Secrets & Lies by Madelyn Clark (the best motivational books .TXT) 📖

"Amber, your car is waiting!"

I sighed, ignoring the warning, putting the last few dishes in the dishwasher before pushing the little button.

Angrily, I wiped up all of the mess that had been left on my counter from last nights events.

I'd had a little get-together for the success of my new job, and it had ended up ruining my apartment. The moment I woke, I had rung the cleaners, and hopefully all would be gone by the time I got home.

I quickly ran to my office where Mariah had set up as my assistant, and began my morning instructions.

"The cleaners are coming at nine, my sister is dropping by this morning sometime," I paused, "Make sure she doesn't track mud in my house," I said scowling, "and The Mother shall be calling around six." I used air quotes around the words 'The mother', and she nodded understandingly, writing down each note on her calender.

I sighed again, before walking to the door and grabbing my umbrella.

I turned back, "Thanks M, what would I do without you." I said to my wonderful assistant with a smile. She handed me my jacket and purse.

With a quick nod, I ran out the door expertly in my brand new Gold Stilettos, flinging my jacket over my shoulder.

I ran to the dark limo waiting at the edge of the sidewalk. With one smooth move, I got in, shut the door, and managed not to get a single bit of mud on my shoes.

Smiling to myself, I looked out the window briefly to see the car moving slowly away from my house, and into the early morning traffic.

A few seconds later, the divider slowly slid down, and an indistinct man wearing a dark suit, and sunglasses said "We'll be at the office in fifteen minutes." I gave him a quick nod and a 'thank you', before closing the gap back up and grabbing my iPod from my purse.

The next fourteen minutes was spent listening to it, before I quickly stashed it away, and got out of the car.

The driver already had an umbrella opened for me, and walked me into the office. As I enter, I wave him off without a second glance, and approach the shiny glass elevator.

As I am pushing the button for my floor, I catch the eye of someone familiar, but am quickly pushed back by the sea of people entering after me. My height doesn't help much these days: I'm only 5'6" with

heels.

I wait for the ding, and the monotone voice to say "Floor thirty-eight" before pushing my way out.

I take a moment to compose myself.

Taking a deep breath, I smooth down my hair, before walking past the front desk, through one of many corridors, and knock on the well known office I had visited so much since I was a little girl.

I hear whispered voices, and shuffling, before a "Come in", and I enter slowly. "Mr.Wolf." I say formally, intrigued as to why I choose this day to be so formal.

"Ahh, Miss.Sterling." He beckons me. I hold back the urge to vomit, and walk forward: I had always found him rather sleazy, and gross.

I smile at his blonde, busty assistant, who has slightly smeared lipstick, and veins bulging out of her chest. She excuses herself, slightly out of breath, and shuts the door as she leaves.

"Please sit." He says half heartedly, fiddling mindlessly with the pen in his desk. I can tell he thinks hiring me is a waste of time, but before my Dad passed away, he made him promise that he would hire me as soon as I turned sixteen.

Of course being who he is, he made me go through months and months of training before I was even allowed to set foot in the building again, even though my Dad had already taught me everything he knew.

So here I am, Amber Sterling, seventeen years old, and an official spy for Second Wave: An independent spy agency.

----------

"All I'm saying is that none of us are very happy with her being one of us," He paused, "And by us, I mean the entire staff." His pommy accent slurred a bit.

"Please, Saunders, She won't be one problem whatsoever." Mr.Wolf smiled devilishly. The other men in the smoky room eyed him carefully, knowing with that look Amber Sterling wouldn't be a problem to any of them.

"I've arranged a mission," He snorted, while using air quotes around the word 'mission', "that will use her skills to their full potential without bothering any of you in the process." He stated, that same grin on his face.

He looked around to the dozen faces surrounding him in the dark pub, hoping this would calm them enough for him to make a quick escape.

You see, He hadn't wanted to hire her, and ever since he had, he'd been hearing crap for it, but fortunately the man had one thing that he could not do in his life, and that was break a promise, and he'd promised his old boss that he would give Amber the job someday, so unfortunately, he had to.

All the men cheered, and in there arrogance, didn't ask another question. Mr.Wolf sighed, hoping he was now out of the firing line.

"Well men, I'm off," He arose from his stool at the bar, "If I don't get home soon, the wife will have my," He stopped himself, it actually dawning on him what she would do if he was a moment later than eight, "Ah, yes, Well I'll see you all tomorrow then." He loosened his tie and began walking out.

He heard footsteps behind him, and walked faster, only to be grabbed on the neck by a pair of strong hands.

"Listen mate, If I don't see her gone in a month, I'll make it seem as if your wife has been going easy on you all these years." He said savagely, patting him on the back heavily.

Mr.Wolf nodded, unable to speak, and made a beeline for the door that would lead him to freedom.


----------

"Your file, Miss. Sterling." Mr.Wolf handed the thin manila folder to Amber, looking pretty indifferently at her. "Thank you Mr.Wolf, I guarantee this isn't a mistake." She smiled her best smile, but seemingly failed when all Mr.Wolf did was shoo her off and continue feebly typing on his computer.

Once she was out in the hall again, Amber let out a huge sigh of relief. But before she could relax any further, she was being whisked off to a briefing room and sat down at a large table.

At first she was sure that there was no one in the room, but soon her eyes adjusted to the dark room, and she saw a very sad looking man at the end of the table.

"Okay, let's get this over with." He managed to get out without smiling once. Amber sat uneasily at the end of the table and listened to what the man had to say.

He began briefing her on a mission that involved digging up dirt on one of the companies clients' clients. Apparently this poor guys publicist wanted dirt on this kid so that he would be in the headlines, and Amber would be sent to dig it up on him.

She would have to become close to him, and in order to do that she would have to enter a singing competition his brother was judging.

"Any questions?" He asked without any enthusiasm. Amber could only think one thing, "How do you know that I can sing?" She asked, unable to believe that she would have to go up on a stage in front of so many people.

"Apparently Mr.Wolf knew." He tried to smile but failed miserably. She gave him an equally failed smile as she could feel her nerves playing up already.

Amber swallowed the lump in her throat and finalised the meeting with this all too sour man. He made a quick exit, and feeling like she did, so did she!

After that, she was shoved back out the building, and into her 'car', and told that she was to pack and leave for the airport within the hour.

Looks like it would be one of those days again.

----------

Touchdown. I had finally landed in L.A, after the long flight which had featured the all too common ‘annoying child screaming the whole way’, as well as ‘The attendant has an attitude’, while I tried to prepare myself for this crazy audition.

I was so nervous on the plane, I'd ended up biting all my nails off.

Once I had collected my bags, I headed towards the main doors looking for my car. I knew it wouldn’t take me long to find it, since a black limo in an airport isn't very inconspicuous.

I stared out at all the snow, smiling to myself. I loved snow. But my admiration was short lived, when the car I had been looking for pulled up to the curb and a driver stepped out.

The driver took my bags and opened the door without saying a word. I slid in, put my ear phones in my ears and scrolled through each song, until I came to one acceptable for my current mood.

We arrived at the Wiltshire Grand Hotel after a short journey there. I walked inside letting the driver hand my bags over to the all too eager bellboy.

I walked up to the desk, eyeing the receptionist who didn't appear to be helping very many customers.

"I'd like to check in please, the room should be under Amber Sterling" I said, looking down at the currency conversion taped to the desk. I looked back up and the woman hadn't moved an inch. She just kept talking on the phone, twirling the cord around her finger.

"Um, hello?" I questioned, but she just glared at me and continued talking, telling the person on the other end about a rude customer. I couldn't believe that this was happening!

How can a classy hotel like this treat it's guests like shit?

I decided that I'd had enough, and slid off my shoes, lining them up with the desk. Then with one swift movement I was up on the desk, and reaching over to disconnect the phone line.

"Hey! You can't do that!" She screamed, attracting attention of all types of people around us.

"How about I tell you what I will do, if you don't check me in," I said jumping down and threateningly, holding up one of my shoes, ready to pounce.

She turned as white as a ghost, and began rapidly typing on her computer, "Sterling was it then, right, yes, your in the presidential suite." She said reaching for the key.

I scoffed, "Yes, that'd be the one with all the fancy furniture, and the solid gold toilet seat." I said condescendingly, grabbing the key from her and picked up my other shoe, walking away victoriously.

I'd really hoped that she had been staring after me with a dumbfounded look on her face, because I'd probably done what many more people wish they