Chapter two
1057 Words
Ruben's POV
I do not drag people into my office without a reason.
I could feel heads in their heads when I told the execs to get out and sent the girl to remain. They had not been accustomed to that. Me? I barely did it.
Here she is standing squarely before my desk.
Mila Daan.
Her hands are clasped. Her shoulders are stiff. She resembles one who is going to c***k in case I speak too loudly.
"Sit," I say.
She hesitates a moment and sinks. Too fast.
I sit back in my chair and look at her face. She dodges my look. Her breathing’s all off.
"You fixed the report," I say. "How did you know it was wrong?"
Her voice is tiny. "I… I worked on the first draft. I remembered the numbers."
You remembered them all right, I say. That would have been a costly mistake on the part of the company.
She swallows. "I just… pay attention, sir."
I tap my finger on the desk. "Most people don't."
She finally looks up. Her eyes are wide and lost. "Am I in trouble?"
"No."
The expression on her face is rapidly intense. It kind of blows me out. What is her frequency of stickers?
Why not say anything earlier, I say?
Her cheeks turn pink. I did not think there was anyone to listen.
That response is even more painful than I expected.
I look at her more closely now. Her clothes are plain. Her posture is careful. She shrinks herself like she particularly knew at an early age that occupying space is dangerous.
"You're wrong," I say. "I listened."
Her lips part a bit. She nods, as though she does not know that she has heard me.
For a moment, the room is quiet.
I realise something odd.
Her soothing voice... It slows my mind. My chest pressure eases. I don’t wanna yell. I don’t feel tired.
Never before has this been the case.
"Who taught you?" I ask.
"No one," she replies. "I just… learned on my own."
"Your education?"
Quick, quick, I say it, community college. "I worked two jobs. I didn’t finish."
I nod once. "You’re precise. Careful. You don’t freak."
She lets out a small laugh. "I freak all the time. I just hide it."
That honesty surprises me.
I study her again. Her voice is sweet, yet her head is shrewd. She ain’t weak.
She is unnoticed.
"You did well today," I say.
Her eyes widened again. "Thanks, sir."
Something changes with the way she says it, as though it matters.
"Go back to your desk," I add. "I’ll call you if I need you."
She is too quick again and stoops a little. "Yeah, sir."
I see her walk off as she transfers.
I don’t get why.
An hour later, I called her back.
This time, she appears even more nervous.
"Yes?" she asks.
"I need an assistant," I say.
She blinks. "You… I already have three."
"I want you," I replied.
Her face goes pale. "M-me? For what?"
"For everything," I say. "Meetings. Reports. Calls. This week."
She grips the chair. Not sir-- not ready-- not yet.
"You are," I say calmly.
"But I mess up. I’m quiet. I don’t"
"I didn’t ask out loud," I cut in. "I asked if I was capable."
She was as though she were about to pass out.
"Why me?" she whispers.
I pause.
Why her?
"I trust you," I say at the end.
Her breath stutters. She looks down at her hands.
"I’ll try," she says. "But please don’t regret it."
I do not regret things very easily, I reply.
When she starts away again, I have a peculiar feeling.
Interest.
Curiosity.
Danger.
The door is open without knocking.
Victoria van Lorne enters as though she is the owner of the building.
She is paralysed at the sight of Mila still at my office.
Her eyes flick between us.
"Mila, wasn’t it?" Victoria asks sweetly.
"Yes," Mila replies softly.
Victoria is smiling, but it is not showing on her face. "You’re new, aren’t you? You gotta be lucky to be here."
Mila shifts. "I’m just doing my job."
"Are you?" Victoria asks. Due to the reason that this floor is generally a place for people who are important.
Mila’s shoulders slump.
"That’s enough," I say coldly.
Victoria turns to me, shocked. "Ruben?"
Being here because I want her here.
Victoria smiles tightly. I did not know that assistants are now privatised.
Today, she is not an assistant, I say. "She’s my assistant."
Mila’s head snaps up.
Victoria looks at me as though she has not met me.
You are venturing, she says to herself.
I determine where the lines are, I say.
Victoria comes closer to Mila. "Be careful, girl. Certain areas are hazardous to individuals such as you.
Mila opens her mouth, but I talk first.
"She answers to me," I say. If you are having an issue, come and talk to me.
Victoria’s eyes flash.
She pulls herself straight and smiles once more. "Of course. I am only concerned about the company.
Then fret at other places, I say.
She walks away and does not say anything.
Mila stands frozen.
"Are you okay?" I ask.
She nods slowly. "Yes… Thanks."
But I can see it.
She now knows.
She steps into something big.
I am sitting in my office window at night, and I see Mila walking out of the building. She is hastening with her coat clinging.
There is something that makes me continue watching.
A man comes her way down the street.
She stops.
They talk.
I hear not the words, I see her change her face. Shock. Then warmth.
She smiles.
My jaw tightens.
Who is he?
They walk for some time mutually, then pause. The man’s phone buzzes.
He looks at the screen.
His face hardens.
I don’t like that look.
He glances around before slipping the phone back into his pocket.
Mila hugs him goodbye and walks away.
He stays behind.
Watching the Titan Corp building.
Watching me.
I step back from the glass.
Something is moving.
Something has started.
And Mila Daan is at the centre of it.
Across the street, Luca van der Zee reads the message again on his phone:
“Target identified. Titan Corp infiltration begins.”
- Writer
