Chapter 8: The New Assistant
1851 Words
Blushing, I shrank back and asked, “Did you graduate recently?”
“Yeah! I majored in design and graduated from YNU.”
YNU was quite a prestigious university around here. My other assistant, Annie Kallan, was also an alumnus there.
“You and Annie are fellow alumni! Annie’s my other assistant. She had to meet a client this morning, but I’ll introduce you once she’s back.”
I selected a few documents from my shelf and placed them on the desk.
“These are a few of our current projects, and those are some of the previous ones. Please get up to speed with them, for now.”
I sorted the files into two stacks and handed them over.
“Your room is over there, with Annie’s. Let me take you there. HR will give you some office supplies, but if you’re missing anything, I’ll get them. Come find me if you have any questions.”
“You’re so nice, Ciara! If there’s any heavy lifting to be done, be sure to call for me!”
“Sure!”
Having briefed Wilson, I could finally sit for a while and work on the current project.
“Ring, ring.” The office phone rang.
“Hello, h—” I was interrupted in the middle of my greeting! The client was practically yelling through the phone and it was giving me a headache.
Annie had been leading this project, and relations had soured with the client. I put on my best customer service persona and apologized profusely but they tore me a new one anyway.
A proposal that much effort had gone into was now in jeopardy.
What in the world had Annie done? All she was supposed to do was go over the details of the design strategy, so how did it come to this? After all, she had been on the job for an entire year, how hard was it to pick up basic business etiquette?!
Incensed, I grabbed the phone and dialed reception.
“Tell Annie to come see me immediately when she’s back!”
“No need, I’m already here.” Annie’s voice came from the door.
“I just got off the phone with a very angry client. Please, tell me. What in the world happened?” I tried to suppress my anger and stay calm.
Annie looked sullen and indignant.
“What was I supposed to do? I went over the details as planned, but he was such a bully! All high and mighty, and finding fault with everything. It’s not my fault he’s making things hard for us!”
Annie flopped into a chair and pouted.
What the hell! What kind of attitude was this?
“So you said you couldn’t cater to his every whim and told him to get someone else?”
Annie glanced at me. “Obviously.”
God! This was just beyond the pale! She thought she was above everyone else! What was with the people around me these days?!
“B.D. Corporation is a long-time client of ours. How could you act like this on such an important project? I’d let little things slide, but how do I explain this to President Walter?”
“There are things I can, and things I can’t do. What do you want from me? You knew my temper, but sent me over there anyway. Did you set me up to fail?”
Her question made me choke with anger!
“If I could, I would’ve gone personally! This project is important to President Walter, and we only got it because he trusts us!”
“Well, since you’re the one who took it, you should be responsible for any problems!”
Our raised voices attracted attention. A crowd was gathering by the door to secretly listen in.
“Annie Kallan, I’m not here to pick a fight, I’m here to solve the problem! As your supervisor, it’s my duty to train you. You have an eye for design, that’s true, but beyond that? One year you’ve been with us and I can recall you causing all manner of issues, big and small! Think about it!”
Annie was staring daggers at me.
“So you plan to keep acting like this? Testing the client’s patience, time and time again?”
I was shaking from anger.
“Leave! I don’t want to see you right now!”
Annie slammed the desk, looking as prideful as ever. She seemed on the verge of saying something when a man’s voice came from the door.
“Alright, nothing to see here. Just discussing a project!”
Wilson walked in and closed the door.
“You ladies were talking really loudly!” Wilson had on his usual smile and his eyes were bright.
“Ah, this must be my senior!”
As I nodded, he walked over to Annie.
“Hello.. Annie, was it? I’m Wilson. I also graduated from YNU in design, and today’s my first day here.”
Annie gaped at him. In an instant, she had transformed from a tiger to a cat.
“Wilson! I know you! From that figure-skating program at one of YNU’s anniversary celebrations! You were so hot, the Adonis of YNU, even!”
Wilson smiled bashfully. “That’s all in the past. I look forward to getting your valuable advice in the future, Annie.”
Annie’s gaze was not merely one of joy and admiration. It also conveyed infatuation.
“You guys can continue outside!” I waved them away, still feeling angry.
Wilson blinked at me.
“Ciara, you’re prettier when you smile. Simply enchanting!”
I could tell he was trying to cheer me up. Annie’s expression stiffened. She rolled her eyes and tugged Wilson out of the room.
“Do you have everything you need, Wilson? Let me take a look. If you’re in need of anything, I’ll sort you out…”
Annie eagerly led Wilson away.
Tut-tut, fine, No point bickering with a child like her. There was a mess to be fixed.
I picked up my purse and rushed toward B.D. Corporation’s offices.
The person Annie had offended today was none other than the chairman of the B.D. Corporation, Mr. Aaron Grayson.
The project this time involved the interior design of one of B.D. Corporation's five star hotels. They had requested it be done in a Baroque style and it had taken two months between the first draft and the revised draft.
Everything had been perfect and only a step away from completion, but alas, this incident was a giant wrench in the works.
Mr. Grayson was said to be eccentric and difficult—that is, according to rumors. Personally, I put no stock in hearsay and would never judge someone based on speculation and conjecture.
Nevertheless, I was nervous about the encounter. The moment I stepped through the doors of B.D. Corporation, my heart started palpitating.
Fortunately, my audience was approved and I was taken to the top floor—the chairman’s office.
“President Grayson, Mrs. Hanley from Infinite Innovation Corporation is here to see you.”
“Come in.”
The secretary stepped aside and made way for me.
Sitting behind a large desk of genuine mahogany, Aaron Grayson had his head down as he signed off on something important, no doubt. He possessed all the traits of a successful 40-year-old, and had a handsome profile to boot.
I found it hard to relate this side of him to the hysterical person on the phone.
“Hello, President Grayson. I’m Ciara Hanley, the lead designer on this project.”
I stepped forward politely and offered him my card with both hands.
He looked up, acknowledging my presence, but did not take the card.
“Pregnant?” He noticed my bulging belly as he looked me up and down.
“Yes, I am. Mr. Grayson, I am sincerely sorry for what happened today.”
Aaron sneered and put down his pen.
“Did you come to apologize or to save your own skin?” He looked at me with a piercing gaze that seemingly saw through everything.
I bit my lip.
“As an individual, I came to apologize. But as a member of the corporation, I do have an interest in restoring our partnership.”
I looked at the president with my most sincere expression.
As I stood waiting, I noticed that, even while seated, he managed to make me feel like a mouse before a lion.
“Hah, women.” He snorted, escalating the awkwardness in the room.
“President Grayson, let’s not talk business for now. From your call this morning, I imagine you must have been furious. I take full responsibility, and would consider it a personal shame if I were unable to meet your requirements.”
“How may I offer compensation for your emotional damage? I will do anything within my power.”
The president’s face was smooth, free of a single wrinkle. At the corner of one slender eye was a beauty mark that gave him an air of immorality.
He laughed coldly, his eyes narrowing, and looked at me sharply.
“Woman, do you even know what you’re saying?”
All of a sudden, I felt uneasy.
A bigshot like President Grayson could have any woman he wanted, surely? He would never do anything to a pregnant woman!
I nodded silently.
“Then we can talk after you have given birth. Settling personal and professional debts under one account doesn’t bother me!” His words were cold and threatening.
That meant months! This project could not be put on hold that long! By the time I gave birth, the hotel would be having its grand opening!
“Whatever it is you’re thinking of, sir, I can do it now, just as well!” I looked at him firmly.
President Grayson stood up and closed the distance.
He suddenly grabbed a breast and squeezed—hard.
It hurt! But with the hurt came an inexplicable sense of pleasure that shot through my nerves!
“Ah!”
I was unable to help crying out even as I bit hard on my lip.
I felt a constant swelling and throbbing, not only in my breasts. My blood roared as my heart skipped several beats.
“So, is this okay?” He let go, waiting for my answer.
I panicked! My breathing became labored and my bosom was heaving. The sudden sensations combined with my unstable mood left me discombobulated!
The throbbing sensation refused to fade.
“Don’t make hasty promises if you can’t fulfill them!” President Grayson’s eyes were cold.
Oh no, it was really over now! How would I explain it to the company?!
I was unsatisfied. That single squeeze had made my body sizzle and throb, and even my legs felt weak! I needed release but could do nothing about it!
I gritted my teeth and prepared to leave.
“Pop!”
My top popped open! The buttons flew off and fell onto the marble tiles, clinking in succession.
- Writer
