He’s Taken

2. First Day

I slipped on my classy black heels while I looked in the mirror. My new work uniform fit me nicely and matched my thick framed glasses. I twisted and turned in the mirror making sure no lent was stuck to the all black uniform. I grabbed my purse, phone, and keys and headed out the door.

I walked up to the tall golden framed doors of the building. I’m trembling trying my best to look confident, I flipped my hair and fixed it one last time before walking through the doors. Deep breath, deep breath. I smiled big walking up to the front desk, “Hi, I’m here for a nine o’clock interview” I said with my head high to the man behind the counter. He typed quickly on his keyboard and didn’t look up at me when I spoke.

“What’s the name?” He asked still not looking at me.

“Adalina Hart” I answered. He typed it out as I said it.

“Adalina…” he trailed off, he wrote on a sticky note and handed it to me, finally looking at me. “Fifth floor room twenty-two, the sign on the door should read ‘Mrs. Willis’ she’s waiting for you” he goes straight back to his computer. I thank him and head to the elevator. I push the button for the fifth floor. My hands start shaking and it’s getting hard to stand straight in heels; I haven’t had an interview in over two years.

The elevator doors open to a quiet and clean space. Looks like a ghost town all the way up here. I look to the left then to the right and spot an open office with a woman inside sorting files. The tag read ‘Mrs. Willis’ so I started strutting towards the office. I kept my head high and posture straight, she noticed me once I got close to the doorway. “Adalina?” She raises an eyebrow.

“Yes ma’am” I smiled at her and kept my purse to my side.

“Take a seat, you’re just on time” she motioned for me to sit in front of her. I held my pencil skirt to the back of my legs as I sat down. “So let’s get straight to the point, our CEO is who set you up for this interview, so you’ve obviously got the job so I’m just going to explain to you what your position and duties are as an assistant”

“Assistant?” I questioned. “I thought I was applying for a secretary position?” I furrowed my brow.

“Well, those positions are already taken, but the CEO said you qualify for the personal assistant position, I thought he told you what your position would be” she just shrugged it off and got out a stack of papers and started handing some to me. “Your hours are eight am to four pm, you already know the required attire, you will have a personal office on this floor but it’s across from the CEO that way you can tend to his demands.” I was trying to focus but I couldn’t stop thinking about how I’ll be by Ismael’s side almost all day.

Ismael and I were already so awkward around each other it’ll be so uncomfortable to tend to him without Colette around. It made me feel uneasy, but I have to be grateful for the opportunity they gave me, I’d be stupid to pass it up. “Got it?” Mrs. Willis snapped me out of my thoughts.

“Yes I understand” I nodded with a smile.

“Great! You can start today, take these papers with you and follow me” she handed me the stack of papers and got out from behind her desk.

Mrs. Willis was a middle aged woman with stiff platinum blonde hair, she dressed for her position and was quite short and stubby. She looks like she’s worked here her whole life. We walked to the right just around the corner from her office. Around the corner was a side office next to what I’m guessing is the CEO’s office. No windows on the side and one single door with a small fogged glass window on it that you couldn’t see through.

“There’s a coffee station on the other side where you’ll make Mr. Ekker and yourself coffee.” I looked at my office, it was very roomy with a wide desk and apple laptop in the middle of the desk. “You may decorate your office lightly to feel more homey but don’t get carried away and remember not to bring any distractions.” I nodded in response to the rules.

The door to the CEO’s office opens and Ismael walks out. He wears an all black suite with his hair sleeked back. He takes his hand out of his pocket and waves a little at me “Adalina, hope you’re finding everything well, you are being taught by the best.” He motions to Mrs. Willis. She smiles brightly at his comment.

“Yes I am and Mrs. Willis is doing an excellent job teaching me.”

“Good! Mrs. Willis will you go grab me my brunch? It’s the cafe on the main floor.”

“Yes sir. I’ll be back Adalina you’ve got just a few more things to learn.” Mrs. Willis walked to the elevator leaving me alone with Ismael.

“Let me show you around my office.” I nod and follow him into his office. A very big room with an entire wall of just windows, the room was bright with natural light. A huge desk in the middle of the room stacked with papers.

“Wow your office is huge” I commented looking around.

“Yeah too big for just one person, and too many papers for just me to work through. Your job is to essentially organize, schedule, and run errands. Also time to time taking notes during meetings for me.”

“Oh okay so just stay by your side 24/7?” I chuckled.

“Of course, now go get your email set up on your computer”