My job

(Back to the present, four months later)

~~~~

Today marks four months and five days since that incident. Every day I live with the uneasy sin that was left in my heart. Being raped by an absolute stranger makes my situation a funny and inconceivable one. No one believes me, not even my best friend, Daphne, who completely believes me.

I understand her, I understand everyone... Well, just my Mom, but that freaking Austin would not be under even if I had told him. Oh, Lord! I breathe out as my fingers comb my hair, the thought of it makes me sick...

“Gosh, May, what is wrong with you? The boss will be here any minute from now...” Lisa, the boss’s secretary, tells me thumping a file on my desk. Seriously, she acts like a cunt sometimes and I just let her, because she's probably lost. I mean who wears a ball gown to work? She does and she gets sanctioned for that her ears are far from listening to instructions. I don't wanna tell her that she needs need, but I'll make sure that we don't cross paths, and worse, she wants to be friends with me since I'm the P.A to the boss. A month ago when I started working here at C & Brooks company, I did not meet the current boss, he had someone standing in for him, his wife. She's very stern and stylish, she doesn't crack up with anyone except family, and in her family, it depends on who you are. Strange right? So I heard. I mean, Lisa told me. She's been briefing me about everything and everyone around here, including the CEO, who never stops talking about how attractive he is. I always cringe at her fantasies.

“You all should know, he'll assume duties today. Do you know what that means? I feel sorry for you May, everything will be on you now!” she adds, dropping onto the seat by the desk while I try to collect myself most appropriately, I've been sleepy since 7:30 am when I arrived at work. I stayed up all night baking for my Mom's birthday party, which was late at 7 pm.

“It's not like my duties will change, it's still the same, Madam C has prepped my ass enough. Don't try to scare me,” I told her, arranging my hair. She shudders and sips her coffee.

“Do they have children?” I asked her. It just escaped my mouth.

“I think... they do. I heard that they have one daughter and that's it. She went to Harvard and now she owns her own—”

“Alright, thanks for the info. Very useful.” I cut her short before she finishes and she coyly smiles at me, with the need to complete the story. By the way, I didn't have any intention of asking about them. It just slipped out of my mouth.

“I'll be returning now, just be on your best—”

“I'm the boss here, remember?”

“Copied with effect!” she chuckles and walks out of my office, She's a hell of a talker, and I do my best to ignore her at all costs. My phone buzzes and I take it up for a peek, it's a text from Austin.

*IT’S OVER!*

I sighed out of relief. I should not be comfortable that he just broke up with me, but it's a huge comfort right now and I swear not to love any other man again. I'm done with this love shit.

*Great Austin, good luck w/ ur life!*

I hit send and tossed my phone on the desk. It was only a minute and we'd be assembled for a meeting. I’m looking my best already, not dressed to kill, but corporate wear is fine. I suck at fashion, I know that everyone knows that. Lisa pops her head as soon as she opens the door and announces.

“Meeting time boss-girl!”

She teases and walks away and I just faintly smile. I grabbed my work pad and a few files that Madam C. had instructed me to work on, just handing over documents. She and I don’t talk much, it’s only ‘do this now’ or ‘wait until I tell you to do so’, She’s mostly in the office drinking coffee or out with some strange guests. That’s not my business. I walked to the meeting hall and found most of the staff already seated except for the Madam and the mysterious CEO.

Honestly, my heart is racing and I don’t know why, I’m nervous about someone I haven’t met, nor even in my dreams. How’s that possible? Is it? I take my seat and some wave at me and most don’t. Some think that I’m too young to hold such a position. I don’t know how to justify myself on this matter but I’m most thankful that I got a job. Nothing else matters since I’m able to support my Mom. My phone vibrates and I grab it instantly.

*Get me that file I secluded!*

It’s Madam C., Oh right, I sighed and scurried out to leave. Good thing that it’s in my drawer. Two minutes is enough to grab it.

Scurrying down in my pair of black stilettos, I bumped into someone. He’s wearing a black suit and white shirt, black tie, and a pair of sleek tuxedos. He is charming and down-to-earth. I could lick him off right now. His pointy nose complements his face with a nicely trimmed beard. I stepped on him unknowingly. Holy God, I instantly took off my leg.

“My apologies sir, I’m so so sorry, I didn’t know—“

“Watch out next time, Raven!”

Raven???

Now, I don’t like this. He walks away majestically while I try to get off my freeze kill.

“Ms. Myers, have you got it?”

Madam asks me. I hear her voice from behind me. I abruptly turned in her direction, how fucked up this is. I don't let her remind me twice over anything and here I am, standing like a fool.

“I'm... I'm so sorry Madam, I'll get it in a minute!” I told her before she added a word.

“Don't keep us waiting,” she adds regardless, and she walks away, leaving behind her clanking heels sound. I'm twenty-two for God’s sake, but everyone sees me like an 18-year-old, that's so gross around me.

~~~~

Stepping into the meeting hall, I saw the same man from earlier, sitting next to the Madam. Now this is adding up well, his wife. I did mess up earlier and why on earth would you call me Raven? It's not even a name or a name from a tag that I didn't have. I rush to the Madam and hand her files and she gives a faint smile before I take my seat. The man is staring at everyone in the hall, and he's also smirking mischievously. It has begun and the heads are giving summaries of what happened four months ago.

“...And who's she?” the man asks, angling his gaze at me, a type that would cast out the truth in you without a second thought.

“She's the...” the general manager started, but was cut off.

“She's got a mouth, right?”

My blood is pumping faster, I'm goddamn nervous. His face is gleaming impossible at the moment, it's terrible.

“I'm... I'm... May Myers, the Personal—”

“I remember now, my wife and I hired you! Great!” he turned away and I forced a smile as the Madam continued debriefing.

As soon as we are done, I'm stuck with these two, they don't laugh, or smile, or talk to anyone, except something that I don't fathom. A business, I'm guessing.

“Ms. Myers, I'll be leaving now. He's your boss too and you work excellently. I have to go now!” she says to me and I smile awkwardly.

“Of course, be safe,” I said, and she nodded lightly and then she turned to the man.

“I'll see you at home. Don't miss this one, Dominique!”

“As well as you not missing your duties!” he fires at her and I feel like I should bury myself under the ground. They don't seem to have a good relationship, but what's my business anyway? She walks away maintaining that unflappable face and he and I walk into his office. He takes off his suit top and hangs it on the hanger while I stay planted at my spot, inches away from his Venetian desk. He takes his seat and sighs out at once.

“You are not a monitor, are you?”

“I'm sorry, you mean...”

“I mean your ass, get out and stop looking.” he raises his voice at me and I take my leave. My eyes are welling up already. I've not had issues ever since I arrived but this is too many. I feel it's too much. I haven't even done anything to him. Not a single word. I slammed my door and tossed the documents on the desk, fuck!!

I pace back and front before sitting. I really can't wait to go home. Mom's birthday will be a cool off. I still haven't gotten her a present. I take my phone and begin to scroll for things that best suit her taste. Mom cares for a microwave, she complained about having issues with the one in her house, and then I ordered other things that she'd love. I placed it an hour ago and it arrived by six pm. I opened the refrigerator and stared at her cake. It's intact and it brightens my mood.

It's 05:29 pm,

I'm clearing my desk since I'm done with the things I'm supposed to do and the intercom rings. I took it up instantly.

“Ms. Myers...”

“Fuck it, Raven, to my office, NOW!”

He hangs up and I roll my eyes. What does he want, I ask myself? I leave my office and head to his office, it's just seconds away from mine. I knock before I step, although he doesn't respond to my knock. He's loosening up on the sofa with a glass of whatever next to him.

“Sir, you...”

“Have you got any response from La Grande’s?” he asks.

“Yes sir, I've drafted an email and sent it to you, have you seen it?” I asked politely, honestly, I asked that he might just flare up.

“That wasn't drafted well, do that shit, again! In writing!” he instructs, and I don't say a word.

“Yes sir!”

I take my leave and enter my office. This is too much. Where did I go wrong? It's a simple response, simply accepting an offer, and now what?! I don't get mad, I can't be, he's my boss. I drafted another one in writing and I took it to him. This time he's sitting at his desk talking to someone on the phone. He hangs up and stares daggers at me before receiving the paper in my hand. He goes through it and scoffs, and then he looks up at me.

“Did I make a mistake hiring you?”

I did not say a word. I'm confused. I've proofread the whole thing and it's best suitable but he doesn't agree with it, still. He tosses the paper at me and asks me to retake it. At that moment, my wristwatch buzzes, I had set a timer to leave and he wouldn't let me.

“Get it done, Raven, or neither of us leaves tonight!”