Irresistible

Restructure

Theodore wasted no time making his mark on the company, swiftly orchestrating a transformation with the arrival of a construction crew and an interior design team, just minutes after introducing himself. The office buzzed with activity as walls were repainted, furniture was rearranged, and a fresh, modern aesthetic began to emerge, signaling a dynamic shift in the company's atmosphere.

The wooden floor planks were replaced with polished marble. As another crew of workers brought in a glittering crystal chandelier. In perfect fluidity, the designers began expertly displaying sculptures and artwork. I try not to stare but I can't look away. They all work in perfect unison without speaking.

"I will never forgive myself for not recognizing that car" Hailey sighs as she types away on her keyboard. Pulling my attention from the designers.

"What do you mean?" My mind wanders to the Rolls Royce that we had seen earlier that morning.

"Amara try to keep up" Hailey teases and pauses to look at me "Theordore Pierce...?"

My face must have betrayed how clueless I felt because Hailey paused before typing and turning her laptop towards me. She had pulled up a profile on Caviar, the social media site that the elite use to separate themselves from the rest of us. Of course, Theo would be on there. I held back from rolling my eyes.

Theodore's profile is a window into a world of opulence and adventure. It's a carefully curated showcase of his larger than life lifestyle. As Hailey scrolls his profile, it's apparent that he's regularly seen sporting expensive suits and flashy watches. His watch collection alone must cost more than some people's homes. The blacked out Rolls is proudly on display in the background of many of the pictures. How fitting.

His feed is a visual journey of luxury, from photos of private jets and exotic sports cars to breathtaking snapshots of his lavish estates around the world. Scenic landscapes and candid shots of paradise like destinations are frequent features. He's constantly surrounded by beautiful and eccentric people.

"Could you imagine living like this?" Hailey swooned in admiration.

"What's the deal with him?" I ask, amused that Hailey already found his social media on the first day. She really is talented.

"Well, he's quite wealthy, you know. He lives this epic socialite lifestyle, always attending exclusive events and being seen with celebrities. He's got a reputation for throwing extravagant parties and traveling in style and he's so hot" she pointed at a picture, taken of him. He looks relaxed, lounging shirtless on a luxury Yatch, with a drink in hand. His skin bronzed and oiled and his well defined abs glistening. His hair was a bit longer and messy. His eyes captivated the camera and his lips curled into a sultry half smile.

"Wealth and parties don't necessarily make someone a great boss, Hailey. I hope he's focused on the job and not just his social life. MGP is Lydia's life's work. What if-"

The common area fell into an abrupt and hushed silence as Theodore enters. It was as if someone had hit the mute button on the bustling office atmosphere. All eyes turned toward him as he strode in with an air of confidence.

Whispers ceased, and the clatter of keyboards and ringing phones faded into the background. Coworkers exchange subtle glances, each seemingly struck by his arrival. The sudden stillness was punctuated only by the soft sound of footsteps on the polished floor as he made his way towards my office, where Hailey and I sat, leaving a trail of awe and admiration in his wake.

His arrival had an undeniable magnetic effect, casting a spell on the room, and it was clear that his presence is now well known. Just behind him are the two men from the earlier meeting, though neither had spoken a word.

"Ms. James" his voice low and even as his eyes stare through me. "Would it be reasonable to assume, that you can get Ross up to speed on current projects?" His face was expressionless as he gestured towards the young man in a Navy suit.

He stood tall, his auburn hair tied back in an elaborately braided bun. His suit seemed made just for him, perfectly highlighting his lean and sculpted figure. The rich navy color complemented his eyes, and it was clear that every detail of his outfit had been meticulously chosen. His presence is striking.

"Absolutely, Theodore. Nice to meet you Ross, I-"

"You will refer to me as Mr. Pierce" He spoke over me, his emerald eyes ice cold and his voice commanding. I feel myself nod. "Do not disturb me until you have made noteworthy progress." He looked towards Hailey "You need to return to your own office". His voice carries no emotion as he turns to walk away. His shadow in a charcoal suit silently trailing him without a second glance.

Hailey quietly gathered her belongings. We look at each other in silent shock for a few seconds before she waved goodbye. I turn to Ross, who also appears to be kind of caught off guard. For a moment we silently observe one another. Every detail, from the perfectly knotted tie to the well-shined shoes, reflects his attention to detail. He extends a large hand toward me.

"Pleasure to meet you, Ms. James". He firmly grasps my hand for a quick shake.

"Likewise, but please just call me Amara." I smile at him. "Ms. James is too formal"

"Of course, Amara" he nods in agreement. "Where should we start?"

"Definitely with the content management system. It's the oil that keeps this machine running smoothly" I say with a grin, as I access the portal and angle my screen towards him."We cover a wide range of topics, from news and current events to feature pieces and entertainment. It's an exciting place to be!"

"May I?" Ross paused before reaching for my laptop. I nodded in agreement. Ross pulled the laptop closer to him. He then opened his leather bound notebook and began taking notes. His handwriting is flawless.

"Why is it pink?" He asked with an eyebrow raised.

"Oh I did that." My cheeks warmed as I tried not to smile. "When I was creating the program, I thought the pastel colors were a nice touch and Lydia agreed".

"Your work is quite impressive" he mused while examining the screen "Although, I am not confident that Mr. Pierce will maintain that color pallet." He chuckled. " Not that there is anything wrong with it".

" Thank you Ross" I smile "I think he'll have to get used to it, the color is a part of the code".

Ross nodded and continued his notes. He continued through the webpages with his fingers dancing over the keys. His intense gaze gave no indication of his thoughts. Hours ticked by as he got familiar with our systems.

As Ross and I sat side by side, a new message from Hailey popped up at the bottom corner of my screen. " That man is FINE!" with an accompanying fire emoji displayed in full view. It disappeared after a few seconds. My cheeks burn red as I steal a glance at Ross, hoping he missed the notification. A small smile peaks at the corner of his lips but he says nothing.

The soft murmurs of other conversations, drifting in from the open door, create a comforting back drop and distraction. I turn towards where Hailey had previously been sitting and tried not to laugh. Working with my best friend, definitely kept things interesting.

"Amara?" Ross asked. " I thought you are a journalist?"

"I am" I pause "why do you ask?"

"It's unusual for a journalist to also be fluent in web design and coding" he glanced from the screen for an explanation.

"I'm self taught. When I was hired, they were using spreadsheets to track projects." I explained.

Ross's poker face broke for a second as he looked impressed momentarily before his expression vanished again. He nodded in approval and returned focus to the portal asking very few questions.

A commotion from the open office broke the silence. A gut wrenching sob. I stood to investigate but Ross signaled for me to stay.

"A merger includes restructuring" he explained, before I could protest. "Some people handle it better than others."

I peered out of my office to see a handful of employees packing up their desks. The sobs came from Rhonda. She was a career journalist who had been with MGP for over a decade. She continued to blubber as she packed her desk into a small set of boxes. The others around her were silent, some packing, while others pretended not to notice. I felt my blood boil with outrage. How could he?

"I am done for now" Ross spoke quietly as he simultaneously closed his notebook and my laptop. He slid the laptop in my direction. His face blank.

"Thank you" I muttered as I pulled the laptop closer. I looked towards Ross. Surely he had more to say about those who were let go? Even if Mr. Pierce is a monster, Ross had to see things differently, right? Restructuring suddenly felt like a curse word. Ross stood from the desk and looked pointedly at me.

"You'll need to meet with Mr. Pierce now".