CHAPTER TWO: ORIENTATION CHAOS
1056 Words
Two years later.
The building was sleek and towering. Almost too polished to feel real. It was the kind of place Anna Blake once passed by without imagining she’d ever belong inside and yet, here she was standing in the lobby of Aurelius Dynamics, the multi-billion-dollar corporate giant that dominated tech-finance innovation across the East Coast.
The name sounded intimidating. The man who owned it even more so.
But Anna didn’t care about names anymore.
She stood straighter, heels clicking softly against the marble floor as she headed toward the reception desk, her ID badge clipped neatly to her blouse.
The ugly duckling from university was gone.
Her hair was longer now, falling in rich, dark waves down her back. Her figure was stunning, curves sharp where they used to be soft. Her skin, once hidden under baggy clothes, now glowed with effortless confidence. Only a faint scar across the high point of her cheekbone remained.
"New staff?" the receptionist asked, smiling.
"Anna Blake. Department 6B, Data Systems."
"Welcome aboard, Miss Blake. You’re not the only new hire today. You’ll be joining two others already in your department, let me have someone show you to your office first before orientation."
A junior staff member escorted Anna to the floor where her shared office was.... Inside, two other new hires were already seated, arranging their things and chatting lightly.
One was a girl with red curls. The other was a guy with glasses and a calm, nerdy vibe.
They looked up when Anna entered.
“I guess we’re the newbies, my name's Mia” Mia grinned.
“I’m Leon.” the guy spoke smiling too...
“Anna, my name is Anna”
She said with a confident smile, placing her bag down.
“And trust me, I didn’t come here to blend in.”
They laughed, taken aback by her poise.
As they settled in, the office door opened and a woman in a crisp navy-blue skirt suit stepped in, sharp glasses, tablet in hand, her expression was bland.
“Good morning,” she said. “Welcome to Department 6B.”
The three stood up immediately.
“I’m Mrs. Anderson,” the woman continued. “Your department head and team supervisor.”
Anna, Mia, and Leon exchanged glances, straightening even more.
“It’s good to meet you, ma’am,” Leon said quickly.
“Pleasure,” Mia added.
Anna nodded. “Looking forward to learning from you.”
Mrs. Anderson gave a curt nod of approval. “We’ll talk more after orientation. But first, Miss Blake?”
“Yes?” Anna stepped forward.
Mrs. Anderson handed her a slim manila folder. "This file needs to be submitted to Department 4A immediately. It’s urgent. Once you’re done, head upstairs to join the orientation.”
Anna took the file without hesitation. “I’ll be quick.”
“Orientation’s on the top floor. Gold elevators. Don’t be late.”
Anna smiled politely and left... She was ready.
But about ten minutes later… She wasn’t so ready, she was running late.
The elevator had jammed, she realized it was hard finding the right building to drop the file, It had all been a mess. And now she stood in front of the orientation hall doors, locked out with two unsmiling security guards holding her back.
“I’m telling you,” she huffed, trying to balance her tote bag and her files, “I was sent to deliver a company file! I wasn’t just strolling in late like some slacker!”
One of the men frowned. “Orientation is private once it begins. No exceptions.”
“I’m not asking to give a speech, I’m asking to walk in and sit”
The double doors swung open, but she wouldn't shut up....
Out stepped two sharply dressed men.
The first was tall, trim, and carried a digital tablet. His eyes scanned her, confused.
The second?
The second man made the air drop.
Sharp charcoal suit. Icy grey eyes. Jet-black hair swept back with careless precision. Expression? Cold. So cold.
He didn’t speak at first. He didn’t look surprised. He looked… annoyed. Like her voice had personally offended him.
He paused in the doorway, watching the scene unfold.
Anna turned to the guards, unaware of who he was.
“See? Great. Now I’ve made a scene. Just perfect. First day on the job and I’m already labeled ‘the difficult one.’”
She rolled her eyes, still not looking in Ryan’s direction.
“Maybe next time I’ll carry a loudspeaker and announce every task I’m doing for the company.”
That made the assistant stiffen. Ryan’s eyes narrowed slightly.
He stepped forward slowly, gaze raking across the hallway, then settling on her like a slow judgment.
He just looked her up and down, slowly. Disgust flickered behind his eyes, not recognition, not attraction, just judgment.
“Who is she?” he asked flatly.
The assistant, Zion, glanced at his screen. “Miss Anna Blake. New hire, Data Systems.”
“She’s late,” he said coldly
Anna blinked....
She straightened. “With all due respect, I wasn’t late because I was incompetent. I was assigned a file transfer. I was told to deliver—”
He raised a hand to silence her. Didn’t even look at her again.
“Zion,” he said. “Make sure we never hire that kind of person again. Ever.”
He turned to walk away, fingers already on his phone.
Anna froze, stunned and embarrassed, burning with rage.
The men at the door chuckled under their breath, while her heart kept pounding in her ears.
No. Not today....this can never happen on her first day at work, she wouldn't risk it being underestimated....
She took a bold step forward, her heels clicking sharply against the marble floor.
“Excuse me,” she said.
No answer.
“Excuse me!”
But he was still walking away, she closed the distance.
And tapped him on the shoulder.
He stopped.
Slowly, Ryan Alexander turned, his expression unreadable.
The orientation room was dead silent behind them.... Zion looked like he’d seen a ghost.
Anna’s voice was calm, but her eyes blazed. “You don’t know me, but I promise you will.”
Ryan didn't flinch, he simply starred at the hand that touched him and said coldly...
"Zion, terminate her contract. Now".
- Writer
