CHAPTER2
671 Words
The following morning, after her first day, Mary reasoned it had been a figment of her imagination.
The noise she thought she heard from James's office. Laughter, which blended into a sob in reality could have been anything. The Tower carried sound oddly, the vents echoed at night, and maybe she was simply tired, or perhaps her nerves were just projected onto nothing. She continued buttoning her blazer in the cracked mirror of the apartment.
When she arrived at Ace's Enterprises the early 35th was buzzing. The phones were ringing, papers shuffled, and heels clicked against polished floors. It looked almost normal! The whole office felt as if it had been scrubbed of every last germ overnight.
James's door opened, and he stepped out into the hallway like a king.The atmosphere in the room seemed to instantly shift. Conversations dropped off, heads turned.
“Good morning, Mary,” he greeted with a warm tone.
It caught her by surprise to hear him speak her name. She had not figured he would remember it after only a few moments.
“Good morning, Mr. Ace…oh…James.”
He gave a smile that felt warm like sunshine but there was a warmth that felt like it could scald. I hope your first day was an amazing experience?
“Yes please,” she responded, lying through her teeth. She felt tightly wound.
“Good.” His gaze lingered a moment, scrutinizing, and he turned and walked toward the elevator with two executives tailing behind him.
Mary sat at her desk feeling odd about how the atmosphere changed around him.
As the day progressed, she noticed some things that didn’t add up. Most of the women who worked on the floor were immaculately dressed, and were polite and smiling, but every time Marcus walked by, their faces seemed to change.
When lunch rolled around, she asked one of them, Susan, a junior associate to join her in the break room.
Susan hesitated, looking at the other women before finally nodding. But when they were on their own, she lowered her voice and tightly held her coffee cup.
“You’re his assistant?” Susan said carefully. That means you’re…close.
Mary’s expression changed.
Susan nodded quickly, compulsively setting her lips into a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Oh, never mind. You'll figure it out." Before Mary could inquire again, another co-worker walked up, and Susan excused herself and whisked down the hall as if she had already divulged too much.
That evening, Mary was drained. She packed her bag with enthusiasm to leave, when James' voice sliced through the floor.
Mary.
She turned. He stood in his doorway, loosened ties on his neck.
I need to speak to you.
Her pulse fluttered. She followed him into the office as the door clicked shut behind her, staying even loud for a click.
James moved to the bar cart, pouring two glasses of Vodka. He stretched to hand her some.
"I like to get to know the people I work closely with," he said, getting comfortable in the leather chair behind his desk. Tell me, Mary, why did you want this job?
Mary considered, the drink cool in her hands. His eyes were steady.
Because I’ve worked hard, she finally said. "Because I need to prove myself."
His lips tugged upwards. "And you need the money”
The inquiry cut through her like a knife. Money is a basic need for all.
True, he said while sipping his drink. Certainly not everyone possesses the level of hunger I can see with you. Hunger is dangerous. It’s useful. But dangerous all the same.
He leaned forward,
You’ll need to hang back tomorrow, he said, and there’s something I need your help with. Just the two of us.
Her throat tightened. “Sure,” she managed.
James smiled,
Excellent. I knew I was going to choose the right assistant.
As she left his office, the others wouldn’t even meet her eye; Mary didn’t just feel like an employee but like a prey.
- Writer
