~Two years before the incident~
{DAY ONE}
"I'm your boss."
I blinked at him in shock because he was too good to be true. He said it like it was an obvious thing for me to know.
I was expecting an elderly man in his late 50's or older and not someone as gorgeous as he was who seemed to be in his early 30's.
"My boss?" I asked absentmindedly and he gave me a one sided smile which was powerful enough to make me go dumb.
"Yes. I'm sure you know my name by now." He leaned forward and rubbed his palms together as he maintained eye contact.
"Yes…you're Mr Damion Clinton," I managed to say.
"That's right," he confirmed and grinned at me.
I tried to hold his gaze but it felt challenging and I gave up.
"Do you know why I chose you to be my secretary?" He asked out of the blue and my eyes snapped back to him.
For a moment, I froze as I was lost in his gaze. I never once imagined that black eyes could be so fascinating to look at. He lifted a brow at me and I cleared my throat before giving an answer.
"Because of my qualifications?" I ended up giving an unsure answer.
He smiled again and stated; "That's one reason but it's not the one."
I pondered on it with my brows scrunched together.
As if seeing how hard I found the question, he helped me out.
"I'm very careful when it comes to selecting a secretary for myself. I go extra to get the perfect one and you're in luck because you don't live recklessly. From my research, you're a modest young lady."
I wanted to blink but I couldn't because I was baffled beyond expression. This meant I was watched privately?
My brain began to think of the awful things I must've done but at the same time his words filled my mind, "... you're a modest young lady."
I was about to thank him but he stood up and went to his wide wooden desk to get something.
Coming back, he handed me some documents.
"Go through those documents and get back to me. Although, only a few things are stated on your role as a secretary while the rest will be learnt on your own." At the end of his statement, he smiled as if to encourage me and I appreciated it.
"That'll be all," he pointed at the door signaling me to leave and I stood up and curtsied slightly before heading out.
As I closed the door behind me, I sighed heavily and placed my hand against my chest where my heart rested.
"Will I be able to do this with him looking that way?" I questioned myself in doubt.
Sighing once again, I regained my composure and went to my desk so I could get to work.
The moment I began to go through the documents after sitting down, my facial expressions couldn't stop changing.
THE WORK WAS TOO MUCH!
If only a few were stated then what will the rest be? I groaned to myself.
As if sensing my frustration, the telecommunicator on my desk rang, alarming me that my boss needed me.
THIS SOON? I screamed in my head.
Thankfully, his office was just opposite mine so I went straight in and the moment my eyes beheld him, all my frustration left at once.
"Every morning I like to have a cup of black coffee, kindly get me one."
For a moment I blinked as if to register what he just said.
When I didn't move, he looked up at me questioningly.
"Ah…I'll get it."
Once I was out of his office, I paused in my steps when it occurred to me that he gave me no money to get it.
"Does he expect me to use my money?" I mumbled to myself as I found my way out of the building with the workers giving me mixed looks.
If this was how it was going to be then I should prepare myself mentally. Once I bought it, I came back and took it to him.
"Here it is Sir."
His eyes slowly shifted from the paper cup in my hand to my face before back at the cup.
"And why is it in a paper cup?"
At his question, I frowned in confusion.
"Because they always put it in a paper cup." I responded and he blinked slowly as if to register what I said and it was then I knew I did something wrong.
"They always put it in a paper cup? I don't get it?"
Now what was I to say?
"The coffee shop down the road," I finally found an answer.
"The coffee shop down the road?" He repeated in surprise and leaned back into his chair so I could enlighten him more.
"Yes?" I was unsure whether to say Yes or No.
"Aren't you aware we have a coffee maker here in the office?" He asked another question to which I didn't know.
"Now that you know, please kindly make me one by yourself and put it in a white glass cup." He gave a detailed request and I could only nod without question.
*
{DAY TWO}
"Don't you have any heels?"
His question came out of the blue and I froze in what I was doing.
"Not at all sir."
"Then get one." He ordered.
"Alright Sir."
"High ones," he added and I blinked rapidly at him as if my eyes were the ones doing the hearing instead of my ears.
Looking up, he gave me a questioning look and I quickly fixed my expression.
"You look too demure and I don't like seeing that in my secretary." He further said.
"But I don't know how to walk in them." I tried to make him understand.
"You'll learn, after all, you're a business woman and it's compulsory in this company. Don't you see what other ladies wear here? Do better."
From the way he said it, I knew it couldn't be negotiated.
*
{WEEK 1}
"Do you know what it means to be a secretary, Arleen?"
This was the first time he uttered my name.
"Yes sir." I responded as I got lost in his eyes.
"Are you sure?" He squinted his eyes at me as he locked his fingers together.
"Yes sir."
"Then tell me why you're lagging behind?" He asked in all seriousness.
Over the week, I had been stressed with him asking me questions I couldn't answer but the most annoying thing was how I felt anytime I looked at him.
"I'm sorry for my incompetence." I quickly apologized, thinking that was the best thing to do.
"That's not what I asked, Arleen. I want an honest response so we can see how to tackle it."
He was a true boss, I must recommend him for that but it really got on my nerves sometimes.
"Did I do something wrong sir?"
"Not at all. Don't you understand what it means to lag behind?" He asked back.
"I do sir."
"So then. Why are you lagging behind?"
I wanted to sigh but I couldn't.
"I feel overwhelmed sir." I gave an honest reply and waited for his response.
"But its just been a week. If you're already overwhelmed then what will happen when you get to a month?"
He had a look of slight disappointment.
"I'll do better sir."
*
{A MONTH}
"Have I ever raised my voice at you, Arleen?"
"No sir," I shook my head.
"Am I a bad boss?"
I couldn't read his expression so I didn't know if he was in a good or bad mood.
"Not at all sir."
"Be sincere," he probed.
"You're a good boss."
"If I'm a good boss does this mean you're a good secretary?" His question was unexpected as usual so I hesitated because I was unsure on what to say.
"Why are you hesitating? Is it a difficult question?"
"It is Sir," I blurted out without thinking.
"Does this mean you feel you're a bad secretary? Aren't you confident in yourself?"
"I am."
"Then why did you hesitate? Don't you believe in yourself?"
This was one of the reasons why I get really stressed out. His questions were neverending.
"I do, I was just unsure if you would like my response or not."
"Never hesitate! Always be honest with me." He was stern and it surprised me.
"I should be able to trust you and leave important things in your care so you have to take everything seriously. I have full confidence in you and I don't plan on looking for another secretary even if you misbehave."
Hearing that made my heart waver and the more I looked at him, the more I fell. He was strict but in a nice way.
Unknown to me, he wasn't bluffing.