I knocked on his door to remind him that his meeting with the investors was nearly about to start.
"Mr. Cyprus, the meeting with the other department and the investors will start in a few minutes,"
I informed him, bowing slightly.
"Hmm, alright. Please bring my laptop and report files,"
he replied, standing up and walking across his office.
I quickly gathered his laptop and documents,
hurrying to follow him.
The meeting went smoothly,
with Mr. Cyprus presenting his reports clearly and effectively.
The other department and investors heads were engaged and responsive,
leading to productive discussions and mutual agreements on key issues.
As the meeting concluded,
Mr. Cyprus turned to me with a satisfied smile.
"Melody, you did an excellent job preparing everything.
Your efficiency and attention to detail are impressive,"
he said, with his tone genuinely appreciative.
"Thank you, Mr. Cyprus,"
I responded, feeling a warm sense of pride in my work.
He nodded. "Keep up the good work.
Your support is invaluable to the success of our team."
I smiled, grateful for the acknowledgment,
and felt more motivated than ever to continue excelling in my role as his secretary.
There was something strange about our department
office as I made my way back to my workstation.
While they were staring at me, I heard rumors circulating.
"What? Funny, I assumed that she would give up in a few days.
They muttered.
Okay? I was surprised to see Mr. Cyprus acknowledge her.
As I heard their gossip,
I fixed my hair and started working on my computer,
sorting files once again.
It's normal for people to gossip when you've gained recognition.
It's not new to me, as I experienced this in my previous job.
However, I hope I won't encounter bullying here in this company.
I remembered my previous job where I was also a victim of bullying.
That's the main reason I quit.
I was too scared to fight back,
so I remained silent and let them continue their gossips.
I really hope I won't experience that here.
Suddenly, Bryle popped up at my desk.
"Melody!" he exclaimed.
"Good job! I know you're excellent at what you do."
He smiled at me brightly.
"And don't mind them.
They're just jealous because you're the only
executive secretary who's lasted more than a day,"
he whispered near my ear.
"Huuuhhhh! What!? Why?"
I blurted out, startling everyone around me before quickly
lowering my head in embarrassment.
"pfffttt, Hahaha, You're really something,
Melody," Bryle said with a genuine smile.
"You know, Mr. Cyprus has gone through 499 secretaries, none of them lasted even a day.
But you? You've smashed the record by making it to two days,"
Bryle said, pretending to be impressed of me.
I couldn't hold back my laughter, snorting at the absurdity that he said.
"Wait, what? Are you really serious?"
Bryle nodded dramatically, then suddenly straightened his posture,
adjusting an imaginary tie as he launched into his best Leo Cyprus impression,
complete with a furrowed brow and a scowl.
"First rule: no coffee stains on my desk!
Second rule:
no personal calls during work hours!
Third rule: if I hear one more pen click, you're out!"
he barked, his voice a hilariously over-the-top imitation
of Leo's infamous temper on their first day.
I was doubled over, tears in my eyes as Bryle continued his mock rant of Mr. Cyprus,
and shaking a pretend document in the air.
"And where's my report? I said I needed it five minutes ago—five!
This isn't a daycare, people!"
He slammed his fist on the table, mimicking Leo's intensing glare.
"Welcome to the Hunger Games, secretarial edition!"
I clutched my stomach, gasping between my giggles.
"Oh my god, Bryle, stop—you're killing me!
No wonder they all ran for the hills!"
Bryle smirked, shrugging as he broke the character.
"What can I say? You've got some serious survival skills,
Melody and he must give you an award."
Bryle was the only one who complimented me
and helped me not to mind the people around us.
"I thought you were one of them," I admitted to Bryle.
"Woah? What? Hahahah.
They're just INSECURE because you exceeded our boss's expectations,"
he shouted the word "insecure" causing everyone gossiping to return to their seats.
"Pffft, hahaha. Thank you, Bryle, for your compliments and those jokes."
I laughed and smiled at him,
feeling a spark of joy.
He gazed at me with amusement.
"Melody, you really are something,"
he said, blushing.
"Huh?" I asked, confused.
He just smiled and returned to his desk.
Hmmm, what was that? I was left confused by what he said.
I shook my head, trying to focus back on my work.
Bryle's words lingered, though, giving me a sense of comfort
I hadn't felt in a long time.
It was nice to have someone on my side for once.
Just as I was settling back into my routine,
Mr. Cyprus, called my attention to his office.
"Melody, could you come into my office for a moment?"
Speaking in a neutral yet forceful tone, he stated from his doorway.
Pffttt, I really laugh remembering how Bryle act exactly like our boss.
I hastily saved my work, got up,
and walked over to his office while smoothing down my skirt.
I gently tapped on the doorframe before going inside.
"Please, have a seat," Mr. Cyprus gestured towards the chair in front of his desk.
I took a seat and tried to gauge his mood.
With his fingers curled under his chin, he had a serious expression.
"I wanted to talk to you about the meeting earlier today,"
he said. "You did an excellent job with the preparations.
Thanks to your efforts, everything was well-organized and functional."
"Thank you, Mr. Cyprus," a mix of pride and relief.
With a slight smile on his face, he nodded.
"I need your assistance with another crucial issue.
We are currently strategizing Dre@im Company's future expansion,
and I am scheduled to meet with a highly possible investor the next week.
Could you help me with the arrangements and come to the meeting?
I was shocked by the prospect, but I was also thrilled by it.
"Obviously, sir. I'd be glad to assist you with that.
Mr. Cyprus remarked, his face lighting up,
"Great." "For the meeting,
we'll need to organize everything, compile all the paperwork,
and create a thorough presentation.
Your ability to be organized will be very important."
"I'll start working on it right away," I assured him, already thinking of what needed to be done.
"Thank you, Melody. Your dedication is truly appreciated,"
he said, standing up to shake my hand.
As I returned to my desk, I felt a sense of purpose and excitement.
This was a significant opportunity to prove my capabilities further and contribute to the company's growth.
I started compiling the necessary documents and organizing the
presentation materials, feeling a renewed sense of energy and determination.
Throughout the week,
Mr. Cyprus and I worked closely together,
fine-tuning the presentation and ensuring everything was perfect for the meeting.
His confidence in me bolstered my own,
and I was determined to help secure the investment for the company's expansion.
---------
On the day of the meeting,
Mr. Cyprus turned to face me as we were getting ready to go.
"Ready, Melody?"
With a mixture of nervousness and exhilaration, I nodded.
"Ready."
I hopped into his car and traveled to 5 star Hotel where the meeting will be headed.
I couldn't help but feel proud of the work we had completed
as we traveled to the conference.
I inhaled deeply as we walked into the investor's office,
eager to share our ideas and highlight the possibilities of Dre@im Company.
The meeting proceeded without any problems,
with Mr. Cyprus facilitating the conversation and me providing assistance
and other details as required.
Our comprehensive preparations and presentation left a positive impression on the investor.
It was evident by the end of the meeting that we had left a good impression.
The investor accepted our proposal and set up a follow-up meeting to go over the specifics.
After he sent the investors to their car,
Mr. Cyprus returned to the table he had reserved for us to celebrate the success of our meeting.
He took a seat across from me, a pleased look on his face.
"Choose whatever you like to eat," he said with a generous smile.
I opened the menu, and my eyes immediately zeroed in on the steak section.
Oh my goodness, my heart fluttered.
I could practically hear the steaks calling my name. But I hesitated,
unsure if it was too extravagant.
Noticing my hesitation, Mr. Cyprus leaned in with a playful smirk.
"Don't worry, Miss Violet. Order whatever makes your heart sing."
"Well, in that case..." I grinned, glancing back at the menu.
"I think I'll go for the steak."
"Excellent choice," he said, chuckling.
"A celebration isn't complete without a good steak."
Just then, the waiter approached to take our order. Mr. Cyprus confidently ordered his meal,
then it was my turn.
"I'll have the... uh..."
I started, my voice suddenly faltering as the menu slipped from my fingers
and landed on the floor with a dramatic thud.
The waiter stifled a laugh as I awkwardly reached down to pick it up.
"Sorry about that," I said, blushing.
"No problem," the waiter said, smiling.
"What would you like to order?"
"Steak," I said quickly.
"The biggest one you have."
Mr. Cyprus laughed heartily,
his shoulders trembling with laughter.
"Now that's the spirit!"
Mr. Cyprus entertained us with amusing tales of past
meetings that had gone horribly wrong in the most
unexpected ways while we waited for our food.
One was an impromptu shadow puppet play caused by a malfunctioning projector.
"I had to provide some entertainment for the investors,"
he continued to laugh.
"Let's just say my shadow rabbit was a big hit."
When our lunch arrived,
I was ecstatic to see the enormous steak in front of me.
I prepared to dig in by picking up my knife and fork.
Mr Cyprus lifted his glass.
"To a successful meeting and to many more to come."
Mr. Cyprus abruptly stopped as we made our way back to his car,
his eyes darting all about.
Behind us,
He heard the faint click of a camera shutter and
saw a shadowy person hovering nearby.
"Mr. Cyprus?"
I spoke, my fear clear in my voice.
He suddenly stopped,
his eyes darting around wildly.
His face turned ashen, and he began to tremble,
his breaths becoming shallow and rapid.
It was as if he were about to collapse right there.
He clutched at his necktie, struggling to loosen it as though he couldn't breathe.
His knees buckled, and he nearly sank to the ground.
I quickly grabbed his arm to steady him, but he jerked away,
seemingly unaware of my presence.
"STOP THAT CAMERA!" he screamed, his voice echoing through the parking lot.