The Desire

Chapter 2 (the present 2012)

Rrrrrrriiiinnnngggg…… Rrrrrrriiiinnnngggg…… Rrrrrrriiiinnnngggg

"I'm coming!!!"

Who the heck is wringing my door at one in the morning? I wrapped myself in my robe, clinching my eyes due of sleepiness. I went to the door looking on the screen showing me Anna, my assistant, standing outside the entrance of the building where my apartment was. I press the door key so she can enter.

I looked on my clock at the wall and saw that I had about five hours left to prepare to meet my new boss.

I saw Anna arriving at my apartment and opened the door. "What is wrong with you?! Rooming around in the middle of the night? And don't dare to ask if you could have a day off tomorrow!!" she should better have a good excuse for I was really pissed off.

"I'm sorry Jessica, but Mr. O'Neil...." she was breathing hard as if she just finished a marathon. "he ordered me to inform you, to be at his office today at 6 am..." she was looking at her watch leaning on the door frame, catching up with here breathing slowly calming down.

A bit confused I let her in. "Come in and sit down first..." I went to the kitchen to get her a glass handed. "Anna, you know this?! With this thing, you can call people or even send messages." Showing her my phone.

"Jessica, I know, that's what I was going to do on the first place, but that arrogant sun of a b****, I mean our new boss, he kept terrorizing me on my phone, asking me, if I gave you the information already.”

“I told him, that I'm going to call you right after our conversation, but he insisted, that I should go straight to your apartment and do it personally for I waisted enough of his time... That man is crazy!” she was really flustered. “he even kept on ringing my phone, every five minutes... can you believe that! I don't even know where he got my number from…"

"After his… maybe 20th call, I did not give a s**t and turned my phone off...” shaking her head. “Jessica, never shut your phone off if he calls you…” giving me an advice. ”Well, suddenly my door rang and I opened the it. Guess who was standing there…. Mr. CEO himself!!! I he was not handsome as hell and my boss I would kick his balls and lock the door, calling the police. But he had a mad face on, threatening me, that I'm going to lose my job, if I'm not heading to you right away." finishing her glass of water at once.

"Sorry Jessica.... I'm just confused and so tired. I ran the whole way from my apartment to yours, followed by a black SUV, scaring the s**t out of me...."

"Oh, Anna I’m so sorry.... I'm going to talk to him tomorrow right away okay?" I could not believe it. How come our new CEO is such an ass****.

I looked at my watch and it was almost 1.30 in the morning. "Anna, we need to sleep. You can use the guest room... we will meet at lunchtime later okay? Same place, same time…"

I was quite angry, seeing Anna like that. She was working for the company for two years being my assistant, very obliging and hardworking. I've expected more professionality from Mr. O'Neil as your new boss.

"It's okay Jessica, I'll just rest for a while. I hope this dumb ass boss of ours is not giving us a hard life. Goodnight Jessica" she yawns and headed to the guest room.

"Yeah, goodnight Anna..."

Anna and me became close friends in the past years. She was like my younger sister, which I needed to take care of.

I went back to my bedroom looking out the window, seeing the lights of New York. I remember moving in in this apartment around 1½ years ago, just when my contract was finally perpetual and my salary increased. Never had I imagined living in such an apartment.

I let myself fall on my bed thinking of my conversation with Mr. Barneys two days ago.

**************************************

I was heading up feeling nervous. Even my hand started to sweat.

……Ding……

I entered the office and nothing has changed except that the glass desk was gone.

Suddenly I heard a door unlocking. It was Mr. Barney, coming out from the restroom. "Ahh... Ms. Jones good to see you again. Its been a long time now." giving me a warm smile.

His smile suddenly faded, holding his stomach. "I think the Tikka Masala I had for lunch was not good for me...." I heard his stomached making sounds.

He pointed with his hand to the chair in front of his desk for me to sit. "Just have a seat Ms. Jones, right?” I nodded. He went to the bar and got him a glass of whisky. “You want something to drink?”

"No... no, thank you sir, I'm okay..." being nervous.

I could smell the old wood from his desk, mixing up with the smell of the leather of his chair, I closed my eyes swiftly, remembering my father's office, back when I was still a kid. My father worked in an insurance company and took me once in a while with him to his office if mom needed some time off.

I was pulled back from my day dream, when Mr. Barneys started to talk.

“I know that you are serving my Company for almost four years now Ms. Jones”

"I have read your CV the day before and was surprised that you’ve started working at a very young age Ms. Jones, considering your situation at that time, I can’t imagine, what you have been through but it must have been a rough road for you.”

Yeah it truly was…..

“Ms. Jones to make it short, you beat all my expectations, now handling the head administration section with no mackle" he smiled at me.

I was feeling overwhelmed sitting in front of him, my hands on my lap, just waiting and listening, what he was going to say.

"Ms. Jones, I think it is time for you..."

Is he going to fire me?

"to change your professional path."

Yup... I'm dead...

My head turned and my mind was over thinking what might be the reason I got fired. The reports were always submitted on time. The expenses were always under our given limits.

I don’t know…. Staring on the floor, I noticed my hands holding my dress so tight, resulting crinkles on my skirt. I closed my eyes, ready to be fired...

"What's wrong Ms. Jones? Are you not feeling well?" being confused.

Suddenly he started laughing. "Oh, you thought I'm going to fire you or?

I slowly opened my eyes... "Nah, Ms. Jones that would be the stupidest thing, I could do to your Company." Shaking his head.

I let out a releasing gasp, feeling so relieved.

"Ms. Jones, I called you to my office, because Mrs. Williams recommended you for the position as the personal assistant for the CEO.”

What? Are you serous? I couldn’t believe it, I’m going to work for Mr. Barneys.

“I talked to her a view days ago, asking her, if she knew anybody who could handle a very challenging task. And she gave me your name."

Yes of course I can. That’s the best day of my life. For now.

"I want you, to do me a favour.” I nodded. “You've already heard the news, didn’t you?”

What was he talking about? What news?

“The Company is going to have a new CEO by next week” he released a heavy sigh, stood up and went to the bookshelf with the family pictures. "I'm already old and want to spend more time with my lovely wife, hopefully someday with my great-grandchildren." Winking at me.

"I have worked hard for years, to build up this Company, having a lot of help from my daughter," he was looking up, “and my two sons."

“Now its time for my grandson Brent to continue what I’ve started” he said very proudly.

Oh, so the new CEO was Brent O'Neal, the oldest son of Sophia Barneys, which died four years ago. I heard rumours of him that he was a spoiled brat when he was a kid, getting what he wants.

Now famous for the most handsome guy of the upper society. Girls were following him everywhere, trying to get a chance being close to him.

Suddenly Mr. Barneys brought me back. "Ms. Jones, are you listening?" narrowing his eyes.

"My grandson arrived yesterday from Dubai and is going to manage the Company by next week. Therefore, I want you, to be his personal assistant."

What me? I was trying not to panic. "Mr. Barneys, with all due respect, are you sure about that? I don't even know, what to do being personal assistant, specially for Mr. O'Neal.” shrugging my shoulders.

“I've just been managing the head administration for just two years, but that because Mrs. Williams suggested me for that position due of her retirement." I hoped that he understood that I was not eager to have the position, being the PA of his grandson.

"Ms. Jones, Mrs. Williams suggested you for that position" letting out a deep sigh. "I know, my grandson has not the pest reputation, but to tell you the truth, he is not always like that.”

“It started when his mother died, when he was all alone, taking care of his brother Leonard. He was leaving with us and we… I was so busy at work and didn’t notice how he struggled with the situation" recalling the time. "Brent was just 24 when his mother passed away. Freshly graduated from University" holding back his emotions.

I felt sorry for him and for Brent. I knew how it was being left alone.

"See, I'm going to talk to my grandson. You just need to make sure, that he is not going to over work himself. He has the habit to be workaholic, forgetting the important things in life." looking concerned.

"Ms. Jones, please I need to know if you are willing to work with my grandson. It would help me a lot knowing, that he is in good hands after all he went through" giving me puppy eyes.

Damn... how could I say no to that old man. "Okay, Mrs. Barneys, fine. I'm going to work with your grandson." leaning my head back.

I think I’m going to be in trouble.

He was like a kid, receiving a reward. "Thank you, Ms. Jones I knew I could count on you. Mrs. Williams told me that you never failed her"

After he gave me some more information’s how to handle things up here, he released me and just as I went to the elevator, he stopped me. "And please Ms. Jones, don't hesitate to call me, if my grandson is doing something inappropriate." He smiled at me, winking again.

What was the wink for? Oh, God I’m really in big trouble. Knowing that his grandson is a womanizer.

"Well, for now I need to prepare some important things Anna. As we already discussed, I have only today. If you need help, you can reach me through the intercom. In emergency cases just head straight up to the top floor. My office will be right there. And please call the other departments and tell them, that you are now handling the reports, still being checked by me"

Anna was following me like a puppy, just nodding and writing everything down, pushing her eyeglass back as it always slipped down if she was nodding.

"But Jessica..." She whispered looking around making sure, that the others didn't hear her, calling me by my name.

"How am I going to handle this all by myself?” she was pointing through the hall way while we were standing there. “It's a big responsibility managing the head administration. I'm just a view year’s here, still not sure to manage everything on my own" giving it an insecure tone.

I was smiling at her and sight. Maybe she is right. Maybe it might be a huge step for her. She was young and inexperienced, still needing guidance on her way. We continued walking. "Okay Anna, for the first month's I'll help you manage the head administration but only under one condition…" She stared at me with fishy eyes. "You are going to transfer in my office, wanting you to hand me every week a report of your doings" She nodded pushing her eyeglass back. "The other departments... well, we will just leave them think that you took over my position alright? But make sure that nothing is going to slip out without my approval" I turned around, making sure she understood, seeing her writing down her notes.

"Anna...you can do it...okay?"

"Yes, Jessica, I’ll try my best, thank you so much! I wouldn't know what to do, if you're not here with me, all alone by myself." She looked around here as we entered my old office, her new working place.

“So, for now, I need to clean things up for my follower. We will see us tomorrow okay?” giving her a smile.

She nodded and left.

I started collecting my things and put them in the box. I sat on my chair, realizing that it's my last day in this room. In this department.

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