CEO's Secretary

2.

~Daryian~

"Your schedule for the day, ma'am."

I proudly held out the Ipad I've given for office purpose only.

She didn't even bother to glance at it as she replied,

"What's my next appointment?"

I stared at her for a couple seconds, trying to process that she didn't compliment me once.

It did hurt a little.

She looked up from my lack of response and her brows crooked together in a frown, which looked really cute on her.

What the hell?! She can't be cute! She can be anything but cute.

"If you expect me to clap your back every time you take a step, you're not one for learning and Katz Corp., Mr. Grey." She deadpanned, her eyes lacking any emotional value.

Now it's my turn to frown, and words slipped out before I could contain them in.

"Well, it wouldn't hurt your ego to encourage someone on their first day."

My eyes immediatly widened when I realized what I've spewed out.

I sure was here to epitaph my own grave!

Her frown dissolved and she leaned back in her chair dangerously, a playful amusement dancing across her fleckled face as she steepled her fingers under her chin, elbows resting on the handles of the chair.

"You're the first one to talk back to me and continue to breathe air properly, do you know that Mr. Grey?"

My breath stuck to my throat and I coughed loudly to get it cleared, clutching the Ipad tightly in my grip.

She smirked seeing my clear distress. What kind of devil does that?

With a shake of her head, she resumed her work on the laptop.

The click of her fingers tapping away on the keyboard was a reminder for me to steady my breathing and find solace in the air I was still privileged to breathe in.

I quickly composed myself and looked over the schedule to let her know her next appointment.

"You h-have a meeting with Grayson Inc. at 2 in the afternoon over afternoon tea at the Cherry Blossom Plaza."

She didn't response, instead, she suddenly stood up and shut her laptop down.

As she grabbed her bag and walked around her desk to be right in front of me, I gathered in her height; which was as tall as me with very low heels on.

Damn she's tall.

Or I'm too short for a boy? s**t.

"Mr. Grey, I'm curious about you." She said, her deadly eyes piercing right in my soul while she spoke in monotone.

I gulped, nodding stupidly.

"Uh- I-"

"Let's go." She cut me off and attempted to walk past me till I stopped her.

"I was still talking!"

Was I freaking dumb?! Why did I keep doing this? Why did the benevolent creator give me such courage to dig my own grave?

She turned over her shoulder and smirked again, the sight terrifying as her eyes raked my body up and down.

"Very curious."

Whatever it meant.

She turned on her heels and walked away, I followed behind her like an obedient puppy.

Fortunately, I've given a small room to rest and keep my stuff in while I was working.

The perks of being the CEO's secretary.

So, I quickly grabbed my backpack from my room before locking it and putting the key in my pocket.

I rushed downstairs to where Lucille must be waiting for me.

To my shock, when I asked the guards where's the Boss' car, they said she left.

Without me?

Wait, was I supposed to go with her or did she want me to stay here and wait?

She did say 'let's go', so she wanted me to go, right?

Then why the hell did she leave me alone?!

This f*****g b***h!

I groaned in frustration and fell down on my butt in front of the main gate while the guards from this morning stared at me incredulously.

"What do I do, man?" I asked to no one in particular.

One of them approached me and knelt next to me, patting my back sympathetically.

"That's Boss' affect, kid. Either you survive and thrive out of it, or you quit." He shrugged.

I looked at him then at the empty gravel road before me, a sudden bloom of determination sprouting in my chest.

I jumped on my feet and dusted off my jeans and palms.

"I'm not gonna quit, Alfredo." I stated and held my chin out with a puffed up chest.

The guard looked confused as he also got up, amused.

"Alfredo who?"

I smiled at him and grabbed his broad shoulders, shaking them giddily.

"You, my friend. Keep it in your mind. I, Daryian Grey, isn't quitting over your Boss! I'll turn her around, it's my promise to myself." I beamed.

He looked at me like I've grown two heads.

"Whatever, kid. Don't ever touch me though." He pushed my hands down, but I continued to grin.

"Now, let's get started with the valet!" I clicked my fingers and ran towards the garage.

After almost interviewing half of the stuff working downstairs, I gathered the information that she might have gone to a local café where she enjoyed her 10 am tea.

I did not waste time and sprinted to the direction given by Google maps.

The nearest café's name's Rose Garden. That's too cheesy for someone like Lucille.

I wonder how she fit there.

Reaching the place—much to my delight—I spotted her sitting outdoor with a tea cup in her hand, and her other one scrolling her phone.

Bitch.

I jogged over to her table, panting for breath as I took a moment to gasp.

"Took you long enough." She muttered nonchalantly, not looking up from her phone once.

I scoffed.

"What is wrong with you? Is this some kind of game for you?!" I half yelled half wheezed out.

She took a sip of her tea, unfazed by my tone of behavior by now. It seemed as if instead of me, she was the one getting used to by my personality.

"First day has its perks."

Rolling my eyes, I flopped down on the chair opposite her, not feeling so scared or nervous anymore.

If she wanted to play, we play.

She glanced up from her phone and raised an eyebrow.

I raised my eyebrow in return, tapping my fingers on top of the table with a defiant look on.

"Since I did so well in this little game of yours, I deserve some tea." I said.

If I didn't know better, I'd say she stifled her laughter as she cleared her throat and continued to sip from her tea.

Taking her nonchalance as an acceptance, I raised my hand to get someone over here.

A girl with buzz cut brown hair walked to our table and I could tell she's judging me hard.

"Girl, you got your first." She suddenly squealed and I almost felt offended.

Did I look like a girl?

"S-sorry?"

She suddenly turned her judgemental gaze at Lucille and grinned widely.

"I can assure you he's in for the long run. He's a solid one." She added.

I frowned.

Did they know each other? Of course they did, she came here almost everyday.

But how was she so friendly with Lucille?

And Lucille even allowed her to be herself. It's a new.

Maybe she did have soft spot for some people around her.

She silently sipped from her cup when the brunette spoke.

Then she turned to me and grabbed her pen.

"What would you like? It's on the house."

I raised my brows, shaking my hands.

"No! Please, I'll pay for myself."

She clicked her tongue. "Homie, you got her secret place all on your own. And you've managed to sit down at the same table as hers. You deserve this one."

I looked between them in pure perplexion.

Did it mean she does this with all of her secretaries?

"Congratz, kiddo. You made the list. I can tell you're the one."

"Huh?" I sputtered.

She rolled her eyes, showing off the ring on the corner of her right eye.

"You're the one for the job! By the way, I'm Emma." She stuck out her hand.

I took it and we smiled at each other.

For a brief moment, I felt Lucille's eyes on our joined hands but when I turned to her, she's immersed in her phone.

"Thank you, and fine then. I'd like to have a cup of ginger tea and french toast." I said.

Emma beamed and wrote down the order on her little pad.

"Right your way in a few minutes." She winked at me and disappeared inside the café.

"Didn't know you were normal with other people." I began, an attempt to converse like normal people.

She remained silent but glanced up at me for a second then returned on her phone.

"We have plenty of time before your meeting. Where do we go next?" I asked.

Why did it sound like we're outing as normal friends or a couple?

Why did we even go somewhere together?

Why was I being so weird?

"You do know you're my secretary, right? I let you off a couple times don't mean you can keep slacking off." She said coldly.

Her sharp tone humbled me, and I sat up straight, waiting for my food.

Emma returned with my tray of food and placed it in front of me. I noticed a strawberry cupcake there as well.

Furrowing my brows, I turned to her in confusion. "I didn't order this."

She grinned cheekily and put the cake before Lucille, whose eyes snapped up at Emma in a death glare.

"Lucille here secretly orders this sometimes. So, I thought she might like to have it today as well." She threw a wink towards Lucille, and I was on the verge of spluttering my tea out.

Lucille Katz liked strawberry cupcakes?

That's a new and my first knowing of her likes.

I didn't get to say anything though as Lucille grabbed the cupcake and suddenly threw it across the road, leaving me dumbfounded.

"Hey! Why would you do that?" I yelled out and ran across the road to get it and threw the disaster in the trashcan.

"She's like this. We're used to it." Emma assured with a glint in her eyes.

I frowned.

"No one should waste food like this." I directed my sentence towards Lucille who seemed oblivious of what just happened.

As I sat back down to finish my food after Emma left, Lucille got off the chair and put her phone in her slacks' pockets.

She slammed the money on the table and turned on her heels.

I hurrily gulped down the rest of the tea, hissing as it's still a bit warm then stuff the toast in my mouth, running off after her.

She stopped by her car and turned to face me.

"Mr. Grey, you're still quite unknown of my life so I'd suggest you take the rest of the day off and come back tomorrow— fully prepared. I can't handle an incompetent secretary for the day."

Damn. That stung.

"Ma'am, I'm sorry if I came off incompetent on my first few hours. But I assure you I'm more than capable of handling this job and you."

Something flickered over her eyes when I said that but she didn't say anything.

"I promise I'll return tomorrow fully prepared. I'll take my leave now."

For the first time since this morning, I've left her speechless. Yes!!

Turning around, I speed-walked to grab my backpack and to head to the office for my bicycle, not waiting for her response.

Going home, I could only think of two things, either my victory on shutting her mouth, or the sign of my doom.

Whatever it was, I was ready to fight for the job I've dreamt of and worked so hard for.

I wouldn't let my mom's belief on me go to waste just cause of my temper and blabber mouth.

I'd be a whole new person tomorrow.

✿︎☾︎✿︎☾︎✿︎