Wincing at the sun just beginning to rise making me grab my phone to make it stop ringing. "What? What, Julian?" I asked quickly assuming it was him not looking to see who it was. I groaned full of frustration bringing my hand to my head. "This is Nathan. I need you down at the office. Now." He said before hanging up.

Sleep walking through the empty law firm the caffeine from my coffee not yet kicking in. You could see the beautiful sunset in between the tall city buildings through the windows. Not seeing Nathan in his office, I looked around puzzled placing my purse and coffee on my desk. Looking inside every empty office trying to stay discrete. I held his coffee with cream and sugar that I got him every day since I became his assistant.

I opened the door to the break room and printer room growing frustrated not find him. "You better not have woken me up for nothing." I mumbled to myself before opening the file room.

"What are you doing in here?" I asked seeing Nathan's back hunched over a filing cabinet reading a file. He jumped softly turning to me making me frown never before being able to startle him.

He wasn't in his usual suit jacket and tie. Nathan's shirt was unbuttoned slightly as he turned around to look at me. "Where are the files on the Bancroft's?" He asked agitated as he walked towards another cabinet. I frowned growing worried ever seeing him so ruffled and distressed.

I placed his coffee on top of the tall cabinet as I pulled the drawer and flicked through the B's before pulling it put. Turning around to give it to him when I saw he was right behind me making me step back into the hard cabinet. "I've been looking for hours." He breathed taking it from me harshly walking away to flip through the paper. "I'm sorry, I reorganized them. I-Into categories and then the names alphabetically. It seemed easier." I explained weakly.

"At least easier for me." I continued anxiously. "No, it does seem more efficient." He replied looking away. "Why do you need it? Did something happen?" I asked knowing the Bancroft file was a murder case. "It's being reopened." Nathan muttered walking out of the room making me follow him towards his office.

"Why does that name sound familiar?" I asked mostly to myself making him turn to me as we walked together. Snapping out if it noticing his perplexed features staring down at me.

"I'm guessing you didn't get much sleep." I said looking at all the files on the ground in his office around his cabinets. Knowing I would be the one to put them all away where they belonged. "You should've told me you reorganized the files." Nathan stated ignoring me as he sat down. "You're right I'm sorry. It slipped my mind." I confessed honestly making him nod.

"I expect-" He began making me smile softly amused interrupting him. "You expect it not to happen again. Yes, I know." I smiled jokingly making him look up from his desk. He looked up at me in bewilderment knowing most people were never brave enough to see past his emotionally unavailable, and seemingly cold heart to joke around with him.

"So, who's Julian?" Nathan asked looking away from me skimming through the fillies I found for him. "Just a friend." I answered walking up to his desk. "You forgot this." I placed his coffee on his desk before leaving closing his office door behind me.

"Good morning. Nathan Vanderbilt's office." I said answering the phone. "I need to make an appointment." A man with an intimidating voice said making me frown. "And who am I speaking with?" I asked looking around the office. "He'll know." He replied making me look through his schedule. "I'm sorry but Mr. Vanderbilt isn't free until a week from tomorrow." I stated before he hung up.

I frowned looking at the phone slowly hanging up replaying what just happened. About to walk into his office to explain the odd phone call before noticing a note that Nathan wrote. "Send flowers to Hannah to invite her to my family's Christmas party." The post it wrote in his neat handwriting making me sigh.

Googling a closest florist, filling with worry at the mention of Christmas. I grabbed my phone to check the date seeing there was less than a week until my deadline. After a few minutes of silently freaking out I struggled to take a deep breath to write down the address of the florist shop.

Grabbing my coat and knocking on his door "I'm going to order Hannah's flowers. Do you want breakfast?" I asked. "Waffles and scrambled eggs." He said after a minute of thinking.

Taking the elevator back down as everyone began arriving for work. I held my thick overcoat tightly against me as the cold wind blew walking down the street. Once I arrived at the nearby florist shop, I shook off the light dusting of snow from my coat walking inside.

I smiled looking around in awe at the warmth of the store and seeing all the vibrant, beautiful flower bouquets. "Welcome! What can I help you with today?" A woman asked as I noticed a few other people looking around. "I need to order a bouquet of roses." I smiled as she walked behind the counter. "Any preferences?" She asked making me smile looking around.

"Red?" I replied making her nod through a smile. "And how big of an arrangement would you like them? These are our sizes. " She asked as I looked at the beautiful display of flower bouquets. "The second smallest one." I answered amused as she typed it into the computer. "What is the address?" The older woman asked as I handed her Hannah's address I had previously written down.

"And when do you need them delivered by?" She asked with a smile making me think for a moment not knowing. "As soon as possible?" I asked uncertain making her smile. "Of course, and how will you be paying?" She continued before I handed her Nathan's credit card.

Once I left the beautiful, warm shop, I called a cab to drive me to the nearest diner. I couldn't help but frown filling with memories of all of my past Christmas seeing how similar it looked to the one I worked in my hometown. With all of the bright neon lights, decorative Christmas lights and garlands with the aroma of French fries and other fried foods in the air. It all instantly brought me back to being a desperate teenager in a blink of an eye.

"Heya! What can I get you?" A chipper waitress asked making me gasp softly snapping me from my thoughts. "Oh, uh, blueberry pancakes with hash browns, waffles and scrambled eggs to go please." I smiled forcefully making her nod walking towards the kitchen to tell the cook making me sit down.

Beginning to think about my deadline and all of the things I could potentially pin Nathan's murder on, but I couldn't help but feel a slight ache in my chest thinking about it. I still haven't noticed him doing anything worth me being here which was my only reason for having doubts. Other than his off-putting personality. Looking around at all the happy, laughing people, I quickly shrugged it off not wanting my feelings get in the way of the job.

After finally leaving the diner with our food I took another cab to the firm's building. The offices were busier than earlier making me weave in and out of people around their desks. I was taking my coat off at my desk when Eve walked up to me.

"Hey! You're late again is this going to be a regular thing with you?" She teased with a smile making me playfully roll my eyes. "I came in early." I said making me smile at her amused features. "Oh," She dragged out. "Why?" She asked with a grin as she crossed her arms.

"He needed help finding a file." I answered glaring at her failing to hide a smile making her hum in reply. "That file must've been pretty important." She replied unconvinced as I let out a small chuckle as she left. I walked into Nathan's office placing the takeout bag on his desk before opening it to take out his meal for him as he continued to work.

I walked away from his desk without a word from either of us never looking up away from his work. Which was something I had grown used to from him and no longer took anything too personally. I knew now that when he was working hard, he was in his own little world. "Thank you." He unexpectedly broke the silence as I opened the door to leave making me stop.

I turned my head to see he was looking down still working making me smile weakly to myself. "You're welcome." I answered hesitantly not used to him using any of his manners.

Hours passed of me working at my desk when my phone began to ring. I was expecting it to be Julian like usual until I saw my brother's name appear.

I stood debating on answering it as I reached for my phone causing some papers fall to the floor. Fumbling to answer it bringing it to my ear looking around the firm. "Hello?" I asked confused full of concern as I stood anxiously beside my desk. "Hey, Gen." He began continuing to look around hoping no one could overhear.

"How have you been? Are you coming for Christmas? We would all love to see you. Especially Rose." Nick said making me fight the tears in my eyes looking down at my desk. "Yeah. Of course, I am." I replied trying to hide the emotion in my voice.

"I'm glad to hear it. I hope to catch up then. We'd love to know what's been keeping you away." Nick said making me hold my forehead as I filled with guilt.

"Finish your call. I need to speak with you. And these need to be done before you leave." Nathan said placing a small stack of documents on my desk making me almost jump out of my skin. "I-I have to go." I said trying to suppress my emotion. I struggled to blink away the tears in my eyes as I avoided looking up at Nathan. "Alright. Love you." Nick said before I quickly hung up as Nathan continued to speak.

"I need you to come to my family's Christmas Eve party. Everyone is in the firm is invited." He said making me nod not looking up at him. Thankfully Nathan walked away making me collapse into my desk chair thinking about my phone call with my brother. Until I was faced with a realization.

The party would be the last chance for me to kill Nathan Vanderbilt before my deadline.

I was awoken by vibrating on my nightstand, flipping my arm over to reach for my phone quickly grabbing it to stop the infuriating noise making me groan. I squinted my eyes to see it was three in the morning before answering my phone.

"You've got to stop calling me while I'm sleeping or I'm requesting this be considered overtime." I said as my groggy voice cracked noticing it was only Nathan calling.

"Where are your notes?" He ignored my retort I started to slump back into bed closing my eyes. "What notes?" I yawned softly making him let out an aggravated sigh knowing I was beginning to fall back asleep. "The notes you take during meetings. You have been taking notes, right?" He asked as I grew limp with sleep starting to zone out and fall back asleep.

"Carmen." Nathan said through the phone hearing me softly snore. "Yeah. Of course. Yes, I have." I said bolting away making me run my palm down my face sitting up out of bed. "They're in my desk drawer. I was going to put them with each case file in the morning." I yawned again making him grow silent for a moment.

"They aren't here." Nathan said making me open my eyes wider that I was more awake. "Check again." I replied annoyed failing to hide my confusion. Hearing him sigh in annoyance growing silent again as I heard drawers opening and closing before he finally spoke

"They aren't here." He repeated in a more threatening tone making me roll my eyes. "Alright. I'm on my way calm down. I'll be there in a few." I said before hanging up. I made my way out of my hotel building throwing on my coat a chill running through me as snow softly fell.

Walking up to Nathan in his office. His shirt was disheveled without his black tie and his sleeves rolled up past his elbows now knowing this was his usual state when he was alone in closed the law firm. I couldn't help but notice how muscular he was unable to tear my eyes away from his bulging muscles as he stood in his office not yet seeing me.

"Are you sure you looked everywhere?" I asked snapping out of it making him turn to me. His eyes raked my appearance as a genuine smile formed his lips making me look down at my appearance. I wore maroon sweatpants, oversized band tee shirt with small holes and my usual coat. My long dark brown was held in a messy, bed head bun.

"Seriously? You want to judge my appearance now? At three in the morning?" I asked failing to hold a stern look laughing softly. "I'd like to see you rudely awoken from peaceful sleep. You do sleep right?" I teased looking around his office as he was seemingly always here. Nathan only grinned wider before laughing softly. His deep laugh made my stomach do
summer salts as my heart fluttered.

I couldn't help but smile back at his features realizing I have never seen him smile or genuinely laugh at something before. After a few seconds of smiling and staring at one another, he looked away putting the file that he was previously reading down on his desk.

"Why do you need my notes right now?" I asked as he walked past me outside of his office. Placing my coat on the rack, I bent down in front of my desk to begin looking for the notes I always kept in my drawer. Nathan stood over me watching me look for them calmly.

"Just finishing up a case for trial." He answered making me hum in reply. I remembered making his schedule knowing his most recent court date is next week. I knew he was lying but I ignored it as I spoke. "I-I don't know why they aren't here." I parted my lips nervously standing up making him rake his fingers through his hair. "I keep my notepad right there." I placed my hand in the drawer before standing up beside him.

"I-It'll be alright we will find them." I said following him back into his office. "I'm sure I misplaced them in some files by mistake." I said trying to keep my job making him shake his head. "No. It's not you." He said making me ease slightly waiting for him to continue. "People are trying to keep me from prosecuting a case I have." Was all Nathan said as he walked around his desk to sit down.

"They have been trying to keep me from prosecuting them. By any means." Nathan explained defeated looking away from me. My mouth parted in confusion remembering all the case files I have organized for him. They were all mostly little cases like real estate and business. Ranging from financial claims to partners clashing, allegations of cheating, disputes, divorces, and everything in between. Nothing for anyone to want to kill him over.

"That's horrible. I'm sorry." I replied not knowing what to say. "But I didn't write anything worth anyone stealing. I hope that eases your worry." I continued making him look up studying me for a moment. "You should go home and get some sleep." Nathan said as he continued to work making me nod defeated. I couldn't help but feel somewhat badly for him as I walked away.

"Where are you staying?" He asked making me stop walking away and turn back around. "The Benjamin." I answered making Nathan look up at me curiously. "Yeah," I chuckled "I was surprised too. Let's just say it's the first hotel I've stayed in that didn't have a number in the name." I joked lightly before turning around to continue to leave before he interrupted again.

"Take my driver. You shouldn't be taking taxis at night." He said as he began to call someone making me frown. "That isn't necessary-" I began but he was already speaking into the phone. "It really isn't necessary, Mr. Vanderbilt." I repeated as he hung up the phone making him look at me with frustration.

"I insist." He pressed making me nod reluctantly biting my tongue deciding to let it go. "Alright." I replied catching him off guard. "Thank you." I said before I finished leaving his office grabbing my coat. "Make sure you get some sleep." I smiled putting on my coat before walking through the firm towards the elevator.

Sighing heavily, I threw my coat on the ground on my hotel room floor shutting my front door with my foot. Shuffling over to my bed I collapsed back down on my now cold bed as I looked out my window. As I struggled to fall back asleep, I thought about all the reasons my boss would want to have a man like Nathan Vanderbilt killed. Over these past two weeks I have not seen anything off about him like I have with past targets. Usually, I would catch them doing the things I was sent to kill them for. But not with Nathan.

He seemed like an ordinary frustrated lawyer working in a law firm. Yes, he was arrogant and egotistical and just plain rude but nothing worth killing him over. He was only dedicated to his job and his clients which was admirable. I would understand why anyone with his job would gradually develop a hard shell around people making him seem harsh and detached. I thought about the cases and lawsuits he usually works on wondering if maybe my boss needed him dead for something Nathan had against my boss of someone he knew.

I never had any problems killing people before. I've never cared about the people or the personal reason why they wanted them dead because nothing about him seemed corrupt. If anything, the opposite with him being a dedicated lawyer who believed in following the law by any means. Who was someone who prosecuted people who thought differently. Something seemed different this time. This time I needed to know. I couldn't risk killing someone innocent who is just doing their job.

But I knew if I didn't kill him before Christmas there would be a target on my back for defying my strict orders. And someone would be quick on their way to come to kill the both of us.

Only getting a few more hours of sleep slumped out of bed to get ready to go back to work. I changed into my usual black pencil skirt and heals. Looking through my closet for a top seeing a blue blouse hanging. I remembered what Eve said to me the other day. Grabbing it before doing my makeup and hair and slipping on my heals and coat.

Walking out the opened doors of the hotel, I struggled flagging down a taxi when I noticed Nathan's driver standing outside of the car. I scoffed in confusion as I walked up to him.

"Carmen D'Angelo?" He asked making my lips part in disbelief. "Last night was just a onetime thing. I don't need a driver every morning." I stated making him smile. "Mr. Vanderbilt says otherwise." The driver stated making me scoff.

"No offense but I don't need his driver. A taxi is perfectly fine." I stated as I walked away to whistle for a yellow and black cab. The driver just smiled amused as he closed the car door. "Very well." Was all he said as a taxi pulled up making me rush towards it.

Walking out the elevator I stalked towards his office hearing my heals click against the marble flooring. I noticed Mr. Vanderbilt was still wearing the same disheveled dress shirt with his sleeves rolled up. I took off my winter coat before walking inside with his coffee.

"Good morning." Nathan said as I placed his coffee on his desk. He continued to work not looking up at me. "Is it six already?" He asked quickly looking down at his watch making me frown. "Thank you for letting me use your town car this morning but that was just a onetime thing." I said as he looked up at me masking his emotions.

"Okay." Was all he said drawing his attention back to his computer screen. "I appreciated it this morning but I'm perfectly fine to be riding taxi's my myself." I continued not processing what he said. "Alright." Nathan continued making me frown questionably. "A-Alright?" I asked slightly stunned he