"Ow!" I say at the same time as I feel my forehead bump into something.
It's a person. A handsome person! The new CEO.
"Sorry," I say, looking up at him.
"It's fine, I'm sorry too." He slightly bows to look down at me.
I try to move, but then my legs feel weak, and I trip. He holds me by my shoulders, then he looks into my eyes. I look back at him, and I feel hypnotized. His gaze is intent, as if he is searching for something in my eyes. So, I take a few steps back.
"Hi, I am Keegan." He smiles.
You are handsome.
"Hi," I reply after the words finally register in my mind.
"Are you okay?" He asks.
"Yes. I'm okay thanks." I take a deep breath, and I move in the direction of the glass doors of the building.
"I am very pleased to meet you. I'm the new colleague." He calls after me.
I turn slightly, and smile politely, "I'm pleased to meet you too." Then I rush to the door.
When I get back, I find the break room full. I give Mia the box of cupcakes from the car.
We have 20 minutes before the official work hour, so I drink tea, and she drinks coffee.
The topic of discussion is the same throughout the room, and anyone who has met the new CEO can't stop raving.
When he gets in, the entire room goes silent.
He stands in front, and then he is introduced by Nick, our head manager.
The room erupts with applause and cheers. I look around, and I feel awful about my lack of excitement.
"Meet your new boss. He has recently bought this company, and he will be the new CEO for a while, just to monitor the company. Please respect him while he is here."
Is it necessary for us to work under the owner's supervision?
It would be a nightmare, we will be under scrutiny all the time, and he will be constantly trying to get more than his money's worth out of us. As if that isn't happening already.
They all clap, and I press my lips. I don't see the necessity for the excitement. My eyes sweep the room. He is staring right at me, and I find his intense gaze intimidating.
He whispers to the other man standing next to him. They both look in my direction, then, the man nods.
The meeting gets adjourned, and then I go to my work station.
"Mrs Loughty, Mr Boreanaz would like a word with you." The man who was next to him says.
My rapid heartbeat turns on my overthinking mode.
I try to think about anything that I might have done wrong in the last hour.
Nothing rings a bell.
What if I did something wrong in the last few months, and I wasn't aware, but he found something?
I find the door to his office open already, and I get more nervous.
Closed doors are there for a reason. You can pull yourself together before knocking.
"Mrs Loughty, you don't seem happy to see me." He smiles slightly. That's when I realize that I have been standing in the doorway and staring at him.
Was I supposed to be happy?
"Are you okay? Are you listening to me? I said please come in." He says gently.
"Ofcause Mr Boreanaz, I'm sorry." I say as I walk into his spacious office.
"Please, take a seat."
"Right now?" I blink, thinking about the way in which I abandoned my work station. We are usually called to the office during lunch or after work.
"Yes, please." He smirks.
I reluctantly sit on the opposite side of him.
"I am individually interviewing my colleagues." He ignores my prying eyes.
"An interview? For what?"
"You don't seem well." He doodles with a pen on a blank paper.
"Why am I the first one? Am I losing my job?" I ignore his concern.
I really need this job.
"Why were you not eager to see me? Mrs Loughty?"
"You want the truth?" I challenge.
"Yes, please." His voice is cool, he is calm.
"I don't think that there is any need for us to work with the owner. We have been doing our jobs."
"Have people in higher positions been doing their jobs?" He raises his eyebrows.
"I mean, I understand that the interests of the company should be looked after, but have they been taking care of you as the people who make the company flourish?" He continues.
I shrug in response.
"I'm not here to be your enemy, Mrs Loughty. I'm here to take care of you."
"Same old story that we are always told." My nervousness has dissipated, and it has been replaced by anger.
"I know that it's hard to believe, but I'm going to make major changes here, and they will benefit the company and the employees."
"Why are you running the interviews?" I ask.
"This is not a formal interview. I want to get to know all of you better. It's natural to start with someone who dislikes me."
"I don't dislike you. I was just uncomfortable."
"I hope that as we continue to work together. Things will improve." He gazes at me.
I nod.
"I haven't found a PA yet, I would like you to be my PA and work with me in my office." He says casually. It doesn't feel like he is asking.
"What? I'm sorry for my outburst. It was necessary." I quickly try to keep my composure.
"Would you prefer an office next to mine then?"
"You are going to cut my salary. I suppose."
"Why? I'm going to increase it." He doesn't elaborate more.
"Would you tell me about yourself, your family, if you have any kids, and things like that." He continues to doodle.
"Are you sure you want to know all that? I would rather tell you about how much I love my job."
He chuckles. "So, you want me to believe that you love your job, and you can't live without it?"
"Yes." I snicker at my own words.
"With all these ridiculous company policies?" His eyes widen.
"It's not my place to..." My voice is shaking and I look down at the patterns on his previously blank paper. It's a picture of a bare tree.
"You can tell me about yourself if you don't want to talk about this company." He smiles encouragingly.
"I don't do much. I have no hobbies or anything to do. Except, I work here, then I go home."
"Do you have children?"
"Just one, I have a son."
"Tell me about your son."
"He is six years old, and he is the best really, but every mother says that about their child."
"Do you have any children, Mr Boreanaz?" I ask to be polite, and not to sound self-absorbed, or like a boasting mother.
"No. Will you please tell me about yours?" He persists.
"He is one of the brightest children I have ever met, he is mature for his age, and I had to fight with the teachers for them not to transfer him. They said that he belonged in the third grade, but I asked them not to transfer him."
He looks at me in disapproval.
"Why would you do that?" He scolds.
"You don't know how old he is. He is still a baby. He is only six years old."
"You know what? I'm sorry, you know best, you are the mother. Here I am, acting as if I'm the one who asked him what he wanted."
For a moment, I feel guilt building up. I didn't ask Lucky what he wanted or let him explore. I decided for him, and my decision was final.
"Can I go?" My voice quivers.
"Of cause. Think about my offer. Please."
I nod, and I exit the room to go back to my station.
During lunch, we sit together in the lunch room, Keegan gets in, holding his lunch bag as well.
He sits next to Hillary.
She turns crimson, but the satisfaction on her face can't escape anyone's attention.
"Mr Boreanaz. Would you like to attend my Thanksgiving dinner or Isla's? She asks in the most alluring voice."
"Are you having a Thanksgiving dinner competition?" He glances at me.
"No, it's nothing." I shake my head.
"I would like to hear all about it." He says to Hillary with the most inviting smile.
"She is hosting a Thanksgiving dinner for people whom their families live far away." She says.
"And you?"
He is definitely flirting. Mia gently nudges my leg under the table, and I nudgr hers in response.
"I'm hosting the dinner for anyone who wants to attend." She bats her eyelashes.
"That's very nice of both of you. Why are you dividing it? Can't you make it one? My family is far away. I would love to spend Thanksgiving eating a home cooked meal, but if you are diving it, I can't."
"Can't you choose your favourite host?" Hillary slightly gazes at him.
"You know what? You can be the host. It's fine." I interject.
"Really?" Hillary smiles triumphantly.
"Yeah." I reply casually.
"Will you come?" She asks Keegan.
"Yes. Will you come Mrs Loughty?" His gaze is on me.
I nod in response.
"Do we bring our families?" He smiles at Hillary.
"Yes, do you have a family around Mr Boreanaz?" She asks.
"No, but I would like to meet your families."
He looks in my direction, and I am completely confused. Especially about this boss who seems to flirt with employees.