First Day In The Office

Mila

Surprisingly, Lexa didn’t just help me in selecting the outfit, she also hired a cab and accompanied me to the office building where I was supposed to work in her place. Now as I stood in front of the elevator looking at my reflection in the squeaky, clean steel doors, I cursed that homeless man and rain for ruining my blonde wig. It felt odd without a wig on my head. But I still looked different. When Lexa had suggested to curl my hair, I had denied her offer and tucked my hair into a tight bun, leaving a few strands strategically arranged around my face. Then, I had taken a coat that was a size too big to keep my figure hidden from other eyes as she had really done a good job of dressing me up but I didn’t want the attention. I had always hated the attention. And all the while when I had done something to hide beneath makeup, she had looked at me in an odd way and I wondered if she thought that I was crazy. But I couldn’t risk being found out, so I had also used the compact to hide my natural skin color, as much as I could.

Now, she said, “Just remember to keep quiet and not to reply to his outbursts even when he demands for coffee.”

I scrunched up my nose. “Why would I get angry at that?”

“Oh, you’ll see. Just at least try to be here for a month. The agency would put me on a pedestal for keeping up with him and you’ll get ten thousand for all the slavery he’d put you through.”

“I think you are exaggerating.” I murmured, nudging the glasses down a bit so I could see her properly. I took them from her purse, she didn’t object but I knew that it was for her eyesight because I was having difficulty in seeing through them but not much.

She chuckled. “You will learn.” And then she suddenly grabbed my shoulders, turned me around to face her as she said, “And, don’t fall for him. He’s a one handsome devil, but no matter how sexy and appealing, you’ll keep your mind and not succumb to his beauty.” I was getting amused but she was getting all serious with each word she was saying. “Don’t take this lightly, Mila, I’m serious. Temptation might get to you, but he’s not worth it. He’s danger with a capital D.”

The elevator opened in front of us. And I gave her a nod that she seemed to wait for. “Of course, thank you. For everything.” I said and meant it, as I stepped into the waiting elevator and waved her bye.

When the elevator came to a stop and I stepped out of it. I was greeted with sparkling white marble floors with an open area. Confused, I looked around as there were no cubicles only bare wide walls. On the far side was a desk with a wooden shelf beside it and chair that even from this distance looked uncomfortable, and in front of it was a set of huge glass doors. 

I walked to the desk, considering no one was here and the desk was empty I decided it was the place for me to spend my next month while I slave and try to ignore the tempting devil, as Lexa put it. On that thought, I slipped my hand inside my purse and took out the piece of paper on which Lexa had scrambled her contact number and an email address. 

I quickly placed my bag on the chair and picked up the receiver. Tugging my glasses down the bridge of my nose, I dialled the number and waited for my new friend to pick up and give me some insight on what to do in this mausoleum. 

“Hello.”

“Lexa, it’s Mila.” I said into the receiver.

“Hey, new friend!” She greeted and then a note of concern slipped into her words as she asked, “What happened? Are you ready to quit?”

“No.” I answered and rolled my eyes. “I am here, but no one else is. This place is like a graveyard!”

“Oh… he doesn’t like people. That’s why his floor is empty, except him and his assistant no one works on that floor.”

“Oh…” My eyes wandered to the glass doors in front of me. “But I think he’s not here yet. What am I supposed to do?”

“I was told that there’ll be notes and schedules and all the other informative stuffs waiting for me in the top drawer of the desk.” She explained. “Why don’t you check if he’s inside his cabin or not?”

“What if he is?” I asked.

“Then you’ll get to meet your new boss.” She replied. “I have to go, send me detailed emails when you see him. Bye.” And she hung up.

I put the receiver back and decided to check if the devil was really in his cave. I shook my head, Lexa was rubbing off on me. I walked toward the glass doors, seeing behind those was impossible as curtains were pulled from inside. I pushed the door but it didn’t budge. Then, I grabbed the knob and twisted but it didn’t open then either. Instead I heard a deep voice, half filled with censure as he said, “You’ll need my thumb to enter that office.”

I whirled around and gulped. Grey eyes. Those same grey eyes. My back against the glass doors, my head tilted up I took him in. Dio. This close he was more than beautiful. My heart stalled in my chest and my breath caught in my throat. He was like a golden god come to life. His unruly golden locks fell on his forehead as his brows scrunched and he looked down at me. His cheekbones were prominent, giving his face an angular look, all rough edges and still looked like if someone touched him his beauty would get smudged. His jaw lines looked carved from marble. His whole face was a work of art, symmetrical and beautiful beyond imagination.

But then those grey eyes held a warning for everyone to stay away and not to touch him or get anywhere near him otherwise be ready to face the outcome of his fiery beauty which would hurt or even worse, kill. My eyes dropped to the open buttons of his shirt, showing the v beneath. And I increasingly became aware of the fact how close he was. The heat emitting from him worked better than the coat I was wearing. Dio, Care, get hold of yourself.

“Move.”

I startled and breathed in a gasp at the harsh command. And my lungs were instantly filled with the scent of coffee and vodka, but there was something else too... Something undetectable but more appealing. My eyes lifted to his and those cold greys stared at me like he was seeing through me, startled I looked down only for my eyes to get stuck on his lips. Damn. 

But my appreciation was cut short as strong fingers clasped around my upper arms and then I squeaked as he lifted me and then put me aside like I was a piece of furniture blocking his path and I watched stunned as he pressed his thumb above the knob and the door clicked open when he pushed. 

“Get me a cup of coffee. Now.” And with that he disappeared inside. 

I huffed. And turned around only to stop short, as I looked around and realised once again the place was bare and there was no kitchen or even a single countertop where food supplies should be. 

I grabbed my purse and decided to get him a coffee. It took me twenty minutes by the time I came back with his coffee and I took an educated guess to bring him a black one. But when I stepped out of the elevator, I froze. He was standing there in front of me. With his arms crossed across his chest. 

“Where the fûck were you?” He gritted out. Those grey eyes flashing in anger. “First of all, you came late.” What does it matter? He was late too. “Second, I had been constantly ringing for you.” He grabbed the receiver and slammed it down for emphasis. I winced. “But of course you weren’t here.” His voice was cold and controlled but the way tendons in his throat stood out he looked like he wanted to kill me. 

I licked my lips as I answered, “I was getting you coffee.” I held it out for him.

His eyes fell on the cup I was holding and I watched as disgust crossed his face. I frowned and looked down at the cup, seeing the logo clearly. Isn’t it what every business person drinks? Now, what was wrong? He walked toward me and I have to check the urge to not take a step back. I bit down on my tongue to stifle the gasp as he took the cup from me and threw it in the trash can near the elevator.

“I don’t drink that crap.” He said. “There’s a coffee maker in my office, use that next time.”

And with that he turned around and started to go to his office. “And email me my schedule. Draft a report about the new product launch. Settle a meeting with Mr Petrov.” 

So that’s how I began my first day in the office. 

From— Mila Clinton

Subject— My new job

To- Lexa Clinton

As much as I’m grateful for you to let me have this job, disregarding all the risks, I have to say I’m starting to believe you escaped hell and pushed me in instead.

P.s. I had to use your last name, considering you were the one supposed to work here.

Your new friend,

Mila

.

Just as I pressed send on the email another new one popped up. 

From— Jonathan Byrne

Subject— Punctuality

Date— 14 April 2021, 10:45

To— Miss Clinton

Regardless of how you performed on your last job or what the agency that sent you here said about your achievements. You are supposed to be punctual. You came in late today which is unacceptable behaviour in this office.

Keep that in mind from now on or else find a new job. 

Jonathan Byrne

CEO, Borisyuk Red Berries Pvt Ltd.

.

Jonathan 

I looked out the floor to ceiling windows, my eyes roaming around the view of the city. My city, or I should say my father’s because I haven't stepped up to take his place. But I don’t know if I ever will. I pushed from the windows and raked my fingers through my hair. Lachlan had sent me a video of my younger brother and as much as I wished to put an end to his reckless behaviour, I didn’t want to interfere because interfering mean that I was ready to go back. I wasn’t. And besides that the last time I had interfered, twelve men had met their maker by my hands. Not to point out the fact that I had loved and reveled in their screams, their pained whimpers had soothed my inner demons and all I wanted to do was find more men like them and bring them to death's door, only to play with them before killing them. But whenever such thoughts come to my mind and when I do something like that, my mother’s beautiful face visualizes at the back of my mind and every shred of satisfaction turns into shame and guilt. My mother used to call me her angel, she had such hopes for me and now if she’d look at the man her son had become she’d hate me.

I sat down, resting my head against the back of my chair. Closing my eyes, I exhaled deeply as Lachlan’s words still echoed in my mind even though I tried to escape it. ‘If he gets appointed, you and I both know, no one will be able to save this city'. My phone rang and I was ready to ignore it until it started to ring again, looking at the screen I saw my dad’s name. “Father.”

“I called to remind you about the dinner.” He said, like me he didn’t waste his breath in greeting.

“Of course, how can I forget.”

“Be there.”

“I will be.”

I hung up and threw the phone away but it clattered down on the floor, just as my office door opened and my new assistant, the little mouse walked in. Unlike my previous assistants, this one was way different. For one she doesn’t dress in those form fitting clothes and doesn’t even try to make excuses to lean over my desk or come close to me. She was rather odd, since the last week she had come to work here she hasn’t even complained once about all my ‘unnecessary demands' as previous assistants put it. 

I watched as she bent down and picked up my phone. Today she wore a grey skirt that was visible under that hideous brown coat that was a size bigger than her. And her face, I couldn't even clearly see her features with the way a few wayward dark hair loose from her otherwise tight bun framed her face. And besides that, her make up wasn't even clearly put together. And those glasses, even from here I could see how smudged they were, making me wonder how could she see through them.

She came forward and slid the phone toward me. And then, she placed the file in front of me, opening and tapped at the bottom. “Your sign is needed here.” She said, even her voice was subdued.

Just because I was in the mood to be a dîck, not to mention I just talked to my father reminding me of the dark part that resides in me and no matter how much I try it always peeks out. I picked up the pen from my desk and as I was putting it to paper, I dropped it on the floor. Intentionally. I looked up at her and found her looking at the pen rolling on the floor.

I stopped it with my shoe on it. Her head jerked up to face me and I arched a brow as I said, “Pick it up.” For a moment, she just stared back at me.  Her brows furrowed, her relaxed face twitched. But then she breathed deeply and curled her fingers into fists as she stepped forward and bent down.

Placing the pen on the file she stepped back but not before I got a hint of sweet fragrance tinged with something strong in its wake. I looked down at the file, checking the impulse to inhale deeply and picked up the pen to sign the papers. Once done, she quickly gathered the file and turned around to walk out. 

“I need coffee.” I said, stopping her in her tracks.

Her back stiffened and she took a few seconds before she turned around, nodded at me, murmured, “Of course.” I watched as she went to the right side of the office where half of wall was covered with a bar counter and cabinets, filled with my preferred brand of coffee and other few eatables that I keep in here in case I have to spend a night. Which is most of the time.

With a cup in hand, she came back and placed it in front of me. And asked, “Do you need anything else, sir?”

I slipped my hand under the desk and grabbed a small bottle, before uncapping it and pouring half of it in the cup. “No.” I said as gulped down half of the cup. “But, what was your name again?”

Her brows pinched. And I got the impression that she was chewing the inside of her cheek before she smiled and said, “Its Mila, sir.”

“Mila… Is it a pet name?” I questioned.

“No.” She answered, this time her voice wasn’t as quiet as before.

I nodded. “You can go.”

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