A Night With My Boss

chapter3

Mary booked an appointment at the company’s hospital since there’s always a discount for staff. She met Doctor Matthew, a kind and reserved doctor who happened to be William’s family doctor and family friend.

After the payment, Lilian was admitted in for preparation. Mary sat close to her at the hospital bed, clutching her hands.

“At least for now, Lilian still has a chance,” she muttered.

Lilian's surgery was successful. The check-up showed Lilian's heart was now functioning well.

Mary felt hope.

When Lilian asked her where the money came from, Mary smiled softly and lied.

“An old colleague helped me… someone kind enough to lend me the money.”

Lilian squeezed her hand weakly whispering, "Thank you for everything."

Mary felt bad. She tried to smile but it was hard. Her chest felt tight because she felt guilty.

She could never tell Lilian the truth.

The month ended. Mike followed mama Amelia, her grandmother, for her check-up at their family hospital. As they were walking through the corridor with Doctor Matthew, he saw Mary and Lilian in the ward.

Something shifted in his heart.

He hadn’t expected to see her there.

He turned to Matthew. Who's that young lady?

“Oh, that’s Mary,” Matthew replied. “A very nice and calm young lady.” She has been here for weeks for her sister’s surgery. We are discharging her very soon.

Something caught his attention instantly….not grief, not pity but Mary and Lilian’s helplessness.

“ Has any family member come to check on them? He asked.

“No,” Doctor Matthew replied. “Just them.”

Mike felt something immediately. “ Thank you, he said.

Mike left quickly.

Lilian was discharged. Mary was preparing to head home when her phone suddenly rang.

The screen displayed a number she did not recognize.

Mary almost ignored it, but something in her pushed her to answer.

“Hello,” she said, her voice hoarse.

“Good afternoon,” a woman said politely. “ Is this Miss David Mary?

“Yes.”

“This is Diamondpeak Group HR. Your application letter was sent to us, and we would like you to come for an interview.”

Mary stopped walking for a moment. She thought sadness was playing tricks on her ears.

“Interview?” she repeated.

“Yes,” the HR office confirmed. “When would you be available?”

Mary’s mouth opened slightly. Her fingers trembled around the phone. She had only taken the cleaner job because she was desperate… because she needed to keep her sister alive, because she was waiting for something better.

Mary swallowed hard. “ I’m available anytime, she said.

“Alright,” the woman replied. “I’ll send the details to your email address. Please check and confirm.”

“Okay,” Mary whispered. “Thank you.”

After the phone call, she glanced at the screen for a while. Maybe the world is giving her another opportunity to start a new life.

The following day, Mary woke up very early, took her bath and dressed up like she was going to collect what was rightfully hers.

She wore well-tailored black trousers and a white fitted top that made her look sharp. Her hair was neatly packed in a bun. She looked professional, beautiful and smart. She put on a powder enhancing her natural beauty, and a lip gloss, enough to make her look fresh.

She fell in love with herself when she glanced at the mirror before her. She didn’t see a maid. She saw a woman going to strive for a better future, the hair, the outfit, the little make-up. It was all part of the woman she was craving.

“Today,” she whispered to herself, I’ll start again.

The Diamond-peak group looked different when you entered through the front.

The first time Mary entered here, she had been transferred to clean. She entered through the staff entrance with head down, uniform on.

Today she walked into the main lobby.

The air smelled like perfume and fancy furniture cleaner.

The floors were filled with people rushing around. They looked like they had places to go and a future all planned out.

Mary kept her shoulders straight and followed the direction the head of department had sent.

When she got to the office, the HR officer smiled warmly.

“Congratulations, Miss Mary,” the woman said.

You are selected. “You start immediately.”

Mary almost didn’t believe it. Her breath caught.

“ Thank you, she said quickly. “ Thank you so much.

The woman nodded. “ Work hard, and you’ll do well here.

Mary nodded too, her eyes stinging slightly. “ I will. I promise.”

She meant every word in her mind.

After an hour, she was directed to the training room with other new employees. She sat calmly, paying attention to the teaching and writing down points. She really wants to prove herself worthy of that position.

As she packed her notebook a voice called out from behind her.

“Mary?”

She turned around. She saw a man standing there. He looked shocked and surprised to see Mary . He was dark, tall. He looked clean and friendly.

He gave a harmless smile.

“Henry Albert,” he said, laughing softly. “ You don’t remember me?

Mary blinked, then it hit her.

“Henry?” She said slowly. “Henry from school?”

“Yes!” he said, genuinely excited. So it’s you. “ I’m shocked.

Mary managed a small smile. It's been a long time.

Henry pulled a chair beside her without asking. “You got in? Nice. Welcome. I can take you around the company, if you don’t mind.”

Mary hesitated, but his friendliness felt safe.

“Thank you,” she said.

Henry moved closer to her, speaking in a very low tone.

“Just know one thing… The CEO rarely attends training. He’s always moving around, but new employees must attend. No excuse.”

Mary nodded. “ Okay.

Then someone behind them spoke, whispering to another person, and the name entered the air casually.

“Boss Mike.”

Mary’s pen paused. Her heart paused too.

She slowly turned to Henry. “ Did you say… Boss Mike?

Henry nodded. “ Yes. Williams, Mike. That’s the CEO.”

For a second, Mary felt like the room tilted.

The surrounding sounds became distant. Like someone had covered her ears with cotton.

Mike Willams.

Her mind dragged her back. The offer.

Her mouth went dry.

She swallowed hard and whispered to herself so quietly… “ I’ll be in the same space with the man I slept with as my boss.

A cold fear moved through her chest like water.

“Did he bring me here to destroy me completely?”

The training session hadn’t even finished, and the office started smelling blood.

People noticed her. Too much.

They stare at her like she’s different.

Later that day, Mary waited in her department corridor, as her head of department asked her to wait for her weekly assignment. She saw three ladies listening loudly for her to hear their conversation.

“That’s her,” one said. “That cleaner girl.” I heard she used to be a cleaner at Willam’s mansion.

And now she’s suddenly an employee?

How? The other replied. “ Please, we know how.

“Some people are so tricky and know how to have their way.”

Mary’s jaw dropped, but she didn’t wait to reply.

Then it got worse.

A woman stepped forward and blocked her path. She was slim, sharp faced, wearing a fitted corporate dress like she was born inside an office.

Her lipstick was bold, and her eyes were the kind that enjoyed humiliation.

Mary later learned her name.

“Margaret Brandy.”

Behind were two other women, who looked eager like they had been waiting for drama.

Margaret looked at Mary from her head down to her toe. “So it’s true,” she said. “ They really brought you inside.”

Mary tried to stay calm. “Excuse me, please. I have to go”.

Margaret laughed. “You? You have to do what? You are a cleaner. The cleaning room is where you belong.”

Mary's fingers tightened around her file. “I'm an employee.”

Margaret scoffed. “ Do you even have the qualifications to be here? Or do you think sleeping your way into places is work?

The other women giggled.

Mary’s throat tightened, her chest rose and fell once slowly.“ I’m qualified, and you don’t know anything about me,” her voice steadily.

Margaret stepped closer. “We know enough.”

Poor girls like you always come up with a plan.

You came to seduce the CEO.

Mary’s heart thudded hard, she wanted to deny it loudly. She wanted to defend herself, to scream that she wasn’t proud of anything that happened. But something inside her refused to beg.

With a low voice. “Excuse please me.”

“Or what?” Margerete said furiously.

A shadow fell across them.

Silence dropped suddenly.

Mary turned.

Mike Willams had walked into the hallway.

He was wearing a well-ironed suit, well-polished shoes, and a nice hair cut. His face was cool but not friendly.

People moved aside instinctively.

“Mr. Mike. Margaret began sweetly.

“Good morning sir,”

Mike didn’t even look at her properly.

He looked at Mary first… just once.

Then his voice came, low and cold.

“If you are done… get out of the hallway.

Everything froze.

“Sir”

“Did you not hear me?” Mike's eyes hardened.

Margaret blinked. “We are leaving, sir.”

Margaret opened her mouth but nothing came out. The other women stepped back quickly as they suddenly remembered they had work to do.

They scattered.

Mary stood still confused, almost dizzy.

“Mike Williams” Mary remained where she was, her heart beating too fast. Mike's gaze flicked at her again quickly and unreadable, then he walked away as if nothing had happened. Mary stared after him. “Why did he defend me?” She said to herself.

Mary was trying to embrace her new life in her assigned seat when a man walked up to her.

He looked like an upper-class staff member in his expensive suit.

“New staff?” he asked.

“Yes,” Mary replied. Politely.

“I’m Julius”…the CEO’s executive assistant.

Mary's stomach tightened immediately.

Julius continued as he was announcing a rule on the first day… “ You must add the CEO on what’s app.”

Mary blinked. “Sorry?”

Julius smiled, but he wasn’t friendly. “It’s a rule.”

Slowly she flipped through her jotter as if she was checking for something. She looked up and said calmly, “It’s not written here.”

Julius’s smile tightened.

“Are you challenging me?”

Mary blinked her eyes. “No. I’m only saying what’s written.”

Before Julius could respond, a voice came from behind.

“Carry on.”

Mary turned.

Mike was standing there.

Hands in his pocket, face unreadable, Julius stiffened. “Boss,” I was just…

Mike’s face cut through him. “ If it's not in the handbook, don't invent it.

Julius swallowed. Yes, sir,

Mike looked at Mary. “Do your work.”

Then he walked away.

“He protected me again?” She muttered.

Mary sat slowly, her heart pounding.

It wasn’t just protection, it was like warning people not to touch her. That was good but terrifying.

It started raining, immediately after closing time.

It was a little rainy at first, then the rain started coming down really hard.

Mary ran under a shade holding her folders close to her chest. Trying to protect her folders from getting wet. Because she was already cold and wet.

The last bus left earlier, and she was waiting for the rain to stop.

Then a car stopped.

A dark, expensive SUV.

The window rolled down.

“Get in.”

Mary froze.

“Sir…?”

“In this weather, you want to wait outside?”

“I can manage…” said Mary, hesitatingly. Her pride told her to refuse, but her body told her she was already cold.

“I said Get in.” Eyes hardened.

An older driver with a stiff posture stepped out quickly and opened the back door.