hepant
ry.

"Crap.Di
dhethi
nkwewerefooli
ngar
ound?Don'
twor
ry,
Clai
re.I
'
llcat
chupt
ohi
m andexpl
ain
every
thi
ng"Der
ri
cksai
d,Ij
ustnodmyhead.

Ki
l
li
an'
sPOV

Thatbast
ard!Howdar
ehef
li
rtwi
thCl
air
e?IMar
cht
omyof
fi
ceandsl
amst
hedoorshut
.

"
You'
reback,
wher
e'st
hecof
feey
ouwant
edt
oget
?"Lucasaskedme.

"Ri
ght
.If
orgotabouti
t"Ir
epl
i
ed.

"Huh?Youwal
kedal
lthewayt
othepant
ry,
buty
ouf
orgotaboutt
hecof
fee?
"

Isl
umpsmy
sel
fint
omychai
randsl
amsmyempt
ycof
feemugonmydesk.

"
Imean,
Iof
fer
edt
ogeti
tfory
ou,
buty
oust
rangel
yinsi
stedonget
ti
ngi
tyour
sel
f"
"Ineededabr
eak"Isai
d.

"Fr
om what
?"Heaskedme.

"Fr
om t
hink.
..
."

"About
?"

Aboutmyf
eel
i
ngsf
orCl
air
e,Iwant
edt
oyel
l
.Igr
oanedandl
oosenmyneckt
iei
nfr
ust
rat
ion.

"
Don'
tmi
ndmef
orsay
ingt
his,
buty
ouhav
en'
tbeeny
our
sel
flat
ely
"

"
Iknow"Cl
air
eisal
way
sonmymi
nd,
she'
sdr
ivi
ngmecr
azy
."Whatt
hef
ucki
swr
ongwi
thme?"

"Wel
l
,it
'saf
ir
st.
..
.Butar
eyouner
vousaboutt
heupcomi
ngl
aunch?"Lucasasked.

"Iwi
shi
twasaboutt
hel
aunch,
Lucas?"

"Yeah"

"Doy ouknowifCl
air
eisdat
ingany
one?"Iaskedhi
m,hel
ookedatmeshocked,
evenI
,am
shockedtoo.

Cl
air
e'sPOV

Af
terKi
l
li
anmar
chesf
rom t
hepant
ry,
Itoodeci
det
ogobackt
omydeskt
ocompl
etet
he
assi
gnmentRav
engav
etome.

"
Goodmor
ningCl
air
e"Lucasgr
eetme.Thi
sisr
are,
whati
shedoi
ngher
e?

"
Lucas,
ther
esomet
hingy
ouneed?
"

"
Ineedanswer
s,whathappenedbet
weeny
ouandKi
l
li
ant
heot
herni
ght
?Af
terIl
efty
oui
nhi
s
l
i
mo"

Ohno,
nott
hisagai
n,I
'
m soembar
rassedt
hinki
ngabouti
t.

"
Not
hinghappened"Il
i
ed.

"
Real
l
y?Thenhowdoy
ouexpl
ainwhathappenedi
nhi
sof
fi
cej
ustnow?
"

"Whathappened?I
shehur
t?"Iasked.

Heshookhi
shead,
thent
ell
mewhatt
ranspi
redi
nKi
l
li
an'
sof
fi
ceaf
terher
etur
nsf
rom t
he
pant
ry.

"
Thenheaskedi
fyouhav
eaboy
fri
end"Lucasconcl
uded.

"
Heaskedt
hat
?"

"Yes.Heaskedt
hat
"her
epl
i
ed.
Butwhywoul
dKi
l
li
anaskedt
hat
?

"Whydi
dheasky
out
hat
?"Iasked.

"That
'swhyImar
chedov
erher
eri
ghtaway
,It
houghty
ou'
dhav
etheanswer
"hesai
d.

"Wel
l
,Idon'
tknow.
..
."It
rai
lof
fthought
ful
l
y.

Lucasl
ookov
ert
oDer
ri
ck'
stabl
e.

"
Youknow,
heal
soaskedi
fther
e'sany
thi
nggoi
ngonbet
weeny
ouandDer
ri
ck"hesai
d.

"Ther
e'snot
hingbet
weenus"Ir
epl
i
ed.

"Isee"hesmil
es,
"Ithi
nkIgotmyanswer
,I'
l
lbeonmywayt
orepor
tmyf
indi
ngst
omyboss
now"hesaidandrunsof
f.

"Wai
t"Iwant
edt
ochaseaf
terhi
m butChar
lot
tegoti
nmyway
.

"Cl
air
e,Rav
eni
saski
ngal
lthei
nter
nst
ogat
heri
nthemeet
ingr
oom now!
"Shesai
d.

ShucksbutLucas.
..
..
..

"I
t'
saboutournextpr
oject
"sheadded.

"
Comi
ng!
"I'
l
lhav
etoaskLucasmor
eabouti
tanot
hert
ime.
Imakemywayt
othemeet
ingr
oom.

"Thankyouforgather
ingheret
oday,
interns.I
t'
sunfor
tunat
ehowt hefi
rstproj
ecttur
nedout,but
i
t'sti
met omoveon.Thistime,y
ou'
lleachbeassignedtodif
ferentdepartmentstopreparef
or
thelaunchofourupcomingRPG,AKni ght'
sHonor.Cl
air
e,Derr
ickandChar l
otte,
yout hr
eewil
l
bejoini
ngthepubli
cit
yteam"Ravenannounced.

Thepubl
i
cit
yteam?Awesome!
.

"Looksl
i
kei
t'
sjustusagai
n"Isai
dtoChar
lot
te.

"Ah,
Iwasr
eal
l
yhopi
ngi
twoul
djustbemeandDer
ri
ck.
..
..
"Char
lot
temumbl
edbutIhear
dher
.

"Saywhatnow?
"Iasked.

"
Imean,
it'
sawesomet
ohav
eyouar
oundt
ooCl
air
e"shef
eignhappi
ness.

"
Right
"

Thethr
eeofuswal
ktothepubli
cit
yoff
iceandamanfrom t
het
eam j
oinus.Fr
om t
heI
Dcar
d
hangi
ngar
oundhi
sneck,Iknowthathi
snameisJake.

"Welcometothepubl
i
cit
yteam,ourobject
ivei
stocr eat
easmuchhy peforthegameas
possibl
e.I
nfact
,wehaveaphotoshootschedul
ef orapromot
ional
piecetoday.Foll
owme"
Jakesaid"wehavemodelscomingintodaytodressupasthecharacter
sfrom thegame"

Jake'
sphoner
ings"Excusemef
orasec.
..
"Hepi
cksupt
hecal
l
.
"Whatdoyoumeanshecan'
tmakeit
?Who'sgoingt
omodel f
orusthen?Thephot
ogr
apher
s
ar
ehere!Ev
ery
thi
ngi
salr
eadysetup!
"Jakebar
ksint
othephoneangri
ly,
hehangsupt
hephone.

"Di
dweheart
hatcor
rect
ly?Themodel
can'
tmakei
t?"Char
lot
teasked.

"
Yes.Andshe'
ssupposedt
omodel
fort
hel
eadf
emal
echar
act
er"Jakesai
d.

"Thepr i
ncess?Aft
eral
l,akni
ghtHonort
akesaspi
nont
hecl
assi
cKni
ghtset
ti
ngoutonquest
torescuethepri
ncess.
."Der
ri
ckchi
psin.

"That
'sr
ight
..
..
.whatshoul
dwedonow?
"Jakegr
umbl
es.

"Whati
fwet
ry.
..
..sear
chi
ngar
epl
acement
?"Isuggest
ed.

"That
'sagr
eati
dea,
Ihav
etomakesomecal
l
s..
"Jakebusi
eshi
msel
fonhi
sphone.

Amomentl
aterhet
urnst
ous.

"Noneoft
heagenci
eshav
eamodel
that
'ssui
tabl
efort
her
ole"heannounced.

"Hmmm,
whati
fwehadsomeonewho'
sher
etor
epl
aceher
?"Der
ri
ckasked.

"Me?
"Char
lot
tej
umpedf
orwar
d.

"
No,
Iwast
hinki
ngCl
air
e"her
epl
i
edwi
thasmi
l
ethenwi
nkatme.
"Cl
air
e?That
'sagr
eati
dea!
"Jakecut
sin.

"
M-me?
"

"Yeah!Youdefi
nit
elyhavethegir
lnextdoorl
ookthatt
hepr
incesshas.Pl
easehel
pusoutwit
h
thi
s,thecost
umei sintheback"Jakeexpl
aintomegivi
ngmeapuppyey esandthatmel
tsmy
heart.

"
Oh.
..
Kay
"

Iwentt
othebackandchangei
ntooneoft
hecost
umes.

"
Whataboutt
his?
"IaskedwhenIcamebacki
nthest
udi
o.

"Wow"Der
ri
ckawed.

"Oh.
..
"Jakesai
d.Suddenl
yver
yawar
eofhowev
ery
onehast
hei
rey
esonme.

"
It
'sl
i
ket
hedr
esswasmadef
ory
ou!
"Char
lot
teexcl
aimed.

"Real
l
y?"

Icoul
dn'tbel
iev
ehowgoodIlookini
tt
hefi
rstti
meIsawmy selfi
nthemirr
oreit
her
.Thedressis
hugginginpl
aceswher
eitbr
ingsoutmycurves.I
tshowsenoughski
n,buti
t'
snotover
lysexyat
thesamet i
me.

I
'
mfeel
i
ngr
atherconf
identi
nthi
s.If
li
ppedmyhai
r.
"Youhav
etoweart
hisandmodelf
orus,y
ou'l
lbedoi
ngthewholedepar
tmentaf
avor
.Pl
usI
hearMrKni
ghti
scominglat
ert
ocheckonthephot
oshootaswell
"

What
?Ki
l
li
ani
scomi
ng?No,
Ican'
tdot
his.But
..
.Thi
sispar
tofmyj
ob.

"S-
sur
e,I
'
dlov
eto"

"
Thanky
ou"Jakesai
d.

Ist
artof
fawkwar
dlyi
nfr
ontoft
hecamer
a,butI
'
m sooncomf
ort
abl
etodoacoupl
eposes.

Thi
siseasi
ert
hanIt
hought
.

Justt
hen,Kil
l
ianst
ri
desi
ntot
hest
udi
o,car
ryi
nghi
susual
conf
identAur
a.Buthi
sst
epsf
alt
ers
whenhiseyesmetmine.

"
What
'swr
ong?Whyar
ewest
opi
ng?
"Ihear
dLucasaskKi
l
li
an.

Lucasf
oll
owshi
sgazeandspot
smei
nthedr
ess,
Iwav
eawkwar
dlyathi
m.

"
Oh,
wow.She'
sbeaut
if
ul"Lucassai
doutl
oudandIsawKi
l
li
anel
bowshi
mint
her
ibs.

"What
..
..di
dIsaysomet
hingwr
ong?
"Lucaswhi
ned.Isni
ff
lesal
augh.

"N-
no.
..
but
..
..
"Ki
l
li
ancoul
dn'
tfi
ndt
her
ightwor
ds.
"MrKnight
!Howni
ceofy
out
ojoi
nus!Icanassur
eyout
hatt
oday
'sshooti
sgoi
ngsmoot
hly
"
Jaket
oldhim.

"Real
l
y?Whyi
souri
nter
nmodel
l
ing,
then"Lucasasked.

"Oh,
that'
sbecauseoneofourmodel
scancel
l
edonus.Buti
t'
sfort
hebet
ter
.Shel
ooks
amazing!
"

"Whatdoy
out
hinkMrKni
ght
?"LucasaskedKi
l
li
an.

"She'
sper
fect
"hesai
dinst
ant
ly.

Myst
omachdoesal
i
ttl
efl
i
p.Att
hatmoment
,itf
eel
asi
fther
e'sj
ustt
het
woofus.

"But
..
."Ki
l
liantakesoffhi
sjacketashewalksovert
ome.Hi kwakuon+233544142683t
obe
addedtostoryheadquart
ersroom formor
eintr
igui
ngst
ory
.Hewr aphisjacketar
oundme."
I
thi
nkthat
'senoughfortoday"

Hel
eansi
ncl
oseenoughsoonl
yIcanhear
.

"Idon'
tl
ikehowev
ery
onei
sst
ari
ngaty
ou"hesai
dint
omyear
.

Ti
meski
ps

I
t'
stheendoft
heday
..
..
.I'
mreadyt
ogohomewhenDer
ri
ckcamet
ome.
"
HeyCl
air
e,doy
ouhav
epl
ansf
ort
oni
ght
?"Heaskedme.

"
Nope.Justheadi
nghomet
odosomechor
es"Ir
epl
i
ed."
It
'sgoi
ngt
obepr
ett
ychi
l
lni
ght
"

"
Oh,
Iwaswonder
ing.
..
ify
ouwoul
dli
ket
ohav
edi
nnerwi
thme?
"

"Ar
etheot
heri
nter
nscomi
ngal
ong,
too?
"

"
No.I
t'
ll
justbet
het
woofus.
..
li
keadat
e"hesai
d.

"Adat
e?"Der
ri
cknodshi
sheadshy
ly.

"Wow,
Ijust
..
..
."Der
ri
ck'
sphoner
ingi
ngi
nter
rupt
sme.

"
Justgi
vemeasecond,
Ihav
etot
aket
hiscal
l
"heexcusedhi
msel
ftor
ecei
vet
hecal
l
.

"Sur
e"

Der
ri
cki
saski
ngmeoutonadat
e?Justt
henKi
l
li
ancame.

"
Clai
re"

"
MrKni
ght
?Issomet
hingt
hemat
ter
?"

"
Arey
ouheadi
nghomeal
ready
?"Heasked.
Ican'
thel
pbutf
eel
tickl
edatt
hement
ionof'
home'
.I
t'
sasecr
etbet
weenus.

I
t'
ll
bef
unt
oteasehi
m abouti
t.

"
Arey
ouheadi
nghomet
ooMrKni
ght
?It
hinkI
'
veseeny
ouar
oundmynei
ghbor
hood"

"Act
ual
l
y,Iwaswonder
ingi
fyou'
dli
ket
ohav
edi
nnerwi
thmet
oni
ght
?"

"What
?"

"Ther
e'ssomet
hingIhav
etot
ell
you"

"Um, j
usttobeclear
..
.ar
ewehav
ingdi
nnerasMrKni
ghtandhi
sint
ern,
ort
hehouseownerand
thehousekeeper
?"Iasked.

"Nei
ther
.We'
rehav
ingdi
nnerasKi
l
li
anandCl
air
e"heanswer
ed.

Ri
ghtoncue,
Der
ri
ckcomesback.

"
Oh,
hey
,MrKni
ghty
ouar
eher
etoo"t
heDer
ri
ckt
urnedt
ome.

"Sor
ry,Cl
air
e,butgoi
ngtohavetot
akear
aincheck.Somet
hingcr
oppedup,
we'
l
lhav
edi
nner
anothert
ime,al
ri
ght?Ipr
omise"
.

Whathappened?Ihopeal
li
swel
l
.

"I
sev
ery
thi
ngokay
?"Iaskedhi
m.
"Yup!Don'
twor
ryabouti
t.I
'
llseey
out
omor
row"hedashesof
f.

Ir
eal
l
yhopeev
ery
thi
ngi
sal
ri
ghtwi
thhi
m,hel
ookedal
i
ttl
etensed.

Justt
henIhearsomeonecl
earhi
sthr
oatbehi
ndme.

"
Oh,
Kil
l
ian,
Ifor
goty
ouwer
ether
e..
..
"

"
Ser
iousl
y?Am It
hatf
orget
tabl
e?"Heasks.

"Wel
l
.."

"Sot
heot
heri
nter
naskedy
ououtf
ordi
nnert
oo,
huh"

Heseemsal
i
ttl
eannoy
edbyt
hat
,howshoul
dIr
espondt
ohi
m?.

"Yeah,
heaskedmeoutonadat
e.I
fyouhav
en'
tnot
iced,
I'
m ki
ndapopul
ar!
"Iwi
nkathi
m.

Hecl
enchedhi
sjaw.

"Yes,Il
ear
nedabouti
tthehar
dwaythismorni
ng.Well
,Icanassur
et hatwher
eI'm aboutt
o
takey
ouwouldbeleapsandboundsbett
ert
hanwhereverhehadplanned.Dodinner?"Heasked.

Hmmm,
Kil
l
ianKni
ghti
saski
ngmeoutf
ordi
nner
.Shoul
dIgowi
thhi
m?.

TobeCont
inued.
..
[
7/8,
7:36AM]+233544142683OMEANOI
SH: ROOMMATESWI
THTHECEO

Chapt
er13

Thedi
nner

Cl
air
e'sPOV

"
Sodi
nner
?"

Kil
l
ianKni
ghti
saskingmeoutfordinner
.Shoul
dIgowi
thhim?Aft
eral
l
,Ineedanswer
s,Ineed
toknowwhathefeelsf
orme,IneedtoknowifI'
mtoof
orward.

"
Okay
"Ir
epl
i
ed.

Ki
l
li
anbr
eaksoutat
ri
umphantgr
in.Asi
fhehadj
ustwont
hewor
ld.

"
You'
renotgoi
ngt
oregr
ett
his"

Iqui
ckl
ypackmynot
esandwebot
hlef
tfort
hedi
nner
.

Kil
li
anleadsmeint
othefanciestr
est
aurantI
'v
eeverseen.Butt
heor
natedecoranddel
ici
ous
scenthardl
ydr
awmyat t
entionawayfrom t
hefactt
hatKil
li
anhashi
shandplacedonthesmall
ofmyback
Iwil
lmyselft
ofocusonsomet
hingel
se.
..Thedi
nner
!That'
swhenIreali
zedthatever
yone
di
nningherei
sdressedi
nagownorasuit.If
eel
severel
yunderdr
essed.Iat
temptedtohi
de
behi
ndKill
i
an.

"
Whatar
eyoudoi
ng?
"Heasked.

"
Idon'
tbel
ongher
e..
..
".

"
Nonsense.Youl
ookper
fect
"heassur
edme.

Await
erpromptl
yappearstogr
eetKil
l
ianbefor
eshowingt
hetwoofustoapr
ivat
ear
ea.I
t
seemsli
keKil
l
ianisafamil
i
arfi
gurehere.Ki
l
li
anpul
lsoutt
hechai
rforme.

"
Doy
oucomeher
eof
ten?
"Iaskedhi
m asIsi
tdown.

"
It
'sbeenawhi
l
e"Ki
l
li
ant
akeshi
sseatacr
ossf
rom me.

"
Itcer
tai
nlyhas!
"Awomanpi
pedi
n.

"
Emi
l
y!I
t'
sbeent
ool
ong"Ki
l
li
ancal
l
ed.Oh,
soheknowsher
.

"
Iwasstar
ti
ngtothinkI'
l
lneverseeyouinthi
sli
fet
imeagain"Emilysqui
ntsandt
akesacl
oser
l
ookatme."Youbroughtaladyhere?Penel
opewouldbejealous"

If
eel
myhear
tsi
nkal
i
ttl
e.

"Penel
ope?"Iasked.
Who'sthat
?Ist
hatt
henameofhi
sex?Doeshebr
ingshi
sconquest
stot
hispl
ace?Ican'
t
bel
i
ev ethi
s.

Ki
l
li
anseemst
ober
eadi
ngmyexpr
essi
on.

"
Penel
opei
smygr
andmot
her
"Ki
l
li
ansai
d.

"
What
!"Ican'
tbel
i
eveI
'
mfeel
i
ngj
eal
ousov
erhi
sgr
andmot
her
.Ugh,
Clai
rekeepi
tal
i
ttl
edown.

"Thi
ssil
l
yboyhasonl
yeverbroughthisgrandmothertohisfav
ori
terest
aurant
.Youmustbea
speci
all
ady
.I'
l
lbri
ngyouyourusual,
Kill
i
an.I'
m suretheladywil
lenj
oyitaswell
"Emi
lysai
d.

"Thanks"It
hankedherandshel
eav
es.

"Wer
eyouj
eal
ousofmygr
andmot
her
?"Ki
l
li
anaskmeaf
terEmi
l
ylef
t.

"What
?Ofcour
senot
!Ij
ustt
houghtshewasy
ourexorsomet
hing"

Wai
tasec.
..Butt
hatsoundsl
i
keI
'
mreal
l
yjeal
ous.

Ki
l
li
anbi
teshi
sli
psashet
ri
est
ost
ophi
msel
ffr
om gr
inni
ng.

"
Ifi
tmakesy
ouf
eel
anybet
ter
,Iact
edoutofchar
act
erwhenIsawy
ouwi
thDer
ri
ckt
his
morni
ng"

"Huh,
andwhyi
sthat
?"Iasked.Yest
hisi
soneoft
hequest
ionsIwanthi
mtoanswer
.
Het
akesadeepbr
eat
h.

"
I'
m sor
ry.
..
.Forcal
l
ingwhathappenedbet
weenusami
stake"hesai
d.

"Ki
l
li
an.
..
."

"No, pl
ease.Letmespeak.Thi shasbeenonmymi ndsincet hatni
ght.Idi
dn'
tknowwhatt o
thinkofit.
..
.AndIespecial
lydidn'
tknowwhatyouthoughtofi t.Cal
li
ngitamistakewast he
easiestexcuse,
butf uckme.Itfel
tsowrong.Cl
air
e...Ihaven'
tforgot
tenaboutthatnight
.That
kissweshar ed.
..I
'v
enev erfel
tthi
swayaboutanyonebef ore.Youmakemef eelthi
ngsIthought
wer eonlypossi
bleinmov i
es"

Her
eachesoutf
ormyhandont
het
abl
e..
.Hi
sthumbbr
ushesmyski
ngent
ly.

"Ki
l
li
an.
..
"

"
Ilookf
orwar
dtogoi
nghomet
oyouandy
oursmi
l
es"hesai
d.

If
eel
myhear
tswel
l
.

"Buti
t'
snotsoeasy .
..
.You'
reani
nter
natmycompany.
..
.Nott
omenti
onthere'
stheupcomi
ng
l
aunch..
..Ther
e'sj
ustsomuchwork..
.."Ki
l
li
anwal
ksov
erandl
eansi
ntogivemeaki ssonmy
for
ehead.

"
Justgi
vemesomet
imet
ofi
gur
eusout
.Pl
ease"hesai
d,Ij
ustst
areathi
m,speechl
ess.

Ti
meski
ps
Af
terdi
nner
..
..
.

I
'
m backi
nmyr
oom t
hinki
ng.Ican'
tbel
i
evewhatj
usthappened.
..

If
li
ngmy
sel
font
omybedandbur
ymyheadi
nthepi
l
low.Wast
hatKi
l
li
an'
swayofconf
essi
ng?

I
..
..Lov
edi
t!

Ican'tbel
iev
etheKi
l
li
anKni
ghtj
ustconf
essedt
ome.
..Wel
l
,onet
hingi
sforsur
e:Ki
l
li
anhas
feel
ingsforme.

Amessagenot
if
icat
ionpi
ngi
nmyphone.I
t'
sDer
ri
ck.

D:
-Hey
,Iknowi
t'
ski
ndofl
ate.
..Butar
eyoust
il
lawake?

Me:
-Yeah,
I'
m st
il
lawake.What
'sup?
.

D:
-Wedi
dn'
tgett
oenj
oydi
nnerj
ustnot
..
..Buthowaboutsomel
ate-
nightf
ood?

Me:
-Soooo,
ist
hisadat
e?

D:
-Onl
yonewayt
ofi
ndout
:)

Hmmm I
'
dreal
l
yli
ket
oseewhatDer
ri
cki
supt
o..
..

Me:
-okay
.
Der
ri
ckt
ext
smeal
ocat
ionandIr
usheddownt
her
e.

"
Adinner
?"I
'
m sur
pri
sedheact
ual
l
ybr
oughtmet
oar
est
aur
ant
,It
houghthewant
edl
ateni
ght
f
ood.

"
Itmakesf
oramemor
abl
efi
rstdat
e"

"
So,
thi
sisadat
ethen?"Iaskedhi
m.

Hebr
eaksi
ntohi
ssi
gnat
uregr
in.

"
Isev
ery
thi
ngokay
?Di
dyousol
vewhaty
ouhadt
osol
ve?"Iasked.

"Notexact
ly.
..
.Buty
oursmi
l
emakesev
ery
thi
ngbet
ter
"heanswer
ed.

"
FunnyhowIcansayt
hatabouty
our
stoo"

Der
ri
ckr
eachesf
ort
hemi
l
kshakei
nfr
ontofhi
m.

"Cheer
stot
hat
"hesai
d.

"Areweser
iousl
ytoast
ingwi
thourmi
l
kshakes?
"Der
ri
ckl
ooksatmeexpect
ant
ly.
"Cheer
s!"We
cl
inkourmi
l
kshakes.

"
I'
mreal
l
ygl
adIgott
omeety
ouCl
air
e.I
..r
eal
l
yli
key
ou.
"
"
Der
ri
ck.
.."
Iwant
edt
ospeakbuthecutmeof
f.

"ButIgetit.We'rejustint
erns,
andI'
m pret
tysureRav enmadeitclearthatworkrel
ati
onships
aren'
texactlyencouraged..
.Yourdr
eam istobecomeagamedesi gnerandIhav enointent
ions
ofgett
inginy ourway .So,f
ornow,I
'djustl
i
key outoknowt hat
..
..ThatIreall
yli
keyou,Clai
re.
I
'm notgoingt oactoni tf
ornow.Butoncethi
si nt
ernshipi
sover..
.I'
m goingall
outtowi nyour
heart
".

What?Der
ri
ckhasf
eel
i
ngsf
ormet
oo?Someonewakemeup,
I'
m hav
ingadr
eam,
Ineedt
o
wakeup.

Der
ri
ckandIhadf
unf
orsomet
ime.Thenwecal
l
edi
tani
ght
.

*
***
***
***
***
***
***
***
***
***
***
***
***
***
*

Thenextmor
ning.
..
..Atwor
k.

Unfor
tunat
ely.
.orf
ortunatel
yforme,wit
htheupcominglaunchofAKni
ght'
sHonor
,I'
m so
swappedwithworkthattheaffai
rsofmyhear
tarepushedt ot
hebackofmymind.

Nowt
hatI
'
minpubl
i
cit
yteam,
Iwantt
owor
kdel
i
gent
ly.

"
Greatj
ob,Cl
air
e"Jake'svoi
cebr
okemychanofthought.
"Yourappr
aisal
isl
ooki
ngr
eal
l
ygood"
wi
ththathel
eft
.Ismiled,
thi
siswhatIwant
,mysenior
stoprai
semywor k.

Ti
mef
li
esqui
ckl
yandnowI
'
m backatt
hepent
house.

I
'm alr
eadyawel l-
oil
edmachinewheni tcomestothechor
esKil
li
anhasassi
gnedtome.But
thesedays,Ihardl
yseeKil
li
anar oundashespendsmostnight
sworkingatt
heoff
ice.He
doesn'tev
enr et
urntothepenthousesometimes.
Unt
iloneni
ght
..
..
.

"
Kil
l
ian,
you'
rehome"

"Yeah.
..
"Buthedoesn'tl
ookupfr
om t
hephonei
nhishand.He'
ssoengr
ossedi
nthephonet
hat
hedidn'
tevenseethathe'
sheadi
ngri
ghtt
othewal
l
.

"
Kil
l
ian,
thewal
l
!"Iwar
nedhi
m.

"
Huh?
"

Hel
ooksup,
butt
her
e'sagl
azedl
ooki
nhi
sey
es.

"
Oh,
thanks"heent
ershi
shomeof
fi
cewi
thi
nanot
herwor
d.

Kil
l
iantrul
yist
heworkahol
i
cev
eryonemakeshim outt
obe.I
'
m aboutt
oheadt
obedwhenI
hearthedoort
oKil
l
ian'
shomeoff
icesl
am open.

"
Kil
l
ian?Wher
ear
eyougoi
ngsol
ateatni
ght
?"

"
Somet
hingcr
oppedup.Don'
twai
tup"hesai
d.

"Letmecomewi
thy
ou"

"No"hehesi
tat
eandl
ooksatme,
thenhest
epsoutoft
hehouse.
Huh?What
'
sgoi
ngon.
.?

It
rytogotosleep,
butIcan'
tseem toshakeoffabadf
eel
i
ng.Justatt
hatmoment
,Iheart
he
maindoorsl
ammedopen.Ir ushoutofmyr oom.

"
You'
reback!
"Isai
d.

ButwhatIsawbr
okemyhear
t.IseeKi
l
li
an.
..
..Andawomani
nhi
sar
ms.

Justf
ewday
sago,
heconf
essedt
ome,
nowhe'
sal
readybr
ingi
nganot
herwomanhome.
..
..
..
..

ToBeCont
inued

[
7/8,
7:38AM]+233544142683OMEANOI
SH: ROOMMATESWI
THTHECEO

Chapt
er14

Anunexpect
edGuest
s

Cl
air
e'sPOV

IseeKi
l
li
an.
,
..
.andawomani
nhi
sar
ms.

Thewomanwho' sallpr
essedupagai nstKi
l
li
an'sbodyisundoubtedlyint
oxicatedashe
pract
icall
ydr
agsheracrossthef
loor.Mygazeshifttohisarm wr
apt ight
lyaroundhersl
ender
waist
, t
henherhandwraparoundhisneck..
..
thenhisshockedexpressionwhenhi sey
esmeet
mine.
Whoi
sshe?

"
Clai
reIcanexpl
ain"hesai
d.

"You'
vegotanot
hergir
liny
ourhouse?Whydi
dn'
tyout
ell
met
hatbef
orey
oubeggedmet
o
comehomewi thyou?Younaught
yboy"t
hewomansaid.

Hebeggedher
?

Icl
utchmychest
,hopi
ngtotakethepainandti
ghtenessaway .That'
sri
ght
.I'
mjustanot
hergi
rl
toKi
lli
anKni
ght
.Ahousekeepernoless.WhatwasIev ent
hinking?.

"
It
'snotwhaty
out
hink,
Clai
re"het
ri
est
oexpl
ain.

Itur
nedonmyheel
sandwal
kaway
.Iheadst
rai
ghtt
omyr
oom wi
thoutl
ooki
ngback,
then,
I
heardal
oudsl
am.

I
'
m backi
nmyr
oom.
..

Imakeabeeli
neformybedandfl
i
ngmy
sel
font
oit
,bur
yingmyheadi
nthepi
l
low.Amuf
fl
ed
sobechot
hroughoutt
heroom.

St
upi
dKi
l
li
an.
..

Ther
e'saknockonmydoor
..

'
Clai
re,pl
ease.I
t'
snotwhatyouthi
nk.Opent
hedoorandl
etmeexpl
ain'
Ihear
dKi
l
li
an'
svoi
ce
f
rom theothersi
deofthedoor
.
"
Idon'
twantt
ohearany
thi
ng!
"

'
pl
easeCl
air
e,opent
hedoor
'

"Idon'
twantt
ohearany
thi
ng,
justl
eav
e!"It
oldhi
m.

'
Clai
re.
..
'

"LEAVE!
!"Iy
ell
edathi
m.

Ihearhi
sfoot
stepsshuf
fl
ingaway
,Iwr
apmy
sel
fupi
nmybl
anketandcr
iedmy
sel
ftosl
eep.

Thenextmor
ning,
Iheadt
otheki
tchent
ogetagl
assofwat
er.

"
Mor
ningCl
air
e,r
ight
?"Thewomanf
rom l
astni
ghtgr
eet
edme.

Inear
lydr
opt
hegl
assf
rom myhand.Whyi
sshest
il
lher
e?

"
Ihadt
hebestni
ghtofmyl
i
fe"shesai
d.

Thi
swoman!

"
It
'sbeenawhi
l
esi
nceIsawmybr
other
"
"
Yourwhat
?"Iasked.

"
Mybrother
"sheanswered."
Sodropthataccusi
ngglare,Clai
re.Mybr
otherdi
dnotbr
inga
r
andom womanhomet ofuck.Hebroughthi
sdrunksisterhome"

Hi
ssi
ster
?Ohno,
Iwr
ongedKi
l
li
an.

"You'
rehi
ssi
ster
?ButI
'
venev
erseeny
ouany
wher
e..
..
."

"
Est
ranged.Ihat
ebei
ngassoci
atedwi
tht
hekni
ght
s"shesai
d.

"I
..
.Ihav
etogoapol
ogi
set
oKi
l
li
an.
..
"

"It
'st
oolat
e.It
'sSat
urday
,butmyworkahol
i
cbr
otherhasal
readyl
eftf
orhi
sof
fi
ce.Somet
hing
aboutpr
epari
ngforhi
snewgamelaunch"

Iwasmi
stakenabouthi
m,howcanIbesof
ool
i
sh.

"So.
..aboutyouandmybrot
her.
..
.Ihear
dyouar
ehi
shousekeeper
.We'
rer
unni
ngl
owont
oil
et
paper.Do,beadearandgogetsomemor e"

Excuseme?Who'
sshet
oor
dermear
ound?She'
syourbossessi
ster
,av
oicei
nmyheadsai
d.

"
Okay
,Iwi
l
l"Isai
d.

"Aw,youar
etoonice.Il
ikeyoual
ready
.Iwasjustpul
li
ngyourlegsbytheway
.Ther
e'sst
il
ll
oads
oftoi
l
etpaperi
nthere.Icanseewhymybrotherli
kesyou,
though"shesai
d.
"Het
oldy
ouhel
i
kesme?
"Iasked.

"Youwer
eli
ter
all
ythef
ir
stt
hinghet
alkedaboutwhenhepi
ckedmeupl
astni
ght
"

"Whatdidhesay
?"Iaskedqui
ckl
y,maybeal
i
ttl
etooqui
ck."
I'
ll
tel
lyoual
labouti
t.
..Andmor
e..
.
Onl
yifyoubuymebreakf
ast
"shebargai
n.

Iwoul
dreal
l
yli
ket
oknowwhatKi
l
li
ant
oldher
,butIdon'
thav
eti
met
obuyherbr
eakf
astnow.

"
Sor
ry,
Ican'
tbuyy
oubr
eakf
ast
,Ihav
etonsofwor
ktodo"It
oldher
.

"GuessI
'l
lhav
etogr
abitmysel
fthen,
butdon'
twor
ry,
you'
l
lbeseei
ngmear
oundf
orawhi
l
e.By
theway,
myname'sKei
ra"t
henshelef
t.

Af
terKei
ral
eft
,Ideci
dedt
oki
ckbackf
orawhi
l
e..
..Wi
thsomev
ideogamesofcour
se.

*Af
ewhour
slat
er*

"
I'
m home"Ki
l
li
anannounced.

"
Kil
l
ian?
"Iopenedmymout
htoapol
ogi
sebuthebeatmet
oit
.

"Bef
orey
ousayanyt
hing,
Iwantyout
oknowKeiraismysi
ster
.Nowy
ou'
ref
reet
osl
am t
hedoor
onmeagain,
butIj
ustwantedy
outoknow"hesaid.

"I
'
m sor
ry"
"No,
don'
tbe.Butdon'
tev
erdot
hatagai
n"

"Dowhat
?"Iasked.

"Lookatmewi
tht
hatbr
okenexpr
essi
on.Thatscar
edt
hef
uckoutofme"

"I
'mreal
l
ysor
ryIr
efusedt
oheary
ououtl
astni
ght
,butI
'
m notr
eadyt
otal
k"Icl
osedt
hedoor
onhi
m.

I
'm backinmybedroom l
atert
hatnight
.KeiraandKil
li
aninvi
tedmet
odinnerwit
hthem,butI
respect
ful
lydecl
i
ne.Theevent
soflastnightarest
il
lfr
eshinmyheadandIfeel
justatad
awkwardhangingoutwit
htheKnightsi
blings.

I
t'
sbeenawhi
l
esi
ncet
heysaweachot
her
,I'
m sur
ethey
'dappr
eci
atet
het
imeal
onet
oo.

I
'
m aboutt
ogot
osl
eepwhenIhear
dal
oudt
hudout
sidet
her
oom.

Whatwast
hat
?

Iopenedmydoorandpeekouti
ntot
hedar
kness.

'
T-t
her
e'snot
hingouther
e'Isai
dtomy
sel
f.

Ihear
dthel
oudt
hudagai
n.Ohno,
didsomeonebr
eaki
n?

Iqui
ckl
yremembert
hebatIsawi
nKi
l
li
an'
sst
orager
oom whenIwascl
eani
ngi
t.Icr
eepsi
l
ent
ly
t
othest
orer
oom andr
eachoutf
ort
hebat
.Igr
ipt
hebatt
ight
lyi
nmyhand.

"
W-w-
whoi
sther
e?"Iasked.

Suddenl
yIf
eel
ataponmyshoul
der
.

"
Ahhhhh"Iscr
eamed.

Iwhi
rlar
oundandf
li
ngt
hebatwi
l
dlyatt
heshadowbehi
ndme.

"
Ow!Cl
air
e!"Ihear
dKi
l
li
anwi
nces.

"
Kil
l
ian?Whatt
hehel
l
!"

"
Wil
lyoupl
easeputt
hatbataway
"hesai
d.

"Whyar
eyousneaki
ngar
oundi
nthedar
k?"Iasked.

Ir
eachf
ort
hel
ightswi
tchandt
urnont
hel
i
ght
son.That
'swhenInot
icedt
hebl
anket
sand
pi
ll
owsont
hecouch.

"
Ist
haty
ourbl
anketont
hecouch?
"

"
Igav
emyr
oom t
oKei
ra.Thatbr
ati
nsi
stsonsl
eepi
ngont
hemast
er'
sbedr
oom"

"Butwhataboutt
heot
herguestbedr
ooms?"Iasked.
Ki
l
li
an'
spent
househast
hreel
uxur
iousl
yspaci
ousbedr
ooms,
aft
eral
l
.

"Thatbratdumpedallhershoppingfr
om todayint
hatroom.I
'
m goi
ngtohaveatal
kwit
hher
tomorrowmor ningaboutboundari
es.
..
..ButIj
ustdon'
thavet
heener
gytodeal
withher
nonsenser i
ghtnow".

Hesay
sthatbuti
t'
sobv
ioushemustr
eal
l
ydot
sonhi
ssi
ster
.

"
I'
m sor
ryIscar
edy
ou,
buti
t'
sjustme"

Heshuf
fl
esbackt
othecouchandf
luf
fshi
spi
l
low.

He'sbeenworki
nghardonthel
aunchofournewgame,
her
eal
l
yshoul
dn'
tbesl
eepi
ngont
he
couchli
kethat
.ButIguesswedon'
thaveachoi
ce.
..
.

Idashi
ntomyr
oom andbr
ingoutal
lthepi
l
lowsIcanf
ind.

"
Huh?
,What
'swi
thal
lthepi
l
lows?
"Ki
l
li
anasked.

"I
t'
sfory
ou.
."

Iarr
angedt
hepil
lowsneatl
yont
hecouchi
nat
temptt
ocomeupwi
tht
hemostcomf
ort
abl
e
arr
angementaspossi
ble.

"
Thanks"
"
It
'st
hel
eastIcando,
asy
ourhousekeeper
".

"Ri
ght
"

"Goodni
ght
,Ki
l
li
an"

"Goodni
ght
,Cl
air
e"

TobeCont
inued

[
7/8,
7:40AM]+233544142683OMEANOI
SH: ROOMMATESWI
THTHECEO

Chapt
er15

St
ubbor
nKei
ra

Thenextday
..
..
..

"
Ican'
tbel
i
evemybr
otheri
swor
kingev
enonSunday
s.That
'swhyhe'
sther
ichone"Kei
rasai
d.

I
'
mv acuumingt
hef
loorasKei
ral
oungesont
hecouchandsur
fst
hrought
hechannel
sont
he
t
elev
isi
on.

I
tseemsKei
rai
sst
ayi
ngher
eforaf
ewmor
eday
s..
..
Iwonderwhatshe'
sdoi
ngher
eany
way
.
"
Whatar
eyoudoi
ngi
ntown?
"Iasksher
.

"Wel
l,Ihaveatendencyt
ohoparoundt
ownsandci
ti
esforawhi
l
e.Unf
ort
unat
elyf
orme,
Iran
outofcash.SohereIam,int
hecomfor
tofmyri
chbrot
her"

Hm,
notonl
yisshewi
l
lful
,she'
ski
ndaspoi
l
edt
oo.
..

"
Arey
ougoodatv
ideogames,
Clai
re?
"

"
Ofcour
se"

"
Right.You'
reani
nter
natmybrother
'sgamingcompanyaf
teral
l
.Scandal
ousmuch.Butcan
y
out eachmehowt oplayt
hem?"Sheaskedme.

"Maybeanotherti
me"Ir
epl
i
edher
.Ican'
tsayf
orsur
eifI
'
m comf
ort
abl
ewi
thherar
ound,
tome
shesmel
lsli
ketroubl
e.

"
Sur
e!Hey
!Doy
ouwantt
ocat
chamov
iet
oget
her
?"Sheasked.

Gosh,
can'
tshegetahi
nt.

"Er
m..
.Idon'
tthi
nkt
her
ear
eanygoodmov
iesoutl
atel
y.
..
"

"
Act
ual
l
y,Imeantf
rom mybr
other
'ssecr
etst
ashofRomant
icf
il
ms"shesai
d.

"Youknowaboutt
hat
?"
"He'
smybr
other
,whatdoy
out
hink?
"

Kei
rast
andsupf
rom t
hecouchandmar
chesov
ert
oKi
l
li
an'
sroom.

"Wai
t!
"Ical
l
edoutandf
oll
owher
.

Kei
rasaunt
erst
owar
dst
hedoort
othesecr
etr
oom asi
fsheownst
hepl
ace.

"
Ireal
l
ydon'
tthi
nky
oushoul
dbeent
eri
ngt
hatpl
ace"It
oldher
.

"Nonsense.I
t'
ll
bef
ine"
.

Kei
rat
urnst
heknobt
othesecr
etr
oom andi
topened.

"
Huh.
..
.it
'sunl
ockedf
ory
ou?
"Shemut
ter
edunderherbr
eat
h.

"
What
'st
hat
?"Iasked.

"
It
'snot
hing"sher
epl
i
ed.

"
Idon'
tthi
nkhe'
l
lli
kei
tifwet
ouchany
thi
ng"

Shest
epsi
ntot
her
oom anddi
sappear
sbehi
ndt
heshel
vesoff
il
ms.Ihesi
tat
eout
side.

I
'vebeeni
ntheroom acoupl
eoft
imessinceKil
l
iangi
vemetheal
lcl
ear
,buteventhen,
I'
m out
ofther
eonceI
'm donecl
eani
ngwhatIhaveto.I
tal
waysf
eltwr
ongtost
ayinsi
deforsome
r
eason.

"
Whatar
eyouwai
ti
ngf
or?Comei
n!"Kei
rar
eachesoutandpul
l
smei
n.

"
Don'
tyout
hinki
t'
ski
ndal
amef
oragr
own-
assmant
ohav
eacol
l
ect
ionl
i
ket
his?
"Sheasked.

Idr
awal
i
net
her
e.

Keir
aisdefi
nitel
ycomingoutasabrat
ty,
immaturesisterr
ightnow.Andthat
'si
nspi
reof
Kil
li
an'
slov
ef orher
..
.hegaveuphi
sbloodybedforher.Howcanshet al
kaboutherbrot
herl
i
ke
that
?

"Howdareyoutal
kabouty
ourbrot
herl
iket
hat?Af
teral
lhe'
sdonef
ory
ou?Andashi
ssi
ster
,
shoul
dn'
tyouknowhim moret
hananyone?
"Iscol
dedher.

"Idoknowwhyact
ual
l
y.I
'
m sur
pri
sedy
oudon'
t"shesai
d.

Andj
ustf
ort
hatspl
i
tsecond,
IthoughtIdet
ect
edahi
ntofsmugnessi
nhert
one.

"
Whatshoul
dwewat
ch?
"Sheasked.

Ist
if
leagaspasshepul
laDVDf
rom t
heshel
f.

"Theengagement
?Oh,
oh,
WhenHobbymetSammy
!"Shesai
d

"Ir
eal
l
ythi
nky
oushoul
dputt
hatback.
..
"It
oldher
.
Ir
eachf
ort
heDVD.

"Gi
vet
hatt
ome"butt
hest
ubbor
nKei
radoesn'
tl
etgoofi
t.

"
No!
"Shesai
d.

Bot
hofust
ugatt
heDVD,
nei
therwi
l
li
ngt
oletgoofi
t.

"
Ugh!Fi
ne!Youcanhav
eit
"Kei
rashov
edt
heDVDt
owar
dsme.

Il
osemybalanceandt
heDVDsl
i
psoutifmyhand.Wit
hbothmyj awagape,
ever
ythi
ng
happensi
nslowmoti
onast
heDVDfal
l
st ot
hegroundandbreaksint
otwo.

"
No,
no,
no,
no.whathav
ewedone?
"Kei
ragasp.

"
Youmean,
whathav
eyoudone?
"

"Shit
!Ki
l
li
ani
sgoi
ngtoki
llme.Whatdowedonow?Kil
li
ancan'
tfi
ndoutaboutt
his.He'
sst
il
l
helpi
ngmepaymydebt
s..
"Keir
alament
ed,
shei
sjustt
oomuch.

"Thi
sisal
lony
ou"It
oldher
.

"Pl
easedon'
ttel
lKi
l
li
ant
hatIdi
dthi
s,he'
sgoi
ngt
ohat
emef
orev
er.He'
stheonl
yfami
l
yIhav
e
l
eft
..
..
".

I
fther
eisanyt
hingIlearnedaboutKeir
a,i
t'
sthatshewear
sherhear
tonhersl
eev
es.Thoughi
t'
s
f
orthewrongreason,butshe'
sgenuinel
yupset.
Aswi l
ful
asshemaybe,sheremi
ndsmeal i
tt
leofmyselfWhenIf
ir
stmov
edt
otheci
tywi
thout
myf amil
y'
sappr
oval
agoodnoonet odependon.Ishuddert
othi
nkhowmyl
i
fewoul
dhave
tur
nedouthadInotmetKil
li
an.

Hedoesl
ovehi
ssi
ster
..
.andhe'
sal
readysost
ressedaboutt
hel
aunch.Ihav
etohel
pher
.

"
You'
regoi
ngt
oowemeone.Andwe'
regoi
ngt
odosomet
hingaboutt
his.
"It
oldher
.

Ipi
ckedupt
hebr
okenDVDandf
li
pitar
oundt
oexami
nei
t.

"
We'
l
lhav
etor
epl
acei
twi
thanot
herone"

"
Let
'sspl
i
tupandsear
cht
heDVDst
oresi
nthear
ea"Kei
rasuggest
.

It
akeoutmyphonet
osear
chbutIr
ecei
vedacal
li
nst
ead.

Gr
eat
,Der
ri
cki
scal
l
ing.

*
Cal
lconv
ersat
ion*

D:
-heyCl
air
e,ar
eyouf
reet
oday
?

Me:
-N-
no.

D:
-Ar
eyouokay
?Yousoundof
f.
Me:-Sor
ryDer
ri
ck,
butit
'sanemer
gency
..
.I
'
mlooki
ngf
ora'
WhenHobbymetSammy
'DVD.I
t'
sa
l
if
eanddeathmatt
er.Al
most.

D:-'WhenHobbymetSammy'DVDhuh,
myunclehappenedt
oownanv
int
ageDVDst
ore,
Ican
takeyouther
e.I
'
m sur
ehehasonei
nhisst
ore.

Me:
-It
'sokay
,I'
l
lsear
chf
oronemy
sel
f.

Ihangupandbegi
nmyquestt
otr
ackdown'
whenHobbymetSammy
'DVD.Unf
ort
unat
ely
,I
foundnot
hing.

Idecidedtoheadbacktotheapar
tment
,Ihol
dmybr
eat
hasIst
epi
ntot
her
oom,
pray
inghar
d
thatKil
li
anisn'
thomeyet.

Thel
i
ght
sar
est
il
lof
f.
..
.Whi
chmeanst
hecoasti
scl
ear
.

"
Keir
a,I
'
m back"Ical
l
edoutf
orKei
ra,
butt
her
e'snor
epl
y.Iguessshei
sn'
thomey
et.
.isshest
il
l
l
ooki
ngfori
t?

Myl
astf
ewcal
l
sandt
ext
stoherwentunanswer
ed.

That
'sst
range.

Ideci
dedtot
extheragainandwai
tedf
oraf
ewmi
nut
es,
sti
l
lnor
epl
y.Al
li
tasudden,
ther
e'sa
str
ingoft
ext
sfrom Kei
ra.

Kei
ra:
-HeyCl
air
e,byt
het
imey
ouseet
heset
ext
s,I
'
m al
readypr
obabl
youtoft
own.
 It
ri
edl
ooki
ngf
ort
heDVDbutIcoul
dn'
tfi
ndi
tany
wher
e.

I
'
m sor
rybutIj
ustcan'
tri
ski
t.

Ihavetol
eavebef
oreKi
l
li
anf
indsout
.I'
veal
readyt
hrownt
hebr
okenDVDout
,hopef
ull
y,
hewon'tr
eali
zei
t.
..

Evenifhedoes,Ihopehe'
llsi
mmerdownt
henextt
imewemeet.ButIbegyoutocover
thisupforme.Makeitanaccident,
pret
endy
ouhav
enoknowl
edgeofit
,anythi
ng,
butpl
ease,
pleasedon'
ttel
lhi
mi twasme.

Ugh,
thatgi
rlwi
l
lbet
hedeat
hofme!
.

Iheadt
oKill
i
an'ssecr
etr
oom.Ther
e'sagl
ari
ngempt
yspaceamongt
heDVDsont
heshel
f.I
t'
s
i
mpossibl
eforKil
l
iantomissi
t.

May
beIshoul
dtr
ytoar
rangeiti
nawayhewon'
tnot
icet
hatsomet
hingi
smi
ssi
ngf
rom t
her
e.I
t
ryt
oshuf
flet
heDVDsaround.

"
Clai
re?Whatar
eyoudoi
ng?
!"

That
'sKi
l
li
an,
I'
m dead.
..
.!
!

TobeCont
inued