Chapter One

1674 Words
CHAPTER 1 Tasha’s POV I checked my hair one more time in the mirror. It looked just the same as it did two minutes ago - as frizzy and unmanageable as usual. Giving up on it, I got out and hurried toward the huge office building. I didn't want to be late on my first day. The elevator took me right up to the top. Vamp Investments owns a building in one of the nicest parts of town. Klaus Aiden, their CEO, is a legend in the business world. I still can't quite believe that I landed a job as his personal assistant. I step into the office, staring around nervously. I go to the reception desk. "Hello, I'm Tasha Cruz. It's my first day here." The receptionist gives me a sparkling smile. Hey, Tasha! I'm Amelia. I've been expecting you. Your desk is this way." I followed her, looking around. I haven't been here before. I haven't even met Mr. Aiden yet. My interview was conducted over skype by one of Klaus's top employees, Daniella Nicholas. It seemed odd at the time, but as I looked around, I'm starting to realize that my interview isn't the only unusual thing about this company. There were tall glass windows, but all of them were covered by thick curtains. The inside of the office is lit by a chandelier hanging in the middle of the ceiling The people, too, aren't what I expected. A lot of them are normal-looking, like Amelia and me. Some of the others, though I could only describe them as supermodels. They're tall and pale and move with a grace that's usually reserved for cats. Their eyes seem to see everything. They look at everyone else as though they know exactly what they're thinking. “Get a grip, Tasha. They're just people. You're nervous, that's all.” “You'll be sitting here. For now, you can start sorting Mr. Aiden's emails. Take out the advertisements and prioritize the rest in order of urgency.” She informed me fluently. “I can do that. I did something similar at my old job.” "Thanks, Amelia. When do I meet Mr.Aiden? I assume he has instructions for me? Amelia laughed lightly. "You don't go to Mr.Aiden - he calls you in. He knows you're arriving today. He will call for you when he needs you." I was hoping to meet him right off, but I'm sure I'll see him soon enough. Thanks. I'll get started." I spent an hour sorting through emails. It's mostly the usual rubbish. I quickly organize them into different folders for Mr.Aiden's attention. I had questions for him about how he wants certain things handled, but I didn’t want to make a bad impression by barging into his office when I was not called. “Tasha?" Daniella came over, her arms full of papers. "Mr. Aiden will see you now.” I tried not to show my nerves as I walked to the clearly labeled office. I knocked, and a voice called for me to enter. When I did, my feet stumbled to a halt. I can't help staring at Mr. Aiden. He's definitely in the 'supermodel' category of this office. I felt like fanning myself, sure my face had gone bright red. He's younger than I expected. Gosh, I was never into brunettes, but the way that dark hair contrasts to his pale skin... His voice pulled me out of my thoughts. “Tasha. Coffee, please. Black, no sugar. You can get it by the snack bar down the street." I wasn't expecting him to be so brisk, but I took it in my stride. "Yes, Mr. Aiden. I just want to say that it's such an honor to be working-” I hadn’t finished my statement when he shunned me. “Yes, yes. Just make sure the coffee is hot." He dismissed me with a flick of his finger. I don't think he even looked at me. Anger boiled up in my stomach. I may just be his assistant, but he can at least be polite! “Yes, sir." I managed to keep my carefully cheerful tone and leave, closing the door quietly behind me. Why does someone so hot have to be so mean? I suppose it's too much to ask for both personalities and looks. I hurried down to the coffee stand I saw on my way in. I double-check the order, making sure to get it right. Mr. Aiden doesn't seem like a person who tolerates mistakes well. On the way back, I stood impatiently behind five people at the lift, which doesn't seem to be moving "What's going on?" I asked a woman next to me. "Lift is stuck. Mr. Aiden is going to go berserk, he had them replaced two months ago.” My heart sank. "Do we have an ETA on the repairs yet?" I asked with a brow raised. “I'm not sure, but if it's not within twenty minutes, someone is getting fired." The coffee in my hand was hot, but it won't stay that long for twenty minutes - if the lifts can be fixed that quickly. I bit back a groan as I walked quickly to the stairs. I had thought I was relatively fit. Apparently, I wasn't fit at all. By the time I dragged myself up to the fifteenth story, I felt like I was dying. I was sure my face was bright red, and it felt like I had daggers lodged in my lungs. The coffee in my hand was still warm, though. Not piping hot, but warm enough. Smiling in triumph, I wipe the sweat off my face and pause for a moment, composing myself. When I knocked on Mr. Aiden's door, he snapped 'enter' almost immediately. "Your coffee, Mr. Aiden." "What took you so long?" He furrowed his brows. "I'm sorry, it was-” I tried to explain the situation to him but he interrupted me Never mind, just give it to me." I bit back an annoyed comment and handed it to him. He took one sip and spat it out. “I told you to make it hot!" He glared at me. “What. Exactly. About. Fetching hot coffee is too difficult for you?" He emphasized each word in disgust, I couldn't even look at his face. “It was the elevator, Mr. Aiden, it -" “I don't want to hear excuses! Get out of my sight." He yelled at me in anger. I bit back angry tears and had to exert a lot of self-control to prevent myself from slamming the door. What a d**k. He didn't even give me a moment to explain. Well, next time I will just bloody well wait for the elevator to be fixed and serve him his coffee stone cold. If he was going to shout at me for dashing up fifteen stories for him, I won't bother in the future. I sat down at my desk, quietly fuming. Does he think I was incompetent? Fine, then I was going to prove him wrong. He will be eating his words before long. Mr. Aiden didn’t call me in for the rest of the day, which was just fine by me. I sorted his emails, book appointments into his calendar, responded to queries from potential investors, and forwarded others that I couldn't manage to Daniella, or Mr. Aiden himself for the most important clients. He didn’t come to shout at me again, which probably meant he couldn't find anything wrong with my work. Here's to small victories. On the way out, I met Amelia at the elevator, which was working fine now. "How was your first day?" she asked me slyly as she arranged her suit. "Um..." I didn't want to make a bad impression by complaining, but any honest answer was going to sound like a complaint. "It's ok, I get it. He can be a harsh man, and I'm only the secretary. Being his assistant must be much worse." She grinned at me. I was relieved to hear that I was not the only one he seemed to dislike. "He's like that with everyone?" "Unfortunately. On my first day here, I spent at least an hour crying in the bathroom.” She informed me in what sounded like a whisper, I couldn't help but shake my head in disbelief. Bastard. If this was how he treats everyone, I wasn’t sure how much longer I would be working here, regardless of how good it was for my career. “What a dick." I cursed in a low tone. "Shh, don't say that." Surprisingly Amelia heard me, she glanced around as we stepped into the elevator. "I swear he has the hearing of a bat. Half of the office does." She said nodding her head in certainty. I didn't have time to question this before Daniella stepped into the elevator with us just as it was about closing. “Tasha. I trust you had a good first day?" she gave me a quick nod before turning forward as though she could see through the elevator. I was certain that the whole office heard Mr.Aiden shouting at me. I wondered if she was testing me? “It was great, thank you." I squeezed out a smile. She smirked at me, and at that moment, I was sure Amelia was right. She heard me insulting my boss, and now I'm going to be out on my first day. Shit, this was going to look horrible on my CV. This was the best job I've ever gotten, and I blew it on the first day. Amelia looked nervous, just reinforcing my opinion - that I've messed up big time. I crossed my fingers behind my back, hoping that she would go easy on me. By her slightly predatory smile, I somehow doubt Daniella has ever gone easy on everyone. I was f****d. I never even got to show them that I was actually good at my job.
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