In New York, Kenneth, too, attempted to follow his teachings, except he stagnated and doubted. He wanted something, but he didn't know what. Life was full of desires the man wished he could whisk away.

As always, he dived headfirst into work. With the fairs and other events, the man delayed many projects of his publishing house by lack of time, so he decided to optimize things.

"Hey, Mathilda."

"Oh, gosh where, yor accente. Yea, sound like a prro-per American, Lil Kenny."

"I'm glad you're here," Kenneth said as he hugged the woman.

"So am I. I doubt yor lads arre rredy."

Kenneth smiled and released her from the hug, "the meeting is in three minutes, but everyone should arrive about now."

As soon as Kenneth said it, the door opened, and in came his collaborators.

The man nodded at Mathilda, who smiled back. She was optimistic, straightforward, and loyal; Kenneth felt he needed someone like her to bring new insights and support him.

"Hi, everyone; this morning's meeting will be short and sweet. I just want to present to you Mathilda Murphy; she'll be taking the position of chief editor and will be working with me."

Meredith cocked a brow.

"Hi, I'm verrri happi to be here."

Meredith leaned over to Rob, "is she speaking in English?"

"Plaise be diligent, I've got a verri strrong Irish accente."

"I've already got a headache," Meredith said, touching her forehead.

"Excuse me, let me know if I'm botherring yea."

Meredith blinked; Kenneth didn't intervene. The episode proved once more the PA hadn't retained anything. Mathilda continued to present herself but also her expectations for Kenneths' publishing house. Everyone left the room with a clear vision of where Life Editions were heading.

"Meredith, can you stay a minute?" Kenneth asked once the meeting ended.

The woman waited for everyone to leave, including Mathilda, "did I do something wrong, Kenneth?" Meredith asked once the door closed.

"Are you happy, Meredith?"

"Yes, why?"

"See, I doubt that. I think you and I have come to an expiration date. I think you don't find it pleasurable to work here anymore."

Meredith's facial expression went from surprised to tragic as she said, "Kenneth, I'm sorry. Whatever I did, I'm sorry."

Kenneth took a deep breath, "you see that right there, it proves we should stop this. You can't apologize when you don't even know what I'm reproaching you. It doesn't make sense," Kenneth sighed, "It's not how it should be. You shouldn't be willing to bend or agree with everything I say."

"But you're my boss," Meredith exclaimed.

"If so, then what you did during the meeting and at the fair is inappropriate. I can't be your boss when you feel like it. You can't flip modes like you dowhenever youo see another woman. "

"I don't do that."

A blitz smile appeared on Kenneths' face, "I can't do this anymore. Meredith, you're fired."

The woman blinked, "excuse me can you repeat, please?"

"Meredith, please don't make things more complicated."

"Kenneth, please."

"I said, you're fired. I'm sorry, Meredith. I recognize that I shouldn't have let things get out of hand. IㅡI ruined you. By my side, you're becoming this twisted person you're not. I will never give or provide what you want from me. You and I, it'sㅡ.It just has to stop. I wasn't even capable of protecting and caring for someone I loved. How can Iㅡ."

It took Kenneth time, but as Greta said, he liked the idea of knowing Meredith swooned over him. The woman's feelings flattered his ego, and he loved it because he didn't need to take any responsibility for her feelings. She chose to adore him, and all was well until he wished to grant his affection to someone else. Meredith became an obstacle, and the toggle wasn't thrilling but a strain for the man who took baby steps in his love story.

Meredith turned around, walked to the door, and left. It didn't even take five minutes after her departure for a feeling of relief to sweep over the man.

Mathilda came back inside, "arre yea okay, Kenneth?"

"Yes."

"Well, yor teams grreat. I think we'll do excellent worrk together. By the wae, did you tell that wee thing that just left I'm yor cousin?"

"No, there was no need."

Blindsighted by obsessive love, Meredith didn't even take time to analyze Kenneths' and Mathildas' common traits. Hair and eyes, as children, many believed they were brother and sister. Mathilda was already an editor when Kenneth began. The woman taught him the ropes; Kenneth was sure her expertise would be handy.

Kenneth got rid of Meredith, which meant he was back to square one concerning his PA. He had Rob screen for him a week later. Then he asked Mathilda if she could skim Robs' selection as he knew how impartial she was.

Three candidates made it to the last talent poll.

A 28-year-old woman Sacha Reiss.

A 30-year-old Bradley Cooper had Rob muffling laughter for a good five minutes before starting the interview because of his name.

And a 34-year-old Loren Michelle.

Loren had the most experience, but Kenneth was disappointed when she began discussing how she had read all his books and tested almost all his suggestions. It got creepy when she mentioned the pages and the lines where the quotes went. The man refused a Meredith Evans reboot, and who could blame him?

Sacha, though a novice, had too many requests, "do I get my car and office? I can't work on Saturdays and Wednesdays. Oh, I made a list of the things I do and don't do. It's more simple this way."

Kenneth understood Sacha was just Rob and Mathilda having fun at his expense and time, at least he hoped.

Finally, it was Bradley, Mathildas' favorite turn. The woman appreciated his frankness and put in a good word for him.

"So, Bradley, what motivated you to apply?" Kenneth asked.

"The pay, also I don't live far, so it's practical."

"Do you know who I am?"

"Yes, I looked you up on Wiki. You seem to be a cool guy."

Kenneth cocked a brow.

"I'm not cool; I've got a lot of work to do. And I need someone to manage my schedule, deal with correspondence, and remind me of immediate tasks and deadlines."

"Oh, I've been doing it for three years already. I know the drill," Bradley said with a smile.

"Why did you leave your last position?"

"I had to be available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. My girlfriend almost left me. I had no life."

Kenneth adjusted his position in his seat, "did she leave you?"

"No, I said almost. We're still together. Penny owns Penny's vegan cafe further down on the boulevard."

"I see. Do you smoke?"

Bradley's gawking eyes spoke for him, "God forbid Penny would throw on the street. We matched on MatchMe because we're both non-smokers. I must admit, at first, I thought she wasn't my type."

Kenneth leaned forward, "and you stayed with her?"

"Well, it was either her or the One Direction fanatic who only liked me because I'm the spitting image of Liam, according to her."

"I see," Kenneth said, leaning back.

"Pennys' a great girl. She opened up my eyes to many things. I'll propose to her if I get his job and put some money aside."

"You want to marry her?"

"Yes, it's crazy. No one annoys me or makes me laugh like Penny. She has these freezing feet that she always snuggles between my legs, but I love her," Bradley replied without an ounce of hesitation.

"And you want to spend your life with cold feet?" Kenneth couldn't believe the man was willing to signup for a lifetime next to a woman with icicle feet for love.

Bradley shrugged, "I'm there to warm them up. Nobody is perfect. I'd be dumb to let her go for cold feet."

Kenneth nodded, "right." He then adjusted his position again and cleared his throat, "eh, about smoking, have you ever tried?"

"Once, my father whiplashed my desire to try again."

Yes, Bradley was sure honest. Kenneth liked that and the fact he was a man in love. It was the first time Kenneth hired a male personal assistant. Bradley was a great firewall as he reeled in as much attention as his boss with his boyband face.

With Bradleys' arrival came new misinterpretations.

"Will you and your partner like some refreshments?" the flight attendant asked.

"He's not my partner. He's my PA," Kenneth replied.

It was bound to occur at least once.