8

Alessia.

Isabel was a life saver, I thought, as I straightened the collar of my shirt. My neatly styled outfit spoke volumes and it didn't look like I had had five minutes to decide on what to wear.

I exhaled slowly, my gaze fixed on the tall reflective building from the day before. I didn't know what it held for me but I was somewhat prepared to find out.

The door let out a soft chime when I entered, and I was met with the sweet faced woman from yesterday. Her bleached blonde hair was pulled back in an impossibly tight bun while she offered me a sweet smile.

"Good morning," I greeted. "I'm Mr Martinez's new secretary," I explained and the woman's smile broadened.

"Yes I know. I was informed that you would be back today to start your job properly. If you don't remember, I told you your office would be on the 10th floor," she said and I smiled in return. I turned away from the desk but she stopped me.

"Here's a little welcoming gift, a token from the enterprise to new comers," she said, then handed me a box of random office supplies.

"Thank you."

She glanced at the clock before looking back at me, that sweet smile that I had already become used to disappearing as she leaned in closer.

"You better hurry up, Mr Martinez is unusually early today and he does not like when employees are late." With the warning issued, the woman leaned back on her desk like she hadn't spoken. I hurried off, cursing under my breath because I was so sure he had come early on purpose, talking about some "unusually". I clicked my tongue in time with the elevator while I glanced at my watch.

"Geez, it wasn't even nine in the morning yet," I grumbled, while mentally willing this elevator to go faster. I had places to be for crying out loud.

My office wasn't hard to locate once I got to the 10th floor because it was really the only office here besides what I assumed to be that jerk's office. All the other rooms were board rooms or places where large company meetings were held.

I opened the office that said "secretary's" before stepping in slowly. Empty, good. My gaze darted around the space while I mentally approved. It was light years better than what I had envisioned. I had thought that jerk would stuff me in a broom closet or something.

The table wasn't dusty, also good, which meant I didn't have to get involved with cleaning. The view from here wasn't bad at all either. I could get used to this.

"Enjoying the scenery?"

I stilled, as though cold water had been dunked on me at the sound of that voice. I swallowed, then turned around to meet the last person I wanted to see.

"I asked you a question," he snapped, his voice cold as his calculating eyes raked over me. His solid frame filled the entire doorway and he kept his hands on it too, so there was no way I could escape. What was the point to anyway when I had to come right back?

"Good morning Sir... The view is quite nice from up here," I said, my tone polite. It took a lot of effort not to bite my tongue off.

"Hmmm, isn't it?" His eyes flicked to the window before settling on me again. He took brisk steps into the room then stopped at it's centre.

"But I'm not paying you to admire the view, am I ?" He glanced at his watch and tisked, a dissatisfied look gracing his features.

"You are late. I specifically told you that I wanted you here bright and early. Can't you heed to instructions?"

"I'm sorry sir," I apologized. I so badly wanted to peel my nails off just from apologizing to this behemoth of a man.

"You're forgiven... For now. I guess I didn't make myself clear before, but you are to report to work around eight in the mornings, nothing less."

The breath left my lungs as my mouth dropped open. "Eight in the morning?!"

"Yes, is there a problem?"

"But according to the company rules, we are to report in at nine." There was no way I was coming to work by eight everyday. What was I? The security man?

"My company, my rules. And my secretaries report to work by eight. You have a lot of work to do, so if you don't like it, drop it," he said in a low voice.

"So I'm going to repeat, do you have a problem with it?" My teeth gritted as an unnerving smile grew on his lips. This damned man!

"No Sir."

"Good." His smile shone like a cat that had just gotten it's bowl of cream while I on the other hand looked like a baby candy had been stolen off of.

He started pacing a path in the centre of the room while I watched him. I hoped he lost his footing and fell flat on his face.

"Now since you're here, I guess it's time to get started. See those papers over there?" I turned to look at a heap of documents that looked like they've been collected for over a week.

"Yes, those ones. You'll have to file them and arrange them in order of importance. There's a guide on how to do it in one of your drawers. I'm sure they'll be enough help."

Okay, not so bad. I just had to file them away before the week runs out, totally doable.

"These should be done by the end of today-"

"Today!" My eyes nearly popped out of their sockets while I glanced back at the documents to make sure they were actually there.

"I'm not going to take these interruptions any longer. Yes today."

I couldn't believe my ears. That would take me at least five days to go through and he wanted it all done by the day's end? Where did he even get all those documents from? I knew he was a busy man, but come on. It was just too much.

"Those need to be done by the end of the day," he repeated, as though letting the instructions sink in.

"And come find me before break time. You have others tasks to complete so you better start now if you know you want to get home before the day goes dark."

I watched him turn around without giving me a second glance, then leave. He closed the door behind himself, and the slam it let out was loud enough to mock me.