•7• Priscilla

It's been a rollercoaster at work today. I'm exhausted, to say the least- but most of all, I'm starving.

The first thing I do as soon as I get back to my apartment is make myself some hot cocoa. While it's simmering away in the pot, I run down to the washroom and let loose. I'm sweaty, my work clothes are damp with my sweat, so I freshen up and change into my night-suit. By the time I walk back into the kitchen, my cocoa is about to burn.

"Shit," I curse under my breath, heaving the pot off the stove with a dishcloth and pouring it into a mug.

There's this slight note of smoky cocoa in the vapours that fly over the mug, but it's going to have to do.

Sighing, I take my hot cocoa and head to the tiny living room. It's a one bedroom flat that I live in, and to be honest, it's kind of cramped, but then it's the closest one I could get to Southerford Inc., so I'm not complaining. I plop down on the couch and switch on the T.V.

I almost wish I hadn't.

Because guess whose interview is playing?

Guess whose face is strewn across the small screen?

Gerrard Southerford’s.

I don't know what it is that makes me feel so... strange in my chest whenever there's even a mention of this man. I mean, I know every girl in the Six-- hell, every girl in the country, almost-- is crazy about him, because those looks really are something to boast of, but I swear its not just about his looks when it comes to me.

Sure, I'm not immune to the striking glare of his eyes or the angular cut of his face or even his muscled body. I'm a girl with raging hormones, with needs, and I like what I see when it comes to Gerrard. But he's more than just a pretty face to me.

He's a mystery.

He's a mystery to me because the first time that he saw me, today, he didn't even know me, but he still disapproved of me. I know he did. 

He's a mystery to me because he doesn't like me but he's still cordial with me-- to some extent. I don't know why but the fact that he still gave me the job even when I know there were other, better people who deserve it way more that I do, makes me wonder why he did what he did.

He's a mystery because, according to Remo, he hates Ruben's guts, but he's still letting him be in his company. I swear there's some kind of fuck-up in this company, but when I asked Remo about it, he said nobody knew what the deal really was between the two.

Whatever it is, I'm pretty sure Ruben's to blame.

My cheeks warm when I think that. Why am I defending Gerrard when I don't know shit about the truth?

I sip on my cocoa absently, and immediately pull back from it; I'd completely forgotten how hot it was.

"Shit," I mutter, my tongue feeling the burn of the hot drink. Shaking my head at my stupidity, I return my gaze to the television, where Gerrard's still talking. I swear his voice secretly makes me go weak in the knees. But then I see someone standing behind him, and my mood drops.

It's that girl, the one who's with him at the office all the time, too, the one Remo told me is his PA. 

I laugh ruefully, my eyes going back to Gerrard. I saw them leaving the office together this evening, when I was waiting to hail a cab. And I know for a fact that she's not just his 'PA'. There's something more to them than that.

Just the thought makes me feel a slight twinge in my chest, but it feels so weird to feel this way that I just switch off the T.V. and head to bed.

That was pretty much enough of Gerrard Southerford for me for one day.

* ^ * ^ * ^ *

The next morning when I get to Southerford Inc., I haven't even managed to get my bag off my shoulder when someone calls for me urgently.

I spin around to see none other than Gerrard's 'PA' standing behind me. The fact that she has a really kind smile directed my way kind of pisses me off. And I'm surprised that I feel this way.

"Priscilla, right?" she asks politely.

I nod, trying to be as nice as possible when I attempt a smile, but I'm scared it looks more like a grimace. If it does, though, Miss PA doesn't show it.

"Hi, I'm Bru, Gerrard's PA," she introduces herself, holding out a hand for me to shake. I do. "Gerrard wants to see you in his office just now, Priscilla, so if you've settled in, let's hurry up."

I'm-- stuck between shock and surprise. I think I'm somewhere midway between them.

"I-is there a problem?" I ask her, my eyes kinda big. It's annoying how I don't have any control over them when I'm feeling overwhelming emotions.

But to my surprise, Bru laughs. "No, Priscilla. Just head up, okay? I'll be right behind you."

I'm surprised again. She's going to let me see him one-on-one for a bit?

I don't have time to think too much about it, though, because she's already motioning for me to leave for my boss's floor. With a start, I oblige. I'm almost to the elevators when I see Ruben talking to Bru, but that would be putting it lightly. His expression tells me he's arguing with her, throwing his hands all around himself and all that, but what's surprising is that Bru's smiling at him calmly. Just before I slip inside the elevator, I realise something. 

Bru wasn't arguing with Ruben. She was keeping him from stopping me.

The doors close too soon for me to make sense of anything. 

Shaking my head, I press 17, and the elevator heads up.

I'm fidgeting with my fingers so bad its scary. Although Bru said I'm not in trouble, I'm still nervous about why Gerrard would want to see me. Because I just can't think of a reason why. The lift opens then, and tentatively, I step out. A man's waiting for me outside.

"Ms. Gard?" he says.

"Yes."

"This way, please. Mr. Southerford is waiting."

I gulp hard.