Midnight Lovers

Meeting the Devil Himself

Grace entered the office early in the morning. She set her coffee from the coffee shop next door down on her desk and sank into her chair.

She familiarized the schedule for the morning before she left to head to the staff room to get Mr. Stevens's coffee ready.

Staff whispered in low tones, glancing at her with looks between distaste (Mostly from the women) to skeptical or indifference (mostly from the men). Ignoring them she placed the coffee into the single serve cup maker and fixed the cream.

"I bet she has connections to someone in the company" someone whispered nearby, "No way would Mr. Stevens hire someone like her to be his assistant unless someone blackmailed him into doing it."

A hiss of shhh could be heard and Grace rolled her eyes. It was always the same no matter where she went.

People gossiped madly in every workplace. Jealousy was always high, and many people wanted to cause harm to others by voicing their opinions and thoughts aloud.

She took the mug of coffee and left the staff room without acknowledging the gossipers gathered around. It would only drive her to insanity if she let everything they said bother her.

Inside Mr. Stevens office she set his mug down and arranged the files on his desk from most important to the least important. Cleaned any dust from it then headed back to her desk.

The ding of the elevator announced the arrival and a shaggy, blonde haired man stepped out of the elevator. He was dressed in most likely a custom suit and looked like a virtual god.

His hair was naturally curly, but his face was sombre as he strode past Grace and the desk ignoring her hello.

Grace quirked an eyebrow as the door to the inner office slammed shut and she slowly took her seat once more.

"That was highly rude," she muttered, "Not even a good morning."

Puffing out a breath she grabbed her own coffee and sipped on it while reading emails.

She took calls for appointments before she checked her watch to see that he had been in the office for an hour and half.

Grabbing the tablet she stood up and walked to the closed door and knocked on it.

A gruff "enter" could be heard through the thick door. Slowly, she opened the door and stepped inside.

"I'm just reminding you that Mr. Doug Versailles from finance will be coming to see you in about an hour," she said, "Would you like me to prepare some drinks so you won't be disturbed?"

Ice blue eyes met her green ones. She stood silently waiting to see if he wanted her to prepare the beverages.

Penelope had already informed her of the department heads drink preferences.

"Fine, get the drinks ready and put my calls on hold for the next two hours while I talk to him," Mr. Stevens declared.

"Yes sir," Grace murmured, stepping out of the office and heading for the staff room to gather the stuff for the meeting.

She carefully made the drinks and set some snacks with packets off on the tray she had found in one of the cupboards. Refilling Mr.Stevens's coffee in a new cup.

She silently brought the tray into the office while the man was on the phone. Setting the fresh coffee on the desk and removing the empty one.

She didn't make a sound as she did everything s he needed so that she would not disturb him during the meeting.

"Hello Mr. Versailles," she greeted quietly to the portly overweight head of financial, "Your tea is ready and there are some snacks for you as well."

"You must be Mr. Stevens's new assistant. I see he chose a younger woman this time," Mr. Versailles stated, "Welcome to Herculean Empires."

Grace gave him a small smile before ducking out of the office and shutting the door quietly behind him.

She sank into her chair, redirected all calls to her desk and then went to work on the files she had collected from her bosses desk.

*****

Daniel watched the exchange between his new assistant and his head of financial while he finished up the call with an investor.

He felt a the devil inside him rise when she gave the man a small smile. Why? he didn't know and didn't care.

The moment she slipped outside of his office and shut the door he hung up the phone and turned his full attention on Versailles.

"Shall we get down to it then?" he asked darkly.

The man gave him a shrug and grabbed his cup of lemon tea before sinking into the chair across from him.

Versailles was a great finance man. He had been hand picked by Daniel because the man was a shark with numbers. If things didn't add up he was on it like a dog with a bone until they became right.

They talked about the different accounts and where the money they had earned should go to. Two hours in and they were sitting staring at each other.

"You have a lovely secretary. Young, but she was taught well," Versailles commented, "Penelope was wonderful. Treasure this one boss because you don't get them like that anymore."

Daniel just gave a low grunt but didn't comment on it. He watched as Versailles left saying goodbye to his secretary as he passed by the desk.

He had spent half the evening trying to keep Penelope on even if as a temporary secretary.

Daniel hadn't been ready to let the woman go yet and it hurt that she had not been swayed by any of his offers. Despite her assurance that his new secretary would be a perfect fit he had refused to believe it.

He looked up at the soft knock on the door and studied his new secretary. She was young, but not just out of university young. She had a pleaseant air about her that said she didn't let things get to her so easily.

Plus, she was good looking. No doubt many of the men in the office would be looking at her with puppy dog eyes and wanting to get her phone number. He made a mental note to have a security guard stationed on his floor for her protection.

"Mr.Stevens?" her soft query sifted through this muddy thoughts.

He snapped his attention back to her.

"Are you ready to recieve Mr. Bruckheimer?" she asked.

"Send him in," Daniel grumbled.

The woman turned to talk to someone on the other side of the door and Mr. Fred Bruckheimer entered the office. His face flushed.

Today was going to be a long day.