The Company

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Natalia started to work at The Company about a week later, her department was located in the basement where she had a pretty decent office. Outside her office were 12 cubicles, in a row of 6 and in front in another row the other 6 cubicles. They were set up with computers, phones, and office materials all chosen by Natalia. She was going to start her interviewing process for her working team. She had12 positions to pick top programmers and of course leave a position for Ramos so they can start their investigation in the company. While waiting for her first interviewer to arrive she often caught herself daydreaming and thinking of her current boss, Ms. Chester. How the few times she has seen her, she's never caught a sincere smile from her face and how she always is so serious. Thinking to her how she wished to give her something positive to smile about. Her thoughts were interrupted by the office phone ringing.

"Hello?" Natalia said.

"Ms. Allen I have Scott Pryce for interview" my secretary answered.

"Ok send him in" Natalia said.

About seven hours later Natalia’s last interviewer was coming in, his name Chris Ramos. She faked looking at his resume and background, she already knew what to ask and he knew what to say. To say the least we have been rehearsing for this. So I finally looked up from her documents and face him.

"Mr. Ramos I see here that you just graduated and have no working experience in this field why should I hire you?" I said.

"I graduated top of my class and have helped small businesses with software and security and I think I will be an asset to help rebuild this company's computer department since it's in need of helping" Ramos said.

"So you have heard?" she questioned.

"Who in the computer world has not" he replied.

Natalia continued to question him for another 15 minutes and have him take a test of requirement of the company. He completed everything rounding an hour. She stood up from her desk and shook Ramos hand and thanked him as he walked out. She walked back to her desk and sat while opening up her drawer and grabbed 11 folders and added Ramos folder to the pile.

***********

Elena is in the back room behind her office which holds 3 computer screens on top of a desk displaying different parts of The Company, all surveillance of different departments of the building. In the center screen was Natalia's office. Elena was observing her all day as she conducted her interviews, she had a particular interest in Natalia that she could not place and it made her uncomfortable but curious. She observed as Natalia picked up her office telephone and dialed an extension. About seconds later Elena's office rang.

"Hello?" Elena said.

"Ms. Allen is requesting to see you Ms. Chester" secretary said.

"Yes, I can see her now" Elena said as she hung up the phone.

Elena observed the screen watching Natalia leave her office. Elena quickly left her back room closing it and entered her office where she sat in her desk. About a minute later there was a knock on the door and in came the secretary with Natalia behind her holding a pile of files. Elena gestured for Natalia to sit on the chair opposite of her. She started to walk towards the chair, as Elena watched her She noticed she looked straight to her eyes and didn't look away and just stared back, as Elena observed her gaze on her, She couldn't help but feel a little threatened and surprise, she didn't submit her stare. Usually Elena would find nobody could hold her glare and liked having that authority over people who she met but not Natalia, she let Elena know her stare didn't threatened her. She found herself even more curious and interested in her. Natalia had already sat down; she finally took away her stare and looked down to her folders on her lap. Elena could not help but slightly smirk noticing she turned her gaze finally. Elena liked to be in control in everything around her.

"How can I help you Ms. Allen?" Elena said sarcastically.

"Y...You asked me to come straight to you once I chose the people in my department" Natalia said while sighing in frustration as she stuttered.

Elena half smiled noticing how uneasy Natalia's demeanor changed and noticed how frustrated she became on the way she answered.

"That is correct have you chosen them?" Elena said smirking.

Natalia nodded and handed over the pile of folders. Elena took them and placed them on her desk as she picked one up and started to read. About fifteen minutes of silence Elena finished reading the last file and looked at Natalia staring at her. This time Elena turned her gaze at the last folder again and looked up.

"I agree with every applicant that you chose except one, why Mr. Ramos he has no experience?" Elena said as she observed Natalia smirk slightly.

"He just finished college, I like to give experience to a new comer sometimes they have good ideas and also start to give experience to someone who deserves it. He graduated top of his class with honors, I guess he reminded me of myself when I came out of college and I turned out pretty good." Natalia said smugly.

She stared at Elena again challenging her with her gaze, I observed her not breaking eye contact.

"Very well I approve, start the training on Monday, anything else?" Elena asked.

"No that would be all, thank you for your time" Natalia said.

Elena observed as Natalia stood up and headed towards the door before opening she turned around and their eyes met yet again this time Natalia turning away quickly as she left the office. Elena stayed looking at the door just thinking about the way Natalia's beautiful greenish blue eyes pierced at her. She noticed that Natalia was strong of character and she loved the encounter she gave. She smiled remembering Natalia stutter causing her to think of ways to make her act nervous again. Somehow thinking she could do that made her heart beat a little faster.

"What's wrong with me for wanting that" Elena whispered to herself in frustration.

***********

Natalia entered her office frustrated. She sat down in her chair and sighed again while blowing out air. How could I have stuttered? That shows weakness. Natalia was pissed off on how she reacted to Elena she could not help but wonder why? She was thinking how Elena captivated her with her eyes and couldn't help it and thought that they were beautiful. She was now and then thinking about Elena and how she would love to get to know her. Out of nowhere she stopped herself, she cannot think of this woman this way especially since she is a suspect in her investigation and decided to avoid Elena as much as she could in the future, due to the way she reacts towards her.

****

The last day of training arrived and the group who was heading out the door Natalia stayed and headed towards her desk quickly, during these past 4 weeks Natalia had created an external hard drive that she took to her job and connected it to her computer server and let it scan for patterns and errors that would give some type of clues to the way the money came in and out. Natalia connected the hard drive again and let it scan and put the hard drive inside her desk drawer. As she leaned back in her chair and stared at the ceiling she heard a knock on the door. Natalia quickly disconnect the hard drive and hid it completely in her drawer.

"Come in" Natalia said.

Elena entered Natalia's office and stood in front of her seeing her sit comfortably on her chair.

"Ms. Chester to what do I owe the honor of your presence?" Natalia said semi sarcastically.

"How did the training go?" Elena asked ignoring Natalia's tone.

"They start on Monday and looking good, they already got their assignments" Natalia said proudly, they were a good smart group.

"The other reason I'm here is that next Friday there will be a company party marking the 35th anniversary of The Company and all head of departments must attend." Elena said looking at Natalia.

Natalia stood up from the chair and turned around rolling her eyes she hated parties especially company parties she turns around and caught Elena staring but soon lifted her eyes to meet Natalia's. Natalia turned her sight down quickly not before seeing a small smirk on Elena's face. Natalia was slowly getting agitated at the way she would respond to Elena, almost as if she had her under a spell. Natalia never felt that way before not even with Michelle.

"It will take place at my estate, all the information is here" Elena said while handing her a sheet paper. "It's a gala event so please I beg dress up, I know it could be hard for you" Elena said mockingly while pointing to Natalia's attire.

Natalia was wearing blue skinny jeans with white converse, white t-shirt, her hair in a messy bun with her black frame glasses. Since her department was located in the basement and didn't see nobody she usually wore comfortable cloths and let her employees also after talking with Mr. West, which he approved. But all Natalia was feeling ashamed for being degraded by Elena's mocking tone in which she insinuated the dress code, leaving her frustrated and somewhat hurt she didn't like that feeling at all. Elena just stared at her briefly noticing how Natalia close her eyes and sighed quickly. Elena felt slightly ashamed, she was not one to insult or disrespect an employee of hers she frowned on how she can't control herself around Natalia, she left her office quickly. Natalia went to her chair and picked her phone quickly not wanting to think about her feelings and dialed her phone calling Ramos.

"Ramos good news" Natalia said.

Natalia finally was happy that she can set her mind more on the mission instead of Elena, this party is an opportunity of seeing and meeting a lot of new people who work throughout the company and may have information on any illegal activities from the smallest issue to the biggest. She knew she had to get herself ready.

"We have a party to attend my friend" Natalia said smirking as she talked to Ramos on the phone.