Rumors has it that_

A shrieking sound overwhelm my  sense of hearing, as i subconsciously stretched my hands, to end my misery, as my phone buzzes under my pillow, fuck its 4am already?, maybe thirty minute rest would do just fine, 

  Swiping the snooze button, my hands slip off the screen, just a little sleep wouldn't hurt, would it? 

    One hour past 

    

    “ Damn!, damn damn!”  , lookin at my screen, I am an hour late!How did I sleep through the alarm , damn , running towards the closet, “white white white, there!”, suit pants  and a loose white jacket to match, running towards the bathroom,I smell like smoke and cheese  cheese.

   My mind flashes back to yesterday. Asher had sent me home, he was angry, and here I am late on the first week of  resumption, drying my body, I slipped into my clothes, looked at my hair, still Looked like smoke and cheese.

It’s going to be a long day…

********

       Taking the elevator to the top building with my shoes in my hands, a messy ponytail and a sweaty face, “ having a bad day I guess” , coming from a man I hadn’t noticed until now.

  “ yes” I said as I sagged on the wall of the elevator, “ it’s going to be a fuckin long day, slipping my flops in my leg, I straightened my shirt, time to face the world.

   Just outside the foyer, my eye darted around the room. I had imagined a worse  scenario, where his face would be the first I see when coming up, but instead I  see a worker moving around with files, everyone is going on their normal day  like nothing happened.

    Waking up to camila, a receptionist, who was typing vigorously on her laptop, “ hey camila” i said tapping nervously on her desk, she looks up ,passing a weak smile, “ uhm hi” arching a sly brow, “ you look like you had just been chased by dogs” 

   “ i was”

   , she pops her eyes at me, giving me a bugeye, did she believe? 

    “ Really” no!, just had a long night.'’ I added, clearing her doubt.

  She sighs in relives, as she rolls her eyes upward, 

  “ or maybe i short one” she whispered, with  her hand half way on her lips, “ yea yea, either way, did you see the boss”

   She gasped at the sound  ‘ boss’ , “ don't say it out loud, but i heard he came earlier than usual, like damn early, and news have been going round the office that he looks angry, well he always is, but you know what I mean”

   Nodding frantically as I expect the worse.

   “ news also have it that it isn't the first time , he is being like this with bruise, and each time it happens, mostly ones a year, he gets really pissed and fires almost everyone working” she said.

   well, i have no idea how many times he sustain injury in a year, but lashing it out on workers i don't know about that, neither do I support it, 

  “ new also have it that __”

   “ Enough with the news canola, where’s Jose?”

“In the bosses office”

   “Damn”

 “Thanks Camila” I said, she replied with a French kiss,as I walked towards the table provided for me, just outside Asher's office, looking back, jose stood, talking to Asher, I got a glimpse of the bandages on his forehead, and then his hands as well.

   My heart clutches at the sight  of his bruised skin, it was all because of me, if i was at the right place and time he wouldn’t  have hurt himself, trying to protect me, maybe that's why he sent me home, taking my seat my eyes not leaving him, as i watch him coldly  interact with jose.

   Minutes past and i had set my office for the day, and also some documents that need filing, the sound of door shut, picks my hearing as I watch jose walk out of the office, resting his arm on my desk, “hey beautiful” he said smiling brightly at me, first unbothered face I have seen today?

  “ Hi Jose”

 Seeing him, all brightened up, looses knot tied deep down my chest, maybe Asher isn’t as pissed as Camilla over exaggerated 

    “ did you sleep at all?” he said

   “is it that obvious?” i asked, as embarrassment flushed down my body, “ very, you have extra puffy cheek” he said, mimicking a puffy chick, feigning with my hands placed dramatically on my cheating, “ that hurts Jose”

    “ sorry baby girl” holding my cheek with both hands as he toys with them, “ you still look as beautiful you and Asher stepped into this office” speaking of Asher,  I arch my neck, searching for him, i haven't had a proper conversation  with him, ever since I came.

     “Hey, let me get you something to drink” jose said as he pats my cheek gently, then walking into the reception, i catch a glimpse of asher he had his eyes back on his phone, tapping continuously, jose returns with a glass of water, “ here, i would get you some juice maybe it could help ease your body” giving a slight nod, he smiles sweetly at me then leave.

   Looking back at Asher , he still hasn't said anything, or made any request either.

   Not expecting him to, but oh well, taking a long gulp from the cup, i take to my feet, with my tablet on my hands as i walk into asher office,

   “ hi… good morning “ i said in a whisper, he didn't reply, instead he continued tapping , “ uhm, i just wanted to ask about the injury “ i said squinting quietly.

   He doesn't necessarily have to snub me. How rude can he really be, I hate him.

   his silence was like air in my furnace, as I slowly melt, , “ uhm anything i could do for you for the day?,  i overslept and it won't repeat itself again” i added, hoping he would give a reply, 

   He exhales , then placed his good hand on his forehead, mr white was back again, he had his usual white t shirt, and white khaki pants, a pare of white loafers, and a hair jet black as a raven eyes, “ yes, there's work to do rose, i had sent them to you, there are some marketing deals coming up, from china, i had sent their requirement, an i expect you to make them understand our terms and condition__”.

“ sounds like a lot”

      “ __the workers, would be dropping their daily work flow with you, and i would want you access them thoroughly, before dismissing anyone from the office, jose would send the revenue discount made in the month i was away, and also i would like to know how far the advertisers are going, it was your idea so make it work, now you can get to work_”

   All I hear is endless errand nothing like an answer to the question i had asked earlier “is that all?’ I asked, like i was so willing to partake in the errand i was sent, “ yes ” he said bluntly, turning  hesitantly, i walked out of the office, and just then the light in his office went off, leaving the office in utter darkness.

   What the fuck?

   Why would he turn the lights off, familair images flash through my mind, as thoughts of him, back in a cloak with pointy fangs dripping warm blood comes knocking at my subconscious mind, no no no, I am way passed this now, Asher is just a weird man, and how do you deal with weird things?, you ignore!  That’s all. 

   Taking my seat, trying so hard to concentrate, but images of weird creatures coming out of the hollow darkness just opposite me keep appearing in my mind.

   Jose  appears with a glass and a juice box, “ uh thanks, you didn't have to” smiling, he beams at me, “ i felt i must” he said leaning on my desk once more.

   He looks towards asher's dark office, then lets out a long breath, “ do you know what happened to him?”, 

“No”

    he sighs again, he refused to tell me when i asked, i bet it's just a bad day, , well i have work to do, how about we have our lunch break together” he said.

   “ well, i would love that, but i kinda have a lot to fix right now, i would be having mine  right here” i said apologetically, “ then we would have lunch together then’’ he said winking at me, instead my eyes goes back to asher why do i feel like he is watching me, why would he be watching me ?.

    “ Well, that's fine with me,” I said, and I waved him goodbye.

     Hours passed, and i have never had so much work, and research  to do in a lifetime, not even when i had to look for a pin, in a sack of files, my head hurts, and i knew it would be alot worse if jose had not brought a juice, i had ordered an extra pack in an hour or more,.

   Damn.

    “ hey baby girl”  a familiar voice picks my eyes, from the well polished loafers, to the pointy ironed suit pants, then a perfectly tucked white sleeve, no female in the history of female slays a suit more than one person

anna?