CEO's Runaway Mate and Her Cubs

Lara spent the day with Roxy, doing easy tasks in the HR department. She hadn't told anyone about her birthday, and Nate had promised not to bring it up.

Doing the trivial work in Human Resources felt no different than working in the sales or secretarial department. She would walk to Roxy when she wasn't sure about something, but most things she could do.

«I had a course about recruitment and stuff in college,» she said to Roxy during a break. «It was fun. Just a shame I couldn't listen to the second part the following year.»

«I see... Do you miss studying?»

«Studying not so much, but sometimes I miss college.»

«You could try to enrol again now that there's someone taking care of the twins,» Roxy said.

«It's late, and I'm not as attracted to a student's life anymore. I'm an adult, and I have a family to take care of. Oh, and apparently a whole pack.»

«I'm sure you would find the time, though. If you feel unfulfilled after leaving college, you can try again.»

«And what? Fail? I don't want to go through it now,» Lara said, surprising Roxy.

The woman wasn't expecting such a reply. Why would Lara fail? She had done some background investigations on her after signing the contract, and she had found out her grades were all or almost full marks. She wouldn't fail college if she tried, even if she put less effort than the first time.

«It's in the past. Now I'm happy like this,» Lara said before Roxy could inquire any further.

She felt that nervousness she hated in her heart, a sign that it was better not to talk about college any longer. She felt that same fear as when she was with Nate.

«Oh, well, you wouldn't have the typical life of a student,» Roxy pointed out. «You won't need to look for a room in a city you don't know, right?»

Lara chuckled.

«I've never slept in the dormitory. I attended Sheton University, so I was at home.»

«You had only the main worry of students, right? Passing exams.»

«Not really because nothing bad would happen if I didn't. Except for the hassle of studying everything over again, of course.»

«No?»

«Well, I had my family's financial backing. Wasting one year wasn't much of a problem. My father's company was doing discreetly... Not as well as it's now, but not bad either. They could pay for college for my brother and me without issues, and my parents had the house and car they wanted...»

«I see, born with a golden spoon?»

«Let's just say silver.»

«It's fine if you don't want to talk about your family, but I'm curious. I thought you were a shy girl who would be blinded by the glittering world where Nate lives. Yet, you did pretty well at the gala, and Nate told me it was the same at the cocktail party. You know how to act during formal events.»

«My mother insisted I learn,» Lara sighed. «Even though she did insist more on being presentable and silent. But I've been taught. Even if my family wasn't as well-off as to attend something like the charity gala. It turns out my mother's teachings have a use, after all.»

«I see... And your father? Is he also attracted to the elite?»

«Less than my mother. He's more dragged in by her, actually. He doesn't care as much about social status... Just about having a stable life and a stable company.»

«I'm also curious about the company. It's pretty recent, right? Your father did a good job, making it become how it is now. It can even raise more if they continue like this.»

«Might be.» Lara shrugged. «I don't really care.»

«If they knew earlier you were our CEO's mate, they might have progressed even faster. Their industry is related to clothes as well, after all. I'm sure Nate could start a joint venture or something... But with things like this, there's no chance.»

«Right!» Lara nodded. «It's better like this. At least, Nate won't be dragged into weird business.»

Roxy listened to her, trying to find out whether she knew something about the beginning of Clayton Enterprises. The company was rather new, and it inherited everything from the family's former company: clients, business links, retailers... But Lara didn't know what to think about it, and she had never found it strange. She was a kid when it had happened, either way.

Roxy was just a teen, and she wasn't working for the company yet. Still, she could find old records of the LY Corp, of when it still was named only LYC, involving that old predecessor of the Clayton Enterprises. She was curious to know more because the owner of that company wasn't Lara's father.

«And your grandfather? Did he also have a business?»

«Not that I know,» Lara said.

So, who was that mysterious Clayton? Roxy was so, so curious; she knew there must have been juicy gossip in that story. Yet, she couldn't just ask. And it was evident that Lara knew nothing.

«Let's focus on work now,» Roxy said. «I can smell trouble on the way.»

«Trouble?»

«Yes. Just ignore the provocations, and I'll scold her if she goes overboard.»

«She? Who?»

«You'll see in a minute,» Roxy murmured.

She sat at her desk and got ready while Lara returned sorting her documents at the other table in the room.

She was starting to remember the faces of the employees, especially those she had talked with.

When the girl knocked and then came in, she lifted her face to see if she knew her, and indeed she did. It was one of the secretaries... Oh, the one who told her so many mean things when she had worked with her. The one accusing her of hooking up with managers and who knew what more. Lara couldn't remember every single detail.

«I have a problem!» she said.

«Yes?» Roxy replied, glancing at Lara.

«I want to mate!»