Chapter 4: I Can Prove Myself
1427 Words
Andrea hurriedly got ready and went downstairs. Her family was having breakfast but she couldn't join. She briefly explained the call she received last night and left for the office.
Andrea arrived the office at 8:30. She knew she was walking on a thin line. How could she be late on her first day of work.
On her way to the boss's office, she met a female employee who stopped her.
“ I guess you're the GM's new secretary?” She asked.
“Yes ma'am” she replied.
“And you're late. Anyways this document contains all his appointments for today you are to make sure it goes successfully.”
“Ok thanks is the General Manager in?” Andrea asked.
“ We do not have a general manager.” The lady looked confused.
“ But you said GM.” Andrea was confused too.
“ GM stands for Gabriel Martinez. The CEO of our company” The lady replied passively.
“Ohh. Ehm thank you”. Andrea replied. “ Please what's your name.”
“I'm Lydia. Now hurry up.”
Andrea finally reached the CEO's office. She paused for a second before she pushed the door.
When she entered, Gabriel was staring at her. Somehow, the image of him wearing that cap flashed in her head. She scolded herself internally to stop thinking about it.
“ You're late do you want to get fired on your first day?” Gabriel asked coldly.
“ I'm so sorry sir. You wouldn't believe what happened. It happened that I set my alarm but I did not hear it ring. I know it's a silly excuse but..” he cut her off.
“ Spare me the explanation. Anyway have a review of all my appointments today and chose the time and place.”
“Copy boss” Andrea replied.
“ And before you leave, I have a few rules. Firstly, never enter my office except I call for you. Secondly, never interrupt me when I'm talking and lastly, never call me if it's not for work. There is your office. You may leave” Gabriel pointed the office across his.
Andrea left and went to her office. She really wanted to ask him what made him change his mind but she didn't get the chance.
Gabriel sat on his chair as he watched Andreas retreating figure. He recalled what happened last night.
…….
When he went home, his sister Catherine was waiting for him. Catherine was Lisa's mother she raised her by herself after her father abandoned her.
When Lisa saw her mom, she jumped into her arms talking about her encounter with a pretty lady at the carnival.
Catherine looked at her brother who had become so cold to everyone. She really wanted him to be happy but what happened 5 years ago shattered his heart and she hoped someone could mend it.
“ So how did the interview go” Catherine asked.
“ I didn't find anyone suitable for the post” Gabriel said coldly.
“ Gab are you even trying, this is not just about you. The company's sales drastically dropped since you became so isolated. Don't you think it's high time you move on and burry the past” Catherine said.
“ I'm tired Catherine I need to rest” he simply said.
“ I know you are and not just on the outside. So please let us help you. If you don't want a secretary fine but the Company needs one so please consider.” Catherine pleaded.
“ Fine but if she reveals herself to be incapable I won't hesitate to fire her.
He said before leaving.
Gabriel entered his room and called Nathan.
“ Hello Nathan.”
“ Yes boss.” Nathan replied.
“ From the list of candidates chose the one you deem capable of being my secretary” Gabriel requested.
“ Ok boss, may I ask what made you change your mind” Nathan was excited over the phone.
“ No explanations needed just do what I asked” Gabriel said before he hung up.
Nathan couldn't believe his stars and he knew just the right person to call.
……
Andrea was in her office and she couldn't believe that she was accepted. She reviewed all his appointments and made reservations for the appointments.
It was already lunch time and she wondered what her boss was going to eat so Andrea knocked his office door but he didn't reply.
Gabriel immersed himself in work so much that he didn't notice the time. He wasn't used to taking lunches anyway. He suddenly heard a knock on his door. He didn't call for anyone so who dared.
He lifted his head and of course it had to be his annoying secretary. He knew it was a bad idea to hire a secretary but the others wouldn't listen. He stared at her through the glass door and signaled her to leave.
Andrea knocked again giving him a warm smile. She just wanted to know if he needed anything for lunch but he pulled down the curtain of his door and Andrea couldn't see him again.
What an arrogant boss she whispered to herself.
Gabriel was relieved that he couldn't see her face anymore. What was wrong with her anyways, he just told her not to come to his office without being summoned.
Andrea stood outside the office. How could she ask him now. She had an idea.
Andrea wrote on a piece of paper
“ What would you like for lunch sir?”
She slipped the paper down the door and waited outside.
Gabriel saw a piece of paper on the floor beside the door.
He lazily got up to get the paper. He read the paper with a passive expression. So she did all that to ask him what he would eat,what a silly girl. Somehow it created a warm feeling in his heart which he ignored.
He sighed before he wrote back.
“ No I'm good you can go ahead”. He slipped the paper down the door and Andrea received it.
She was disappointed that he didn't want anything but she went on and had her launch.
When she came back she peeped over her boss's office to see what he was doing but as usual he was working. She wondered if he ever took a break.
He had an appointment with a potential client from Arab at 5 pm and if they closed this deal, they would be shipping electronics worth millions to his foreign company.
Andrea had prepared a reservation at a 5 star restaurant as she learned the man was a gourmand.
It was 4:30pm when Andrea left with her boss to meet this client. When they arrived at the restaurant, Andrea went to check the reservation but her name wasn't found on the list.
“ Excuse me sir, can you check again, I'm Andrea Song. I made a reservation for three this afternoon” she asked the person at the member service.
“ I'm sorry ma'am but as you can see you do not have a reservation and we are fully booked.” he replied.
“ How is this even possible, look this is the confirmation message you sent to me earlier. It says Saturday the 5th and this is Saturday” Andrea reasoned.
“ Oh! see you in three months then. I think you read the date wrong. It said the 5th of September and we are in June” the worker calmly said.
“Are you playing games with me, please can you make an exception for today I really need a table here” Andrea was getting nervous.
“ I'm sorry ma'am but as I said earlier we are fully booked. If you don't have anything else to say may I please leave I need to attend to other clients” the worker said before he left.
Andrea did not know what to do she went out and saw her boss waiting beside the car.
She held a grave expression on her face when she said “ Ehm I'm so sorry sir but I think I couldn't secure a reservation here, they're fully booked.
“Are you kidding me! The client is already on his way what I'm I supposed to do?” Gabriel asked angrily.
‘I'm so sorry sir I don't know how it happened, I ..” she couldn't finish when he cut her off.
“I don't need your explanations you fix this or you're fired” Gabriel yelled.
- Writer
