Broken Pieces

CHAPTER THREE

I stood in front of Davis Enterprises building, taking in the elegant building.

nerves and excitement were overwhelming me. Today was important – it’s my first day at the job, I couldn’t afford to mess it up.

Sarah had been a lifesaver, taking me shopping for the perfect outfit to make a killer first impression. We even had a girls' night the day before I left for Texas,

just like old times.

On getting to Texas while I was sorting my luggages I had found a stack of dollar bills hidden in my purse by Sarah, when I called to ask her about it, She said it

was for my upkeep. It was a kind gesture that brought a tiny tear of appreciation and happiness to my eye. I do not know what I would have done without that girl

in my life.

I brushed away the tear that had begun to well up in my eyes, Took a really deep breath and walked towards the building, preparing myself for whatever awaited

me. "Let’s do this," I muttered to myself, adjusting my clothes as I pushed the doors open.

The bustling lobby of Davis Enterprises was a beauty to behold, I took in the elegant surroundings with wide eyes. The chandeliers cast a gentle light on the

marble floors, and the air was filled with the buzz of busy professionals going about their day.

Everyone ignoring me as though I was invisible, I made my way to the elevator,

Eagerness building in my chest. As the doors slid open, I stepped inside and pressed the button for the fifth floor, where Amy had told me I would be working.

When the elevator doors reopened, I found myself face to face with a well-dressed woman who looked me up and down with scrutiny. "Can I help you?"

she asked, her tone courteous yet cautious.

I straightened my posture, determined to make a good impression. "I'm Kristen,

Kristen Monroe" I replied, offering her a shy smile. "I'm here for my first day of work. Ms Schuyler said I'd be working in the marketing division."

She smiled in recognition and acknowledged me. "Ah, yes, Kristen, Can I address you by your first name.

I replied with a polite nod.

Welcome to Davis Enterprises, You’ll love it here” she said, her voice warm.

"Follow me, I'll show you to your department."

I fell into step behind her, trying to shake off my unsteady nerves.

She led me through the busy corridors of Davis Enterprises, Phones ringing,

people talking in hushed tones and clicking keyboards filled the air. Everywhere I looked, people were hard at work, Focus all over their faces.

The woman introduced herself as the CMO, She walked with such confidence that matched the sophistication of the company. "I'm Emily," she said with a warm smile. It's a pleasure meeting you.

I returned her smile, feeling at ease, hoping I was in good hands. Emily seemed friendly and approachable, exactly the kind of person I needed to guide me

through my first day on the job.

Finally, we arrived at the marketing department, Emily began introducing me to the people around us. "Everyone, this is Kristen Monroe," she announced,

gesturing towards me with a sweep of her hand. "She's our new marketing assistant."

I greeted each person with a polite smile, feeling a little anxious by the sudden attention. But everyone seemed welcoming, some complimented my look and

dressing as I made my way through the office.

We soon reached a vacant desk near the window, and Emily turned to me with a

smile. "This will be your workspace, Kristen. Make yourself comfortable"

I nodded gratefully, barely containing my excitement.

As I settled into my new desk, a friendly voice interrupted my thoughts. I looked up to see a guy in his mid twenties leaning over the cubicle wall, his face bright with a cheerful grin.

"What’s up! I'm Brian," he said, offering me a handshake. "Welcome to the team."

I shook his hand with a smile, feeling an instant connection with him. Brian seemed like the kind of person who could brighten up even the dullest of days

with his smile, and he was actually really cute.

We chatted, Brian filled me in on the ins and outs of the office, pointing out the break room and the best places to grab lunch nearby. He was full of energy and

life, and I found myself unable to resist his friendliness.

Immediately i got home that day, i called sarah to tell her how the say went, she was happy that i was fitting in good and socializing well despite it being my first day.

——

I hopped out of the cab and dashed towards the entrance of Davis Enterprises,

my heart pounding against my ribs.

The CEO was coming for a meeting with the department heads, and Emily gave a big whole speech yesterday telling us to be as perfect as possible and I couldn't afford to be late.

I reached for the door handle, my heart sank. It was locked. I must have missed the automatic opening or something. I glanced at my watch and cursed under my

breath. I was already running late, and now this?

Just as I was about to look for another way in, someone came bursting out, carrying a cup of coffee. Before I could react, we collided, the hot liquid splashing all over my clothes.

"s**t! I'm so sorry!" the person exclaimed, panic evident in their voice.

I gritted my teeth against the pain, trying to compose myself. "It's fine," I

muttered, trying my best to ignore the burning sensation on my chest.

I'm really sorry, I had no idea you were at the door, I'm so sorry, The girl said looking genuinely scared. Are you okay?

I nodded, forcing a weak smile. "Yeah, I'm fine, it's fine " I lied, pushing past her and heading towards the restroom.

I took in the damage on my shirt. It didn't help that it was white. Dabbing at the coffee stains did very little help.

My clothes stained and my skin still burning, I hurried to my department, hoping to find some help. But as I got there, everyone was rushing out of the office in a

frenzy.

I grabbed hold of Brian, my heart racing from all the running. "What's going on?"

I asked.

Brian's expression was serious as he met my gaze. "The CEO arrived early," he explained. "He wants to have an impromptu meeting with the whole marketing

team right now."

My stomach tightened , but I knew I had no choice but to go along. The thought of facing such an important meeting with coffee-stained clothes and burning skin

making me uneasy. Maybe he wouldn’t notice me, I’d just have to be as invisible as possible

Upon entering the meeting room, I could literally feel the tension that hung in the air. Emily tried to address everyone quietly before the CEO arrived.

I took a seat at the table, My nerves on fire as I tried to focus on Emily's words.

Brian asked about my stained clothes. But before I could reply, the room fell silent as everyone's attention turned to the door.

I followed their gaze and felt my jaw drop as I saw Lucas striding into the room, follower by two suited men. He looked every inch the powerful billionaire CEO as I've heard my colleagues talk about, his presence commanding attention as he walked. His face emotionless, completely different from how I remember him.

I never expected to see him here, let alone as the CEO of such a big influential company like Davis Enterprises. I felt so sick, remembering the night we had.

Lucas took his seat at the head of the table, his eyes scanning the room. His eyes landed on me, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still.

His gaze lingered on me for a minute too long, But there was no warmth in his eyes, no hint of recognition or emotion. It was like I was just another face in the

crowd to him, nothing more.

Then, to my horror, he spoke, "You there," pointing a finger in my direction.

"Stand up."

I swallowed hard, my mouth suddenly dry, My legs shaky, as I slowly rose to my

feet. "Y-yes…sir?" I stammered, my voice almost a whisper.

Lucas's eyes peered into mine, his expression unreadable as he spoke. "What's

your name?" he demanded, his voice hard and commanding.

"It's Kristen, sir," I replied, wondering if he really didn’t recognize me or he was just being professional.

He nodded, his eyes traveling down to the coffee stains on my clothes. "And why are you dressed like that, Kristen?" he queried

I opened my mouth to explain, but before I could utter a word, he cut me off with a hurtful remark. "You're an eyesore," his words hit like a slap in the face. "If you

considered your job even a tiny bit serious, you would have made an effort to show up looking presentable."

Anger and humiliation rose up inside me, but I bit my tongue, knowing it wouldn't do me any good to argue with him. Instead, I hung my head in shame,

wishing the ground will swallow me whole.

Without another word, he dismissed me from the meeting, with a voice cold as ice.

"Leave," he said, gesturing towards the door. My day is bad enough as it is, I don’t need you to make it worse. Don’t come back until you've found a solution to the

mess on you.

I wanted to defend myself, to ask why he was being rude, I wanted to ask if he really didn’t remember me, but I couldn’t find the words. With shame, I turned

and walked out of the room, feeling everyone’s eyes on me. I closed the door to the meeting room, unable to hold back the tears, I ran to my desk and hid under

it, hoping to shut the world out. I found myself questioning every life choice I’ve made that had led me to this moment. Why was I always so unlucky?

It was just so crazy how Lucas was literally the sweetest guy I had ever met just two weeks ago, only to be completely cold now. It felt unnecessary, even if he was just being professional. And I couldn't help but hate myself for having a one-night stand with him. Now, my work life is getting complicated, just when I thought it was the perfect job.

Lost in my thoughts — I must have been under the desk for a while, because Brian walking over jolted me from my thoughts.

“Can I join you? This looks like fun, I don’t know why I never thought of hiding

under my desk before” he grinned

You’ve probably never embarrassed yourself in front of the CEO on your first meeting, A week after you just started working at the company. I managed a

smile.

Okay, Fair enough, he raised up his hand in defeat. But if it makes you feel better

Mr Lucas is like that to everyone.

Well, It doesn’t make me feel better, Brian. I sighed.

“I’m sorry” his brows furrowed with concern. Here, I thought you could use this,"

he said, offering me a plastic bag with a new shirt. Words can’t explain how grateful I was.

Brian reached down and pulled me out from under the desk. "Come on, Kristen,"

he said gently. "You need to brace yourself though. If you thought Emily was nice,

you're about to see the not-so-nice side of her soon.

I wasn’t ready for another scolding, I thought to myself, as I went to get changed.

It wasn’t long after I settled down on my desk that Emily walked in and barked to me, Kristen, Mr Lucas wants you in his office now!