Chapter 12

Helena's POV 

I froze, turning to the screen of my system before I could do otherwise.

Tessy's unceasing teases instantly became a thing of the past as I read the title of the message.

AN INTERNAL MESSAGE.

I frowned slightly before reaching out and tapping it open. Immediately it did open, the subject line caught my attention first.

EXECUTIVE OFFICE – MEETING REQUEST

My stomach tightened slightly as I went on to read the details.

From: Barron Hale

Subject: Onboarding Strategy Review

Location: Executive Office

Time: 2:30 PM

Shit. I glanced at the clock on my screen.

2:14 PM.

So the project was starting immediately. He didn't even bother to let me know properly.

Tessy leaned closer, struggling to steak a peak at what I was doing.

“What is it?” She finally asked when she didn't see a thing.

“It’s a meeting request,” I replied curtly as I packed up my stuff hurriedly.

“From Barron?” She asked and I shrieked slightly at the way she called his name just like that.

But I shifted the screen slightly so she could see, and as she did, her eyes widened instantly.

“Oh,” she just muttered and pulled back slowly.

“Yeah,” I replied with a hurried nod.

Then she let out a quiet whistle, rolling back the playful vibes again.

“Going to the executive floor on your second day, someone’s quickly becoming a household name,” he smirked down.

“Actualy,” I started, letting myself gloat a bit. “It's technically still my first full day, you know?” I added with a shrug.

“That’s even worse!” She exclaimed, throwing her hands around.

“Thanks for the encouragement,” I replied between chuckles, and she joined me on it, laughing warmly as I got the rest of my stuff arranged.

“Well, don’t keep the CEO waiting,” she retorted, rising from my desk.

I stood too, grabbing my tablet and slipping my phone into my bag.

I caught her giving me the googly eyes on different occasions as I did my final checks.

When I couldn't take it any longer, a laugh broke free. “You’re enjoying this way too much,” I teased with a broad smile.

“Of course I am,” Tessy said cheerfully with her hands up. “My best friend is about to slay the mighty Barron Hale,” she added with a playful grin.

“I hate you!” I exclaimed and threw my hands out to cover her lips, lest anyone else hears her.

She laughed and dodged my hands easily. “You love me,” she countered with a laugh.

I sighed but couldn’t stop the small smile that found its way to my lips.

“I’ll see you later, Tessy,” I said with a shake of my head as I led her out and locked the door after us.

“Good luck!” She called after me as I speed walked away.

It was when I had gone over ten steps away that I realized I didn't know where I was going.

The executive room sounded well-known, but certainly not to someone like me.

I cursed as I realized I could have just asked Tessy, and as I looked back, she had already made her way a few feet far.

I looked around, rooted to the spot I stood as suddenly, each face that passed me by looked tougher than the last.

I didn't know how long I stood there but when I glanced down at my watch and realized I had just about 2 minutes till the stated time, I swallowed my nerve and approached the nearest person to me.

“Hey,” I called and she didn't even bother looking up from her system.

I stood awkwardly, feeling beads of sweat forming around my head.

“Uhm, hey,” I called out again, and she still didn't look up. But answered this time.

“I can hear you,” she remarked and I instantly rolled my eyes.

But I had barely a minute to go, so I hurried out my next words.

“I need to go to the executive office please, how do I get there?” I asked shakily.

That's when she stopped typing and looked up to my face slowly.

She stared at me from my head down. “You? The executive office?” She scoffed softly.

“Uhm, yeah?” I asked, not really knowing what all the fuzz was about.

She shook her head and pointed straight ahead. “Go straight into the elevator, you'll see the right button to click there,” she instructed and went back to her typing.

“Thank you,” I offered but as expected, she didn't as much as react.

I walked as fast as I could down to the elevator as I had already eaten seconds into the time.

I skipped towards the elevator doors as it just closed shut, missing it by just a second.

“No, no, no,” I gasped and knocked on it even though I knew it wasn't of any use.

Great, I would be late for my first invite and I didn't even have a proper excuse. 

Few seconds later, the doors opened ahead of me and I rushed to enter, only to halt when a few others walked out and nearly pushed me over.

I steadied myself, cleaning my jacket. “A little sorry won't kill ya,” I muttered as I composed myself and stepped into the elevator doors before it closed.

I was about to breathe a sigh of relief as I thought I would be heading up alone, but a young looking guy skipped in before the doors shut.

I shook my head but pushed that aside and focused on how I would get to the right floor.

My eyes scanned the elevator buttons and spotted one with the executive floor stamped on it.

I reached out and punched it before the other guy could. He chuckled and still proceeded to punch his which was about two floors from the executive floor.

I watched the elevator timer tick down nervously and didn't bother checking my own time as I knew I was already late with a few gaps.

The elevator couldn't be any slower, like literally!

“So you're going to the executive floor?” The guy by my side asked.

Oh shit, that's the last thing I needed right now. I kept my eyes on the timer and shifted my weight between my feet nervously.

After another 5 seconds, he spoke again. “You know, ignoring me and refusing a conversation won't make the time tick faster.”

That's when I realized I had let myself turn into that jerk I asked for directions earlier.

“I'm so sorry, I'm just so tensed up and all. So hard to wrap my mind around anything else,” I explained.

He smiled and waved it off. “It's my first day at work today, I'm at the sales department, a sales personnel,” he replied and I mouthed a wow.

“Really, today's technically my first day too,” I remarked and he smiled.

“No way,” he exclaimed between laughs, and I laughed too, surprisingly feeling warm.

He took a glance up at the timer and turned his eyes back on me.

“I guess I'll be seeing you around,” he offered as the elevator stopped for his exit.

“I guess so,” I replied and waved as he walked off.

He's a nice guy.

I waited the short remaining time as the elevator finally dragged itself to drop me on the executive floor.

And when the doors finally opened, the atmosphere shifted instantly.