Chapter 10; She's your girlfriend?
2132 Words
The renovations started and a whole lot of meetings were being held during that week. Ryan was more than delighted to be back on the field; he was scared he would be restricted to his couch and staring at the ceiling, sleeping and waking up to an uneventful life.
That was why he wanted to start this company in the first place. It wasn't to spite his father or any of those things that the others might think would be the motive behind the new arrangements.
He wanted adventure, and he knew it would attract his father's attention which he was more than happy to have on board.
They were all in the newly furnished boardroom working to create a structure for the company as well as possible new products to launch.
"Boss, the reporter is here," Ken said with a paper in hand as he stepped into the board room with a lady holding a camera and her side bag in the other hand.
"Aish! I got paint stains on my coat!" Lee said grumbling.
"The day you would stop complaining, I would buy you a house on Jeju Island," Maria said, shaking her head while still busy on her laptop.
"Focus and earn your first salary would you?" Lee shot back.
"Mister Ryan?" The reporter called
Ryan was too engrossed with what Leo had to show him on his laptop that he didn't hear any of Ken's words. He looked up with a frown on his face. His face softens as he sights a familiar lady in suit pants.
"It's been a while," she said with a smile on her face.
Ryan approached her, his eyes steadily fixed on her, not smiling or frowning.
"Glad you came. This way" Ryan led her to his office. They walked past the painters and electricians readily at work and towards the elevator. Ryan pushed a button on the wall and the elevator swung open. He notions her to get in by moving aside; she bowed her head and stepped in.
Doors closing
"I didn't know you were serious when you called," Anna said, staring up at Ryan. Unlike the huge, tall, intimidating Ryan, Anna was petite and tiny in the frame.
"Why would I joke about something like this?" Ryan asked, staring at the door as though praying for it to open soon enough.
"You suck at jokes," Anna said teasing.
"Ouch," Ryan said, making Anna burst into laughter; he looks so cute anytime he does that.
The elevator doors swung open and the duo stepped out and headed towards his office. There were few works to be done here; the walls were painted and the secretary section of this floor was being arranged.
"Woah," Anna said as she stepped into Ryan's office; it looked amazing. She was facing a wall of glass where Ryan's large table was, with his seat against the glass and another from the opposite side of the table.
There was a grey couch on her left with a small glass centre table, bare.
"So like you," Anna said, sitting on the seat facing the glass wall.
"What?" Ryan asked, hanging his suit on a coat hanger on his right. He rolled his sleeves and settled in his seat.
"The couch is bare. No pillows? And the table too. Nothing entertaining." Anna said, pulling out her jotter and a pen.
"I'll tell Maria to add a bowl of popcorn"
Anna chuckled.
Maybe he has a funny side. Just maybe.
"I meant magazines or a brochure of the company or something. Geez," Anna said, pulling a band from her bag as she wrapped her hair up in a bun allowing a few strands to fall on her face.
"Noted," Ryan said, watching her with interest.
"Shall we?" She asked.
"Of course"
"Ryan, I might ask you some questions that are a bit...out of the ordinary. These are questions people will ask. Especially your consumers" Anna reasoned.
"I understand"
"Okay. I'll start then" Anna announced as she pulled out a recording tape
"Good day mister Ryan. It's a pleasure to have this interview with you"
"My pleasure," Ryan said with a puzzled expression on his face.
"It's okay to relax, Mister Ryan, you seem a bit tense," Anna joked.
"Alright then," Ryan said.
"Mister Ryan, We would like to get to know you as a person, business aside," Anna said.
"I'm Ryan O'brien. I am twenty-nine years old and an entrepreneur." Ryan explained.
"I would like to dive into the burning question I have. I did a bit of my research about you and I learned you worked under J and M companies until recently."
"Yes that is very correct"
"May we know why?"
Ryan glanced at Anna briefly who glanced at the tape recorder and then back at him.
Her eyes were saying
' don't you mess this up or else!'
"I will retain the answers to that question for later. Trust me, it's a story you want to keep for later"
"Alright then. You decided to start up with Queen's Empire, using the same brand name"
"That's correct"
"Queen's Empire was declared bankrupt a few years back and there were a few issues about the former owner of this company owing to its staff," Anna asked
"This is a new reign of the Queen's Empire. Queens is the same brand but with a different owner. I assure you that the brand will remain the same and offer a more convenient place for its workers as well as provide the best of services."
"When you said Queen's Empire is going to stay the same way we've all known it…"
"Yes. The brand remains the same" Ryan replied.
"It was nice having this talk with you"
"My pleasure"
"I wish you all the best in your endeavours" Anna stops the tape.
"That should do," she said.
Ryan leaned back on his chair, his eyes fixed on Anna with a knowing glare.
"You knew that was necessary. If the news gets out, reporters would be on your neck to know what happened" Anna said not meeting his gaze as she pulled her jotter where she had her questions written down, into her bag.
"Just make sure that gets out right after the opening, " Ryan said.
They were planning an opening right after filling in the vacancies in the company. Queen's was quite a huge brand and the newsletter would most likely carry the news of the revival of the most recognized brand in the company after J and M.
"I know what to do Ryan. Just make sure you keep your word" Anna said, pulling out the band in her hair.
"First-hand interview," Anna said smiling
"How have you been?" Ryan asked
"I'm doing fine. You take care of yourself"
"You know you can call me if you need anything" Ryan stood on his feet walking around the table.
"We're not kids anymore. I can handle myself" Anna said.
Ryan sat at the edge of the table staring at her.
"I'm sorry"
Anna glanced down and away from Ryan as tears threatened to fall down her eyes.
"Hey,"
Anna stood up and wrapped her arms around his shoulder sobbing. Ryan pats her slowly, trying to calm her down.
"Is it expensive?" She asked sobbing
"What?"
"Your shirt"
"It's fine" Ryan placed a kiss on her hair.
"It's not" Anna pulled away; her expression making him laugh in the most gentle manner. His cold eyes were brightly lit and his mouth opened in a grin.
"Your makeup," Ryan said.
"Aish. Can't these things stay permanent till further notice? One drop of water and it's all ruined"
"I told you, you don't need to make up," Ryan said, patting her head fondly.
"Like I would take you seriously. What do you know?" she said pouting
"You should get back to work Ryan," Anna said, wiping the smear with a baby wipe.
"I will," Ryan said standing on his feet to get his coat. He put it on and the duo was soon on their way out of his office.
"I heard you got a new apartment"
"Do you have someone on me?"
Anna laughed.
"No. You can't do this and stay in the same house Ryan"
"Smart" he complimented as he pulled the door open for Anna to walk out.
"I'll come to visit one day" Anna steps out while Ryan shuts the door behind him.
"As long as you cook. No problem" Ryan said.
"You need a girlfriend," Anna teased.
"You are my girlfriend," Ryan said, pushing the buttons on the wall.
"You wish" Anna nudges him in the side but this man was as hard as a rock; he wouldn't bulge
"Ouch," Ryan said.
The duo were on the second floor where Ryan is to return to the boardroom. Leo was standing just outside the elevator when it swung open.
"I was about to go to your office," Leo said.
"He's here now," Anna said smiling.
Leo flashed her the signature smile that made Ryan want to punch him in the face. Why does he flirt with every girl Ryan knows? All except Maria of course. She wasn't his type.
"Miss Anna?"
"Yes."
"You look amazing in person. I'm Leo. Ryan's friend." Anna blushes amidst her laughter and Leo's.
"She's taken, Leo. Back off" Ryan said as he faced her and angled his head.
" Take care" he pecked her and soon walked out of the elevator leaving Leo stunned and Anna waving back with a small smile on her face as the doors swung shut again.
"She's your girlfriend?" Leo asked in shock, wondering how someone so gentle like her ended up with someone as cold as Ryan.
"You wanted to show me something?" Ryan said.
"A lot of people submitted their CV for the interview. We might have turned up with more than forty employees" Leo said.
"We'll have them all on board," Ryan said.
***************
Mia stood rooted to the ground as she stared at Edward in shock.
"Fire me? I...what did I do wrong?" Mia asked as she clenched the hem of her uniform, trying hard to keep her tears at bay
"We have to lay off a few staff. The owner of the cafe wants that. He doesn't want to spend so much on salaries" Edward explained; he didn't want to lay any of the staff off but orders are orders.
"I'm sorry Mia" he apologized.
"I'll….I understand" Mia said, staring at her feet as tears dropped on the floor.
"Mia.."
Mia turned and left the office, slamming the door shut; they were going to fire a few staff and it just had to be her who got laid off?!
She made her way to the staff room and pulled open her locker. She had no other job to go to. She had stopped all her part-time jobs just so she could work full-time…
Only for her to get fired.
"Edward? He's just a fool. He'll do anything I tell him"
Mia turned to face the restroom; it was Elena and it seems like she was on a call.
"Yeah. I told him to get rid of Mia in exchange for a little something and he did just that. Such a fool" she said again.
Mia made her way to the restroom and saw Elena running her fingers through her hair in the mirror, making her face up with foundation and then lipstick.
"Elena?" Mia's voice trembled greatly as Elena faced her with a disgusted look on her face.
"Oh. It's you" Elena said, not a bit surprised. "I'll call you back," she said to her phone before placing it down in her pocket.
"How could you?" Mia asked
"I heard you got fired. Sorry about that" Elena said sarcastically
"What did I ever do to you?" Mia asked with tears in her eyes.
"You disgust me. At least Edward got you fired, he would be next after you" Elena air-kissed Mia and headed out.
"I'm talking to you!" A burst of electricity radiated from her body scaring the wits out of Elena.
Elena staggered backwards in shock as horror filled her eyes.
"W...wh...what are you?" She asked.
"Why did you tell Edward to fire me?!" Mia's eyes were now clouded with blue flame as she glared at her ex-coworker
Elena fumbled with her phone trying to get help. Mia paused time and found herself crashing to the ground weakly. She had never shown anyone that side of her and she just did.
Mia stared at Elena with pain in her eyes; not today
Mia moved her hand in an anti-clockwise motion and paused when she on seeing Elena blow her a air-kiss..Mia snapped her fingers, balling her fist as she watched Elena leave,laughing at her.
- Writer
