CHAPTER THREE

Kelvin's P.O.V.

Exhausted from the events of the day, I slumped lazily onto my couch, carelessly tossing my bag onto the floor. Sleep was all I yearned for at that moment.

Closing my eyes, my mind drifted back to the interview earlier. I had done my best to answer the questions professionally, but deep down, I knew I wouldn't get the job. 

The CEO had thrown non-related questions at me, seemingly trying to corner me and get back at me for what I had said to her. 

I blamed myself for babbling about someone I hadn't even seen to a stranger, not realizing they could be the one.

Sighing, I stood up from the couch and headed towards my bedroom to change. On my way, I noticed a note on the kitchen island. It was from my mom, informing me that she had left some food for me in the freezer. 

A smile crept onto my face as I finished reading the letter. I loved my mom, especially her cooking.

After showering and changing, I made myself comfortable in my room, taking out my laptop to browse for available job opportunities. As I scrolled through, my phone rang, notifying me of a new message. It was an email from ADOWNS. 

Anticipating another rejection, I hesitantly clicked on it, but to my surprise, I was invited to start my new job at the company the next morning at eight.

I froze for a moment, trying to comprehend the news. I had been given the job. I couldn't contain my excitement. I was finally the assistant manager at ADOWNS, one of the top companies in the country.

Ecstatic, I quickly called my mom and friends to share the good news. We decided to celebrate at a nearby club, and needless to say, we partied hard and indulged ourselves.

The next morning, I groaned as I heard a voice calling out to me. Slowly, I opened my eyes and sat up, immediately feeling a headache coming on.

"Are you okay, dude? I shouldn't have given you that drink if I knew it would be like this," my friend Sebastian said, handing me a cup of water.

Regretfully, I reflected on the wild night of partying, realizing I had consumed more alcohol than I should have.

"I'm getting better," I replied, taking a drink of the water he offered.

"Sorry about that, bro. Oh, by the way, aren't you supposed to be at your new job? It's almost time..." Sebastien's voice trailed off as the realization hit me. I was late for my first day of work.

Panic overcame me as I rushed to the bathroom to freshen up. After hurriedly showering, I emerged from the bathroom and glanced at the digital clock above my bed.

"Shit. Shit. Shit," I muttered under my breath, slipping into a crisp black shirt. 

The fact that I was running late for my new job and that the CEO already disliked me, added to my stress. She held a grudge against me for what I did to her car and also because I previously worked at CARTER, ADOWNS's rival company that went out of business two years ago. 

I wondered why she had changed her mind about hiring me.

"Ease up, man," Sebastien tried to comfort me, entering my room and observing my frantic hair-combing.

"I would if the new president didn't hate me. I'm sure she'll find out somehow that I'm late. I already started on her bad side before even meeting her," I muttered, grabbing my car keys, wallet, and other essentials.

"But maybe she's just looking out for her company," Sebastien reasoned, earning a scowl from me.

"Yeah, whatever. It doesn't change the fact that she hates me," I retorted and glanced once more at the mirror before heading towards the kitchen.

"Damn, you're looking hot," Sebastien remarked, handing me a sandwich.

I chuckled at his comment and wolfed down the sandwich in three bites before bidding him farewell and giving a swift kick to our friend Austin, who was sprawled on the floor, on my way out. 

I rushed down to the parking lot, hopping into my car, and glancing at my watch. I had twenty-five minutes left before eight, and if everything went smoothly, I could arrive at the company in fifteen minutes.

True to my estimate, I reached the company in fifteen minutes and quickly parked my car in an empty spot. 

Hastily, I made my way inside, where I was greeted by the receptionist I had met the day before. Her face lit up with a small smile upon seeing me approach.

"You got hired?" the receptionist asked, and I nodded in response, a smile spreading across my face. I couldn't help but notice the slight blush that tinted her cheeks.

"That's wonderful! Your office is located on the fifth floor, the fourth office to the right. Someone will show you around the building and introduce you to your duties within the next twenty minutes," she kindly informed me.

"Thank you," I replied gratefully, heading towards the elevator.

"Hope to see you around more," her voice followed me as I made my way to the elevator. It was comforting to have someone familiar with this new environment.

As the elevator doors closed, I rushed towards it, not wanting to waste any time. I barely managed to slip inside before the doors completely shut, a groan of relief escaping my lips. I was saved from being late.

"You make such a delightful staff member, Mr. Anderson, being late on your first day of work. Impressive," a voice spoke, catching my attention. 

I turned to find Miss Anika standing in the corner of the elevator, her head lowered as she focused on a file in her hands.

I glanced at my watch; there were still ten minutes to eight. "I'm not late, Miss. I still have ten minutes," I defended myself. 

Hearing this, she closed the file and turned to face me. My breath caught as I took in her appearance. She looked even more stunning than the day before.

She was dressed in a fitted gray suit that accentuated all the right curves, her hair styled in a flawless low ponytail held in place with hair gel. Long silver earrings adorned her ears, enhancing the shape of her face.

Her minimal makeup only highlighted her natural beauty, and her plump, pink lips glistened with a coat of lip gloss. I couldn't help but admire her. "Mr. Anderson," her voice snapped me out of my daze. I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts.

"Yes, Miss Downs," I replied, hoping she hadn't noticed my staring.

"Can you please stop staring at my face?" she questioned, annoyance evident in her expression.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to—" I began to apologize, but she interrupted me.

"Look, Mr. Anderson, this is a reputable company, and we take things seriously here. When asked to be here at eight, you should aim to arrive by seven. If you're required at seven, you should be here by six. Do you understand?" Her tone was firm, leaving no room for arguments.

"But—" I started to protest, only to be met with raised eyebrows and a challenging gaze.

"Yes, I understand, ma'am," I conceded, realizing it was pointless to argue.

"Good. As the assistant manager, you hold a significant responsibility. Consider yourself lucky to have this job, as many would do anything to be in your position. Being punctual shouldn't be an issue. I hope this situation won't repeat itself, Mr. Anderson," she stated, returning her attention to the files in her hand.

"It won't," I promised.

"Good."

The remainder of the elevator ride was filled with awkward silence. When I finally stepped out onto my designated floor, relief washed over me. However, my relief was short-lived when I noticed Miss Anika following closely behind me.

I didn't bother to look back and continued walking toward where the receptionist had directed me. 

As I passed by my new colleagues, I couldn't help but notice the curious gazes and hushed whispers. It was evident they were talking about me.

For a brief moment, I enjoyed the small dose of attention, but the atmosphere suddenly shifted when everyone's attention seemed to shift past me. 

A pin-drop silence spread throughout the office as everyone hastily returned to their work, pretending to be deeply engrossed in their tasks. I didn't need to turn around to know that the cause of this sudden change was the presence of the lady behind me.

She walked past me and purposely bumped into my shoulder, a mischievous smirk gracing her lips as she strutted forward. 

Despite her tough demeanor, I couldn't help but admire the way she carried herself. She exuded an aura of self-confidence and self-assurance that commanded respect and attention from those around her. It seemed as though no one could meet her gaze, their focus instead fixed on their work.

Unbeknownst to me, my eyes lingered on her lower back, appreciating the way her small waist was accentuated by the flare pants she was wearing. It accentuated her behind nicely, leaving an unintentional trail in my gaze. 

Lost in my thoughts, I ended up bumping into her and before I could even back away and apologize, she swiftly turned around, her intense glare meeting mine. 

Our faces were inches apart, and I braced myself for her scathing words. As she wanted to speak, a man stepped in, interrupting the tension between us.

"Miss Downs, lovely meeting you again. May I add that you look dashing?" the man, Mr. Hart, interjected. 

I rolled my eyes at their exchange, watching as Anika's cheeks slightly flushed with a hint of a blush.

'So, she can blush,' I mused to myself.

"Thanks for the compliment, Mr. Hart," she replied with a grateful smile, the two of them engaging in a brief hug before walking away, engaged in conversation.

As soon as Anika left, the office returned to its normal state, as if nothing extraordinary had just occurred. I exhaled, finally feeling a sense of relief, and continued on my way to my office.

***

Sighing with relief, I settled into my chair, a sense of accomplishment washing over me as I completed the tasks assigned to me. 

As I recapped the work I had accomplished in the last ten hours, I couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. 

Not long after I arrived at the office, I was given a comprehensive tour of the company, familiarizing myself with its various departments and meeting my fellow employees. 

It came as a surprise to discover that the man I had encountered earlier, who had been flirting with our CEO, was the manager I was now assisting. 

Throughout the day, I introduced myself to the employees under my supervision, and a genuine bond seemed to form instantly. I could sense their comfort in my presence, and it brought a smile to my face. 

'Maybe this place wasn't as daunting as I initially thought.'

As the workday came to a close, I prepared to head home, knowing I had given my all to contribute to the company's growth. 

Stepping into the elevator, I leaned against the wall, closing my eyes to relax during the descent. Suddenly, the elevator jolted to a stop, and the doors opened, allowing someone else to step inside.

"Are you kidding me?" Anika's voice pierced through the silence.

I sighed as I knew who the voice belonged to then opened my eyes–there she was, staring at me with a hint of annoyance before turning her attention forward.

'How is it that we keep crossing paths?' I pondered, puzzled by the frequency of our encounters. 

I had expected to rarely see her, given our different roles within the company, but fate seemed determined to keep our lives intertwined.

"Good evening, Miss Downs," I greeted her, hoping to break the tension that surrounded us. 

However, as usual, she remained silent, offering no response or acknowledgment.

"I want to apologize for the damage to your car, and I would like to pay you back. As for the things I said about you, I didn't mean—"

“I don't need you to pay me back," she interrupted me abruptly, her tone holding a hint of vulnerability. "Just focus on helping the company grow. If I were bothered by your opinion of me then I would never have hired you. At least I now know what you thought about me instead of pretending to like me like the others,”

"But I didn't—" I tried to interject, desperate to explain myself, but she didn't give me a chance and exited the elevator as soon as it reached her desired floor.

This was going to be hard.

T.B.C

Noeline.