"Dad!" Aaron leans down and hugs Derek tightly.

"Don't break my back, boy, I just got out of surgery." He warns and Aaron lightly his grip.

"Sorry, dad. I'm just so glad to see you awake and well!" Aaron lets him go so Aphmau could hug Derek next.

"It's so good to see you again."

"Always a pleasure to see you, Everton." Derek responds as Aphmau pulls away and checks her phone.

"Hey, I have to go help my mom and dad with something, but I'll be back tomorrow, okay?" She says and both men nod.

"I'll text you later so we can continue that thing you were going to say earlier." She whisper to Aaron before she walks out the room and closes the door.

Derek turns to Aaron and smirks, "So when are you going to grow some balls and ask her out?"

"Excuse me?"

"I'm old, but I ain't blind. It's obvious you're in love with Aphmau. Why haven't you told her yet?"

Aaron sits down on the bed beside Derek, "She wanted to start slow back in July, and we've talked about it before, but then we didn't do anything about it. I wanna ask her out, but I'm afraid she's over me or she just wants to stay friends."

Derek laughs, "I raised an idiot."

"Thanks, love you too Dad."

"You really don't know- you know what? Go get the doctors, I think I'm ready."

"No, what were you going to say?"

"You'll figure it out sooner or later."

•○●A Purplla Publish●○•

One week later

Melissa walks into Aaron's room and drops a large file on his desk, "Ann resigned."

"Ann resigned? Why?"

"Apparently she wasn't getting paid enough? Whatever her reason was. Now we need a full in." She sits down in a chair in front his desk. "Any ideas?"

He had one. "Aphmau needs a job since she's fresh out of university. How about we hire her?"

"Nope. No way. I love her, but so do you. I don't need you getting distracted."

Aaron gasps. "Does everyone know?"

"She probably knows herself, you're super obvious." She says, "Find the refill or this project goes back a few months."

"Wait, Ann was my assistant. How will that set back this project?"

"Ann was the reason you even showed up for meetings. So find someone quick and fast. I don't care if you pick them off of the street. Just find one."

~~~

"I just really need this job." The woman says. "I just recently got divorced and I'm taking care of four children! Four! Do you want me to lose my children?!"

"No, no ma'am I don't." Aaron says, holding his hands up and looking at Melissa who's marking down on the clipboard.

"Okay, we'll reach out to you." Melissa leads the woman out of the door and closes it, "Don't you dare call her back."

"You don't have to tell me twice."

~~~

"I'm going to be frank with you." The girl says while crossing her legs, "I just think you're really hot."

Aaron coughs, "Thanks."

"How about we get out of here soon?"

"No, but you can." Melissa says, rolling her eyes.

~~~

"This is very nicely decorated. Who's your artist?"

"Umm I'm sorry?"

"Your contact worker. They're amazing."

"Yeah, I can tell already this isn't going to work."

~~~

"Please let me hire Aphmau. No one we've interviewed isn't good." Aaron begs.

"We have one more. If they're terrible, you can give her a call. Deal?"

"Deal."

"Alright, sweetie, come on in." Melissa calls and the door opens. A girl with bleach blond hair, purple eyes, and tan skin walks in with a light blue pencil skirt and blazer on.

"No, I'm not doing this." Aaron says.

"For once, I agree." Melissa points towards the door to Jenny.

"Hear me out," Jenny sits down, "I know me and Cathy have done some horrible things towards the Lycan family, but I really want to make amends."

"I don't believe that for a sec-"

"Shut up, I kinda wanna hear her out." Melissa says, clutching her clipboard. "Go on dear."

"I want this job to prove that I'm changing. To apologize deeply for everything I've done and I believe working for the Lycan will give me a eye opening experience in this warm and friendly environment."

Melissa claps and writes down on her clipboard, "Thank you Ms. Smith. We'll reach out to you." Melissa says.

"No, thank you Ms Lycan for giving me a chance-"

"Hold up," Aaron interrupts them, "I want to ask our interviewee some questions before we give her the job."

"Of course, Mr Lycan." Jenny says.

"Any previous assistant jobs?"

"I worked for S.H.W Inc. as an assistant for two years during college."

"What interests you about Lycan Inc.?"

"Lycan Inc. is a work friendly environment and it's a great start for assistants who want to get into the business world."

"Are you sure you are no longer in contact with Cathy?"

"After Cathy went to jail, I visited her once to tell her how I feel then I haven't been back since."

"Will you ever visit her again?"

Jenny shakes her head, "I'm done following her around, expecting her to call my name when she needs something. I am my own person and I have a right to be that. I am done with Cathy."

"Well, I believe her," Melissa stands up and gives Jenny a file, "Come into work Monday morning, 7 am. Don't be late."

Jenny squeals and stands up, "Thank you, thank you! You won't regret it!" Jenny hugs Melissa and steps back.

"No problem, sweetie. Aaron will supply you with all you need to know." Melissa says as she walks towards the door, "Be nice to her." She warns Aaron before leaving.

Jenny turns to Aaron, "So what do I need to know, boss?" Aaron groans and walks towards the door with Jenny following him.

"I'll give you the tour and tell you everything you need to do. Listen carefully because I won't repeat this again."

"Of course, I'm all ears." They walk down the hallway in front of a meeting room.

"On mornings of a meeting, I expect all my notes on the table by the time I sit down. I won't have time to stop by my office and grab them myself. During the meetings, you'll be there, taking extra notes I might miss." They keep walking.

"You'll get a hour long break at 1 pm and I expect you back in my office not a second late." He explains while pressing the down button on an elevator and the door opens.

"After you," He lets Jenny walk in first then he enters. He pressed the lobby floor button, "I'll have guests come in my office from time to time, from family to friends to colleagues that'll come in for quick small meetings. For whoever is in my office, you are not allowed in there."

"Why not?"

"Sometimes it's a big project between only a few of us and sometimes it's a personal matter. But that'll be rare." The elevator opens and they step out.

"You'll only see my family, colleagues, and my friend Aphmau walk in there. If it's anyone but them, they'll need an approved appointment to step foot into my office." Aaron stops, "You do know who Aphmau is, right?"

"Short girl with the big cute brown eyes who Cathy hates?" Jenny says, "Yeah I remember her vaguely."

"Great, she has access to my office so if she comes and I'm not in there, she has the right to wait in there for me."

"Splendid, I'll remember that." Jenny flashes a fake smile.

"She'll be around here tomorrow around 11, so let her in then." Aaron walks towards the lady at the desk and takes a file from her and hands it to Jenny.

"This has everything else you need to know and a basic rule sheet that you need to follow or you'll be written up. There strikes and you're out. Got it?" He leads her towards the entrance.

"Loud and clear. Thanks for giving me another chance to prove myself." Jenny says before walking out of the building.

"11 am? Perfect."