"What a lovely name." I smile at Mr Knowles who just called my name. I'm still very aware of the pair of eyes that still remain on me. For moment he looks as shocked as I feel but bitterness replaces it quickly.
"Well it was nice meeting you, I'll have to take my leave now." He says while shaking my hand then turns to face the man who stands in front of me. "Treat my company well William."
William Illston. The man who once was my everything before leaving me with a vast nothingness.
"Thank you Mary." He nods at her then leaves. I almost want to hold on to Mary's leg as she too starts to exit the room. She only smiles reassuringly at me not understanding my pleas for help. As she steps out the door I immediately find the tiled floor super interesting.
"Ophelia..." He whispers and my head automatically rises. I feel my cool melting as I meet his deep grey eyes. Five years later and here we are.
"Mr Illston?" I manage to answer stoically without breaking.
An unreadable emotion crosses his eyes before he clearshis throat. "I don't know your potential yet since there is no performance sheet to rate you with yet. So you'll be working two jobs over the next month. One as the normal business clerk you already are, the second as my personal assistant." He said so briskly.
"What?" I can't stop myself from spitting out as he finishes speaking.
"Any problems with my new rules?" My mind drifts for a second back to that day, five years ago. I feel the chill of his coldness now just as I had felt then.
"You can't do t-that." I say though knowing he probably can.
"I can do what I want. My company, my rules."
I desire so much to rain curses down his entire being. How can he make me his personal assistant?
"You'll be doing all your sales clerk work from a small station outside my office for the next month."
"You can check my c.v, I'm qualified for this job not to be a personal assistant." I nearly shout. "Y-You know what and where I studied my courses."
I breathe out the last part suppressing any bittersweet memories from the past.
"Would you rather work the jobs or not have one at all?" He lookw like he'd rather have me pick the latter and honestly I'm tempted to walk away. Pretend this never happen, maybe move to Alaska and start over but I can't.
It is so cold, he is so cold.
I feel my lip quiver in anger and my stance becomes rigid as defeat slowly creeps into my being. I know he knows my answer through my slumped demeanor.
"Follow me to my office." He commands. I want to damn him to hell, shout at him for so many things but I just mutely follow him.
We walk to the elevators in silence and to my despair, the elevator is empty. He presses the button which leads to the top floor of the building. The elevator starts Its slow rise up and I want to groan out all my frustration but stop myself. He is now my boss and no matter how unbearable this will be for me, he is who determines wether I'll be paying my rent or getting kicked out of my apartment.
As the doors ding opened, I step out walking ahead but stopwhen I realise I don't even know his office. He walks ahead of me and stops in front of two large double mahogany doors.
He opens one of the two large double doors and gestures I walk in first. A large office desk and some couches and chairs lay scattered around the big room.
"Your first assignment as my PA is redecorating my office."
"What?" I don't stop myself from snapping now. Do I look like an interior designer or something?
"Any problem with that?" His questions lifting his right eyebrow in a challenging manner.
"Yes! I am not an interior designer, neither is it my job to be your PA either!" I don't stop myself from snapping again.
"Then walk out." He simply said. "The door is open, leave."
I can't. I can't just waltz out of this office like my life doesn't depend on this job.
"When do I need to start sir?" I asked instead not looking at him. My reply must have shocked him for when I look up after almost half a minute of utter silence, a set of readable emotions flicker across his eyes.
He doesn't want me working here. It's not at all a surprise but I still feel hurt.
"Tomorrow. The company's car will take you to the shop. I'll leave my credit card as well. I expect my office to be ready by the time I come in on Friday."
Friday? Friday is only two days from now. Do I actually look like a professional interior decorator? Hell I'm even on the beginner's level. I do not voice out my thoughts again but the his eyes dare me too.
"Okay sir." Sir. I want to cringe.
"There's a table by the door, that's your working place. Continue with your sales department work."
I nod and immediately head for the double doors. As I step out of the office, to my left is my new working place. The desk is empty save for a single black pen.
I sigh at the loneliness of my new working place. The hallway ahead of me is pin drop quiet. I doubt if anyone else will stay on this floor as the company progresses in the hands of the new boss. I let my thoughts spiral back to my new boss. Memories I don't want to relish in pay unwanted visits.
Shaking my head, I pick up the pen to distract me a bit. I take in its sleek body then bend forward a bit to see the engravings on the pen. My heart clenched painfully as I stare at the little bananas drawn on the body of the pen. Kiwi.
***
Flashback
5 years ago...
"It's absolutely ridiculous."
"You're absolutely ridiculous." Will proclaimed rolling his beautiful grey orbs at me.
I grinned at him before going on to emphasise my point. "Who uses bananas as a company logo then goes on to name the company, kiwi!"
"It's absolutely brilliant! Shows the diversity and differences they wish to impact."
"Or their printers just don't work." I said laughing as he scrunched his eyebrows up.
"Here, just look at this pen." He said handing me his cherished black kiwi pen. I giggled up at him before looking down at his pen. "See these bananas?"
I nodded as he pointed at the little engravings which formed the logo of his favourite merchandise company.
"Then see this name, kiwi. It shows something new, something different, something big."
"Or it just shows a mistake." I laughed again causing him eyebrows to scrunch up so more. I secretly loved when he got this way about businesses. I loved his hope for the future, his hope for a business that would soar through the sky.
He pouted slightly before speaking again. "You are so mean."
"That's why you love me." I replied pinching his cheek.
"Oh yes, that is why I love you phelia."
He drew me closer to his side placing a soft kiss on my head.
I wrapped my hands tighter around his torso as we continued to walk further down into the park.
"I love you will." I said looking up at him from his chest. That smile that never seized to make me love him more greeted me.
"I love you more phelia."
***
Note: This work is from dami241. If you like to read, please go to buy a physical one to support the author.