Chapter 4 The Man She Cannot Forget

Glancing for the second time, she got her confirmation. Her body went numb as she gapes at the man in disbelief until he disappeared inside the elevator. The one that ordinary employees were not allowed. 

Even after the door closes, her eyes are still glued in his direction. 

What should she do? 

But before she could find an answer, she was pushed towards the open elevator. So as not to fall, she goes with the flow. 

The entire ride has been a conflicting battle for her haywire thoughts. She wanted to flee but her feet are too weak to even take a step. Until she reaches her floor. 

With slow unsure steps, she went out. But unlike the others who kept their hastened pace, she went to the corner to lean on the wall. She needs to compose herself before facing anyone. 

"This is a huge building, there's no way we will easily bump into each other. Or I could try to avoid him" she whispers, trying to convince herself to stay calm. 

"I can't mess this up. I want this job" She frustratedly continues while taking deep breaths. 

She can't still compromise in her mind that her one-night stand was her future employer. How can she face him in case they will have the chance to meet? Will he remember her? Maybe or maybe not. 

As the clock-in is nearing, she tries to take a step toward where she was instructed to proceed. She needs to report to her superior, so she set aside her predicament and straightens her back. 

"You can do this, Skye. It's not like he will be your immediate boss. You have a long way before you could even step on the same floor as him" Making up her mind, she firmly mumbles. Unbothered by the peculiar looks she got from the passersby seeing her talking to herself. 

After gaining some self-confidence, she walks the hallway until she reached her destination. She looks around and sees several employees have already occupied their spots. Some spare her a curious glance while others remain unconcerned. 

"Good morning, I'm Skye Monticello. The new employee" 

With a polite smile, she approaches someone to introduce herself and shows her the employee pass she got from the lobby. 

"Oh, yes, yes. We are waiting for you. I'm Carmie, by the way. I should be introducing you around but we will be tremendously busy today, so we will do it tomorrow" Carmie speaks fast but she has an amicable aura she likes. 

"I don't mind, Miss Carmie. Please tell me what I could do to help" Smiling, she appeased the pretty woman. 

"There's a stockholder meeting and we need to prepare these documents" Holding a folder, Carmie raises it to show her. But before she could respond, everyone including her turned to the commotion at the door. 

"The boss has arrived and all are talking about the kiss marks around his neck" 

One employee arrives and announces while trying to catch her breath. She seems to have run the entire hallway just to tell the news. 

"What? Really? Have you seen them?"

"Is he in a relationship?"

"I don't think so. He doesn't do relationships"

"All the Wright family members will be at the meeting. Madame Alexzia would surely make a fuss of the marks" 

"They would surely hunt whoever is that woman. Sir Xander is very strict with his sexual relationships, and having those marks is something his family would surely consider serious"

Everyone is so busy with their discussion that no one noticed Skye who immediately gone stiff at the mention of the incident. 

"And he is in a foul mood this morning, so better do your job or we will all be in trouble" another woman enters with a serious expression. She looks around the entire room before her gaze stopped at Skye.

The previous boisterous atmosphere instantly tense after the entrance of the woman. 

"This is the new employee?"

Skye immediately straightens on her feet whilst the scrutinizing gaze of the woman. 

"Yes, Madame. Hello, I'm Skye Monticello. Good morning" she quickly introduces herself but the woman just turns away without acknowledging her greetings. 

"Mr. Wright needs the document now" Opening her palm to Carmie, she raised a brow while waiting. 

"Here, Nathalie" Hurriedly, Carmie handed her the folders on her table.

"Prepare the other documents that Mr. Wright might need later. And make sure to orient the new employee. I don't want her messing around" She haughtily announces before turning away to leave, bringing the folders with her. 

"She always acts like she is above every one of us" Carmie softly mumbles while leering at the leaving figure of Nathalie. 

"She's acting like Sir Xander's executive assistant. But just like all of us, she's just one of the secretaries" another one whispers beside them. 

"She looks pissed"

"Of course, she will be. Sir Xander arrived with hickeys and surely, jealousy is eating her soul" Someone whispers with a chuckle. 

Amidst all the hushed uproar among the staff, Skye remains stupefied. She has been listening and the more she hears them the more she becomes apprehensive. 

"I will introduce you to Sir Xander tomorrow. You're cute and charming. Surely he will be interested to know you. And the Human Resource Department is high praise for your credentials and interview. You can easily outshine Nathalie" Carmie suddenly turns to tell her. If she is teasing, Skye can no longer differentiate. She is too immersed in her thoughts to mind other things. 

"Huh?" Surprised by the sudden attention not only from Carmie, she gapes while looking so baffled.

"I will bring you to Sir Xander's office tomorrow to introduce you to him. He needs to meet the new addition to his team" Carmie repeated upon seeing her perplexity. 

"Huh? Why?" She whispers while dreading the answer.

"Because you're one of Sir Xander's secretaries" Though perplexed by her odd behavior, Carmie patiently explains. 

Hearing the dreadful truth, her blood seems to be drained with the way she pales. Her feet wavered but she grabs the edge of the table to support her weight. 

"Hey, what's wrong? You look pale" Carmie rushes to her side to check on her. Even the others are worriedly watching. 

"Ahm...I haven't had breakfast before coming here" Although it's the truth, it's not the reason for her predicament.

"There's a pantry over there, come. Let's see what you can have for you" Carmie volunteers while holding her arm. And as not to raise suspicion, she let her help her. 

While in the pantry, Carmie prepares a cup of coffee after bringing out a slice of pie front the fridge. But food is the least she needs right now. She feels numb and conflicted. 

If she will be Xander Wright's secretary, everything will be a lot more complicated. Yes, he is special. But will it be enough? Mixing business with pleasure is not in her plan. She can't work with him after their passionate rumble. That would be immensely awkward. Under any circumstance, she's not ready to face him again, more so as her boss. 

"Excuse me" Suddenly, she stands up and turns toward the door.

"Hey, where are you going? Your coffee is ready" Carmie stops her midstep. 

"Ahm, I need fresh air" She just mumbled before striding outside. And without looking at anyone, she rushes out of the door. Leaving everyone, curious while following her departing figure. 

Thankfully, the elevator was empty. No one would see her on the verge of breaking down. 

"You've messed up, Skye" 

"You've messed up big time" She keeps mumbling while calming her shaggy breath.

"Why should it be him?" Clasping her chest, she continues to talk to herself. While watching the number go down, she struggles to calm herself. 

And the instant the elevator door opens, she rushed outside with a bowed head. Unbothered by the people she almost bumped into. The sound of the hasty step of her heels echoed in the now-empty lobby. She only slowed down when she reaches outside.

It was surprisingly a relief when she was on the sidewalk. She seems to have acquired freedom from the constricted thoughts bothering her earlier. 

Without thinking much, she hailed a cab. She stiffly sits inside the vehicle while she remains motionless, hearing nothing even the query of the driver.

"Madame?"

She got a whiff of his voice, bringing her to the present. 

"Where will I bring you?" He added after seeing her look at him. 

"Airport" She briefly said.

After her terse reply, everything came in a blur. One moment she was inside the moving vehicle and the next thing she realized, she was already in the airport, blankly staring at the flight board at the departure. Her head is still empty and she doesn't know what to do next. She wasn't ready for the surprise she had earlier so she hasn't planned her next move. 

"What's the earliest flight we have here?" She whispers to herself while scanning the list. After a long moment of contemplation and pondering, she comes to terms with herself. 

"Let's try Asia" She mumbles after huffing her breath. It's not even two hours after she arrived in the country but here she is, already leaving.

Glancing at the busy street across the building, she was tempted to hail a cab and go back. But her feet are too heavy to move. 

Making up her mind, she looks away and walks to the counter to book her chosen flight. Not long, it was completed. 

Staring at her plane ticket and passport, she heaves several deep sighs. And for the last time, she glances at the road leading to where she came from. Her heart is in grief for losing her supposed dream job. 

She has been looking forward to being part of the WGC and to live in the city she had been dreaming of exploring. But because she is a coward, she is fleeing.

"Goodbye for now" she whispers while staring at the massive billboard showing the advertisement of the Wright Group of Companies. 

Her longing gaze stares at the particular figure in the family portrait of the Wright family. 

"I will be back. Yes, I will" she whispers like a promise despite its uncertainty. 

With sure steps, she walks away, carrying her only possession, her Lou Lou bag, and all the memories of the man she will never forget. 

****tbc****