"I have a proposal for you." I had my head in my work, I didn't want to keep imagining and replaying what could have happened in the elevator. I had to do some product research and I had papers all over my table, my hair wasn't in its perfect shape anymore, my eyes were tired too.
I checked my phone, it dinged and that was the message that I saw. I didn't know who sent it, out of curiosity I saw the name and it was Arthur. I was surprised, my jaw fell and my eyes widened. I didn't even realize that my mouth was open for so long.
"Danielle? Are you good?" Janet asked and I gulped. "Oh yeah. It's just some spam messages and work related." I lied to her. I didn't like this at all. "Are you sure?" She asked again and I smiled. I nodded too.
I needed to be alone to properly understand what the message meant. I wear my emotions on my sleeves and even if I had just denied it all, it would be obvious that I had something bothering me.
"Okay." Janet said and went back to her work. "I will be right back. I want to use the bathroom." I said as I stood up. I grabbed my phone too. I needed to call him, maybe it was a mistake. It couldn't be intentional. I walked into the bathroom and I went there to make a call. I checked all the doors and no one was there. I locked the main door too
"Hi, I got a message now and I don't understand it but that's not important. How did you get my number?" I wasn't even nice or polite. I felt disrespected, if he wanted my number, he could have asked me.
"You don't have to know that. I am your boss. I can get your number. You aren't a child." He replied and I scoffed. His arrogance was so loud and clear it made me choke.
"I am not a child and I need to know how you got my number in the first place." I repeated my question.
"I guess you prefer a call to a physical interaction, I remember I asked you some questions this morning but then your words got lost in your tongue." He laughed as he said those words and he was right.
I muted the call while I exhaled and tried to catch my breath.
"I can tell when I have been muted and did you cuss me out? That would have been nice, but always remember I am still your boss." He added and I swear I wanted to grab him from the phone and say some things to him. I was frustrated and he was enjoying it. I didn't reply.
"Whatever proposal it is, I am not interested. Have a good day." I ended the call and I walked out of the bathroom.
It was the lunch break, Janet, Summer and Adam were all waiting for me, she already texted.
"You are having toast again? Why can't you have Mac and cheese or maybe pot roast." Janet asked as we sat down to eat at the cafeteria. I smiled as I realized that she was right but then I liked my toast.
"Okay. Next week. I will have whatever it is you have." I promised her as I placed my hands on my chest.
"Good." Janet nodded as she ate her Mac and cheese. "You need to switch up." Summer added and it felt like a gang up session, they had this all bottled up and they didn't say a thing.
"You all had this planned. Didn't you-." I wasn't able to complete the statement when I got interrupted.
"Danielle Tan? Danielle Tan? Your attention is needed at the chairman's office."
As soon as we all heard that, my friends all turned to me. It was surprising as it was weird. I hadn't even taken a bite from my meal yet. "Is this a good thing?" They all turned and asked me, it seemed like everyone knew who I was, there were eyes on me or maybe I was just exaggerating but it felt that way.
I knew it was Arthur's doing. I left my meal and I went to his office. As soon as I walked in, I made my stance clear. "I am not not interested neither will I agree to whatever it is that you want me to do." He wasn't on his chairs, instead he was looking outside the glass wall. He turned and titled his head
"You are getting ahead of yourself. Have a seat, and calm down." He said in a calm tone. I clenched my jaws and my shoulders too. I realized it wasn't war anyways.
"I called you here to talk about the products, the new release. I needed an honest and undiluted opinion and that's why you are here." He said as he walked to his chair. He took out a file and stretched it forward. I went to him and I opened it. I didn't realize that it was for a product, what if this is the key to my promotion or what if this is a test. I really need to calm down and listen but he has been teasing and stressing me all day and it isn't even one pm yet.
I decided to pay attention to the file and I found out the answer. I already felt so embarrassed but I didn't have to show it. I prayed I didn't break a sweat.
" It's a good product but not a great product, it has the chance of getting sold out three times less than the last products. All it needs is a bit of modification for public use." I said to him as I closed the file and I dropped it on the table.
"Great. You're coming with me to the meeting in the next ten minutes." He stood up and he nodded