"I decline."
Leon Orsino stepped out of his car.
Fresh faces in Lander Investments's parking lot turned their attention to The McLaren P1. Their heartbeats skyrocketed. It wasn't too long ago since the CEO had made headlines. They stepped into the premises, wondering if they'd catch a glimpse of him.
Their prayers had been answered.
"I refuse," Leon barked into this bluetooth earphone. He waved his hand at his chauffeur, not bothering to turn around. His footsteps echoed as soon as he entered the lobby.
The receptionists stood up from her desk to greet him. He gestured for her to sit back down. People followed her example as the CEO headed for the elevators.
"Reuss, I understand I'm partly to blame about the incident because I was intoxicated. I had taken the liberty of forgiving you and opened our lines of communication," Leon said rapidly. Nearby employees started to question if he even breathes. "But I will not change my mind. I will not go back. End of story."
"Now, if you excuse me, I have work to do," he concluded, ending the call. His phone went into his inner breast pocket.
The elevator doors opened. The surrounding crowd stepped away and let him use the lift first. No one dared to join him inside—even when Leon held the doors open.
He frowned at the tense atmosphere.
"I would ask if you had woken up at the wrong side of the bed but I realized this is actually normal for you," a new voice spoke up. The spectators turned their heads towards it, including Leon.
The CEO averted his gaze.
Andrew Jones, President of Lander Investments, emerged from the main lobby. His copper hair and his butterscotch eyes glowed in the minds of the employees. A warm smile stretched on his lips.
He greeted the crowd as he walked into the elevator, towering Leon by 3 inches (7.62cm).
"Wow, cold in here," Andrew joked with a fake shiver. "Is the thermostat broken?"
Leon closed the doors and expressed a sharp sigh. His frosty blue eyes flickered to their left corners. "Morning to you too, Andrew. I heard Frantz's assistant will be starting today. I trust that you picked out the best candidate."
"Of course, I did." Andrew snorted, adjusting his cufflinks. "Frantz met the new assistant yesterday. He is absolutely thrilled. They hit it off quite well. You don't need to worry about their work efficiency. I'm sure both of them will deliver."
Still skeptical, Leon dropped the subject. The President always had everyone's best profile in mind. As long as their weaknesses were compensated, he had nothing but praise for these people.
So when Leon heard his words, he realized he wouldn't hear anything else.
The floor numbers reached halfway up the building. Lander Investments stood at a height of 50 floors. The CEO and President shared the two topmost ones. Their offices were on the upper floor while their respective teams were on the lower one. This created a mindset among workers that they were equal despite their segregation of duties.
Leon chose the 49th floor.
From his secretary's message, he understood that the assistant had been given a tour and had been introduced to the team.
"Hey, for what it's worth," Andrew suddenly told him. "I think you did good by giving Frantz an assistant."
"He has a whole staff under him but they can't share his duties or it would affect their relationship," Leon explained, getting impatient. "The hierarchy has distinct roles and I could not let it be compromised."
'But hiring someone new creates competition and hostility,' Andrew thought. After a while, he chose not to share it. "Well, that aside, you actually lightened up the pressure on Frantz's shoulders. That's a good thing. You should be named as an angel."
Leon scowled. "That wouldn't happen to be a reference to one of the articles circulating about me."
"Good, isn't it? It was my idea."
He glared in the President's direction. The elevator doors opened, revealing a hallway of the 49th floor. Leon exited the lift and straightened his lapels. Anything he'd say would only entice the President.
And he'd rather not give Andrew the satisfaction.
Andrew closed the lift and it proceeded to the last floor of its journey upwards. He hummed while stepping out and slightly skipping to his office. The new assistant was bound to make things more interesting around here.
If Leon had been available for the interview, she would have failed. Andrew stopped by the middle where a spiral staircase connected the top five floors. He leaned on the railing and tilted his head sideways—waiting for a sound that he predicted would come.
Down at the 49th floor, Frantz wrapped up the tour. He and the new assistant headed for the spiral staircase. Every fiber of his chonky body flew to Cloud Nine. Not only did he get to work with someone capable but also with a beauty!
Her obsidian eyes just pulled him in and sucked him headfirst into an endless abyss. He'd compare it to the wide galaxy of darkness. That was how magnetic her presence was.
"I hope you don't mind if we go up the stairs," he said. He tilted his chin up in order to see her face. "It's the last stop before we reach the CEO's office. I know you have a skin condition that causes rashes when exposed to sunlight but, hopefully, you can bear with it for a few minutes."
Kamil smiled at his elated face. Her tan pumps clacked on the tiled floors. The pencil skirt cut of her dress emphasized her long legs and shape while the V neckline and puffy short sleeves showcased her sense of style.
"It's nothing to worry about, Frantz," she assured him with a pat on the shoulder. "l have lived with this condition all my life. It's not fatal. You don't need to treat me like fragile china."
"But you came completely covered up! With an umbrella too! I'm sorry but I have that image etched in my brain."
"Aw, you're so sweet. Mr. Orsino is lucky to have someone like you around. He must be fond of you that he'd agree to your request for an assistant."
"Oh, shucks…" Frantz went red in the ears. He scratched the back of his burly neck and adjusted his eyeglasses. "I had been with him since he joined the company. And, boy, success isn't easy. People think he got a shortcut by being the son of the Chairman but, actually, the opposite happened. The expectations of him were heavier than any other employee."
Kamil nodded along, hearing the elevators open from a distance. She feigned a trip over her heels. Frantz caught her arm before she could fall over. Even if he hadn't, Kamil had it under control. She purposely did it on one foot so she could regain her balance easily.
"Ms. Baines, are you alright?" Frantz asked, staring at her ankles.
"I'm completely fine," Kamil assured him and steadied her feet. She placed a hand on his arm. "Just give me a little time. Thank you for the show of concern. Now, you were saying? I hate to have interrupted your story."
"Oh!" Frantz felt the blood rush into his cheeks. "It's okay! We have plenty of time to talk! We'll be closely working together. I mean, not 'close' like 'really close' but we will be seeing each other while in the office and I will be guiding you as long as you need me—"
"YOU!" A voice like thunder interrupted the conversation.
Both Kamil and Frantz snapped their heads towards the source. Leon stood near the foot of the staircase with his feet apart and an accusing finger pointed in their direction. Andrew from the upper floor raised his eyebrows. He had intended to overhear the CEO's reaction but this had exceeded his expectations.
'Well, well, well…' Andrew smirked to himself. He shifted his attention between Leon and Kamil. 'Is there a history here that I didn't know about?'
"Mr. Orsino! I,uh—" Frantz hastily bowed his head. "Good morning, sir."
He had never seen the CEO this infuriated. What had he done wrong? Scenarios from bad to worst played in his head. Had he made a mistake? What was Leon doing on the 49th floor instead of the 50th?
"Good morning," Kamil greeted, following the secretary's example. Despite the CEO's cold stare, her insides burned. Fire like no other ignited in her veins. Forget about the young man she substituted for him the other night.
This was something worth chasing. Nothing could keep her from craving for more.
"Right! Mr. Orsino, this is my new assistant, Camille Baines. We just finished the tour and—and she met the team. Did I mention that she remembered all of their names in a second? Everyone is, uh—was, uh, surprised. Things just came naturally as she had worked with us all these years. HAHAHAHAHA. Can you believe that? HAHAHA…!"
Kamil averted her eyes. "I-It's nothing. I'm sure the CEO won't easily be impressed by that."
"Give yourself more credit, Ms. Baines—"
"Please call me, Camille." She cut off and pressed her lips together in a tight smile. "I'm grateful for all the support. I wouldn't have been able to make it this far if not for your enthusiasm and trust."
"Do you mean that you'd be incompetent without Frantz?" Leon challenged. All three pairs of eyes flickered to his stern face. "Then, I suggest you file in your resignation."