Loving The Young Billionaire

CHAPTER 2 - First Day

Chapter 3: First Day

Mallory was startled awake when her phone buzzed for a call. She squinted at it on her bedside table before she picked up the phone.

Who could be calling her so early in the morning?

“Hello?” she said, her voice distorted from grogginess.

What time did she sleep last night? Well, Tiffany annoyed her again. Her friend didn’t stop teasing her after she told her what had happened to her, and suggested that the handsome blue-eyed man might be her destiny.

Tsk! If destiny was a person, she would probably sue it for ruining her life.

“Good morning, Ms. Mallory Addison Finley.” She heard a woman’s voice over the line.

She heaved a deep breath and sat up in her bed while stretching her arms. “Yes?”

“I would like to inform you that you are hired.”

Her eyes, which were closed not long ago, grew bigger in an instant. Hired? Was she hearing this right? The news was almost too good to be true.

She rubbed her eyes, wondering if she was still caught in a dream. And if this really was a dream, she never wanted to wake up.

“I’m sorry, I think I misheard you. Come again?” she asked in disbelief. But when the woman repeated what she had said, Mallory immediately stood up from her bed.

I’ve been hired?!

Her heart was overflowing with joy. She couldn’t seem to process the good news she had heard earlier in the day. It was all too overwhelming to absorb.

“W-Why? How? Uh… I mean, are you sure, ma’am?” she stammered.

It was understandable for her to overreact in her situation, given how long she’d been unemployed and rejected.

The woman on the phone chuckled. “Yes, Ms. Finley. I’m sure. You have all the qualifications we’re looking for, and we think you’ll be a great addition to our team.”

As the woman explained the details of her new job, Mallory still couldn’t believe her luck. She had applied for so many jobs, and this was the first time she had actually been accepted. It felt like a dream come true.

“You can start tomorrow morning, at 7:00 AM sharp.”

She kept nodding in excitement. “I assure you, ma’am! I’ll do my best! I won’t let you down,” she promised. “I won’t be late on my first day.”

“Okay, then,” the woman replied. “Congratulations! We’ll see you soon.”

As soon as she hung up the phone, Mallory screamed and jumped onto her bed, bouncing up and down. Then, she quickly dialed her friend’s number to share the bean. Thanks to Tiffany, she has already found a job. She wished not to mess this one, again.

“Hey, Tiff! Guess what?”

She heard her best friend groan. She was obviously still drowsy, and Mallory just woke her up.

“You’re not a virgin anymore?”

Her ears turned red, and her cheeks flushed. This woman’s mouth has always been rude and shameless.

“What?! No!”

“Then, what? Will the world be destroyed? Where will we move, Mars or Jupiter?”

“Tiffany!” Frustrated, she exclaimed.

Finally giving in, Tiffany laughed out loud. “Okay, fine, I surrender! What’s the matter?”

Her face brightened when she realized she had a job, and she was looking forward to celebrating with her best friend.

“I got it! I have a job now!” Her good news.

Although Mallory couldn’t see her, she knew her friend was smiling and was happy for her, based on her voice over the phone.

“Finally! Congratulations, Maddie! I knew it! I’ll see you there every day!”

“Thank you, Tiffany!”

“You’re welcome! But please, don’t mess this up again, okay? Our workplace is not a cooking arena, and we wouldn’t want to set the place on fire. Don’t turn the documents into ashes.”

She made a bad face. She remembered burning papers at a company she worked for because she thought when her boss said, “burn those papers, it sucks!” meant she would literally burn it. It turned out that her boss was just swearing.

“I won’t,” she replied, scowling.

“Good. Mr. Cameron is a sucker for perfection, and he’s not easy to impress. You need to go above and beyond to show him that you’re the real deal. When it comes to work, he’s serious and strict. As much as possible, leave no room for error and give it your absolute best shot. Prove to him that he’s made the best decision in hiring you.”

Mallory nodded. “You know this job means a lot to me, and I won’t let you or anyone else down.”

“That’s the spirit, Maddie. You’ve got this! Just be confident and trust in your abilities.”

“I’ll do my best. Thanks again for believing in me.”

***

The next day, Mallory arrived at the office early. She dressed her best, her hair pulled back into a sleek ponytail.

She exhaled a sigh before stepping into Luxe Group Incorporation. She had set foot on the place for the second time, but she was still amazed at its grand and elegant vibe. The floor was marble and everything was as clear as a crystal in the homes of the wealthy.

She approached the woman behind the reception desk, who smiled as if she recognized her right away.

“Greetings! How can I help you?”

Her lips formed a smile. She didn’t want to be a snob. She needed to be friendly because she would be working with them starting from today.

She paused for a moment, composing herself before responding. “My name is Mallory, and I’m here to start work as Mr. Cameron’s new secretary.”

“Ah, yes. Mr. Cameron has been expecting you. Let me call up and let him know you’re here.”

Mallory waited nervously as the woman made the call. After a few minutes, the receptionist put down the phone.

“Mr. Cameron will see you now. Right this way, please,” she said, gesturing towards the elevators.

She followed the woman, her heels clicking against the marble floor. She couldn’t help but feel a bit nervous as she made her way to meet her new boss. This was her first day as the CEO’s secretary, and she was eager to make a good impression.

The woman she was with pressed the button for the 30th floor. Mallory couldn’t help but feel vertigo as the elevator began its ascent. If she were to jump from this height, she knew it would be certain death. She pushed the thought aside and turned to the woman next to her.

“I am Emma,” introduced the woman, extending her hand. “Congratulations on being chosen. I hope you last longer than the others.”

She was instantly anxious about what Emma had said. Was she signaling her a warning to reconsider her decision first before going for it?

She had heard all the rumors about him that he was a demanding boss with a reputation for being difficult to work with, that he would not tolerate any mistakes, and that he would be quick to snap if she didn’t meet his expectations, but she was determined to prove him wrong. She had worked hard to get this job, and she wasn’t going to let anyone intimidate her.

“Thank you,” she replied, trying to sound confident. “Why did the others leave?”

“Oh, it’s not that they left voluntarily,” Emma said in a hushed tone. “The CEO is incredibly strict and cold. Everyone here fears him. He’s known for being a no-nonsense boss who expects perfection from his employees, and if you make even the slightest mistake, he’ll make sure you regret it.”

She breathed a sigh at Emma’s words. She knew she had to be on her A-game if she wanted to succeed in this company.

Emma continued, “He’s a real workaholic, and he doesn’t want to mix business and pleasure.”

Mallory frowned, trying to read between the lines. “So, the other secretaries tried to seduce him?”

“Yes, but it never worked. He’s distant to women.”

It piqued her interest. “Why is that? Is he gay?”

Emma laughed sparingly. “No, he’s not. But there are rumors circulating that his ex-girlfriend cheated on him then.”

She nodded in response. The girl must have gone insane. Their boss is the CEO of a major company, and she’s got some nerves to cheat on him. It had to take a certain level of audacity to commit such a heinous act of betrayal. Perhaps the ex-girlfriend wasn’t normal, or maybe she was just plain reckless.

She stepped out of the elevator when it opened on the 30th floor. Mallory frowned when she noticed Emma hadn’t followed her.

“Aren’t you coming with me?” she asked in surprise.

Emma shook her head. “I’m afraid not. Protocols. Only the expected guest of the CEO is allowed on his territory.”

Mallory nodded, understanding the strictness of the security measures. She glanced around her surroundings, taking in the long hallway with its three visible doors.

“Is this Mr. Cameron’s office?” she asked.

“Yes. The door on the right is his office, and the left one is his bedroom. But nobody in the company has ever entered the room at the far end of the floor, so we don’t know what’s inside.”

Her jaw dropped in disbelief. “The whole floor? Just for him?”

Emma nodded again. “Yes, he likes his space and privacy.”

She remained gaping even after Emma made her way back to the reception desk. Actually, the owner of the place was obviously a man. The color was a combination of gray, black, and gold. The ambiance was full of authority. She pursed her lips before starting to walk to the office of her future boss.

She was even flabbergasted by the red carpet and chandeliers that lined the ceiling. The atmosphere of the corridor wasn’t eerie either. She was drawn to the energy the place was giving her. She knew she would enjoy working there.

She adjusted her skirt, which she wore with a white blouse and felt exposed her entire leg. Okay, she was overreacting about her legs being shown, but as Tiffany said, it looked decent. She also fixed her hair and smelled her breath, and by the mercy of God, it was still fragrant and not a sewage odor.

She lifted her hand to knock on the door after she was satisfied with her appearance, reassuring herself that she looked presentable.

“Come in,” a deep baritone voice from inside called to her. She gulped.

Why does the voice sound so sexy?

She snapped back to reality and mentally rolled her eyes. She kept reminding herself not to do anything stupid. She couldn’t afford to squander the opportunity that had been given to her. She was there to work, not to fall for anyone.

Stop it, Mallory! You’re here to work. It was just a voice. Come to your senses, and stop being silly!

She inhaled deeply before turning the doorknob. She pushed the door open, and her eyes landed on the man seated behind his massive desk, surrounded by piles of paperwork.

Luke’s fingers paused on the keyboard as he lifted his gaze from the computer screen, his gaze fixated on Mallory. He witnessed the widening of her eyes and the faint flush that rose up her cheeks.

Mallory’s lips parted as she stared back at Luke, her breaths coming in short gasps. She felt as if his piercing blue eyes were stripping her soul bare.

What in the world? Destiny, I swear I’ll make you pay for this!