I groggily opened my eyes, wincing as the bright morning light pierced through my brain like a thousand tiny knives. My head was pounding, my mouth felt like sandpaper, and my body ached all over. I slowly sat up, rubbing my temples in a futile attempt to massage away the hangover.
As I swung my legs over the side of the bed, a wave of nausea washed over me, making my stomach churn. I took a few deep breaths, trying to calm myself down. Why did I drink so much last night?
With a groan, I finally managed to sit up properly , rubbing my temples in an attempt to ease the throbbing headache. But even that small movement left me feeling drained. I let out a deep sigh.
I glanced at the clock on my nightstand and my heart sank. I had to be at work in a few hours. I couldn't afford to be late, not today. With a newfound sense of urgency, I tossed off the covers and stumbled out of bed, staggering towards the bathroom to start my morning routine.
"UGH! All this was his fault If he had not annoy me the whole day I won't have drank to begin with." I tsked.
I took a quick shower got dressed and packed my stuffs including my coffee I knew I'll definitely need today to stay awake at work.
"And here we are"I exhaled."second day in hell. Good luck Lia you're going to need it."I mumbled out as I was about to leave my house.
*******
Mrs. Dumain greeted me in the lobby of the building. "This is the boss's schedule for the month," she said, handing me a thick agenda. "You are going to be in charge of this. Make sure to memorize it and most especially, make sure he attends all his meetings and appointments."
"Understood Mrs. Dumain."I responded.
As I watched, Mrs. Dumain disappeared into her office, while I made my way to the elevator that would take me to mine. I couldn't help but feel a sense of trepidation as I glanced over his schedule for the day. His meeting with the board of directors was scheduled for 9:30, and with the current time being 8:29, I was starting to get a little worried. "Where was he?" I muttered to myself.
As if on cue, he strode into the office, his presence commanding attention. He moved with an air of confidence, his stride effortless as he glided across the floor. His attire was impeccable, the sleek black suit a perfect fit for his broad shoulders. The diamond-encrusted silver watch on his right wrist sparkled and shone, casting tiny rays of light with every movement he made. His mask and shades were still firmly in place, adding an air of mystery to his already imposing presence.
As he walked past me, I felt a familiar pang of annoyance. He seemed completely oblivious to my presence, his eyes fixed on some point ahead as he moved with purpose. I sighed inwardly, reminding myself of my place. After all, he was the boss - the owner of the entire building, in fact. And I was just his lowly executive assistant. I rolled my eyes and let out a soft huff, the sound escaping as a faint fart as I settled back into my work.
I was about to head to his office to discuss his schedule when the fixed phone on my desk jolted me out of my thoughts. "Hailey, my coffee now, and abstain from bringing that garbage you brought yesterday here." He hung up on me again, leaving me feeling frustrated and annoyed. I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself down. "Lia, calm down. He's your boss; don't do anything you might regret," I reminded myself.
As I glanced around my desk, my eyes landed on the coffee I had brought from home. It was a special blend that my mom used to make for me during my high school days, when I would pull all-nighters studying for exams. For some reason, I had always preferred this coffee over any other. I decided to make a fresh cup, especially for Mr. Bossy Pants. I headed to the canteen, brewed a new pot, and grabbed the agenda from my desk before making my way to his office.
As I entered his office, I attempted to greet him, but my words caught in my throat. "Good mor-," I stammered, my eyes locking onto his. He sat behind his desk, his eyes fixed intently on me, his presence commanding the space around him. His shades and mask were gone, revealing a chiseled face and piercing eyes that seemed to bore into my soul. A hint of a smile played on his lips, leaving me feeling unsettled.
M-my B-boss... this man! "You really messed up big time, Lia," I thought inwardly, my mind racing with the implications. The man sitting elegantly behind that desk was none other than the stranger I had met the night before. It was no wonder why he seemed oddly familiar. "Oh my goodness, I am definitely going to be fired," I thought, recalling how I had insulted him in the worst way possible.
He had his long legs crossed, leaning back casually in his seat as he regarded me with his dark, gorgeous eyes. I was momentarily sucked into those deep eyes and forgot to breathe for a couple of seconds. "Are you just going to stand there?" he said, interrupting my thoughts. I snapped back to reality, feeling a flush rise to my cheeks.
"Oh, so-sorry sir, this is your coffee," I stammered, trying to composed myself. Did he not remember who I was? Maybe the dark lighting of the club hadn't allowed him to see my face clearly. "I thought inwardly, exhaling with relief. "Ugh, goddamn, thank goodness he doesn't remember."
"What is this?" he retorted, glancing at the coffee I had placed on his table. I stood up straight, trying to maintain a professional demeanor. "Since you didn't like the coffee I made yesterday, and I didn't know which one you prefer, I decided to make my own special coffee, sir." I stated with a forced smile on my face.
He leaned forward in his chair, his eyes narrowing as he looked at me like a predator ready to attack his prey. "Hum," he murmured, his gaze still fixed on me. I broke the silence, trying to defend myself. "I didn't put anything in it, sir. I can take a sip if you're suspicious."
"Aubrey, did I ask for a special coffee?" he pointed out, looking at the coffee with disgust. "I said I needed coffee." His tone was firm, and I could sense a hint of annoyance beneath the surface.
"It's Emilia! Em-i-li-a," I enunciated clearly, stretching out each syllable. My voice was firm, but I could feel a hint of defiance creeping in. "You should at least try it before portraying such disgust. And maybe, just maybe, try being more appreciative. You didn't specify what type of coffee you wanted. For once, I decided to swallow my rage and do something thoughtful. Here you are, thanking me with this kind of attitude."
As soon as the words left my lips, I slapped my hand over my mouth, horrified by my outburst. I couldn't believe I had just shouted at my boss. My eyes widened in shock, and I felt my face burning with embarrassment. I had lost control, and now I was staring into the face of my boss.
"I was done for." I scolded myself inwardly.
"Is that so, Emilia?" He smirked, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he leaned back in his chair. To my greatest surprise, there wasn't an ounce of anger in his eyes. Instead, he seemed amused, like he was enjoying some private joke. His gaze held a hint of mischief, and I could sense a spark of curiosity igniting within him. The air in the room seemed to vibrate with tension, but it wasn't the kind of tension I had expected. It was more like... anticipation.
"Emilia, bring the coffee. I'll drink it." He smirked, his eyes glinting with amusement as he sat back up. The way he pronounced my name sent a shiver down my spine. It felt so... pleasant, so appealing. I blushed, feeling a flutter in my chest.
I mentally shook myself, trying to regain my composure. "Jeez, Lia, get a grip! You can't be having these thoughts about your boss," I chastised myself.
I creased my brows, looking at him with a mixture of confusion and suspicion. "What was he up to?" I wondered. Not too long ago, he was looking at my coffee with disgust, and now he wanted to drink it? What was going on? Was this some kind of game?
He raised his right brow, indicating he was waiting for the coffee. I picked up the cup I had placed on his desk and walked towards him. "Sir," I said, stretching out my hands to give him the coffee. But he didn't look at it; all his focus was on me. I was so close to him that I was being intoxicated by his cologne. It smelled incredibly good.
Maybe he still didn't trust me, I thought, as I was about to take a sip of the coffee to prove it was safe. But he stopped me, his hand brushing against mine as he took the cup. He drank the coffee slowly and gently, like he was savoring a fine wine at a French diner.
"Hmm," he mumbled, clearly taken aback by the taste of the coffee. He was a very picky person when it came to food, and the coffee had a certain quality he couldn't quite pinpoint. "What did she put in it?" he wondered, his eyes narrowing slightly. Looks like he had underestimated me.
He chuckled lightly, a low, smooth sound. "Blue Mountain," he said, while sipping his coffee. I looked at him with a questioning expression, unsure what he meant. What was he saying?
He seemed to have understood that I wasn't getting what he was saying. "My favorite coffee is Blue Mountain," he pointed out, his voice low and smooth, sending a shiver down my spine. "But not bad, Emilia." He smirked, his eyes glinting with amusement.
I hadn't noticed I had been holding my breath until he spoke. I was relieved as I exhaled, feeling a warmth spread through my chest. "I'm happy you like it, sir," I giggled, feeling very pleased that he enjoyed the coffee I had made.
"What did you put inside, or should I say, where did you get this?" he asked, his brow furrowed in curiosity, as he set the mug on his desk. I was quite surprised he knew the coffee wasn't from the company canteen, but I decided not to put too much thought into it.
"That's right, sir, I brought this coffee from my house," I responded, trying to sound nonchalant. "It was initially meant for me, to help me stay awake at work. And as for what I put inside... I'm sorry, I can't tell." I finished with a sly smile.
He chuckled lightly, seeming to be amused by the last part of my sentence, his eyes sparkling with interest.
"It's Ken, call me Ken," he said with a warm smile, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "I guess a chef never shares his secrets, isn't that right, Emi?" He regarded me with a gaze that made me feel extremely self-conscious, as if he could see right through me.
I felt my cheeks grow hot, and before I knew it, I was blushing. Why did he have to call me Emi? And Ken? I was his employee, for goodness' sake! I couldn't possibly call him that.
I felt a sense of panic wash over me as I struggled to compose myself. What was happening to me? Why did I feel so hot and flustered all of a sudden? I needed to get away from this man as soon as possible, before I made a complete fool of myself.
"Sir, you-" "Ken," he interjected, his eyes sparkling with amusement.
"You have a meeting today at 9:30, and it would be good if you start heading towards the conference room so as to be on time," I continued, my tone professional and detached. "I have studied the files about the deal with Byte Co. I will be handing them to you when you're on your way there."
I efficiently gathered the mug from his table, my movements deliberate and controlled, as I retreated to the front of his desk. I studiously ignored the earlier exchange, determined to maintain a professional demeanor. After all, this man was my boss, and I needed to keep my emotions in check.
I walked out of his office and headed to my office without waiting for his response. I was so flustered . I can't get any closer to him . This was becoming dangerous.
Ken came out of the office 10minutes later .
"Emilia , Let's get going then. "
"He wanted me to go with him?" I thought to myself, my mind racing with confusion. As his Executive Assistant, I knew that this meeting was shrouded in secrecy, carefully planned and orchestrated under the radar. So, why would he want me to accompany him?
I opened my mouth to protest, "B-but I am n-" but he cut me off mid-sentence.
"I am the boss, I make the decisions here," he said, his voice firm and authoritative, as he turned to look at me over his shoulder. His eyes seemed to bore into mine, daring me to defy him. "Unless you want to defy my authority?"
"No." She shook her head, and for a brief moment, he grinned, seemingly pleased with her response.
"Let's get going then," he said, exiting the room, with her following closely behind.
They arrived at the conference room, where everyone was already seated and waiting. "Miss Keller, you're going to be part of this meeting," Ken announced, taking his seat.
Lia had been about to leave and wait in the lobby, but she halted, surprised by Ken's words. A board member opened his mouth to protest, but Ken's glare silenced him.
"I wasn't offended that they didn't want me here," Lia thought to herself. "It wasn't usual for assistants to take part in this type of meeting."
But before she could process anything further, Ken dropped another bombshell. "Oh, and Mrs. Keller will be the one presenting the project," he said, leaning back in his chair and crossing his long legs.
Lia froze, her eyes wide with shock and disbelief, mirroring the reactions of everyone else in the room. But no one dared to interject, leaving the room in an uncomfortable silence.
Was this his way of getting back at me? I wasn't ready to present the project. I had read and understood it, but I wasn't prepared for this level of scrutiny.
"B-bu-" I tried to debate with him, but he cut me off with a murmured phrase that only I could hear.
"Show me what you've got, Emi." His low, masculine voice sent a shiver down my spine, and all my doubts seemed to melt away. Suddenly, I felt a surge of determination and a strong urge to prove myself to him.
I took a deep breath, steadying myself as I reminded myself of my extensive experience in presenting projects. I had done this countless times before, and I just needed to regain my composure. "You can do this," I whispered inwardly, squaring my shoulders.
As I began to present, all eyes were on me, filled with anticipation. I closed my eyes for a brief moment, collecting my thoughts, and then reopened them, focusing on the task at hand.
Thankfully, I had completed all the paperwork the previous night, or I would have risked making a fool of myself. But as I delved into the presentation, I could sense the room's astonishment. Everyone was utterly shocked at how effortlessly I handled the presentation, their faces reflecting a mix of amazement and admiration.
When it came to my job, I was unbeatable. This was my dream role, and I found immense pleasure in doing what I did. The presentation's topic was one that deeply interested me, making my task even easier.
"And that's it, ladies and gentlemen," I concluded, flashing a warm, professional smile. The room fell silent, with everyone in awe and shock. Ken smirked, seemingly entertained.
The silence was broken by a young man's mocking applause. "That was a good speech you prepared for us, Mrs.... Whatever your name is," he said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "But we're talking about billions here. This is no joke, no college project. Until you bring out real data and proof that this will actually work out, I'm not buying it."
I was expecting this type of retaliation. "Well, it's Keller... Mrs. Keller," I corrected him, my tone firm but polite.
I turned my back to the audience and faced the huge screen in front of me. "While Mr. Gideon Kiven here is worried about machine data, statistics, estimations, and guesswork, I, however, am worried about real-life data," I said confidently, turning back to look at them.
"On the screen, you can view the real-life data we obtained from the beta version of our product," I continued, navigating through the presentation with ease. "As you can see, the demand rate was higher than the production rate. But that's not all - our product also boasts a unique feature set, superior quality, and an affordable price point, making it an attractive option for consumers."
I highlighted the key benefits of our product, including its eco-friendliness, durability, and user-friendly interface. "Our market research indicates a growing demand for sustainable products, and our offering is perfectly positioned to capitalize on this trend. Additionally, our strategic partnerships with key suppliers and distributors will ensure efficient logistics and widespread availability."
I fielded more questions from the audience, providing detailed answers that left them visibly impressed. I could sense their shock at seeing a "lil secretary" deliver such a comprehensive presentation.
"And for that, I come back to Mr. Kiven," I said with a hint of sarcasm. "I seem to notice you're quite a slow learner, as you hadn't retained my name when my boss called it out earlier. So, don't bother, I'll send you a copy of the report and the data from the beta product testing, so you can better understand what I'm talking about."
The room erupted into chuckles at my witty remark, but Gideon's face turned red with rage. He glared at me, his eyes blazing with anger.
I concluded my presentation and returned to my position behind Ken. But before I could catch my breath, Ken dropped a bombshell.
"Since that's done, Mr. Cooper, please say farewell to the company and everyone in this room. Our partnership is over."
Ken's voice echoed through the conference room, leaving everyone, including me, in stunned silence. But Ken remained unfazed, sitting calmly in his seat with his legs crossed. My eyes widened as I stared at Ken, my mind racing with questions.