"Who brought this proposal?" Sebastian asked as he walked back to take his seat and as Charis began to raise her hand Prisca spoke up.
"That would be me, sir, I do realise that it is not perfect, you see I have not finished it," Prisca stated and Charis' lips parted in shock.
HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE FRUITLESS DEEDS OF DARKNESS, BUT RATHER EXPOSE THEM.
"Eph 5: 11-12" Charis muttered to herself but as she leaned forward to speak, a soft voice told her, "be quiet, I that sees in secret will reward you in open."
"Well, you are the only one that has impressed me although this is merely an idea and it requires a lot of work still," Sebastian said, I expect the final draft on my desk by next week, that would be all. You are dismissed" and without another word, he walked out of the office.
Looking straight at Charis the moment they walked in Prisca dumped the fil on her desk, "you heard him, get it done by next week."
"What?" Charis asked.
"Get it done by next week are you deaf? Prisca repeated herself and Charis laughed, "You must be joking right?"
"Excuse me? Watch your tone intern, do not cross the line" Prisca yelled and Charis shook her head, she didn't know where the confidence came from but she was angry Looking at the room only make her angrier. They were all there when she claimed her idea and no they just sat down and watched how she was pushing the responsibility back to her.
"I cannot completely execute that plan in a week! Not only is it impossible work to do it is also beyond my capabilities, I am only an intern."
"Are you making excuses? And look how confident during your interview, I always said we shouldn't hire less than from a nameless school, good results or not. And to think you were so cocky" Prisca retorted and tears bit at Charis' eyes as she stared at Prisca.
"So that is why you keep doing this? This is why you hate me. Because I didn't graduate from some preppy school?" Charis said, her voice quivering.
"Oh my god! Are you crying right now? Hey!" She snapped her fingers in front of Charis' eyes, "Charity case, are you crying oh my, wow if you don't have money shouldn't you at least have more backbone? You are pathetic on all fronts."
Charis' palms itched her, she wanted so badly to bring it in contact with Prisca's face but before she gave in to her desire Prisca stood straight. "On my desk in a week, or you'll be looking for another job."
***************
Sebastian had a bad habit he thought. It was something he picked up from his painful past and even though this was a gigantic company bigger than the smaller ones he ran he needed to be the last person in the building to have a good night's sleep. So now he was making small talk with the security guard as they made their rounds, completely satisfied work ended about four hours ago nobody was there. He began to walk back to his office, to grab a few things, and go home finally.
But as he walked into the space where the Strategic planning team worked right outside his office he saw light. "Who's there?"
The light went off and he smiled, rookie mistake, now the room was completely dark but with the help of the city that never sleeps there was reflected light in the room that provided some form of light. So very slowly he crept, he already had an image in his head of who it might be and by the time he bent down, crouching low he waited.
Charis sat underneath her desk clutching her laptop as he heart beat rapidly in her chest, she thought he already left, what the hell is he still doing here?! "Are you trying to outwait me?"
It was piercing, loud, and desperate the scream that left Charis' lips, she kept grappling for something, anything and amid her struggle, there was another loud thump and the next thing Sebastian saw was as he turned on the light was a crying woman holding her head.
"Ow!" She cried, gripping the side of her eyes as her other arm reached for something, anything that could steady her.
"Miss Sweeney are you okay?" He asked running to her side, he took her arm and sat her down before her desk.
"Why do you keep calling me that?" she muttered audibly amidst her tears, and when she looked up at him he gave her a blank look.
"What else should I call you?" Did he not remember her? Was she the only one that couldn't stop thinking about him?
'Of course, Charis, look at him, now look at you, you aren't that memorable' a voice in her head said to her and she wiped her cheek and nodded. "That, that is indeed my name, I am sorry Mr Delvey, I know you were strict on us leaving but I just have so much work to do and Not enough time or even knowledge, to be honest."
"Isn't that why you work when your supervisor is around? So they can guide you?" Sebastian asked and Charis almost snorted but she didn't.
"I am the incompetent one" she replied, " still have a lot to learn. You see I didn't go to the college most of the employees did, so I have a harder time catching up. I am sorry" for a bit
"Is that something you should be telling you, boss, on the very first day?"
She looked away for a moment then looked back at him, the proximity starting to affect her as the pain in her head dulled. "I always try to tell the truth, even if I have to exchange one truth for another."
"And what is this truth you have hidden?" Sebastian leaned forward using his thumb to softly caress the side of her head from the hand that cupped the side of her face slightly. His sudden touch made her gasp, and she pulled away immediately.
"I-I should go" she stuttered.
"You are already here overtime, sit down let's see what keeps bothering you so much that you would cry," He said, pulling out the chair. As she opened her mouth to refuse he leaned forward and whispered to her "Sit down or I'll kiss you."