DEVIN

“Ms. Green,” I looked up from my computer immediately after hearing Mr. Mávros’, my boss’ voice. He didn’t even wait for my response because before I could speak, “I need the Milan files at seven a.m. tomorrow.”

Mr. Devin Carlo Mávros, also known as the Devil, has been my boss for three years, and as his P.A., I knew better than to make reasons with him, but not tonight. I have a date.

“Those papers are due next Friday.” As soon as I saw the crease forming on his forehead, I stood up and explained my stand further. “The marketing department hasn’t given me their reports, Sir.” I took my black notepad and checked what day it was, although I knew it precisely. It’s Friday, and the meeting for the proposed Milan hotel happened only last Monday. It’ll take up to two weeks to finish a feasibility study with a complete team, give or take. I can finish it alone in three weeks while doing overtime on paperwork until nine in the evening, if I may add.

Mr. Mávros’ face turned sour. Not that he was not already in a sour mood when he came in. His muscles flexed as he crossed his arms over his chest. “Well then, do your job and tell them to do the work I pay them to do.” He snapped, clenching his jaw. “I need those papers in the morning, or else you’re fired.” His voice was commanding, firm, like an unbreakable law, turning his back on me.

Glancing over at my coworkers, who gave me a sympathetic look, I heaved a sigh and focused my gaze back on the computer screen.

Mr. Mávros is a good person; that’s why I worked for him even after experiencing first hand his arrogance with his employees. He is the reason I barely made it out of college, not that he knows about it. The moment I graduated with a degree in Business Economics, I applied for his company, The Mávros Enterprises.

I was ecstatic when I learned from H.R. that I will work as the CEO’s personal assistant. To meet the man whose company sponsored my scholarship in college was a dream, but after two days of working for him, I was already regretting the idea of that stupid dream. He screamed at me when I didn’t get the perfect taste of his coffee. Black with a pinch of sugar, no cream, and he threw the coffee on my white top that day.

In my three years here at The Mávros Enterprise, he fired me six times and scolded me in front of the board of directors too many times than my fingers on both hands and feet can count. The first year was the worst. I cried more for him than I cried for my boyfriend, Max.

He’s not always this acrid towards me. Sometimes he gave me compliments for my hard work as well. Four times, as I counted them. Those were moments like now when I basically bleed and forget the meaning of rest and sleep just to meet his standards and demands.

It was only one in the afternoon, and if I can get the data I need from the marketing and finance department, I might just get lucky and make it to my date in time.

‘You can do this, Ren.’ With a heave of a determined sigh, I paused the report I was encoding for my boss and called both department managers.

Marie, the marketing manager, answered on the first ring.

“Hey, it’s me,” I murmured after her proper phone etiquette in answering company calls. It’s one of Mr. Mávros’ unbendable rules. Be professional.

“Ren, what’s up?” Marie answered in her usual cheerful tone. I’m friends with almost all of Mr. Mávros’ employees, except for the CEO himself, with whom I spend most of my time at the office. Ironic, isn’t it?

“Can you send me the data you have for Milan?” I tried to keep my voice from sounding bitter. Everybody knows how bad Mr. Mávros’s mood can get.

“Oh, no.” Concern laced Marie’s tone. “Did the sexy devil forget the date again?” She was clearly trying to cheer me up by using ‘sexy devil.’ Mr. Mávros is a handsome guy with a towering 6’2 height, black curly locks, blue eyes, kissable lips, and perfect jaw for a Greek God. Yes, he has the body of a super-god-dammed-hot-model, and if he isn’t as moody as a girl with menstrual cramps, I’d say he is fucking perfect, but sadly he’s not perfect at all. Far from it.

“I don’t know, I haven’t even finished the reports for the Rome project,” I said in between sighs, rubbing my temple in circles with my thumb, forcing my eyeglasses to move up to my hair.

I really hate feeling like this, like everything is against me. I’m not a pessimist, but I’ve been looking forward to this date with Max tonight for some time now - I miss him. It feels like fate isn’t on my side. If I can’t accomplish this F.S. in four hours, I’m doomed.

“When does he need the papers?” Marie knows exactly how Mr. Mávros’s mind works. She’s been with the company for five years, and she witnessed how I pushed through all of his needs and survived it like an apocalypse.

“Seven a.m…. sharp,” I mumbled, drumming my fingers on the desk.

“Christ!” she hissed, and I heard a few things dropped and papers ruffling. “I’ll be there in your office. Give me ten.”

“Thanks,” and we hung up.

After a few minutes, my friend’s witty thoughts and banters filled my office. Marie came up with Jeremy, the finance assistant manager, and Coleen, the COO’s P.A. The COO of the company is Mr. Mávros’ sister. We actually became friends, so when she learned from Coleen about her brother’s ‘request,’ she immediately sent Coleen for help.

It’s already four p.m. on the dot, and we’re making enormous progress. We’ve been brainstorming since one-thirty, and I have a good feeling that we can finish the paper. They scattered boxes of sweets and snacks on my desk, but I didn’t care if my office was very untidy, as long as we could finish the paperwork before seven.

The clock was ticking, and when it hit six-fifty, we wrapped everything up, and I let out the breath I was holding. Jeremy headed out early because he had to pick up this new girl he’s courting from her work, and Marie needed to fetch her daughter from her parent’s place.

Coleen and I were the ones left to proofread everything in ten minutes because if there was even the slightest typo error, my boss would chop my head off - literally.

I sighed, looking over the report we finished in half a day, a proud smile stretching my lips. I survived the Devil’s curse once more.

~~

AN

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