Chapter four

Sophia turned to face the worker, quickly unclutching the card from her death grip. She had wrinkled it, adding to more list of offenses he could use against her.

"Are you all for real. Why didn't you warn me that he was the director?" she whispered aggressively and would have messed up her hair by pulling at it, but she restrained herself. Looking like a ghost after hitting the director was not going to cut it. 

The workers stared at her like she'd lost her mind. One of them finally deemed it fit to answer her, with a raised accusing finger pointed in Sophia's face.

"We used our freaking eyes to signal you, but you ignored us. How is what happened our fault" she asked, looking mad. "What you did is undoubtedly going to come back to bite us in the ass."

Sophia worried if they would get in trouble because of her, then cringed. This was just the worst thing ever. 

"Well, someone should have just shouted Director" she got out, arms flailing. Talk about the first day at work disasters.

"Mr Lennox hates voice raising, you'll know that if you bothered to do some research. This is probably your last day here, so just get on with it" the girl replied, taking her seat. 

Sophia read her name tag. Park Tzuyu. She decided there and then that their pheromones didn't rhyme and that they were never going to be friends, not with that condescending attitude.

Gosh, this was the worst way to fuck up a Monday. 

Sophia cursed as she walked towards the office, noticing the assistant spot opposite it. A beeper was on the desk, with some documents and a classy-looking laptop. Was she going to get a chance to use it? Hopefully.

She stepped into the office, crossing her fingers behind her. Here goes nothing.

*******

Lennox tried not to notice how his cheek tingled from the slap, looking up from his desk as the door to his office opened and the occupational hazard walked in, her head bowed with hands behind her back. 

Lennox couldn't believe what had happened earlier. She had slapped him, treating him like some low-class worker after she had bumped into him, leading to the loss of his camomile tea. He already felt on edge without it.

After going through his file, he realized that she was supposed to be his new assistant.

She met his gaze, opening her mouth to apologize.

"You're fired. Get your things and leave immediately". Lennox got out, but she just stood there, unflinching.

"I'm afraid that would be impossible Sir. I'm your assistant on a contract for six months. You can't terminate that just because I made an honest mistake".

He couldn't believe her audacity. "I don't need an assistant, especially not one like you. I prefer to do things on my own, and what do you mean by you're not leaving" he asked, feeling frustrated. He wasn't used to talking so much, but the girl had a way of making him lose his temper.

"Just what it means Mr. Lennox Ray. I am so sorry I resorted to violence, it was horrible of me and I regret it, so I'm going to make it up to you by doing my very best as your assistant until you forgive me... Also, don't you think it will look bad on your person if you decide to fire a worker on her first day? It brings bad luck you know." 

She looked like she believed it too, which made him scoff. Lennox took a deep breath, trying to relax his ticking jaw. This was not happening for real, was it?

"You'll be miserable if you insist on this, Miss Sophia," he addressed, taking notice of her nametag. "Manager of group B textiles, fashion designer" he raised an eyebrow in question, his dark eyes probing.

"Yes Mr. Ray. I've been working here for nine years, I am very good at any task assigned to me, I get things done in time, and I also multitask. You won't find a better assistant".

"A better assistant? I'll have you know that no assistant will do what you did earlier. Physical assault, character defamation, disturbance of public peace, those are weighty charges, Miss Sophia," he pointed out, watching her struggle between begging and her pride. She soon lost the battle of acting polite, as she glared at him.

"Well, I wouldn't have had to do that if you had just apologized for being wrong" she snapped, then shook her head. "I'm sorry for that Mr. Ray, please forgive my manners. I thought you were a manager—" she stopped, clamping her mouth shut as she realized that she was still defending herself. "Forgive me for my haughty behavior. I promise to do better and serve you to the best of my abilities, Master Len Ray," she shouted, bowing dramatically. 

Lennox watched her, with no amusement on his face at her theatrics. She raised her head slowly, her face crumpling in defeat as she met his unwavering gaze.

Lennox tapped his pen against his desk, coming off as bored as he thought it over. He opened a cabinet, bringing out a bundle of files.

"I don't need an assistant, but if you insist, then here." he flung the papers at her. 

Sophia inhaled sharply as some of it hit her in the face before pooling around her. Lennox watched her clench her fist, her gaze dropping to the paper on the floor, then smiled as she looked up at him. 

"Those are the rules, read and abide by them. If you break any, you're out."

Her grey eyes sparkled. "Really? You're not going to fire me. Oh my gosh, thank you so much. I've totally got this!" she agreed, crouching to the floor, and picking up the scattered papers. She stood up, clutching them to her chest. "Do you need me to do anything else?"

"Get out, and refrain from raising your voice," he said coldly, making her smile drain off her face. 

She walked out the door, closing it gently even when he felt that she wanted to bang it shut.

Lennox found himself unable to concentrate. Why the hell was she persisting and invading his space? He glanced down, then frowned as he noticed the creases on his shirt where she had grabbed him earlier. 

Fine, let her stay. She'll leave when he makes her life miserable. 

He looked up, his eyes catching her through the glass that separated them. A strange, skeptical feeling clouded his mind. She was going to be trouble.

*******

Sophia took her seat, then arranged her stuff on the vast desk. One of the team members walked toward her.

"Hi, I am Kyle. The team manager. So are you going to keep working here? He didn't fire you" he asked curiously, warily glancing at the office, his voice barely audible.

Sophia gleamed. "Of course not. He was nice about my mistake, he told me to be more careful and that he was sorry. It's all because of the power of my persuasion. I'm just too good at what I do."

Kyle watched her, his jaw hitting the floor. "Wow, you're so confident. We were all sure you wouldn't last here. Tzuyu even placed a bet on it" he confessed. 

Sophia shook her head at the piece of information, then smiled. "I don't blame her, I'd place a bet on me, too, if I worked for Mr. Lennox Ray... but how come Mr Lennox is so Young? I thought the owner was older".

"That's his son Lennox junior. He just came back from a trip abroad. He's taking over everything, but we're not sure if it's going to be permanent. You should be careful from now on. There have been rumors that he has spies among the workers. He plans to weed out all incompetent employees".

Sophia was baffled by the news. "But he just got here, why is he taking such drastic measures?"

"I'm not sure," he answered, shrugging. "If you need help with anything, just ask me, okay?"

"Sure. Thank you, Kyle". 

He nodded, walking back to his desk, on the lower deck.

Sophia stared at the laptop, exhaling tiredly. When Mr. Sanchez had said Lennox would be difficult to work for, and that she'd be running in a month, she hadn't taken him too seriously. Now she was paying for it.