The Bossy Intruder (English)

Chapter 12 - Not Too Much Make Up

Micah didn't say anything and just kept a straight face at the elevator door. Alondra couldn’t read any expression from his face, but most likely he was thinking of what to do with her. Will he kick her out of her job? She’s so unfortunate. Her house was burned down and now it looked like she’s going to lose her job as well. Where in the nine hells would she even go?

"Miss Enriquez!"

"Yes, Sir?"

She was shocked to see him standing outside the open elevator door. "We’re here. Continue with your daydreaming later."

Daydream? She didn’t notice that they were already on Zest Ads’ floor. She was thinking of how to keep her job, and yet he looked at her as if she was thinking about him.

She kept her lips tightly closed. She couldn’t answer him back or she might really piss him off this time. She stepped out of the elevator and walked toward him. "Sir, can I use the comfort room for a while? It’s just that..."

"Okay. I’ll give you 10 minutes to do your stuff. You should be thankful I saw the traffic news on TV. I won’t be so forgiving next time."

"Thank you, Sir!"

Alondra ran to the restroom and changed into her shoes instantly. Her flip-flops had already been too eye-catching. She then fixed her hair and retouched her makeup.

When she looked presentable enough, she ran back to the office.

She was astounded to see Micah still standing in the hallway as if he’d been waiting for her. "Sir, you’re still here?"

He glanced at his watch. "Good. You’re thirty seconds early. I thought you were going to be late again. Let’s go." He held onto her arm and led her to the office.

They were greeted by a shower of confetti. "Welcome back, Sir Micah!"

His staff had prepared for his arrival. They even sang a birthday song for him as a belated celebration of his birthday.

"Thank you." He said with a faint smile.

She slipped behind him when some of the staff shook his hand and asked to take pictures with him. Good thing he was busy. The tension she was feeling subsided a little. It’s scary having Micah as a boss. She was afraid to make another mistake. Or maybe she was the only one thinking like that because she’d already made a lot of mistakes.

Tracy went to her after she put down the tray. "You and Micah arrived together."

She bit her lips and inhaled deeply.

"We happened to be in the elevator at the same time. I’m really, really nervous."

"I am too. Just strengthen your resolve."

"I’ll prepare his coffee and breakfast myself." They said that Micah was used to having his breakfast and coffee at the office.

"Tracy, meeting with the department heads in an hour. I need a full report on the last year." He ordered in a formal tone.

"Yes, Boss," Tracy answered, then sent the message through the company messenger.

Alondra kept her head down while preparing a cup of his Arabic coffee.

"Miss Enriquez," he called. "To my office. Now."

Before she even had a chance to answer, he turned his back to her and went inside his office. Anxiety crept through her skin. Is this the moment when he would tell her he didn’t want to work with her anymore? She felt jealous of her officemates who were enjoying the cake while happily chatting with each other. They seemed like they were on their early coffee break. Meanwhile, she could be ordered to pack her things anytime by Micah.

"Alondra, let’s eat." Mac, a staff member from the creative department, invited her.

"Go ahead. Enjoy yourselves. I have to work first."

She held her head high as she went inside Micah’s office with his breakfast, despite feeling her confidence slowly crumbling. Even if she lost her job, she wouldn’t let herself look pitiful in front of him.

Micah’s forehead was furrowed while looking at his laptop when she came in. The balloon and cake given to him were on the side, but he didn’t even take notice of them.

"Sir, here’s your breakfast and coffee."

"Okay. Eat it now."

"Sir? Why me?"

Did he doubt the food she made? It’s not like she would poison him or put a potion in his food. Or was he too paranoid about her intentions?

"Have you had your breakfast?" he asked her while shifting his gaze from his computer.

She shook her head. "No, Sir. I haven’t."

"As expected. It’s obvious because you look weak and out of your wits. Eat because I don’t want my employees skipping breakfast. I don’t like them underperforming. I compensate them properly, so I expect them to eat properly. I don’t want my employees neglecting their health so they won’t get sick. Health is wealth."

Ouch! That hit her right on the mark. He sounded bossy and irritating, but his words were laced with concern. She realized he was not as bad as she thought he would be.

"T-thank you, Sir," she whispered, then took a bite of the croissant.

He walked to the mini-fridge and took out a tetra pack of milk. Then he placed it in front of her.

"You should drink milk. You need more energy. I’m a very demanding boss. I require one hundred percent performance from my employees. And if you do your job right, you will be well compensated."

She found it hard to swallow the croissant while he was looking intently at her. She just nodded in response. If he was going to fire her later, she would need strength.

He stood, but his eyes still didn’t leave her. She felt like she could be sentenced to death any minute.

"Why didn’t you go home last night?" he suddenly asked.

"Go home where, Sir?"

"My condo."

Alondra’s jaw dropped at his question. Why would she even go back to his condo? She was just staying there for a while, and she wasn’t thick-faced enough to return when she knew she wasn’t welcome.

"I have found a place to stay," she said instead.

"Just like that? You didn’t even bother to inform me?" he said irritably, crossing his arms.

"I left you a note." She even cooked breakfast for him.

"You asked to live in my condo, then you just suddenly decided to move out without even personally telling me? You left while I was asleep."

That was the best thing she could do. She didn’t want to wait for Micah to wake up and throw her out of his house himself. She had her dignity too.

"I was afraid you would get angry, Sir. I also felt ashamed of the ruckus I caused in your condo. Just tell me what I need to do to pay you back for the trouble and for being late earlier too."

"Let’s discuss that some other time. If Tracy hasn’t informed you yet, I want you to note these." She took out her stenographer’s pad and got ready to write.

"I want my tea whenever I come here. I also like having breakfast here." He looked at her from head to toe. "And I don’t like women wearing too much makeup."

She finished her meal as fast as she could and drank her milk. He had been scrutinizing her too much. Her makeup wasn’t even that thick. Ah! Maybe he was talking about her officemates who made an effort to look their best.

"I will inform them too, Sir," she said.

"Who’s ‘them’?"

"My officemates."

"Doesn’t matter. I need you to look your best. You are my secretary. In a way, you represent me. Tracy gave you good feedback, but I will still have to see your performance myself. And I will be very, very strict."

"Yes, Sir," she answered formally. She was preparing herself to accept the fact that he really was her boss.

"If you have nothing else to say, I will go back to the office now. Thank you for the breakfast."

"I’m just returning the favor. You cooked breakfast for me the other day. It was good." His eyes seemed to twinkle. "Thank you."

She blinked. Are her eyes playing with her? His eyes smiled at her.