Stirred for you

Chapter Two - He is the board manager!

The office was not really what she'd expected. She'd wanted it highly different and classy from her previous office. An all painted white room. There were chest drawers beside the office armchair just close to the French window. She could sense the movement of the wind as she inhaled the soft wind in the room. Her senses were becoming even sharper.

On the table close to the armchair were piles of files almost untouched. The former occupant of the office must have been lazy at what he did or possibly he was a neat and extra meticulous person. The table at the other end closer to the door contained a coffee cup in a plate left unfilled. She scoffed, "special service"

The table was much lower and smaller than the main desk. There was a chair slid under it.

She walked to the chest drawers and unbolted the first chest, nothing different, still files. She went through the others as well but there was not much difference, all contained the same property. She sighed.

What was she even expecting to see in her new office? A cosy bed? No! A big television set? Not at all! She must be silly to think that. She came here for work.

Then her eyes caught the PC on the desk, her table. It still looked new while she believed it must have spent up to a year or so in the office. There was a mouse mat for the mouse pad. She followed the mouse wire's trail to the back of the monitor. The screen was much clean and large, then just beside it was the CPU, the heart. Some called it the mother, others the brain and few the heart. The keyboard laid just before the monitor like a willing subject ready to be played on by his master.

Her eyes went back to the floor again, there was something about the floor. She seems to be going back to it each second, like she was drawn over and over to it.

She stared at the PC and thought for a while, "processor speed of 3 GHz, 512Mb of RAM and a hard disk capacity of 160Gb. Probably a speech recognition system. The company must be rich, why won't they?"

Mona had gained mastery of computers over time. She seemed to know a computer by name, capacity and system of operation. She wasn't much of a computer tech but she was quite a handful.

Mona sighed as her sturdy eyes went back to the documents on the desk. Daren had said she were to work on one. She would definitely find it easily, the recent one. Slowly, she placed her bag on the other side of the table and got on the documents. It didn't take much time to find the document. It was a collateral document. The bank had seized the property of a customer, a debt customer to be precise. She opened the document, more like a log.

It was a large company which needed critical thoughts.

It had sixty percent capital value and not less than six hundred thousand dollars a year, most times much bigger varying from yearly challenges. The company deals in capital assets and real estate. It was quite an asset to the bank, the owner must have doubled his income almost every year in the previous years. Why fold it up then?

There was a strong knock at the door, then the clicking of the handle as it gave way for Daren. He was too good looking to be in suit, more like a reggae with class. Mona looked up to his face, and there it was again. The charm and lusciousness writing all over his smooth face. Getting a wig for him would change his appearance to feminine totally. His hair was jet black with its curls. He should go back to his creator to get a remodelling of his physical features so his face would turn masculine. Apart from his face, his chest was broad and unusually heavy. No lady dared not ask for a chance to date him, Mona thought.

"I thought you used the elevator?" Daren asked as he shut the door behind him.

"Yeah, probably or I might have dared the stairs midway" Mona replied with her eyes still on him. There was something different about him that she couldn't take her eyes off him.

"I'd even thought you were stuck in the elevator due to the recent power failure"

"Oh really?" Mona was being sarcastic now.

You are being sarcastic now. Tell him how you got out, the tiny cynical voice said within her.

Oh hush it fool. Does he need to know? another voice said within her.

There was something about the inner her, her light critic. As unparalleled as her actions could be that would have landed her in trouble, her critic usually spoke to her. Sometimes she would hear her mom's voice or her dad's advising her. Was this another subtle power of hers? That she would ask the Triad later.

"So perhaps you chose the stairs instead. More like you predicted what would happen?"

"Let's say, there was a good chance the elevators disliked me" Mona smiled. Its been long she smiled. She'd lost count of how many times she smiled a day which had been her hobby. The York clan headaches had been draining her of happiness. Even Pina, that one is really a pain in the neck.

Daren scoffed, she was trying to be hilarious and appear animated. She was beautiful though, no doubt.

"The meeting is in an hour from - " Daren took the pain of looking at his wristwatch to avoid guessing. He hated guesses, they were mostly incorrect and did more harm than good in most serious situations. He wanted to make sure everything that came from him was accurate. "Its ten already. Are you through with the document?"

"Am on it" Mona adjusted the papers before her to show how long she'd been gone into the task of analysis and alternative solutions, lots of it.

"Alright" Daren turned to leave but turned back to Mona. He must have forgotten something. Mona's eyes turned to his. She sat up ready to absorb anything else he had to say.

"Emm - The elevators are working fine now. You could use it for the meeting. Get through with the files" Daren jerked the door open.

"I'll - " the slamming of the door shut her up. Daren must be an impatient one. She stared at the door and thought about it. He didn't let her appreciate his guidance at least, or get to talk to him for some time. He might be social in discussions only if he let you have one with him. She had to rid her mind of any thoughts about him whatsoever, she was here for work not some sort of flirt party. She stared back to the document and began her journey.

____

She walked into the conference room, it was smaller than she had expected it to be. She was lost and felt inferior to the partners and senior employees from various departments. She stared at the long table to find three beautiful classy ladies sitting with legs crossed. Some other males were sitting close to them and across the table. They looked so hot in their Western style office suit. Her eyes caught the sexiest of them all staring at her. She seized her breath and thought for a second, "she must be sizing me. Not up to her class"

Her head and chest began to tbrob her. If the lady disregarded her, she believed no one in the office would take any more cognizance of her. She would be regarded as low class then. Everyone in the office looked so rich and influential, she might be the only outdated one. Her eyes slowly went down to study her suit. She compared it to the lady's suit, no match. She hated being intimidated or looked down on. If this lady would take her for granted or try to make a fool of her, she would break the Triadic law and deal with her.

Mona looked up to see the lady's eyes still on her, then she saw her smile. Most graceful and welcoming smile she had ever seen. The lady was not rude after all, she was the one making herself look inferior. Then she realized she has been standing in one place for a long time now staring at the lady, she had to move.

"Are you lost here?" A male voice asked her from behind. She has heard that voice somewhere, no doubt it was Daren, her guardian angel. She looked up to take one more look at the lady. She was not smiling anymore, she was just staring.

You are talking to her man now, her inner voice said.

Traces of guilt flashed through her. She was trying to be coveteous now, but who wouldn't want Daren all to herself. f**k that lady!

Mona slowly turned to Daren and smiled, "Yeah I really don't know if am to sit or stand here, kind of lost"

Daren laughed, "that's how the new ones behave, but maybe after spending two to three months in the office, they would want to take over even the manager's seat"

Mona became annoyed now. Was he trying to say her timidity was only a pretence that would fade with time? Was he being rude now? Was he trying to call her a pretender? Her ego crushed, her growing likeness for him seemed to be kicked out by the inner her. She knew her sudden anger must have shown on her once animated face. She tried to suppress the anger but no, it kept growing.

Calm, calm, calm. An alpha doesn't hit first, the inner her said in her mind. Then she remembered the first Triad law.

- Powers must not be used on humans.

But she didn't think that rule applied to the alphas who had gained control over their powers and temper.

"Why don't you go over to the ladies and get a seat beside them. The board manager will be here soonest. Remember your first presentation"

Mona thought he must have spoken softly to her this time after reading the expression on her face. Then her mind remembered something, Daren was like he was an overseer in the company otherwise what position does he hold at the company?

"Sorry to ask but what position do you occupy at the company? She was happy she was holding the conversation with him.

"Oh! I knew you will ask that soonest but I thought you would be patient enough to know from the meeting. See you at the table" Daren smiled and left her.

Another rude action. Why walking out on her now? Does he really work here? Why extend it to the meeting? Damn he is too full of himself! Mona slowly turned and looked up to see the lady's seat was empty. Where did she go?

She searched the room with her eyes for her but she was nowhere to be found. How could she just disappear under her nose? Then she looked to the other side of the room towards her left and there she was with Daren.

Pain of jealousy swept over her. She swallowed hard. She was not dating Daren anyway, even if she was. So what's the big deal? Why so angry over seeing him with another lady? Her mind fought the pain back but the jealousy receded. Then she found herself sitting across the table opposite a young man. He looked just like Daren but Daren was more charming.

"You're the new girl right?" The young man asked.

Mona nodded like an infant. She was being ridiculous. Feigning inferiority before people she was more powerful over. Yes she was ridiculing herself.

"Am Marcus, welcome to the team" Marcus smiled revealing a set of deep dimples across his chin. She loved dimples and wished she had one. Marcus' dimples were very deep that he looked so stunning when he smiled. Mona remembered she was supposed to give him a reply with her name.

"Am Mona" she smiled too.

Then she saw Daren walk to the table, everyone stood up as he got to the chair at the end of the table.

Oh no! Daren! It can't be! He - He is the board manager, the general presiding supervisor, highest position in the company!

Mona shuddered, he just fit into the crowd like he never meant anything so no new one would notice his position. The old workers must have known. She was even more surprised than when she was granted the position of an alpha in her clan. She looked around him, the Lady was back, sitting much closer to Daren. She might be his assistant, one can't tell.

That was when Mona realized the number of workers that must have been in the room, not less than twenty and not more than twenty five. She could guess correctly.

She stared back to Daren and saw him smile at her giving her the look of - "you see, I told you to wait for it" Mona smiled back. He was like a king here, anyone close to him must have grown strong pride. She sighed when she remembered the lady, then everyone sat down. Everyone in the room was much younger like him, no one was old.

"Everyone works hard at the Capital project company" Daren began. Mona could sense superiority and authority in his voice. If he was being proud now, Mona could get to dislike him all at once. She hated proud people, none of them feels the need to work hard.

"If you want an easy life" he continued, "look elsewhere" Mona was caught off balance, she'd wanted an easy life all her life but it was too late to look elsewhere.

Daren smiled as he continued, "when I was new to work as a new associate, I would spend nights in the office ending up sleeping on office couches just to get my work delivered" he smiled again.

That was it, Mona's inner voice began, he is using his charming smiles to cover up his wicked deeds.

Why so quick in condemning people? You've not seen him act rudely, the second voice said within her.

"Mona can we get the review?"

"Oh sure" Mona said and stood up. She noticed the chattering at the table, then she realized she wasn't meant to stand up. Damn, she was just making the silly ones throw tantrums at her.

"You can sit Mona. You don't have to stress yourself" Daren said from the other end where he was sitting. Mona shamefully sat on the chair, she had brought enough shame to herself already. She opened the book before her.

"Rolez company owns huge capital assets as a company with not less than sixty percent capital value" she saw Daren adjust and fold his hands under his chin. All eyes were on her.

"If this company is folded up and sold, it will earn about seventy percent income which is enough to start a new project. If the company is left as the capital company it was, it would earn sixty percent income yearly plus the changes in market in the rise in capital assets value. By estimation, the company would earn not less than six hundred thousand dollars a year- "

She heard the exhilarated chattering all over her. It was a whooping sum for the company and the bank. It shouldn't just be sold to a capitalist.

"Which would count for how many years it would continue to exist. Dividing the income means forty percent for the bank and sixty for the company. Putting it in use would make the most capital income"

She heard the applause. Yes she was applauded. Her first presentation was a success, she smiled.

"Any questions?" Daren asked.

Mona became annoyed again. Not even "great job" None of the workers would have made such analysis. They would have insisted on selling off the capital asset and getting the short income once. Did he expect her presentation to be a failure? Stop being proud Daren! She thought to herself.

Then someone raised her hands, it was the lady. What question would she ask now? She never seemed to like her at first for daring her with her man. Mona shook, she wasn't actually ready for questions now but she would try answering anyways.

"Go on" Daren said.

"Our new creative director- "

There it is! Mockery in her voice, jealousy and envy. Mona sighed within her.

"Considering your presentation, it seems you are in favour of exploring and using the company. But considering the changes in the competitive market, rise and fall in the value of capital assets. What if by competition, the company loses to its competitors?"

Mona smiled. Her question was even childish, not tough like she'd expected.

"First of all, the value of capital assets never falls. It keeps rising and rising until it reaches its maximum value. Its not like the routine goods, its a capital good. Once taken, twice the value"

She heard the applause again. She stared up to Daren, he was smiling. She was making him proud.

"Talking about the competitive market, every company has a competitor. Even the capital project company. It is left for the company's executives and creatives to assess possible ways to make sales and control the capital market- "

All eyes were on her. She never knew she was this intelligent, not even when she was in the college.