The Dawn

Chapter 4

Ria's PoV

I couldn't decide what I should do. I couldn't even think coherently as the noises continued to come from my room. My first thought was to bolt from the apartment. As I was preparing to make a run for it, the door swung open and a sleepy V with bed hair walked out, yawning.

I closed my eyes and slumped back on the couch, hand on ny heart. I rested my head against the back of the couch.

"Hey, what's the matter? Did I scare you?" She asked as she sat next to me. I nodded slightly.

"Gosh I'm so sorry. I didn't hear you come in or else I would've come out immediately. I'm really sorry. You okay?" She apologized hurriedly.

After I normalised myself from the momentary heart attack she gave me, I lifted my head and straightened to face her.

"I'm fine. Nothing to worry about." I smiled. She gets all panicky if something like this happens. She knows all about my past and she has been one strong participant in giving me this new life.

"So tell me. How was your first day? Is the boss hot?" She wiggled her eyebrows.

"You remember the brunette who I yelled at at your bakery?" I asked.

"Yeah," she frowned in confusion. "But why mention him now?"

"Because he's my boss." I told her. She looked at me in utter shock and disbelief.

"No way! How'd this happen?"

"He's Devon's friend and chairman of J.C. That's how it happened."

"Oh J.C," she slapped her head, "That's the name I couldn't remember. So, didn't he fire you? I mean, you did insult him."

"No he didn't. He challenged me instead that I would resign in 14 days myself. He doesn't want to disappoint Devon and that's exactly what I don't want to do either. So I challenged him that he won't be able to succeed." I filled her in. "And that's why he made me do 12 chores on my first day of work."

"That-" she began to yell but I cut her off.

"Don't swear. Please."

"That- that, i***t!" She screamed instead. I laughed and slumped back, rubbing my feet. I had flung those black heels off the moment I'd stepped into the apartment. My feet were all red and aching like crazy.

"Well I was going to order chinese. You up for some? I'm here tonight." She offered, picking up the phone. I nodded and laid straight on the couch, lightly stretching.

"Yeah. That'd be great." I mumbled sleepily, already drifting in and out of sleep.

The next day was even more hectic than the previous one. As soon as I walked in, a pile of paperwork sat on my desk waiting. It was one of those piles you see in the cartoons, papers reaching the ceiling. I groaned and dropped my bag on the chair. As I was observing the papers without daring to touch them, the door opened and Andrew walked in, looking as fresh as ever.

Of course he'd be fresh after making me work like a dog.

"Good morning sir." I greeted.

"Yeah. I want a latte without sugar. Now. And these," he pointed towards the huge pile on my desk, "go through them. These are the records of our previous projects in collaboration with other companies. Give me the ones with complete and minute details and those without any errors. And make it quick."

He turned to leave as I just stood there staring at him with my mouth open. He just waltzed into my office, threw orders and was now walking out?

As if he heard me, he stopped in the doorway and turned back to look at me.

"Oh and next time, report to my office first. I don't want to come here and remind you that you have to work." He finished before walking out.

I internally cursed Devon for getting me stuck in this stupid situation. I quickly dashed to make his stupid latte without stupid sugar and once I was done, I took the stupid mug to his room. I left the tray with the mugs onto his desk and left the room. He wasn't in it. Guess he went to the bathroom or something.

After that, I got to work in studying all the files and records. I had to zero out those files that showed project completions with none to minimum errors. 3 hours passed by and I had only 4 files separated. This company had to endure a lot of problems in each project.

Sometimes a strike, sometimes cancellations, sometimes government regulations, sometimes strikes.

My neck was beginning to ache. This really was a pain. I stretched and dumped half of the pile in the box that I had fixed. Outside, the weather was beginning to change.

What was once a warm, sunny day had become extremely cloudy with the sound of thunder rumbling every now and then. The sky had also become dark and grey.

The bell blared again, indicating Andrew wanted me. I pushed out and walked to his room.

"Yes?" I asked, trying to keep the irritation out of my voice.

"How many files have you got yet?" He asked, without looking up from his laptop.

"Four, sir. They are so many and J.C has had many problems in most of them." I explained. My back was beginning to hurt too now.

"Whatever. Just finish this work quickly. Have you prepared whatever is necessary for next week's meeting?"

I grumbled under my breath because he would quickly move from one task to another without giving me even a moments' pause.

"Yes. Yes I did. Meeting room no. 5 is all prepared and I have done personal researches on Global Constructions' owner and his son." Next week was the meeting where Andrew would obtain a contract with the company for a new hotel construction in Malaysia. This meeting was very important for us because many other companies were trying their best to obtain a contract with Global Constructions for spring constructions.

"Good. You may go back to work." He went back to whatever he was doing. I huffed and headed back to my office and plopped down on my seat. Seriously, this guy loves to overwork me.

After I was done sorting everything out for the meeting, I got up to put my empty coffee mug into the sink. I looked around on the table and my desk but I couldn't see it. Where did I put it? My quest to finding my mug was suddenly cut short when my phone rang. I checked the caller ID and a smile made it's way to my face.

"Hey. How come you're calling me now? No patients?" I asked.

"Haha yes there are patients. I'm just calling to check up on you. How's work?" Andrea's voice said through the phone.

I sighed. "Tiring. But it's ok I guess. I am having fun though."

"Tiring? Andrew isn't overworking you is he? Want me to ask Devon to talk to him?"

"No! No. It's fine. Working hard is just part of any job. No need to bother Devon I'm okay." I assured her.

"Well.... okay then...," she replied uncertainly, "I was just calling to ask you if you wanted to have dinner over at ours' tonight. I invited V too."

I smiled. "Are you making steaks?"

"Yup. And mashed potatoes."

"Deal. I'll be there by 9. That's when I get off." I told her. After a bit more chatting wherein I asked her about Hailey, I hung up.

Some voices from Andrew's office attracted my attention. I stood at my office door and peered into his through the glass window. The shade was rolled up so I could tell he had a visitor. I squinted hard to make out exactly who.

Parker.

That's odd. Wasn't he here yesterday? And this morning too?

I peered at my watch. 7:30 pm.

This was really odd because I remembered seeing him here at 12 noon today too. I shrugged.

Maybe they are closer than I thought.

I walked back into my office when the bell buzzed, indicating Andrew needed me in his office. I knocked and entered.

"Two coffees please. And try to make them less sweet. I think I almost developed diabetes from last time." He said. I rolled my eyes and made a face at him. I greeted Parker who just nodded his head shyly in return.

"Here take this." He shoved the tray with the mugs I had left in his room this morning. Mugs!

I had accidentally carried my mug with his in the tray. I mentally facepalmed myself and picked it up.

"Don't be so sloppy next time." Andrew threw a jibe at me. I sighed, counting to ten mentally so I wouldn't hit him with the tray. "And roll down the shades on your way back."

I did as told and left.

I walked back to my room and brewed 3 cups of coffee. One for Parker, one for my dum boss and one for myself because at this point I was losing my composure. As soon as I was done mixing the coffees, I lifted the tray with the coffees to be delivered and placed mine down on my desk. I didn't want any dirt to fall in it from the ceiling so I covered the top of the mug with a bundle of white papers. If there was a mug there or not, you couldn't tell.

I was about to walk out when my phone rang. I grabbed it off the table and Devon's name flashed on the front screen.

I put the tray back down and picked the call.

"Yeah?" I said. Outside, the thunder rumbled, and heavy noise of water pouring over the building made it difficult to receive signals.

I walked out of my room and down the hallway, near the balcony on the other end. I pushed the door slightly open.

"Hello? Ria can you hear me?" Devon almost yelled over the phone.

"Yeah yeah I hear you. What's up?" I yelled back.

"It's a really bad weather outside tonight. I'll pick you up but I guess I'll be a little late. Don't take the bus. I'll be there by 9:30 at most."

"Okay. I'll wait so be fast okay?" I replied. The wind from the open door wiped my hair over my eyes, blinding me.

"Damn." I mumbled, jolting backwards and desperately clawing at my face. I pulled the phone away from my ear and shoved it in my pant pocket. After I was done fighting my hair and locking the balcony door, I turned to drop the coffees to Andrew before he accused me of slacking off again.

When I raced back, I noticed I had placed my mug in the tray instead of Andrew's and covered his with the bundle. I facepalmed myself and quickly switched the mugs back. Then I hurriedly delivered the coffees.

He and Parker seemed to be in the middle of some serious discussion, because when I walked in I could literally feel the tension hanging low in the air. Not to probe, or be a source of disturbance for anyone, I quickly placed the mugs down on his desk and practically flew out of the office.

I closed the door behind me, wondering what could be happening in there. Parker seemed like the type of guy who wouldn't argue anyone. The type who was too shy to even demand what he wanted.

I huffed as I grabbed my mug off the desk and took sip. I remembered something about Andrew telling him yesterday about knowing how Parker's dad would get and not being able to give up the contract if he succeeded.

Maybe Parker's dad is also trying to get that contract but Andrew seems as a hefty competition.

I smirked. The FBI should hire me. I'm a genius! I chugged down the entire beverage and then dropped the mug into the sink. I was in no mood to wash it because I still had to prepare that final reputation report. I quickly got back to work, knowing I would get some of Andrea's delicious steak when I get off work. Outside, thunder continued to rumble, almost making the windows rattle.

I shuddered slightly and quickly began typing.

But after about half an hour, my eyelids began to get heavy. I shrugged it off as a sign of being overworked and continued typing down.

Only 2 more pages to go. You can do it Ria.

I somehow managed to drag my finger, on whom my brain seemed to be losing control, across the keyboard. When I typed in the last word and slammed enter, I felt really light.

Not as in work relieved light, but really light headed. It was as if my head didn't want to stay on my shoulders anymore. I pushed my chair back and stood up with the support of my desk.

My vision was becoming teary and blurry. Suddenly, the sound of the rain and thunder seemed so far away. It was if I was floating in air. I attempted to walk towards the door, open it and call for help.

But as soon as I took one step forward, my heel slipped sideways and I fell face first on the ground.

The last thing I remember before blacking out, is the lightening illuminating my office window. Then I allowed the darkness to swallow me up, not fighting it anymore.