CHAPTER SIX

★NEW YORK…

“I seriously don't have what to wear” Brianna lamented the next morning as she looked through her closet. Riley walked up to her, “let me” she said and Brianna stepped away. Riley picked a black pants and a pepper red top for her. “Wear this,” she said.

“How did I miss it?” Brianna wondered.

“You're nervous to resume at your dream company. There are tons of corporate outfits in your closet” Riley points out. “Oh really?” Brianna asked, Riley nodded.

“Get dressed and leave before you mess up your first day at work” Riley said and Brianna laughed. “Chill, I still have like an hour until resumption” she defended as she sat to have breakfast.

Her phone rang and it was her mother calling.

“Your parents?” Riley asked. “Mm” she replied with a mouthful. “Just tell them you've resumed lectures” Riley advised.

She declined the call and sent a message instead.

“But you can't hide it from them for long” Riley pointed out. “I know. I just have to be sure about this job before saying a word about it to them” Brianna said.

She picked up her bag after breakfast, “Bye, girl. Don't invite your boyfriend over” she shouted as she walked out.

Riley laughed. “Get yourself a Frostborne boyfriend, you bore” she shot back and they both laughed.

★★★★

★Frostborne Corporations…

Brianna found her way to the customer service department, that was where she filled in her form to work in. Everyone was busy; some were answering calls, some were typing on their system, others were using the printer and photocopying machine and so on. She stood at the spot for up to three minutes before someone finally noticed her.

A guy who was almost dressed like a lady approached her. 

“Hey there, how may we help you?” The guy asked. Brianna cleared her throat.

“Umm, I'm a new staff member. Part-time. I was interviewed yesterday” she said. The guy took a good look at her, accessing her head to toe.

“No one was asked to resume today. All part-timers start the new week” he said.

Brianna was confused, the mail said today. She quickly brought out her phone and showed the mail to the guy.

“I don't know, girl. HR informed me that all part-timers resume next week. I don't know how you got the mail, so I can't help you” he said and motioned for her to leave. Brianna stood transfixed. Where was she supposed to go?

“I swear, this is an email from Frostborne,” she lamented. “Then go sort it out with the HR department” The guy said and left her alone.

“O Lord, I can't have a bad first day, please” she prayed silently as she walked towards the HR department. A lady walked up to her “follow me” she said and walked past her.

Is everyone here so cold? She wondered as she followed behind the lady. Brianna scanned the lady and discovered she herself was poorly dressed, compared to the class this lady exuded.

“Class. Poise. Chic.” Brianna complimented her in her mind.

The lady's stiletto heels kept making clicking sounds as they walked.

Finally, she stopped at a huge door and turned to the lady that sat behind a table just beside the door. “He's expecting her” was the only thing the woman in stiletto said then walked away, leaving her there. “You can go in,” the lady behind the table said, after speaking to whoever on the phone.

Brianna wondered who or what was behind those gigantic doors. She cleared her throat and attempted to push the door open, but it opened by itself, taking her unaware. She lost balance and fell. Brianna wished for the ground to swallow her instantly, rather than face whoever was inside that office.

“Oops! Poor you” Rowan exclaimed as Brianna fell.

“Come in” Derek said, giving Rowan a warning look. “It wasn't my fault,” Rowan whispered.

Brianna stood up and cleaned her hands on her skirt. Derek saw her do that and smiled at her clumsiness. She's indeed clumsy, he thought and somehow that entices him.

“Umm… sorry, I had no idea the door would open by itself” she said. Rowan wondered if there was a need for her to be sorry. They both kept staring at her. Her face was down, just like the previous day when she hit Derek. Then she bit her lower lip nervously. Derek wondered why she liked doing that.

“Come closer” he called out to her. Brianna walked slowly to his table immediately.

“Brianna, huh?” He asked. “Yes,” Brianna answered instantly. “Here” he said pointing a MacBook at her. She hurriedly collected it. Then she raised her head to look at him.

“What is…” she stopped immediately she saw the man that sat before her. Brianna couldn't stop the hiccups that rapidly escaped her throat at that point.

“There's no way I'm standing before New York's richest, sexiest, hottest, most eligible bachelor!” she screamed in her head. Brianna closed her eyes tightly for two seconds, opened them and looked directly at where Derek was seated, to her surprise, he was still sitting there, staring at her.

She opened her mouth to say something, but words failed her, so she closed her mouth again.

Derek was confused, he thought Brianna was not one of those ladies who threw themselves at him, at the sight of him. She didn't flinch when they met yesterday, both at the lobby where she bathed him with her coffee and when he entered the interview room. How come she's suddenly acting this way? He wondered.

Rowan saw Derek's confused look and laughed inwardly. Who wouldn't react that way when facing one of the most powerful bachelors in New York City?

“It’s Derek Alec Leister” Brianna whispered to herself. She wasn't expecting to meet the CEO of Frostborne corporations on her first day of resumption, not even in her lifetime.

Pull yourself together, she cautioned herself.

“Mmm” she cleared her throat, “Nice to meet you sir” she said, almost stretching her hand for a handshake before realizing it. She bit her lower lips in embarrassment. This is something she does whenever she is embarrassed, nervous, speechless or confused.

That's sexy, Derek thought, looking at her lips. Brianna straightened her pants and cleared her throat.

“I mean, what do I do with this…sir?” She asked in a really calm voice, referring to the MacBook given to her. “You’re to do work with it” Derek simply replied. Brianna nodded, even though she didn't clearly understand him. Why would a customer care representative get a MacBook from the CEO?

“Brianna, as of today you're my personal assistant. You'll work closely with me” Derek announced. Brianna froze.

“What?!!!” She exclaimed after she found her voice.

★★★★★★★★