April prayed silently, "Let your will be done," as she scrutinized herself in the mirror. She was content with her appearance. It was a new day filled with opportunities, and she was determined to seize them. She planned to leave the house early, avoiding any interaction with her parents after the tense previous evening. With her car keys and employment letter in hand, she headed out. Although the kitchen lights were on, she chose not to investigate and simply left.
Driving to work, she felt invigorated by the brisk morning breeze on her face. It was still early, so she managed to beat the traffic. After about a half-hour drive, she arrived at the impressive Okema Pharmaceuticals building. Inside, she approached the receptionist, who greeted her warmly.
"Good morning, and welcome to Okema Pharmaceuticals. How can I assist you?" the receptionist beamed.
"Good morning to you too. It's actually my first day, and I was hoping you could direct me to the Onboarding team," April explained.
"Of course. May I have your name, please?" the receptionist responds as she turns to look into the desktop right in front of her and her fingers resting on the keyboard.
"April Jayden." The receptionist's expression changed upon hearing April's name.
"Oh, I was actually expecting you. I'll take you to HR, and afterward, you'll meet the CEO. He'll be giving you a tour of the company on your first day and then show you to your office," the receptionist informed her. April found it somewhat unusual that the CEO would personally conduct the company tour on her first day.
"Why would the CEO be taking me around?" she inquired.
"I'm not sure of the specific reason, but he requested a meeting with you after you're done with the HR department," the receptionist replied. They proceeded to the third floor, where April was smoothly guided through initial paperwork and given an overview of the company's policies.Subsequently, she was directed to the CEO's office, located on the top floor of the building. April walked past the secretary's desk, gently knocked on the door, and waited for a response.
Anthony stood near the window, gazing outside. Upon turning around to face her, he examined her as if searching for something on her face. April found it unsettling but met his gaze. After years of separation, she was once again in Anthony's presence, but now he was her boss, which irritated her. They exchanged prolonged glances before he smiled and moved toward his desk, pulling out a chair for her.
"Good morning! Please have a seat," he said, pointing to the chair opposite him. "It's nice to see you after such a long time, April." Anthony shot her a puzzled look as he smiled. "Since we'll be working closely together, I hoped you wouldn't mind using first names."
"Good morning to you too, Mr. Davis, and yes, I do mind," April replied. She attempted to conceal her distaste for him, but her resentment was apparent. Anthony was momentarily silent, seemingly taken aback. He had anticipated some resistance, but her reaction was swifter and sharper than expected. Years had not healed the animosity between them. He adjusted in his chair, chuckling.
"I suppose asking you out for lunch later would be too much. I thought we could talk and perhaps find common ground to start on a better note, considering that we'll be working closely. The days here can be quite long," he suggested. Anthony desired a fresh start or at least some common ground, but that was the opposite of what April wanted. She couldn't wait to leave his office.
"Lunch? What could we possibly have to discuss? We are here to work, which, in my view, is common ground. As for lunch, I believe I can manage to find the cafeteria, or I can go out if there isn't one in the building," April replied, her tone curt.
"This is a company, and you're part of its management team. The success of the company depends partly on us. If we can't communicate, I don't see how we can exchange ideas to advance the company, especially with the impending merger. Your father assured me of your full commitment," Anthony explained. He was puzzled by her presence at the company if she didn't wish to be involved in their plans.
April couldn't believe her ears. She didn't comprehend the agenda Anthony and her father had hatched, but she didn't want any part of it.
"As you correctly stated, I'm an employee of this company and a member of the management team. It is my responsibility to ensure the company's success. If you and the other partners have chosen to merge with Bayer, I am fully on board with that decision, as it is for the benefit of the company. However, I will not be drawn into whatever arrangement you've made with my father. That is none of my concern, Mr. Davis. Rest assured that I will perform my duties and share any ideas I have regarding the company with you, but that's where my involvement ends," April concluded as she stood up. She felt that she had overstayed her welcome, and a moment longer in his office might cause her to lose her composure.
"Agreed," Anthony replied, standing up and leading the way.
Anthony gave April a tour of various areas within the company and introduced her when necessary. They eventually arrived at her office, located on the same floor as his. The office was spacious and unadorned, containing only a desk in the center and a nameplate with her name on it.
"I decided not to have anything arranged, knowing that you prefer to organize your space yourself. I also refrained from calling, as I assumed you might not appreciate that, especially given the short notice," Anthony explained.
At that moment, April realized that everything had been part of a plan in motion for quite some time, and she had been completely unaware. Anthony had been in the know all along, while her father had kept her in the dark.
"Thank you for your consideration, Mr. Davis," April expressed her gratitude as she walked around the empty office, envisioning how she would set it up.
"I'll leave you to settle into your office today. Tomorrow, I can provide you with a comprehensive overview of your responsibilities and grant you access to the files you'll be working with. By the way, would you like me to assign you a secretary, or would you prefer to choose your own?" Anthony inquired.
"You can assign one to me, as long as he is competent," April replied, seemingly oblivious to the curious expression on Anthony's face.
"Are you suggesting that you want a male secretary?" Anthony asked, giving in to his curiosity, though he didn't want to broach the subject.
"Not necessarily, but I wouldn't mind it. It would be a nice change to work with someone of a different gender. A male secretary, please," she stated, turning to face him.
Anthony was silent for a moment. "And what if we can't find a male secretary?" he asked.
"I'll find one myself. The job market is vast, and I'm sure many candidates would eagerly line up outside that door for interviews tomorrow," she responded.
Anthony chuckled as he stepped back and placed his hands in his pockets."And you claim not to know anything about the merger," he suddenly stated.
He believed April was playing some sort of game and was determined to figure out what it was. He saw himself as a patient man, willing to see this through to the end, whatever it entailed.
"What are you talking about?" April was now fully focused, her expression confused. However, Anthony wasn't inclined to provide her with any answers he believed she was aware of.
"And here I thought we were maintaining professionalism. Are you trying to test me or provoke me, Ms. Jayden?"
April looked skeptical, her confusion apparent as she gave him a quizzical look. Anthony, however, paid it no heed, laughing as he headed for the door.
"What did you mean by that?" April asked once more, but he ignored her and continued on his way out.
TO BE CONTINUED