Five o clock on the dot. Just like yesterday. And just like the day before that.
And the day before that.
Cillian rolled over and turned his alarm off.
Once.
Just once he would like to wake up and not have to think about all the things he had to do.
His life was glamorous, sure. Having vast amounts of wealth certainly made living life more comfortable. But it didn't stop the never ending horrible monotony that was his very existence. When rich people became bored bad choices were made. He was doing his best to avoid those opportunities as they presented themselves, but they were becoming more tempting by the day.
Sitting up and running a hand through his jet black hair, Cillian stretched preparing for his day. It would start with an hour long work out regimen in his personal gym. He would then bathe and eat breakfast, drink his coffee and check all the social media sources to make sure no one representing his brand would tarnish his name. He would ignore the never ending onslaught of text messages from his step mother. All of this before seven AM.
Just like yesterday.
He felt the silver Lamborghini matched his navy blue suit best so that was the car he decide to drive to work. It was ridiculous that he even thought of these things, but after so many years of worrying about his image these types of things were second nature to him.
The thirty minute drive to his office proved to be very uneventful. Typically he would park in the garage and come through a private back entrance that allowed him to avoid the hordes of people his company needed to employ. But today he had to personally deliver an order to keep his step mother out of the building. Coming directly from his mouth would press upon his staff the seriousness of the situation . He couldn't have her coming in here disrupting his business again.
Walking up to the receptionist he stood looking down at her intimidatingly." Do not. Under any circumstances. Let that woman into this building again. I don't care what she says to you. If she shows up call my personal extension." He set a business card on the desk. He hoped the threat in his voice was enough to get his point across.
"Ye- Yes Mr. James." The woman stammered. He knew she wouldn't make the same mistake twice.
Without another word he threw open the towering glass doors and headed straight for the elevator. He could feel the eyes of his employees gazing at him with intimidation and adoration. He ignored their looks and hushed murmurs. When the doors opened he wasn't surprised that everyone hung back, no one brave enough to be in such close proximity to the person who could take their jobs and black list them from the industry. He preferred the solitude anyways.
When the doors closed he was genuinely surprised to see a young woman standing in the elevator. Staring at her for a long moment he finally asked, "What floor are you going to?" She completely ignored him and he stood there dumbfounded.
Did this stupid girl have no idea who he was?
He took in her drab department store clothing that looked second hand. She was short and round, not unpleasantly so, but was definitely not the typical tall, skinny, leggy model types that were always walking around here. Her hair was long and golden blonde, and she played with the ends absentmindedly a small smile dancing at the edges of her lips.
She was clearly lost in thought.
After a long moment of observing her he cleared his throat. The girl jumped nearly spilling the contents of the coffee cup she held in one hand.
"What floor?" He asked again, his tone short.
"Um sorry! Six please." She was clearly embarrassed, her cheeks turning bright pink. Her gaze was glued to the floor and he suspected this girl had no idea who he was.
He found a strange sense of comfort in that.
Pressing the corresponding numbers quickly, Cillian stepped to the back of the elevator, mostly to avoid having to interact but also he felt oddly compelled to examine this strange woman.
Seemingly irritated by her phone she sighed shoving it into her coat pocket.
Cillian has never seen her before but that certainly didn't mean anything. His company employed hundreds of people and he honestly had never even met half of them.
The door opened abruptly distracting him from his thoughts.
He watched as the young lady stepped off and suddenly whipped around to face him directly. He was barely able to catch her confused expression as the doors closed creating a barrier of metal between them.
He slowly shook his head slightly amused. It's not that he was so arrogant he expected everyone to immediately know who he was. But not only was he assumingely her boss, but Cillian was famous in his own right. A very successful modeling and acting career had made his face relatively well known.
Oh well, he thought to himself turning his thoughts to his day and all he needed to get done.
***
Towards mid day Cillian found himself distracted. Despite a never ending pile of tasks to attend to, he couldn't focus his thoughts. After a few moments he knew what he had to do. A bag of chips was calling his name. Almost of it's own accord his body was out he door and to the elevator before he could even say otherwise. Hesitating a long moment he finally pushed the button on the keypad, illuminating a bright yellow number six.
It mocked him.
When he walked to the cafeteria his eyes scanned the crowds of people enjoying their lunch. He told himself he wasn't looking for anyone in particular. Just observing the army of people who kept his empire afloat.
After a long moment at the vending machine he decided on what chips he wanted. Making his selection he walked slowly out of the lounge. He felt like he was dawdling.
But of course he wasn't.
Passing by the copy room, he heard a sudden bang. Startled he stopped to look into the large window.
And there she was. The way she stood over the copier gave evidence she had just indeed hit it. Her breathing was labored and he wasn't quite sure what to make of the whole scene. Maybe she was ill?
Before he could make heads or tails of the situation, the young woman began crying. He could see the tears trickling down her face through the waves of golden hair.
Much like watching a movie he looked on as she hurled piles of what he could only assume to be client documents at the near by wall. And then as if in slow motion he knew she was about to turn around.
He never power walked so fast in his entire life.
Rounding the corner, elevators in sight, he wasn't sure why he ran away. It had felt like a very vulnerable moment for her and frankly he just wanted to avoid the awkward interaction that was bound to happen if she confronted him.
Safely back in his office, Cillian hopelessly tried to muck his way through the mountain of work. But with the impending gala and the extra preparations that came with that he knew it would just be impossible.
Leaning back in his chair he rubbed his hands across his face.
It was official.
Today was much worse than yesterday.