Non-Negotiable

First Day

"Ma'am, you're having lunch with Mr. Trion later this noon, and then you're due for a meeting at two in the afternoon with the executives concerning the annual sales report."

Klea ceased to move. She stared at her phone. She was speaking with her assistant. She had to blink twice to make sure that what she heard was correct.

"Sorry—lunch? With who?"

"E-erm.. Trion?"

So I did hear it correctly.

"Okay. But how? And why? I don't remember you asking me if I could fit him into my schedule?" the assistant's voice panicked, obviously unsure of how to respond to Klea.

"We-well, Mr. Trion called you and then said he'll fire me if I don't put him on your schedule today. You're fully booked, and I understand that you need your lunch, but please, I don't want to lose my job." she was practically begging Klea at this point to do what Trion wants.

Not even a day has passed yet since he's here, and he's already terrorizing my work? Klea massaged her temples, calming herself as she understood the situation her assistant was in.

"It's alright, Beverly. Where did he say he wanted to eat lunch?"

"He didn't exactly say, Ma'am. He just said he'll come pick you up once he's free."

The headache forming was starting to get heavier. She cursed under her breath, clearly noting the wrong impression of him yesterday. He was not, at all, responsible and threw his authority everywhere. She leaned back on her chair and sighed, feeling defeated.

Beverly's thick Spanish accent was showing and that rarely happens. She wanted her job so much. Not only did it pay well, but Klea wasn't a toxic boss. No matter how many times Klea asks Beverly to drop the 'Ma'am', she just wouldn't.

"Alright. Thanks, Beverly."

"I'm sorry, Ma'am,", "No problem at all. It's his fault anyway, not yours. Also, don't worry too much about him firing you. You're employed under me, not him. Although it is his company."

"Well, I did hear he's been doing a great job. I heard when I got back from getting your coffee. Apparently, people are talking about him. They all praised him for his looks, and his wealth and how he's not being a burden to the company."

"Well, that's quite the elaborate conversation you heard,"

"Sorry, Mr. Trion said to tell you."

"I'll be sure to give him a piece of my mind later. Thanks, Beverly."

"You're welcome, Ma'am."

Throughout the entire morning, Klea pushed back the thought of having lunch with Trion. She usually takes a nap after lunch to conserve her energy. She was always working late, and after that, she had dinner with some of her friends. If she was going to have lunch with Trion, she had better tell her friends that she was going to be late or potentially not show up at all.

When it was 12 noon, Klea stopped working and waited for Trion to come by. While waiting, she dialed her friend's number to tell her what would happen later.

"Jess, hi. I wanted to say that I might run late or maybe, I don't know, maybe I can't come."

[What? But we didn't see each other yesterday, and now you can't come?]

"Sorry, Jess. The new boss seems to be so… bossy."

[What do you me.... is it Trion?] Klea giggled. She had told Jess everything before.

After Jaden's death. Klea didn't have anyone else. Carrie had shipped off Trion overseas to train him to become a successful head of the company. She could not run to Carrie as she was always grieving and, after that, followed her husband's death. She could not have leaned on someone else.

"It's alright. I think he's scared of being in a new environment. I'll have to comfort him, I guess."

[Well, if that's what you need to do then, okay. Tell me if you're able to come, okay? We're all waiting for you.] [Yeah! We're waiting for your ass to come here! Be sure to bring your baby boy if he wants!] everyone said in unison over the phone, shouting from afar even, which earned a chuckle from Klea.

"Yes, yes. You guys are always so loud. Hard to imagine that you're in a book club. I gotta go now." [Alright. Have fun!]

Klea ended the call, checked her watch, looked at the door, but still found no sign of a knock or even Trion's cologne. She shrugged and sat on her sofa and lay down. While waiting, she grabbed a book under the mini table at the center of the leather sofas and started reading.

"I missed you,"

"Wa-wait.. we can't—"

"Klea,"

"Klea."

"Klea!"

Klea jolted awake. Trion was sitting opposite of her on the other couch, eyebrows furrowed and worried. Klea was slightly moving around, tossing herself and looking a bit flustered.

"Since when did you get there?"

"I don't know. Are you hungry? Cause I am. Let's go."

Trion didn't even bother waiting for Klea to recollect herself. He stood up and went for the door, holding it up and looked back. He took one look at Klea and left, leaving the door open. Klea breathed in deep, and breathed it out in one go, letting go of her frustration.

I am a grown woman. I should be able to carry my own weight, regardless if the person who invited me to eat lunch is being a dickhead. She thought to herself, grabbed her purse and followed behind Trion's trail.

While in the car for lunch, she tried to think about what she had dreamed about. Who was she with? Why was she in that predicament? And what were they doing? She couldn't remember a thing, nor did she see who she was with. She knew they were doing something lustful, but she wasn't sure to what extent.

"Why are you so deep in thought?" Trion's voice broke the silence.

"Why did you invite me to lunch? Much less told my assistant you'd fire her." her voice pierced through Trion's indifference. He couldn't give her an exact reason. He found none.

"I didn't. What makes you think that I was trying to fire her?"

"I record all my calls and my assistants. Did you think I wouldn't find out?"

Klea looked forward, not giving Trion a glance. Trion, on the other hand, took one side glance at Klea before clearing his throat.

"I didn't mean to. I just wanted to have lunch with you."

"You could have asked me," Klea answered without any warmth. Trion could tell that Klea was pissed. Her answers were short and monotone.

"I don't know your number," he shot back.

"Then knock on my door? Is that too much to ask?"

"I get it. I won't do it again. I'm sorry." Klea raised an eyebrow.

"Why are you apologizing to me? Apologize to Beverly."

Trion sighed, but nodded.

"Okay. I'll do just that. Now, can you please drop the hostility?" Klea shrugged.

"Yes. Where are we going for lunch?"