Chapter 1
“Hurry up! You’ll be late!” Claire rushed me even as I threw on my blazer and ran around for my shoes. I tried to rush even more. If I ended up late today, it’d be a very bad look for a new job. I’d passed my interviews with glowing success, or so they made it seem when they called me with a hospitable lightness carrying their voice. I couldn’t make them regret their decision so soon. Or at all.
“What time is it?” I picked up my handbag and rummaged through it, making sure everything I’d intended to have in there was indeed in there, including my phone. I then grabbed my car keys and my second phone off the counter and dropped them in my bag.
“It’s just a little after eight. You have enough time to drive there if you stop talking to me and go!” She spun me around and pushed me out the door. I turned back to her to hopefully give her a few pointers if she was going to be staying in my home for half the day, but she spoke before I could.
“I’ve stayed here before, Ahvi. Don’t you think I know what I should and shouldn’t do by now? I’ll even restock your fridge for you! Bye!” She shut the door in my face. I stopped myself from even trying to comprehend what just happened and made a run for my car, though running at full capacity was hard with these heels on.
I hopped in my car and took off. I didn’t even stop for my usual coffee and small sandwich from one of my favorite cafés, leaving my tummy empty. I could already feel the rumble that would only take me on deeper during the day. Thankfully, it wasn’t long before I finally reached the office building I’d be working in. It was a high-rise, and boy was it intimidating. From the ground below it looked like it touched the sky, full of importance.
I could barely suck a breath in before I reminded myself of the time and quickly headed inside. I then headed to the reception desk. Only one woman stood before it, talking to one of the receptionists behind the desk. I spoke to the other, unoccupied one.
“Hi. I’m here for my new job?” I hope this will go smoothly, desperately. The lady beside me perked up cautiously. I can feel her eyes lock and linger on me, and I resist the urge to look back at her.
“You’re the new hire?” I turn to look at the woman the words came from. The same one whose eyes were burning the side of my cheek just a hot second ago.
I nodded, but I was careful. What does it matter to her who I am?
“Perfect. I’m your assigned tour guide for today. Follow me.” She leaned up off the reception desk and took a careful look over me before turning around and walking. I looked back to the ladies behind the desk and they both nodded, a confirmation. I quickly picked up the pace and followed the lady as she moved with swaying hips down the wide, vast floor. My nerves begin to wrack me. I puckered my lips and suck a deep breath in. It only barely cleared my mind, but I at least feel a little better.
A little while later of taking the elevator and being shown around the floor I was to be working on, I was finally taken to the office I’d be working in from now on for my boss. For an assistant to the CEO, I must admit, this office was nice. It had a modern feeling to it, with pure black walls, a wooden brown ceiling with honey toned lights pouring out from the ceiling’s tray, and even a wall-length glass that overlooked the city below. We were basically the only skyscraper in sight since we lived in a city with not many buildings as tall as this one. Behind my chair, there was a TV floating on the wall. It almost deceived me into believing it was a picture frame, but I saw the way the light bounced off of it, and I immediately knew what kind of television it was.
“Your boss’s door is through there.” She pointed to a door that was to the right of where I stood, right next to the wide bookshelf that filled up the wall behind the long couch set a few feet away from the front of my desk. “Only enter through those doors if he calls you. Most times he will send you a text message or page you through the phone on your desk.” I nodded.
Was he a socially inept person? Or does he prefer seclusion? You know what, I won’t complain. At my last job I wanted nothing more than for my boss to leave me in solitude for once. When he could’ve sent an email, he found me physically; when he could’ve called, he visited; even when I didn’t need him nor did he need me, he still found something to come and nag me about. So, I suppose I can’t argue if this boss wasn’t the confrontational type.
“Your work officially begins at nine. Until then, there should be notes on your desktop to help you settle down and begin when it’s time.” She turned on the balls of her heels and headed to leave through the slim double doors before she turned back to me. “Only call for me if you absolutely need my help, yes?” She smiled and left.
Hmph. I think I’ll be fine on my own for now.
I checked my watch. I only had thirty minutes to settle down and look at whatever notes she must’ve been talking about. On the computer was a sticky note.
‘Password: MercHQ1990’
I unlocked the computer and immediately, I was met with the sight of an advanced note app already opened up and sitting, as if the computer was never fully shut down in the first place. So many words. So many guidelines. Jeez.
Okay, time to get through this.
Minutes upon endless minutes passed before I was finally almost done reading through and remembering everything I’ve been through when a soft knock whispered on my door. It clearly wasn’t coming from my boss’s door.
I got up and opened the door, only to be met with the sight of the hallway before I look down.
Oh.
“Hello,” I said in my politest voice that I could muster. Why is there a random child at my door? Is he random?
I peeked outside the hallway — both ways. It was empty aside from a few employees here and there.
“Who are you, little boy?” I stooped down to him, fixing my pencil skirt as I did. I smiled at him, and he tilted his head. I felt judged—like I was being picked apart. Do I drop the smile or what? Who is this child anyway? I didn’t know it was ‘bring your kid to work’ day.
“What’s your name?” He only continues to stare at me. The silence now hung heavily in the air.
“Mmm…” I try to think of something. Anything to get this child to stop judging me. I also need to get back to my job. “Where’re your parents?” I would try to reach out and fluff his hair, but I didn’t want to touch anyone’s kid in such a way without permission.
“I don’t know my mommy.” My brows rose of their own accord and I froze. Well…what a way to begin a conversation. Now the air only hung even heavier, drawing on my shoulders and clogging my throat. I cleared it and tried to come up with the next best sensible thing to say.
“Oh…uhm…what about your father?” Suddenly, a bright and wide smile rose to his face in a split second on his lips.
“Do you have candy? Or games?” He now bounced on his toes in his little sneakers. I didn’t know what to say.
I checked my watch. It’s literally three minutes to nine. Taking care of a child was the last thing I needed to do right now. Who let their child roam around the building and wander his way to my office?
“I, uh…” I swallowed. “I have work to do, so I can’t let you—”
“I’ll be quiet and still, I pwomise!”
I looked around the invisible air. Conflict warmed my blood a little.
“I can’t really kidnap you, but I suppose you won’t leave me alone, so, sure. You can play a game.” I stood up and stepped aside. He jumped inside with glee and ran over to my desk that I’d barely managed to even get used to yet. He then turned around and smiled at me cheekily, waiting for me to give him something to play with.
I walked over and pulled out one of my phones out of my purse. It was the one I only really use for messaging and calling. I didn’t need it right now. The only thing it’d be was distracting anyway. I opened up my game library and handed the phone to him.
“Here. Pick any game you’d like. Uh…” I scooted closer to his small body and took a peek at the screen. I found the icon I was looking for and pointed at it. “Except that one. No gun games.”
His cute little blue eyes looked up at me and he smiled. “Okay!” He then ran off over to the couch that was closer to the wall-length window opposite the doors to my office. He wiggled his way up into the couch and sat down giddily as he began using my phone. I found myself unconsciously smiling before I realized and shook my head. I raised my wrist again.
Shit. It’s 9:02.
I sat around my desk and checked for my first order of business. And it was…sorting emails. This should be easy. Then, after this, I needed to study his schedule; his likes; his dislikes; his wants; his needs; so that I can know from here on out how to format and plan his schedule. Phewww, give me strength. Please be easy. Please be easy. Deep down, I knew it wouldn’t.
I was deep in my work, sorting all his emails that had come in since the last assistant was…I don’t even know; fired? Quit? I hope it was for good reason and none that implicated whoever the hell my boss was. The only thing I knew about him for sure was that his last name was Mercier. I mean, that was literally the name of this company, a jewelry brand. It was one of the most popular and elite, yet I’ve never seen his face. Though I haven’t done much research into the company CEO-wise. They also never asked me questions related to him during my interview, so I guess I got lucky!
Knock! Knock! Knock!
I snapped my head up. What was that?
Suddenly, I realized the little figure that’d been sitting in the couch across from me was now missing.
Knock!
Even louder. I looked towards my boss’s door. There, the little gremlin stood, hands curled into fists as he knocked perpetually on the door.
“Hey! Hey!” I quickly rose to my feet and skedaddled over to him and his little body. “No.” I picked him up under his arms and took him away from the door. My heart picked up a rough rhythm in my chest as fear flooded my body.
“Why would you knock on the door?” I think it may have come out a little harsh, as his smile faltered a little upon me talking.
“I wanted to see if he’d answer,” he replied so innocently.
“No. No, you can’t do that. If he answers that door, then it’ll be me in trouble. Not you.”
“Mmm…” he smiled, “No.”
I cocked a brow. “’No’?”
“It’d be me in twouble.” He smiled as if it was the truth, that there was no other possibility, and he was absolutely certain of himself.
“Why would that be?” I folded my arms. I’m just grateful nothing fruitful came of those insistent knocks so far. Maybe Mr. Mercier wasn’t in there.
“No weason.” He clasped his hands with my phone in them and rocked back and forth, twisting his upper body.
He suddenly stopped and leaned in closer to me, still craning his neck just to look me in the eye. “Do you wanna see what in there?” He spoke as if it was a secret that he wished to share with me.
“No, not really.” That’s a half-lie. Of course I’m curious about what’s beyond the door, but I’m more curious as to who exactly my boss is—what he looks like; what’s his name.
“Arwe you surwe?” He tipped up on his toes.
“Wha—we can’t go in there. End of story.” He dodged me and slipped right behind me, going right back to the door. I turned and got ready to move him again, but he tipped up and pulled on the door handle, pulling it out towards us. He then turned back and looked at me with a mischievous smile etched on his tiny face. He didn’t even give me time to take it in before he turned and entered the room on the other side.
I hesitate. “Uh—” I moved to call his name, but then I realized. “What even is your name?” I go after him, but I quickly stop in my tracks.
Woah. His office was a different shape than mine. In my office, the wall with my window was only one, and the room was a regular box. But in here, the window curved smoothly around until it met a very small area of wooden wall where bigger double doors than mine stood. The window also looked out over the city below. That was when I realized which part of the building we were in from outside—the part that curved softly. Sets of beige, translucent curtains hung around the windowpanes, slid open. His desk laid in the same spot as mine, to the left of the entire room from where I stood, but he had a bookshelf behind his, and a grand wall with a beautiful panel design on it. As opposed to my black walls and brown, wooden ceiling, his walls were a thematic brown and his ceilings, black with recess lights.
The boy climbed up into a seat and slumped back as if he belonged here. Hell no. He needs to get his ass up.
“Get your butt up, right now.” I didn’t get rough with him, but I held my hand out for him to take. He looked at it and then up at me.
“I don’t want to.”
“We’re gonna get in trouble if you don’t get your tiny but up, right now.” I turned my wrist over and wiggled my fingers, as if that would usher him to grab my hand so we could go.
A clicking, automatic sound filled the room. I freeze.
“Come on.” I wiggled my fingers harder. “Please. Please, please, please.” He only smiled up at me, and fear was storming down my halls right now. I contemplated leaving him in here, but I can’t do that.
It’s too late. I heard the door finally open, and I wished I was a turtle so I could tuck my head inside my body and let the embarrassment consume me from in there. I didn’t even realize my eyes had snapped shut.
“Can I help you?” A velvety, resonant voice pricked the air. I heard the immediate caution and apprehension in his tone, and I wished the floor beneath me was a sinkhole right now. Oh, please kill me.
I opened my eyes to find the little gremlin staring back up at me with the same mischievous smirk on his face.
I turn around slowly. Tch. As if that will soften the blow.
Oh…my…God.
He’s handsome?! Why? Just kill me, please. Please.
I opened my mouth, but not a singular sound came out of it. My feet begged me to step back as soon as he began taking slow steps towards me, but my brain was frozen; it can’t send signals right now, sorry!
“Who are you?” He stopped just before me until he was hovering over me like this building was over the city. “And why are you in my office? With him?” He cocked his head towards the boy.
“I’m so sorry!” I blurted. “I tried to stop him from coming in here, but he figured out the door was open and welcomed himself in, and I— I tried to get him out, but he wouldn’t listen to me, I—” I froze, and I found myself stuck, staring into this man’s hazel eyes. His brows rose before he cocked one and then glanced at the open door that connected both our offices. Then he looked back at me and looked me up and down. With the slight quirk of his tight lips, a faint dimple shone through in his cheek.
“You’re the new assistant?”
I slowly nodded. “And…I’m guessing…you’re my new boss?” Oh, why did I ask? It wasn’t my place. I’d find out sooner or later either way. Why did I ask? I should’ve just shown myself the door.
“What do you think?” Sarcasm. Of course. Who else could he be?
He moved past me and walked over to his desk. He turned his back to it and leaned on it as he looked between me and the boy.
My skin was crawling with fear. This was only my first day. I couldn’t get fired on my first day!
“The boy can stay. You may go.”
Wait…what?
I looked back at the boy, and he was simply staring at me. I looked back to my boss and…I don’t complain. I turned and moved to take my leave, but then I remembered I’m forgetting something. I paused. I go back to the boy, not missing Mr. Mercier’s eyes watching my every move.
I simply held my hand out, expectantly. The boy looked at my hand, confused for a second before he picked up my phone from his lap and dropped it in my hand.
“Thank you, lady!” He beams. “What your name?”
I hesitated. “Ahvi.”
He giggles. “Dat’s a pwetty name, Awvi. Ahvi!”
How cute. But I didn’t dwell on it. I only flashed a smile before taking my final leave.
