FIVE- UNREAL BEGINNING

CHAPTER FIVE (2 and a half years ago)

My hands moved animatedly as I clapped for yet another undeserving employee of the month for our department. Yet again, it was another female with a blessed bosom and a face that deserved to be on an advert for the hotel, not behind one of the managerial desks. The employee of the month, Margaret was a beautiful woman that was rumoured to be in a secret relationship with one of the directors. I was not one for workplace gossip as most of my colleagues shunned me anyway but it was pretty clear that Margaret was letting one of the higher-ups have their way with her.

Margaret smiled brightly and tried to put up a fake front as the bouquet of flowers was being handed to her, but it was pretty clear that this was not a surprise to her. I was not self-righteous or entitled but I believed I deserved the title of ‘employee of the month’ more than her—perhaps even employee of the year. She did the least work in the department and spent most of the time in the office flashing her huge chest to the men, it was beyond me how a real person could be so derogatory to their own body.

She was handed the bonus given to the employee of the month as well as an all-paid 3-day hotel staycation to any Stetson Hotel. Once the clapping and congratulations were over, I took my place at my desk in the corner. I was about to open a document that I had not finished editing when the manager came and stood in front of my desk.

“Did you think reporting me to HR would get me fired? I give you work to teach you, and you dare complain that I am overworking you?” Mr Samuels leaned in front of my desk and cocked up an eyebrow. “How gutsy of you for a mere contract employee. That’s why you aren’t employee of the month and will end up losing your job once the contract is done.”

He placed more files on top of my piling workload and huffed. “Continue doing what you’re good for, useless girl.” He added before walking away to his office.

I looked at the pile of documents and sighed. I could feel tears building up in my eyes, this was getting exhausting and I did not think I could push on further. I could feel the other employee’s eyes on me. Were they stares of pity or scorning? I did not know but what I did know is that all of them continued to watch me suffer in silence and none of them wanted to associate with me.

Opting to take a short bathroom break, I stood from my desk. For the life of me, I could not remember ever going to the human resources department or even lodging a complaint against Mr Samuels. The only other conclusion I could draw was that Mr Stetson had reported Mr Samuels, but even that did not make sense though he was the only other person who was not part of our department who knew of Mr Samuels's mannerisms.

But why would Mr Stetson go as far as report something that did not involve him, or report it for that matter? He had far more important things to do and could have just fired Mr Samuels if he so wished.

Ha! Who was I kidding? It was definitely not Mr Ashton.

I splashed some water on my face and looked in the mirror, my cheeks were duller than usual, and so was my hair, it was not a healthy light blonde anymore. God knows I needed that hotel staycation more than Margaret. I walked back to my desk and sat rooted until late, when I looked around that was when I noticed that almost everyone had left and only one other person was remaining and they were also preparing to leave.

I looked out the huge glass windows and sighed. Another long night.

Mason, the other contract employee in the department stood and looked over to me. “See you tomorrow, Rawlins.” He said and I smiled at him.

“Bye, Mason,” I responded. He was probably the only one that spared me a greeting and a smile when he saw me. Perhaps it was a sense of familiarity as we had both joined at the same time and we were both vying to be permanent employees. 

I cracked the back of my neck and looked at the files on my desk, if I worked fast enough, determined and without dozing off, I would finish before 10. With some words of encouragement to myself, I began working and typing away. Most of the work was not supposed to be done by a junior but by the manager himself and for that, Mr Samuels had warned me to make sure I was thorough and not make even a single typing error.

After hours on end, I finally stood from the desk with only one last file to review and make a report. Sitting at my desk from morning until late at night was taking a toll on my spine, even a short standing break did not aid the pain.

“To hell with that bald-headed lecherous freak,” If only I were brave enough to curse out Mr Samuels in person, but I needed this job more than I wanted to give him a piece of my mind.

“Is such language allowed from my employees?”

I turned so fast, that I was certain that I cracked something in my already bothered neck. “Mr Stetson?!” I exclaimed. He stood at the entrance with his hands in his pockets. He looked just as heavenly as the last time I had seen him despite his ruffled hair and untucked shirt, it gave him a different kind of sexual appeal from his usual neat look.

“I assume you are doing more of Samuels's work?” He asked rhetorically and shook his head before walking in.

Shocked, I could not even take my eyes off him and watched his every move. Most of all, I could not believe that he recalled who I was. He looked so natural as he lessened the distance between us and walked like he owned the place-which he did, even in this rugged form.

He stopped right in front of me and looked over my desk at the computer. “Hm. That bastard.”

My eyes widened, he looked upset. Perhaps he felt like there needed to be fairness among his employees but needless, I was flattered that he was upset about the unfairness I was experiencing. He turned to look at me and I instinctively took a few steps backwards and looked at the floor.

“Janelle, right?” He asked and I nodded. “Are you used to being used and trampled? Why have you not reported to HR?”

I wanted to burst out laughing, at my stupidity and how absurd his question was. Stupidity because only a few hours before I had been feeding into the delusion that he had taken it upon himself to report my case to HR, I guess it was not him with how he was asking why I had not done the same. Absurdity because even he had to know that reporting to human resources or any disciplinary department would not help out my cause. Has no one learnt anything about bullying?

It was as if he read my mind and he sighed. “That would not help,” He muttered and looked at the floor as though he was greatly mulling over something before he looked towards me once more. “Would you like to have a cup of coffee with me?” He asked.

Barely…I could barely form any words.

This was unnatural, Ashton Stetson had better things to do other than entertain my measly and unimportant self. Slowly, I nodded and followed after him as he led the way to the kitchen. He was poised and calm unlike me, I was ready to make a run for it but I constantly told myself that the mere presence of another human should not have such an effect on me.

“You aren’t speaking as much as the other night, Janelle.” Ashton Stetson pointed out as he got two cups from the cabinets. “Do I make you nervous?”

I shook my head to deny it even though it was true. Being in front of him intimidated me more than I cared to admit, I appreciated his beauty but more than that I was scared. I was scared of even making the smallest mistake and losing my job or becoming someone he despised, it was better to be an insignificant employee whose existence he knew nothing of.

“No. No, you don’t.” I responded almost too quickly and he chuckled.

“It’s quite obvious that I do,” He placed the cups on the counters.

“I can make the coffee,” I offered. There must be a rule that says the boss cannot make coffee for the employees but Mr Stetson only laughed and turned on the coffee machine.

“Relax Janelle, no one will fire you if I make coffee for you.” He moved around the kitchen, poured the coffee once it was ready and handed to cup to me. Once again, I followed silently when he led the way to the table that was in the corner of the room and sat down, I did likewise and sipped on my coffee just as he did.

“How is it?” He asked.

I could have told him that I was not a big fan of sweet coffee but I only nodded and smiled. “It’s great, you make a great cup of coffee.”

He sat back with a proud smile. “How long have you been working here?” He asked.

I placed the cup on the table, he was trying to keep a conversation going and make me comfortable around him. “Close to six months now, I’m a contract employee.” I reminded him and he nodded with realisation in his eyes.

“Meaning your contract ends next month unless you are offered a permanent position,” He muttered more to himself than to me. “I would have asked how you like it here so far, but that’s an obvious answer.”

I remained silent and took another sip of the coffee, at this point it was starting to feel like torture but I had to live up to my words…I had already praised the coffee. “Mr Samuels does not completely ruin my experience here, I like doing my job…maybe I’d love it were it not for the endless workload.” And discrimination, as well as silent bullying.

“I’m glad you like your job.” He smiled at me and I reciprocated the smile. The more I sat opposite him, the more I grew comfortable and less uneasy. He was not really as stoic and emotionless as everyone put him out to be, those descriptions now seemed over-exaggerated and like something from a novel.

“Are you staying till midnight once more?” He asked and I shrugged. It was already past the time I had predicted I would be done. Going home all really depended on when I would finish the last remaining file that was still on my desk.

“I will leave when I am through with my work,” I replied and he shook his head.

“What if I say that I will fire you if you do not go home within the next thirty minutes?”

“No. No. I will be in trouble, I have to finish my work.” I argued while shaking my head.

“But I’m the big boss around here. Who’s more important, Samuels or me?”

I wanted to argue that he would not be there when Mr Samuels would be shouting at me. “You are,” I responded and he smiled before standing.

“Go on and get your things and I’ll grab my coat. I’ll drop you off.” He said and I was about to argue but he shook his head and looked just as determined as the other day. “I’ll be waiting in the elevator.” And just like that, he walked away.

I sighed, stood from my seat and poured the remaining coffee in my cup into the sink before going to my desk and packing my things. After arguing with myself for a minute, I grabbed the last remaining file and decided to continue working from home.

Just as he said, I found Ashton Stetson in the elevator and he smiled at me as I entered and pressed the button for the underground parking lot. “You don’t have to do this sir, I can get a tax—”

“You can call me Ashton,” He cut me off.

“Huh?”

“It’s after work hours and calling me ‘sir’ is uncomfortable. You can call me Ashton.”

We stood in silence until the elevator stopped, I was still trying to digest what he said but I was not given enough reaction time as he stepped out of the elevator. “Come on Janelle, I won’t let you take a taxi so late at night.”