Why Are You Here?

Ariana POV

He held my hand while we walked down the hallway until we got into the elevator. 

The ride down was quite quiet, tension building as the silence grew louder. The tension gained weight and made the elevator go faster. 

He didn’t say a word and didn’t make eye contact.

We got to the garage filled with lots of expensive cars. We got into one of the Lamborghinis there. 

It looked like an art piece that hadn’t been moved or driven in decades. I wasn’t planning on getting in until he opened and gestured for me to get in.

“I’m sorry about what happened up there”

“It’s nothing…” I shrugged with tears still rolling down my chin. He should be apologizing for leaving me at the resort without saying a word.

With no emotion, he said “Why are you here”

“I’m here to work here. What else would I be doing here?”

“I dunno, maybe you want something for the last time.”

“Oh please!!” I said with my eyes rolling. I left the car and went back into the building looking for Jennifer.

Reminiscing about his words while in the elevator on my way back. I couldn't help but regret all that happened that night. How could he be so entitled? He’s rich, but it doesn’t give him the right to treat me like trash.

I reached the executive floor again to meet Jennifer. She looked almost happy and said, “What did you say to him?”

I was confused by the question and then kept mute.

“He had requested you to be his new secretary.”

“This will be your office from now on”, she said while showing me to my office, which was right in front of his.

The office was spacious and looked as luxurious as the rest of the building. The rays of the sun crystallize the inner. The glass doors were neat like mirrors. The table was steady and clean. It looked like the type to get some action on.

“You’ll get his schedule and always give him a 10-minute reminder before any of the activities he has”, she said, jolting me back from the imagination of being pounded by Alex on the table.

“You’ll get all you need in the drawers. You're the first new one to get this. Don’t blow it.”

She said, leaving me at the office all alone. 

I was getting acquainted with the new environment when he came back in. He walked past me like he didn’t know me. 

“Your board meeting is in the next 30 minutes” I managed to say as his elegance caught me off balance.

He nodded and just went into his office without eye contact. 

10 minutes to the board meeting. I went to his office, knocked and entered.

“Your board meeting is in 10 minutes, sir.”

His head didn’t move, almost like he snubbed me. It hurt, but not enough to hate him, because the poker night clouded my judgment of him. I left the office quite disappointed.

The day passed slowly like a slow-burning candle while he kept acting like he didn’t know me from anywhere.

“Oh! I can play this game too” I said to myself as I began to think about it.

The day ended and I took the bus home. I hadn’t made enough to own a car so I just watched as exotic cars passed me on my way out. I couldn’t help but wonder when I would make enough to leave home first before the car.

I check on my phone to see 25 missed calls from Mom, 12 from Maya, and 10 from Dad. I had been so busy working, I didn’t notice the phone ring.

“Could today get any worse?”

I got to the door and opened it to meet Maya. 

“Where have you been all day? You can’t tell me you were working and didn’t see my calls. What job is that anyway that’d make you miss my calls? I had to walk home on my own!!”

I didn’t say anything because I had enough office drama already to deal with. I had no strength left for hers.

“Arie!!” Mom yelled from the kitchen. “Get in here and make something for your sister and me to eat”

I got to my room, changed and took a long shower. I then sat for a 5-minute break from everything to give myself a break, which was well deserved.

I came out and mom was done with cooking already. We proceeded to the dining table for dinner.

“Serve us” Dad said with a serious tone.

I shared the dinner into plates and served them all, Maya came first— as always.

“Arie, how was your first day?” Maya asked, almost sounding concerned. I knew she wasn’t really but just to keep her image with dad and mom.

I decided to make her jealous.

“It was practically the best day of my life!” Almost screeching. “You need to see how luxurious the place is.”

“I could have sworn it was a museum”

“I’ve been to luxurious places before Ari, I just asked how the day went” Maya snarled.

“Don’t blame her, she wasted her years in school with that stupid boy— David. She doesn’t understand the difference” Mom cut in.

“Sorry about that” I said, though not with a sorry tone.

“The day started off peacefully as we were acquainted with the company’s structure. I bumped into Alex Sterling, the CEO”

“Alex Sterling?! The most eligible billionaire bachelor?”

“That was probably my good luck because I’m his new secretary…” I said, with a smirk on my face while locking eyes with her.

She began to cry and sob. 

“That should have been me but she discouraged me from applying when she did saying she doubted they would get back to us” 

Dad finally spoke.

“I didn’t raise a selfish daughter. Are you sure I gave birth to you? How could you treat your sister this way?” 

I could almost smell anger in the atmosphe

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“It’s okay dad…” Maya said with tears in her eyes locking eyes with me and a sinister smirk in return.