"Welcome to Crimson Tech." Christopher said with a very small smile tugging at the corner of his lips as he opened the door of the car for her. "Partner."
"I will need to get access to everything I might need. I suspect access to your email and calendar would be necessary. Could you point me towards your IT department?"
"I'll sort it. Don't worry."
"Are you sure? I'm here to ease off your burdens not add to them."
"I am sure. Just shadow me today as we establish your role. I'll dump some work onto you tomorrow." Christopher thought carefully about what he was going to do. He had an idea which could work but also it could upset Emilia if he wasn't careful.
Emilia nodded as she followed him inside to the reception, different entrance than before.
"Good morning, Mr Hayden." The receptionist welcomed him with a smile which he hadn't reciprocated. His entire body language shifted as they've entered the building. Emilia watched it with amusement as he shifted from her 'fake-husband' to the CEO of the company.
"I need a VIP pass." Christopher approached the desk with a long strides that Emilia barely managed to keep up with.
"What name should the pass be in, sir?" Receptionist queried. Christopher looked back at Emilia.
"What did we settle on?" Christopher furrowed his brows. "Was it Vincent-Hayden?"
"Oh." Emilia widened her eyes. "Wouldn't it be weird and troublesome?"
"As I've said, I don't mind Christopher Vincent-Hayden."
"I don't want you to change your name." Emilia almost whimpered as she said it.
"Frankly, I don't think that's your choice." Christopher placed his hand in his pocket, but somehow he didn't look any more relaxed or casual.
Emilia bit her lip, knowing that he was right about the name. It wasn't her choice if Christopher changes his. And she was married to him. As much as she wanted to hide behind her name and make it seem like she earned her spot solely by her merit, right now it wasn't the case.
"Dr Emilia Vincent-Hayden, please." She said to the receptionist.
"Of course, madam." Receptionist smiled with her customer service smile. "Do you require any special access?"
"Emilia should have a full access." Christopher answered for her.
"I may need some details for the security clearance."
"It won't be necessary. Emilia doesn't need security clearance."
"Sir, company's policy…"
"I wrote the company's policy. Emilia does not need security clearance." Christopher's voice was stern, unshaken, undebatable.
Emilia took a step back, seeing Christopher in a very new light, and she didn't hate it. She wasn't sure if she loved it though.
The receptionist hesitated as she looked back at Emilia. Christopher rubbed the bridge of his nose in annoyance. "Give me that pass." He uttered through his gritted teeth.
Emilia noticed Christopher clench his hands into fists until his knuckles turned white. She wanted to calm him down but she wasn't sure what she could do. It was not her territory.
The receptionist nodded timidly and passed the new pass to Emilia.
"Thank you, Angelica." Emilia said, using the name she read from the name tag the woman wore. "Do I need to sign in as a visitor as well?"
"It won't be necessary, madam." Receptionist looked at Emilia with curiosity.
"Have a good day!" Emilia waved with her usual cheerfulness before she turned to face Christopher. His tension eased off and there was almost a smile on his face again. Emilia followed him into the elevator, standing beside him, their shoulders brushing against each other. Emilia looked over at the man that somehow seemed to tower over her. She wasn't intimidated by him. She knew that on the other side he was a kind-hearted person. She understood why his voice became so demanding and impatient. He was the boss here and he was more himself in his home.
"How tall are you? 6'5"? 6'6"?"
Her question took Christopher by surprise as he looked down at her, her head barely reaching above his shoulder.
"I'm 6'7"."
Emilia nodded. "I have access to some random bits of your calendar because Mr Cosby once tried to share an event with me and he shared a bunch of others." Emilia took out her phone, noticing a few messages from Grace before she found the app with colourful blocks between the times. "Mr James should be seeing you in five minutes, in conference room D7.1."
"You don't have to do that?"
"No?""
"No."
"Noted. What would you like me to do?"
"Relax for now." He faced the elevator door. "What's your height?"
"I'm 5ft 10in." Emilia admitted. It was rare that she felt this small next to someone. But she wasn't certain if it was because Christopher emitted the aura of power around him or whether because he was really that tall. Both were likely at play.
"Would you like a cup of tea or coffee before we go to the first meeting?"
"The meeting is in four minutes." Emilia reminded him.
"I'm the CEO of this company. It is only right to be fashionably late."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"Okay." Emilia agreed and she attentively watched him when he pressed a different button on the side of the elevator. His ring shone on his finger drawing attention to the stripe of diamonds that somehow matched her ring. Emilia blushed remembering that the man beside her was her husband now. The very man that made her heart beat faster or skip a beat altogether. At this rate she was going to get a heart failure or a cardiac arrest before she could file for a divorce. Different means to the same end. She thought as she looked down at her own ring.
She followed him out of the lift focusing on him and his broad shoulders as he strode through the office to the small coffee shop. It took a bit of effort to keep up with him.
"Do you know what you'd like?" He turned towards her.
"Caramel latte." Emilia answered as she barely glanced at the menu hung behind the counter.
"Black coffee and caramel latte." Christopher ordered for them, paying in an instant as Emilia tried to dig out her wallet.
"Oh, thank you." Emilia blushed further. She started to bite her lip as she felt increasingly nervous.
She was very forward in her offer of being Christopher's assistant without considering any consequences, such as, what being his assistant would be like or the fact that she was going to spend the next few days in his close proximity. Something her heart was going to struggle with.
"During the board meeting, take in as much as you can. But also, speak up. I think you might have a few valuable insights that may be a good influence on the outcome of the meeting."
"Seriously?" Emilia picked a cup of coffee intended for her. She automatically went and put two sugars in, ignoring the fact that it already had syrup in it. "Sorry, I just didn't expect Mr Cosby to have that power and…"
"You're not Cosby. I thought we were clear that you weren't coming in as my assistant."
"My role is still unclear to me. What exactly are my responsibilities?"
"I'll let you know my expectations as we go. For the next meeting, listen and speak up. Share your thoughts. Ask questions."
"Understood." Emilia nodded.
"It was D7.1, wasn't it?"
"Yes." Emilia nodded again, following him like a shadow. He was more conscious of his speed now as he tried to walk at her pace. Emilia felt the burning gazes on her and then she recalled that very recently she caused an entire scene in the office, barely a few floors up. Some people might have recognised her as that psychopath that attacked Cosby.
"What's the matter?" Christopher noticed the change in her face that has lost the smile.
"I probably shouldn't have come here."
"Why not?"
"I've barely caused a scene and…"
"You can cause as many scenes as you want." Christopher shrugged.
"They're all staring at me."
"That's true. But I doubt that it was because you went after Cosby."
"Then why?"
"Because I am publicly walking with you."
"Are you really this unapproachable to everyone else?"
"You tell me. You thought I was your boss for the last few months."
Emilia went silent at his words. She wasn't certain. He never treated her badly but she did treat him as an authority regardless of the true nature of their relationship. He naturally evoke respect.
"Here we are." Christopher gave her a reassuring smile as he opened the door and let her in.