"Have you seen the new guy?" A female staff whispered in another's ear. "Nope I haven't, Who is he?" the latter whispered carefully, They both made sure their voices won't be heard or recorded by the pens in their pockets before speaking.
"OMG he is so hot! The whole company is in disorder this morning all because of him." The lady giddily whispered back. "Really?"
"Gosh the hottest man alive just came into Anné today," Another staff gossiped to her partner on their way to the restroom. "I heard he's working for the company now," The other staff replied. "I don't believe it, He must be a model mistaken for a new staff." The former said.
"Nah, Some said they saw he come for an interview last week." The second lady replied back as they both entered seperate restrooms.
It was an overwhelming start for Alex as he got stared upon by so many people in the crowded company. Whispers and giggles, Flirty stares and lusty gazes shot at him from all directions.
He tried his best to ignore it all as he got into the elevator going to the twentieth floor where the department he will be working at was. Being in the elevator was far worse and suffocating. Every time he politely smiled the ladies all blushed terribly. He had to put on a nose cover and a headwear.
When he arrived at the floor of his department he headed straight to the director's office. Lucky for him his director is a middle-aged man who was one of the board directors of Anné.
Alex knocked on the transparent three inches deep glass door and went in when the director signalled him to. "Good morning sir," Alex greeted immediately he came in.
"Good morning, Have a seat," The man gestured over to the seat in front of him. "I have heard a lot of good things about you Alex," The director began.
"I am pleased sir," Alex politely replied.
"I have seen your works and I must say, You are very well gifted," The man complimented. Alex nodded appreciatively Even though he knew the man words had a double-entendre in it.
"Are you British?" The man asked out of the blue. Alex eyebrows widened in confusion for a few seconds before understanding what the director meant.
His English accent leaps from British to American on so many occasions.
"Sort of, I am both American and British...But I was born and partially raised in England." Alex explained and the director nodded his head in understanding.
His family had lived in London for eight years before moving to New York two years after his father's death. His mom is British and had met his dad when he was still a young soldier.
"Here you go," The director said handing Alex a portfolio containing some paper documents. Alex stared questioningly at the file in his hands Wondering what was in it.
"That file contains everything you need to know about the company's policies and also what to do in preparation for the upcoming trials of interns, Make sure to go through it thoroughly." The director explained.
"Alright sir, I will," Alex nodded.
"Come let me introduce you to your coworkers, They can be very stiff and formal but they are good working partners, okay?" He added on their way out.
They both went outside his office and strode down the large hallway, There were so many offices of different sizes and number of occupants.
"You do not need to dress formerly in this department, That's one of the privileges enjoyed in here. Every departments has it privileges and challenges also," the director continued to explain some little details about the company.
The director made sure he passed some very important informations to Alexander before they arrived at the entrance of an office. The director opened the door to the office and went in immediately. Alex hesitated for a bit as he poked his head through the door opening before entering.
The office is a very large one, Spacious and airy, With a very satisfying city view. There were five desks located at different corners in the office four of which were decorated in its own way according to the taste of the occupants.
It gave a Cool and calm vibe unlike other company's offices he had been in. But the staffs....
Didn't the director told him earlier that they were stiff and formal? The casually dressed photographers and editors in front of him didn't look a bit like what the director had described them to be!
He was expecting a cold and formal welcome but it doesn't seem like he would be getting that judging by the way they all smiled brightly at him.
The director himself was surprised by their receptions as he stared at them in surprise.
They all seemed very happy to have him in their midst, Alex was grateful but he had a strange feeling about this.
They were four of them in which three were females who were more than excited to see him.
"I feel I don't need to bother myself again with the introductions, Seems like you guys are gonna get along with him real good," The director said with a laugh.
"Hi Alex, I am Ethan the chief editor in here," Ethan warmly introduced himself. The female staff members also introduced themselves as Taylor, Maya and Jennifer respectively.
The three ladies looked at him like they've seen their savior, The smiles never leaving their faces.
"I will see you over to your desk Alex," Taylor said immediately grabbing Alex's hands and leading him over to the only empty desk in the office. She made the "oh my gosh" face at the rest of her co-workers and they all rolled their eyes in a funny way.
"Looks like I've got a rival," Ethan comment from behind the two ladies in front of him. They both gave him a silly look and then bursted into an uncontrollable laughter.
"What? Did I say something funny?" He asked feigning surprise. "You are a great joker Ethan." Maya said in a jestful way.
"Yeah you are right, I am a big joker. Because there's no way that kind of visual could be rivalled!" Ethan exclaimed when he saw Alex took off his cap and nose cover.
"Woah! He can't possibly be real, Is he an angel in disguise?" Jennifer giddily whispered. "Maybe he is," Maya replied unable to look away from Alex's stunning visuals.
"Guys! Guys!!" Taylor snapped her fingers as she approached the three of them in a fast pace jolting them out of their reveries.
"We have to protect him!" Taylor blurted out of the blue. "Protect him? From what?" both Ethan and Maya enquired simultaneously. Taylor looked astounded by their lack of understanding. They also stared back in confusion.
"Ohh!! I get it! Taylor's right, We have to protect him!" Jen whispered loudly enough for the four of them to hear. "You guys still don't get it," Taylor gave both Maya and Ethan a knowing look of mischief.
Maya finally got what Taylor meant by making the "ohh" facial expression.
"I feel like I am the only one left out in this conversation we are having, What are we protecting him from?" Ethan enquired, more confused than ever.
"Common Ethan! The whole company is swooning and drooling over him, Even you too. What do you think will happen with him here? Everyone will want to get a glimpse of him, Talk to him, Even flirt with him! So we have to safeguard this place and prevent just anyone from coming in." Taylor fully explained the reason for Alex's protection.
"You might be right," Ethan said and shrugged. "Not might Ethan, She is right!" Jennifer told him.
"But y'all are forgetting this is Anné, Everyone is being watched all the Time. The whole staffs can't possibly be so stupid as to let their guards down for a guy. They'll loose their jobs straight away," Ethan replied back with a shrug.
"He's right Taylor, The Boss isn't gonna allow that happen." Maya added.
"Yes she isn't, But still we've got to protect him regardless." Jen said and Taylor nodded.
They all decided to go back to work before they got into any tough situation with the management for disorderliness.
Settling down with a sigh, Alex couldn't help but smile at the at his co-workers's friendliness with him. Although the reason was very obvious it still made him delighted.
The rest of the day went well, He spent the whole time clicking his camera at the studio room and editing with it all with both Ethan and Maya's assistance. They had been working for the company for long and were more experienced in the field than him.
They made him understand all he needed to know on Anné magazines and its shoot preference that made it different from others.
His first day was good even though the beginning of it was embarrassing, But throughout the day Alex had one thought lingering on his mind.
He was going to be a very big distraction for Anné.
And he indeed was....