Chapter Nine:

"Miss Kennedy, in my office now!"

Ashton ordered through the telephone and Thea practically ran to her boss's office.

"Yes, Mr Ryder, you sent for me?" She said immediately. She stood before him. He raised his head from the paper he was holding in his hands.

"What says the time, Miss Kennedy?" He asked.

"I'm afraid I don't have a watch with me sir," she said.

Relaxing back on his chair at her words, he said, "How is it possible that my own private secretary doesn't even have a watch to call her own."

"Well, I had one before but it stopped working a long time ago and I didn't have the time to get it done," she told me.

"Not that I care about your watch replacement, Miss Kennedy, but you always need to give me my coffee. I usually send

Miss Weston, but she has a lot of work at hand. Besides, it's your responsibility, isn't it?"

"Yes sir, I'll go get your coffee," she said without hesitation.

Her eyes lingered on him longer than intended. He raised a brow at her in curiosity. I