Rules

Valeria slipped her hand into her pocket and turned her phone off, her hands were still trembling.

Ivan on the other hand didn't know how to react when his wife ended his call, he couldn't turn back to face Valeria so he pretended to be on the phone.

“Hey, baby. I'm sorry I missed your call." 

Valeria contemplated walking out.

She didn't want to make the tension worse by listening in on his call, but she was here to apologize.

After gathering so much courage to come here, it'll be a waste if she didn't seize the opportunity to apologize.

“I'm fine," Ivan continued on his fake call. “Just a few uncomfortable incidents," he added before he could stop himself, his voice louder than he had intended.

Valeria's heart sank. " Uncomfortable incidents?”

Was she going get fired? She couldn't afford being jobless now.

“It's not important," Ivan said, staring at Valeria from the corner of his eyes and wondering why she was still there. He was running out of what to say on his fake call. "It's already handled.”

"Already handled?” Valeria repeated in her head.

“Was he referring to her?" 

"I've got to go now, you take care of yourself.”

After the fake call ended, none of them moved.

Standing with their back to each other, none was able to turn around.

Valeria listened for movements, so did Ivan.

Each of their minds spiraled with possible worse case scenarios.

After five long minutes of standing in mute, Ivan finally moved.

"Is there something I could help you with?”

Valeria cleared her throat.

“Actually," she began, her gaze following Ivan who had now walked up to the couch. “I wanted to say how sorry I am about what happened earlier." 

Ivan lowered himself onto the couch, leaned back and crossed his legs. His eyes now fixed on her.

Valeria felt his gaze on her but didn't look up, instead, she continued.

"I only wanted to do something nice for your—”

"How did you know my birthday was today?” Ivan cuts in.

She swallowed hard, and let out a sharp breath.

"I…I saw…,” she stammered. " I stumbled upon your birth certificate,” she confessed, her voice low now.

“You went snooping around my things?" 

Valeria's head shot up, her eyes met with Ivan's.

“I didn't mean to, I promise," she replied quickly, too quickly. “It was peeking out of the drawers, so I…I sort of opened it.”

" That is snooping,” Ivan insisted. "It's not like it was lieing on the table. You intentionally took it out of the envelope to read it's contents.”

Valeria lowered her head again, she knew making further excuses will only make things worse.

“I respect my privacy, Mrs Ravelle," he continued. “And I can't work with someone who does not know their limits.”

Valeria didn't say a word, she couldn't.

" I'm definitely getting fired,” she thought.

For a brief moment Ivan let the silence stretch, his gaze still fixed on her scared figure. He could see how sorry she was.

“I'm sorry, sir," she finally said. “I promise it won't happen again." 

Ivan nodded.

“Of course it won't.”

Another silence swept in. Brief.

“I have to meet some clients at a dinner party tomorrow," Ivan informed.

“I?" Valeria repeated in her head. "Does that mean I'm fired? Why wouldn't he say we?

" Get ready, because we resume work tomorrow,” he added.

Relief shot through Valeria her knees almost buckled, she let out a heavy breathe that earned a faint smirk from Ivan.

" Yes sir,” she bowed. "I'll be ready.”

She moved to leave, but Ivan's voice made her freeze in her tracks.

“But," he said. “We need to go over a few rules we skipped when you started work." 

Valeria felt a tight knot in her stomach.

“Ye…yes sir.”

Ivan rose from his seat and walked over to her, stopping a few feet from her.

“First," he began. “There shall be no personal events without my permission.”

Valeria swallowed and nodded.

" My birthday is to be treated as a regular workday, No surprises. Ever.”

She heaved a breath and nodded.

" Keep personal matters out of the office,” he continued. " And always consult me before making discretionary decisions involving my name.”

Valeria bowed. 

"Noted, sir.”

Ivan paused.

“A dress will be delivered to you later today, it's for the dinner party tomorrow." 

Valeria looked up and met his gaze briefly, before looking down again.

“As long as you work for me," he added. “Make sure everything about you shines good lights on my status and personality," he paused. “I do not tolerate clumsiness, fluffiness, or tackiness." 

Valeria nodded again.

“Duely nodded, sir." 

A brief silence fell between them again.

“I'm done, Mrs Ravelle. You may go." 

Valeria's legs caught on the order before brain did, so she bolted to the door. 

For a while she fumbled with the handle, earning a soft scoff and smirk from Ivan.

She could feel his gaze blazing on her back, intense.

Finally, she made her way out of his room and into hers.

She dashed into her room and shut the door, her trembling hands clasped together over her forehead.

" Rules?” She muttered. " I don't do so well with rules.”

She shut her eyes, replaying the dark look in his eyes. She could see anger, and she felt really bad to know she had triggered that only a few days of working for him.

A knock in the door jolted her out of her thoughts.

Impulsively she opened the door and saw a thin woman dressed in a suit, a box in hand.

“Hi!" The woman greeted, wearing a bright smile. “I’m Mr Crest’s personal fashion designer." 

Valeria simply nodded, her brows knitted.

“This is for you," the woman said, holding out the box for her.

" Thank—”

Before Valeria could appreciate her, she turned and left, like she was timed.

After the woman left, Valeria set the box down on the bed and opened it.

She gasped, with her hand over her mouth, as she beheld one of the most magnificent dress she'd ever seen.