CHAPTER THREE
1601 Words
Sink or swim Berly
C&C Global Enterprise
Immediately Berly stuttered into the elevator she immediately pressed the 15th floor. When she came out she quickly looked around. The modern office has a clinical precision-no chatter, no personal decorations just efficiency. Employees gave her fleeting glanced, some with pity, some with curiosity.
The HR assistant Ms Ashley on sighting her walked up to her, handing her a company handbook with a knowing smile.
" Good luck with Mr Liam". She said cryptically which creeped Berly out the more.
Berly walked up the few stairs leading to Mr Liam's Office, after knocking she opened the door and stepped in.
She looked at her watch as she closed the door. It was exactly 8:15, Dang it! Fifteen minutes late, too much for her first day of work. She looked back at Mr Liam who was reviewing some files barely acknowledging her presence. Without looking up he says,
"PUNCTUALITY.PRECISION.PERFECTION
That's what I expect. No excuses. And you just defaulted in one."
" Am sorry Mr Liam, it won't happen again". Berly said lowering her head. At this point Mr Liam stood up while Berly looked up and gasped.
" What? Have we met before?" Liam asked feigning ignorance.
' What do I say now? Does he remember me? He probably does not '.
" Um, actually sir I think I've seen you around somewhere but I can't remember where exactly". She confidently answered still looking down.
' Interesting she's even denying ' Liam thought to himself.
He walked up to her with his hands behind him while Berly shuddered and stepped back.
" As for your punishment, it'll come later on". He said and walked back to his seat.
" Here". He said handing her a schedule packed with back -to-back meetings, emails to draft and reports to sort and compile all within the next few hours. Immediately Berly saw them her jaws dropped.
" What? Don't think you can handle them?" Liam asked
" Of course not sir, I'll take my leave now". She bowed and left cursing under her breath while Liam smiled sinisterly as he played with his pen. .
After two hours she was finally done and she fumbles while setting up a virtual meeting, Mr Liam's sharp gaze catches her hesitation. Few minutes later, her office phone rang.
" My office. Now". That was it.
Her stomach drops as she steps inside.
Liam holds up the financial report she printed.
"I don't tolerate incompetence, what is this?" Her palms were already sweaty. No excuses. Own it.
" Am sorry sir".
Silence
"Fix it and don't assume you know my priorities again". He said handing her the file
" Yes sir".
She leaves,hands trembling -but not fired.
At 10:30am - she placed the file on his office desk, luckily for her he wasn't in.
At exactly 10:35 - her phone rings.
" Efficient. Keep it that way".
A win.
A smile immediately crept into Berly's face. Ten minutes later her phone rings again.
"Ms Berly, my office , Now".
' What have I done again'. Berly felt like crying.
As she walked in.
" This report is missing quarter's projections. I don't tolerate incomplete work".
' What's with this man?' Berly asked herself annoyed.
She meets his gaze head-on.
" I sent what the finance team gave me. If you want full projections, I'll have them in five minutes.
A Beat.
Then for the first time,his lips twitch, just slightly.
" Four minutes, Go".
She rushes out and gets the numbers at exactly three minutes, thirty seconds.
At exactly 1:00 pm, Liam left for the meeting.
No complaints.
Yet another win.
Berly waited for him until he was done with the meeting.
She grabbed her purse, finally a moment for Coffee.
Before she reached the elevator, a deep voice stops her.
"If you have time for coffee then you're not working hard enough". She turns. Liam was leaning against his office door, arms crossed.
' Wasn't this man supposed to be at a meeting?'
She holds his gaze.
" If I don't get caffeine, I won't work hard enough".
A pause
Then a flicker of something amused in his expression.
" Make it quick".
Berly quickly scampered into the elevator before he changes his mind, she could swear she felt his piercing gaze following her.
Immediately the elevator closed, it felt like as I a spell was lifted from Liam's body.
"Sweet baby Jesus ! Did I just ask her to go have lunch? Oh my goodness Liam!" He cursed as he walked dejectedly into his office.
Berly upon arrival in the company's famous restaurant, she didn't waste time and placed her order.
Meanwhile across the table she chose to sit, were Mia , Daisy and Erin.
Mia being the sharp one immediately recognized her
" Hey hey, isn't that the girl who had a fallout with Mr Liam?" As soon as she asked both Daisy and Erin asked in unison.
"Where?" Following her gaze
"It is really her". Erin said
" Hey, why don't we join her, I heard Mr Liam hired her".
"What!" Both girls exclaimed
" Yeah didn't you both hear it?" Mia asked surprised
" No news passes you by, let's join her then" Daisy said
" Yeah".
Berly just returned to her table with her plate containing croissants and the waiter placed her cup of tea on the table.
"Thank you" she said
As she started eating some girls approached her. Daisy took the initiative to speak first.
"Hi, mind if we sit with you?"
" Oh sure, I don't mind". Berly said smiling, after all she could make use of a few friends.
"We heard you're Mr Liam's new secretary". Mia said immediately
"Um yeah".
" Am Mia, this is Daisy and this is Erin. I am from the Information and Technology department, Daisy is from Finance and legal department while Erin is from Research and development department. And we'd love to be friends with you ". Mia said and quickly added
"Of course if you don't mind ".
" No no it's alright, I'd love making some friends too. Am Kimble Berly, it's nice meeting you all". Berly said smiling.
"So we're friends?" Erin asked
"Of course " Berly said and took another bite, as she looked up her gaze met Mia's who furrowed her brows a little. Seeing that she was making Berly uncomfortable she asked.
" Mind if I ask you a question?"
"Uh...sure". As she prepared to ask the question Daisy and Erin leaned in more.
"Are you the girl who scolded Mr Liam yesterday?"
Immediately it left her mouth, Berly placed her hand against her mouth looking around sharply.
"Sssh, keep it down ".
"What?" Mia asked as she freed herself. Even Daisy and Erin were both confused.
" I am indeed the girl from yesterday but I don't want him to find out".
"Wa...wait, you think Mr Liam doesn't know?" Daisy asked amused
" Yeah, I mean he obviously didn't remember." Berly said
" And what makes you think that he doesn't know?" Erin asked
"Exactly my question". Came Mia
"Well, he didn't say anything to me when I came so I assumed he doesn't remember". Berly said.
"Girl, Mr Liam already has yesterday's event imprinted at the back of his mind so I advise you to thread with caution." Daisy said
"Yeah it's either he doesn't want to remember it or he's waiting for the right time to unleash his anger on you. Which I strongly doubt it's the first reason." Erin added
" You made a point ". Mia said thoughtfully, Berly could only listen and think.
" How exactly is Mr Liam's character towards his previous secretaries?" She asked
" No words can explain that how I want but he's cold , strict and also he's another name of heartless in a more garnished way". Mia said sighing.
Berly looked at the all of them as they all sighed.
" If he's as you said then what is my fate?" She asked concerned.
"You really lasted for a long time unlike some who were fired after the first hour of their first day". Daisy said
" Don't be down casted, we all know you need this job so all you need to do is to give it your all so that he can give you permanent employment."
" You're right, I do need this job so quitting is not an option ". Berly said
" Wow I love this spirit , now that's what am talking about ". Mia said smiling.
" Why don't we exchange contacts". Daisy suggested and they affirmed.
After that they all received a notification;
' You've been added to a group by your contact '.
"Seriously? A group? Erin said with her eyebrows raised.
"Yeah, I mean we can chat and also talk about unrelated work stuffs. I don't wanna be suffocated by work". Mia said
"That's right". Berly said and unknowingly checked her watch.
"Oh my God!" She exclaimed standing abruptly and thereby making some noise with her seat .
"What's wrong?"
" Mr Liam gave me five minutes for lunch and I've spent ten minutes".
"What a devil, treating you like this on your first day? Anyway it's not a surprise, you should go". Mia said
"Yeah ". The others chimed in.
"We'll get in touch later on". Mia said
"Okay". Replied Berly as she ran off.
As luck may have it, Liam wasn't in the office when she arrived...
'Narrow escape for the meantime 😮💨 '
- Writer
