Cravings For Her

Coffee and Cinnamon

Zoe's POV

Louis gave me time to get 'accustomed' to my new office, which was situated beside his. It had a door that led directly into his office. I didn't think much of it until I stepped into my office. I cursed under my breath and rolled my eyes. The room had its walls painted a dark green and had a leather sofa. It had beige tiles and ugly jade curtains. I was pretty sure that any other person would insist it was not bad, but not me. My childhood memories consisted too much of my stepfather coming home and puking in the house or on the steps. The color was a sickening green shade that stuck with me. Now, even at the age of twenty-six, green reminded me of vomit. If I concentrated enough on it, I could smell it, and I had stupidly told Louis this.

And to add to my list of problems was the fact that the office was not even tidy. The next few hours were hectic, to say the least, but it was nothing compared to what I was used to. The former assistant must have been a very disorganized person because nothing was in its place. I was sure that Louis left everything in that state to spite me. I took off my suit jacket, and without complaint or help, I deftly and promptly organized my workplace, the files, and some of the digital records. It all took me about two hours.

As I dabbed my face with my handkerchief, someone knocked on the door. I stood up at once, alert and ready. "Come in," I said. The door was opened tentatively by a middle-aged man. His eyes were embedded deep into his sockets, and black strands of hair clung to his otherwise bald head. His skin was the color of toffee. He was Mr. Michaelson, Louis' chief human resources officer (CHRO). He had been one of the three people who had interviewed me.

"Mr. Michaelson," I greeted with a practiced smile.

"Morning, and call me Jamie. You are one of us now." He cracked a smile; he was one of those people who looked perpetually pissed until they exposed their teeth. He was an amiable man who always seemed too soft for his position. Most people placed even lower than him were pompous and irritable.

"Okay then, Jamie, you can call me Zoey," I said, dusting my skirt off with my hands and reaching for his. He clasped it and shook it firmly.

"I see you are already settled in." His eyes took in the average-sized office with obvious approval. "Turner did a good job," he commented, referring to the custodian.

"I wish," but I did not let the statement leave my lips. "Yeah, he did," I lied.

"Well, Zoey, have a nice first day," he said as he opened the door and slipped out. The moment the door closed behind him, I walked to my chair and fell into it. Hopefully, Louis would be careless, and I could be done with this in record time.

I turned on the sleeping system when Louis rang the bell, signaling he needed my assistance. He was looking intently at his computer when I entered his office, with his fingers drumming the table being the only thing to give away his impatience.

"Sir?"

"Get me a cup of coffee," he asked.

I blinked at the request. "Coffee?"

He stopped drumming his fingers and looked away from his laptop to meet my eyes. His expression was unreadable. "You don't know what coffee is?"

"I know what—"

"Then why are you still here?"

"Sugar or—"

"I give you two minutes," he said with a tone of finality in his voice.

I walked out of his office and went straight to Ayaka. There were a few people with her, so I had to wait until she was done.

"What is it?" she asked with worry.

"Does he drink his coffee with sugar and cream?" I asked, a bit out of breath.

"I don't know. He never asked Nancy to make him coffee."

"s**t," I cursed. He was trying to push me to my limit on the first day.

"We have tea cups for staff."

"Do you have new ones too?"

"Yeah, we just got new ones last week Friday," she informed me. "Very pretty ones too."

So it was not just an intrusive thought on his part. He had planned it.

"I'll get them for you," I offered. The door of the elevator slid open; she had work to do.

"No, tell me where they are kept," I suggested instead.

After a few minutes, I opened the door of my boss's office and placed the tray on his table. "Here you go, sir."

He looked up at me and then at the platter that I had set in front of him. "Where is the cinnamon?"

"Here." I took out a little container and placed it on his tray. I watched to my delight as he clenched his jaw slightly in annoyance. If he could remember that I hated the color green, then I could as well remember he loved anything that contained cinnamon. But I did not celebrate for long.

"You are six minutes late," he informed me as he checked his watch. He had to be joking. Was he serious? Did he think I was superhuman? After the mess of an office he had left me with? I thought of a thousand curses to spit at him but thought better of it.

"I am sorry. I will be on time next time."

"That is alright." He glanced up at me, his eyes grazing lazily over me. My body tingled, and I clenched my hand into a fist. "You are to make me a cup of coffee at seven sharp, every day."

"Sir..." I started, but he did not let me finish.

"That will be your punishment for failing your task." He picked up a file from his table and handed it to me. "Deliver this to Mr. Michaelson."

I took the file from his hand and turned to leave when he spoke again.

"Miss Pierce, I want no other condiment in my coffee other than cinnamon," he said without looking up. "Understood?"

I was boiling beneath my skin, but I managed to keep a stable tone. "Understood," I affirmed, turning around so I could grit my teeth in irritation.

"Mr. Rodriguez."

"Call me Louis," he said. He just liked to order me around.

My head told me he had a wicked grin spreading across his chiseled face. I could have been vibrating with anger, but I reminded myself that it wouldn't be long before he would lose the privilege of smiling. That thought kept me sane enough until I stepped out of his office.