The Billionaire’s Stripper

CHAPTER 18

That fucker, Mr Sanchez had asked to see me today, and the only thing that I wanted to do was stick pens in my eyes.

All I wondered was what on earth the man wanted. I mean, I knew what he wanted, because he had made it quite clear to me that he wanted me to be his little puppet. I only wondered what was so urgent that he wanted to see me again.

So much for trying to keep a secret.

I hated the fact that I had to go behind Michae's back to do all of this, and just the very moment when I felt like my life was all roses and sunshine, Mr Sanchez had to waltz back and remind me of the very reason I could not be comfortable just yet.

All through Monica's ride to work, I felt so uncomfortable. I was thankful either way to Monica because she had helped me so much during the short course of this whole thing. Barely, had I known her but she seemed so free and cool, nice too, and after going back home to change up and prepare for work, she still insisted that she would help drive to Work.

A little part of me envied her in the slightest. But, I could pin it down exactly why, but it had something to do with the fact that she could easily have it all: Money and luxury, all by being herself. She was not the smartest person I knew, and with jeyblack hair that glossed and hazel eyes that glinted, she was very beautiful, but not the prettiest either. Yet, she seemed to have it all. And was a good person by heart too.

A part of me wished that I could be like that too. All through my life, it almost seemed like I had to try so damn hard to get what I want, and people like Monica didn't have to look too good, be too smart, or act like a totally different person and here they were, reaping luxury and roaches like it was growing off trees.

"Bye, Bestie!" Quinn excitedly waved at me as I took a step down from Monica's car just as she blew me an excited kiss and I reciprocated the girls 'energy just before stepping out and into Ciel.

It was my second day here.

I mean, considering the fact that already, inha charmed the COO, became a puppet to the Head of HR, and went on a dinner date with Michael McAllister, anyone would not have thought that I had that experience all in a day.

Well, life sure did know how to surprise people in ways that they least expected.

I dressed cordially for the day and gave it my best, just as I did the say before. My theme remained the same; subtle. I did not even disappoint today either. I decided that it would have been nice to come in with a theme of red, and I made sure to kill that.

Quinn was the one who had ensured that I dressed to kill for Ciel. And no, it had nothing to do with her picking outfits up for it. I had a better fashion sense than she did and if that happened, it would have been a horrible disaster. All she did was sponsor everything.

Of course, I did not like the fact that my best friend was throwing away so much money on me, but no matter how much I complained, she did not seem to want to take a hint. It seemed to me that she had been earning quite a lot from Highway as an escort and I was happy for her. Some times during the day, she treated us to fancy restaurants and sweet spas and yes, I loved it, even if I felt it was a bit much, but she did not mind throwing away all her money on me. Or the kinds of work clothes that I wanted to wear.

The two piece women's suit was something that caught my eyes off Pinterest, and Quinn took it a bit more seriously and had it arrive at my doorway a day after. I decided that was the perfect look for the day. With the hard red blazer flowing behind me, the matching trousers that brought out the contours of my body, and the white turtleneck pretty top I wore along with it, I believed I looked super.

My first day had its mission to impress and tease a little, so, that little cleavage I let show in my top was the perfect game. Today, I was covered up more, but I let the heat of my appearance show in my makeup. I decided to let my blonde hair up in a ponytail and my lipstick was red like blood and practically slapped anyone who looked at me in the face, and that was the plan for my second day at Work in Ciel.

Of course, it never hurts to pull some attention to yourself how you appear.

So, I was glad when I had the desired reaction from Workmates as eyes glanced from here and there at me, and I took notes of all those subtle looks of impression that aimed at me. Of course, I did not forget to let my boss lady demeanour show, so I made sure to not forget my stance and feigned that aura that these people in Ciel LOVED to see.

I was getting the reaction I wanted.

Perfect.

I noticed that there was something else that was getting the attention of everyone around me. I felt it so. From the moment that I had walked in there, into that big, no mighty work hall that had all my colleagues already seated earlier than me there, I noticed that there was a bit of conspiracy whispering going on.

For a moment, I thought it was me.

I mean, anyone would have.

Imagine walking into a full room and not only are people glancing at you, but they seemed to also be communicating in some sort of conspiracy amongst themselves.

Quietly, almost awkwardly, I waved to people around me — who waved back— as I walked to the seat that I had picked up for myself the day before.

It was somewhere in the middle. The only spare seat that was available in the only room. When Richard had brought me I'm here yesterday and led me straight to it, it almost looked to me like something was off about it. That seat looked way too prepared. Like they wanted it specifically for me.

I shrugged off the weird feeling and decided to stay there.

However, I noticed that the women who sat by my left and right had this off behavior around them. A bit snobby, if I was being honest, but I could not bring myself to care less. I remembered them clearly when I arrived yesterday.

"Hi," I had said to the two women, "I'm Rachel. Nice to meet you; I guess we are colleagues now. Right? Hehe."

They had completely ignored me.

This was not a 'I am too busy to talk right now' kind of ignoring, it was a 'stop talking to me and get lost' sort of ignorance.

And yes, they heard me. I specifically saw one of them, the blonde one just like me, look me dead in the eyes and look away. Her friend, the one with dark brown hair, did not even move one muscle.

It became clear to me that these women did not like me.

No, they did not just 'not care about me'; it was certain they loathed me, for one reason I was yet to uncover.

It amused me really to think that just on my first day, two women I had never spoken to from anywhere already had ill feelings towards me.

With a shrug, I decided not to pay them any mind. After all, I did not come to work because of them after all, so if they wanted to not talk to me, that was not my problem really.

So, yesterday, I had ignored them like they did not exist and commenced work.

But unlike yesterday, the work room was a bit noisy and here and there, there were bubbles of gossip and whispers flying around. I wanted to ask what the problem was, but 'Betty' and 'Veronica' who sat by my left and right could, for no apparent reason, not stand my guts.

So, I turned around to my back to speak to the woman with red hair and thick rimmed glasses, "Hey."

She looked up to me, shocked and surprised that I was talking to her and with one blink and an 'ahem' to clear her throat, she put herself together and looked up at me in question.

"Hello, Rachel," She said.

I wanted to back up and ask how she knew my name….

But, I dismissed it.

"What's happening today?" I asked the strange unnamed woman, "Why is everyone so buzzy?"

She looked at me like I was from another planet entirely.

"Oh, you haven't heard?" She asked me.

Huh? Heard what?

"Alexander McAllister is coming to work here in Ciel with us," She said to me.

I backed the f**k up.

"Sorry?" I c****d my head to the side like that was going to help me hear her better, "Alexander McAllister? The other son of Lyon McAllister? Second son of the CEO of this company?!"

The red haired woman in glasses nodded aggressively, confirming for me.

"It's shocking," She said, "No one seems to understand why Mr Lyon McAllister would want his son to work with us. It doesn't make sense."

"How authentic is this news?" I asked her.

"Considering this is not a workplace where baseless rumours fly around everyday…. It's most likely not cap." She said to me.

I couldn't bring myself to understand it.

Why would Lyon McAllister ask his other son, Michael McAllister's brother, to come and work here in Ciel? That was weird.

I was about to turn back and ask this nice stranger colleague more questions, but I was taken aback to my bones when a sudden distraction came in, taking away my peace and the peace of the entire workroom as a whole.

"Rachel Kelly,"

That was my name.

And whoever it was that stepped into the workroom to cause commotion and disarray called, no announced it. Announced my name.

I stood up from my seat at a go, and looked to see him again. Richard. The same man from Yesterday. He was the one who had walked in, and he looked like he hadnews to deliver.

Everyone in the room must have thought so too.

And with their reactions, it started to make me believe that Richard Weller was not one to deliver the best of news.

So, I anticipated the worst.

And the man said to me;

"You are being summoned in the Head Office by Mr Lyon McAllister."