Kamil heard the threat in his voice.
She almost smiled. There could only be one reason behind it. It would be a lie to say she wasn't thoroughly impressed. Not many people were able to recognize another once the mask had been taken off. If he kept this up, she'd only desire him more.
"Sir!" Frantz protested. "That's not… It's only her first day! Give her a chance."
"And that you also can't speak for yourself?" Leon cut in. He lowered his head until he could glare his frosty blue eyes underneath their lashes. "Please remember your place. You answer to Frantz. Not the other way around. Don't rely on him to keep your place here. I would have you fired the minute evidence is collected."
"Mr. Orsino, that's not—"
"It's okay, Mr. Lichman." Kamil shot her arm in front of the secretary. After a silent staring contest with Leon, she turned her head in his direction and smiled. "The CEO is merely looking out for you. I wouldn't want him, nor anyone for that matter, to get the wrong idea."
Then, she shifted her attention back on Leon, her own gaze's intensity just at a level under his. After all, he possessed the higher position. "I look forward to working with your team, Mr. Orsino. You have gathered a wonderful group of people."
"Hmph." A bitter taste seeped into his mouth. He could end this all right here. There was no reason for him to endure her presence. It may seem unreasonable but once he brought up her background—
His eyes landed on his secretary.
He relaxed his fists. "If both of you are done dilly dallying then, I suggest you get back to work. Frantz, coffee. In my office."
Without a look back, Leon marched up the stairs. He caught the President's stare from the corner of his eye. No doubt this incident would be hung over his head. He grunted under his breath and headed straight for his office.
He had work to do.
Time was precious.
"That was a little intense..." Kamil mumbled. She relaxed her stance and wrapped her arms around herself. Quieter footsteps sounded from the upper floor. She and Frantz were alone once again. "Maybe I shouldn't have greeted him first before he addressed me."
"That sounds too much, Camille," Frantz replied with a sigh, leading the way. He forced himself to take a step forward so the CEO wouldn't take the wrong idea again.
They climbed up the stairs.
"But think about it," Kamil insisted. "I'm your subordinate. You're his subordinate. He might have seen it as disrespectful that I spoke when he wasn't even talking to me."
The secretary halted in his steps. After a second, he shook his head frantically.
"That can't be it…" He led the way to the main door of Leon's office. It opened to two desks facing each other that stood on either side of another door. He walked towards the pantry where the coffee maker was placed.
Kamil leaned on the counter. Her shoulders slumped in dejection. She gazed at the floor while kicking her foot against it. "Well, whatever it was, it certainly wasn't the impression I was hoping for…"
Frantz set the coffee beans down and patted her on the shoulder. "It will be okay."
Silence fell between them. Frantz had looked forward to this day since the position had been approved. The morning had started with good energy. Now, it seemed like a tornado came in and destroyed the mood.
One mistake and he might need a new assistant.
"Do you have any tips on how I can get on his good graces?" Kamil whispered. Her obsidian eyes widened at him, silently communicating her helpless desperation—well, her fake helpless desperation.
After some thought, the secretary offered the scooper to her. A small smile bloomed on his lips for encouragement. "Do you know how to brew a mean cup of coffee?"
Kamil beamed. "I'll let you have a taste before giving it to him."
Leon scowled at his computer monitor.
His fingers flew across the keyboard, smashing each button. This caused him to incur more mistakes than usual. The backspace became his frequent ally throughout the reports. Few paragraphs later, frustrations hissed out of his gritted teeth.
He slammed his fists on the table and rose to his feet.
"Frantz—!"
Kamil stood in front of his door, carrying a cup of coffee in one hand and three folders in her other arm. She trudged ahead and closed the gap between them. "Mr. Lichman is currently preoccupied with your next appointment. Everything will be done on time."
Leon clenched his jaw. "But I specifically asked him to bring the coffee."
"Well, between me and him, I think you trust him more with business affairs," she answered. Her eyebrows scrunched as she placed the coffee on the table. "And there is minimal damage I could cause while delivering coffee."
"Are you admitting to your incompetence?"
"I am admitting that I need to earn your trust." Kamil smiled. It did little to waver the cold expression on his face. She set the folders down. "Here are the files needed for the upcoming meeting. I had taken the liberty to print out the documentations done through emails so they can all be in one place."
The CEO remained still. It dawned on him that they were actually alone. If Frantz was busy with the preparations then, he wouldn't be barging any time soon. Leon walked around his desk until he and Kamil stood two feet apart.
He regarded her under a watchful eye. "What are you doing here?"
"I needed a job." Kamil blinked.
"You have a job."
Her mouth opened into a silent gasp. His condescending tone was starting to get under her skin. If he would be acting like this, there wasn't a need for her to pretend to be docile. She rested half of her bum on the table's edge.
The CEO gave no comment.
"Well, I needed a new change of pace." Her shoulders shrugged. Tilting her chin up, her eyes hooded into a sultry look. "I didn't think we'd be working together. Frantz is really glad that you agreed to a female assistant."
"Don't bring my secretary into this," Leon hissed. His hand banged on the table as he leaned closer. "I still hold the power to have you removed from this company."
Kamil glanced downwards. She adjusted her posture so that when she looked up—she filled up his entire vision. "I was under the impression that this position was for his benefit. Isn't that why you said those things downstairs? I understand your reluctance but I assure you that I will do my job to the best of my capabilities. Throw anything at me and I will get it done."
Her hands itched to touch him. The sunlight stung on her exposed skin but it couldn't compare to the burning ache that her chest experienced. Their breaths merged in the space between them. She could almost taste him.
His lips. His blood. Everything.
Electric sparks sizzled in their eyes.
Leon took a step back. His voice came out in a whisper. "Get out."
Then, he returned to his chair and resumed his work. The tapping on his keyboard became the only sound in the room. He made his message clear. Their business was done. There was nothing more to be said.
Kamil resisted to scoff. She couldn't have been the only one who felt that. She hopped off the desk and smoothed her skirt. Just to spite him, she leaned forward so her breasts would peek out of her neckline.
"Do you need anything else, Mr. Orsino?" She spoke, using a sickly sweet tone.
"For you to leave my office."
"Well, then, until we see each other again. Which I suspect will be within the day." Kamil risked a wink. She doubted he saw it when he focused his attention on his monitor. His effort to resist was starting to seem cute.
He could say anything he wanted but his increased heartbeat implied otherwise.
She needed to leave before she lost control. Not to mention that the morning sun shone on his floor-to-ceiling windows. She might just do something about it if she could convince enough people how it could be dangerous.
The door shut behind her.
'Camille Baines…' Leon leaned on his backrest the moment she left the room. He covered his face behind his hand, massaging both his temples with his thumb and his pointer finger. His other hand went to his chest and gripped his tie.
He took a deep breath.
If his lungs hadn't hurt, he wouldn't have noticed that he stopped breathing earlier.