CHAPTER ELEVEN

                                             

In a blink of an eye, Monday had arrived. The day Bellona was to officially resume as Zephyr's secretary.

That morning she had woken up earlier than usual. Perhaps it was from excitement that she was  slowly but surely coming close to achieving her goals or from nervousness as this was her first official job, she couldn't tell. Either way, she felt anxious.

She quickly did her morning routine and got ready for work. She wore a simple coperate gown. The gown was on the formal side but given the type of body she had, she managed to make the dress look sexy. She didn't take a while to get ready since it was her first day, she didn't want to be late.

She took a cab because she didn't want to take her car. Besides, how would she take her car? Was she not supposed to be pretending to be an average girl who just recently got employed? So arriving with a car wouldn't be in line with her act.

When she got to the company, it was still quite early and the CEO had not yet arrived so she decided to go to her office to study the files Lucian had handed over to her that contained the necessary information and schedules of the boss.

Meanwhile, at 9am sharp, Zephyr's car drove into the company's premises and all staffs and official stood out to welcome him as usual. This was a normal routine. All officials must be present on his arrival. Failure to do so, attracted serious punishments.

He alighted the vehicle and his eyes subconsciously scanned the environment in search of a certain someone. When he didn't find her, he strolled in with Lucian trailing behind.

"She's not here?" Zephyr asked when the got to the corridor leading to his office.

"It seems like it" Lucian said.

"Late on the first day?" Zephyr hummed. It didn't sound like a question. It sounded like he was talking to himself.

"What should be the consequences, boss?" Lucian asked.

"Fire her-" Zephyr was yet to complete his statement when her voice interrupted him.

"Hello boss. Good morning, you're late" Bellona chuckled awkwardly. "I came to work quite early so I sat in my office studying you'd schedule. I'm a diligent secretary, aren't I?" 

When he didn't respond, she continued talking, "you see, I didn't know that I was to wait outside to welcome you. It's not my fault though, your 'shadow' didn't tell me else I would have being the first person in line, waiting for your arrival." She subtly threw a little shade at Lucian. Why wouldn't she? She hated the man. He was always beside Zephyr and she saw him as a threat to her mission.

Had it been she wasn't lucky enough to eavesdrop on their conversation, she would have gotten fired on her first day of work.

That damned Lucian! Couldn't he have at least checked to see if she had arrived, he was just eager to punish her. Maybe he hated her for taking his position as Zephyr's secretary.

He could become Zephyr's secretary for all she cared. She didn't even plan to stay long here.

Zephyr smiled a little when he heard her address Lucian as his shadow. The smile faded as fast as it came so it was hard to notice. Well she wasn't wrong, the man followed him every where.

"To my office, now!" Zephyr said to Bellona and walked to his office. Bellona quickly followed behind, not forgetting to glare at Lucian.

Zephyr made himself comfortable on his office seat while Bellona stood in front of the large office table waiting for his orders.

Zephyr simply ignored her and left her standing not even bothering to offer her a seat. While Bellona was left standing, she took her time to observe the office.

Although it was painted with just black and white, the office was tastefully furnished with the finest of furnitures. There was a large office table and a large seat behind it which could possibly sit two people.

Two seats were also placed in front of the table and then in the middle of the office, there was a couch and a coffee table.

The floor to ceiling window brought in enough sunlight and gave the view of the bustling city. 

Bellona's feet was starting to ache now and the man didn't seem like he would speak in the nearest moment so Bellona decided to take a seat.

Halfway through trying to sit, she heard his loud baritone voice which made her loose balance but she quickly caught herself before she could fall.

"Who asked you to sit?" Zephyr asked, his face dark like she had committed a grievous offence.

"I was tired and my legs were starting to ache and you weren't saying anything so I sat" Bellona defended herself but when she saw his dark expression, she quickly apologized. After which, silence took over.

"Coffee" He spoke after a while.

"Huh?" Bellona asked confused. Was he asking her out on a coffee date? He wouldn't dare!

"My coffee" He repeated, only this time, more clearly.

"Oh, on it." Bellona said and scurried out. She remembered Lucian wrote something about Zephyr liking to be served coffee the moment he comes to work.

She got to the pantry of the office and quickly made the coffee for him. If there was something she knew how to do, it was making good coffees so she was confident in this.

She carefully carried the cup of coffee to his office with a wide smile on her face. She then placed the coffee on his table and waited for him to drink it.

Zephyr looked at her for a second, confused as to why she was smiling but went ahead to have a taste of her coffee.

The taste hit him. It was the best coffee he had ever had and he wanted to drink it all the days of his life.

Bellona, seeing his expression, smiled widely, "is the coffee to your liking, boss?"

"No" Zephyr lied. "It's bland. Make another one."

Bellona frowned. She was confident in her coffee making skills so what went wrong?

"Okay, boss" She said and proceeded to take the cup of coffee she made.

On the verge of collecting the cup, she heard Zephyr's voice, "leave it here and go make another one."

"But you said it was bland. Let me throw it away and make a new one" Bellona protested.

"No, just make a new one" Zephyr said, annoyed that she wanted to take the coffee with her. 

The coffee was delicious but he wouldn't admit it. He didn't want to give her the praise. He wasn't the type of person to commende people.

"Yes, boss" Bellona said and walked out to make another coffee.

After a moment, she came back with another cup of coffee just to find the one she previously made, empty.

Bellona smiled inwardly. This man was just playing with her. He liked the coffee but he didn't want to say it.

Zephyr took a sip of the newly brought coffee, "too sweet" he muttered, "change it"

Bellona sighed and left to make yet another one, only to be met with another complain.

"Too bitter. Change it."

"Yes boss"

"Too hot. Make another one."

"Yes boss."

"Too cold"

"Okay boss"

Bellona had had her full. She just wanted to shove an umbrella in his asshole. What kind of man was this?

She had spent the last hour making series of coffee but none was to his taste, yet he drank the whole thing.

"You can go to your office. I'll call you when I need you" Zephyr said, finally giving her a break. At first, he just wanted another cup of coffee but he had ended up toying with her. It was fun to watch how angry she was but still managed to let out a pained smile. He'd love to see how long she'd hold up.

'Finally' Bellona muttered under her breath and immediately turned to leave but stopped  on her track when she heard his voice.

"We have a business meeting tomorrow. Be early and be on your best behavior."

What was that supposed to mean? Be on your best behavior? Was she a kid? This man was bent on annoying her but she still managed to smile.

"Yes boss. If that's all, I'll take my leave." She wanted to leave quickly before she'd run out of patience and pounce of the man and give him the beating of his life.

"Oh, and...." He started "dress well. Even my grandmother has a better fashion sense."

What the hell?

What was wrong with her clothes?

This man just wanted to annoy her and she wouldn't give him the pleasure of doing that.

"Okay boss." With that, she left the office. 

Zephyr swore that he saw a light glint pass through her eyes. He wondered what was going on in her head.

Bellona smiled darkly. She was going to show him. 

He wanted her to dress well, right? Then well, she'll dress.

She'd make him pay!