Return to the land of the living
Thank so much for following along this far. I apologize in advance, but I've had to take down this series as I'm in contract with Galatea who will be publishing the stories. I'll only be leaving the first few chapter up, and will update on my profile when The stories are finally up on their app.
Thank you again for all of your love and support!
Aurora
It's been almost a month since I left him. Asleep and alone, I left him.
The thought of how he must have felt waking up alone pains me. The confusion, the loss, and loneliness. It was everything I have felt, every morning, noon and night. The difference is, he didn't see it coming. He probably thought he'd have a chance to say good bye, or talk me out of it. I couldn't take that chance. I know, if I stayed any longer I'd never leave.
A week ago I found a place of my own back in the city. Just on the opposite side of town from the penthouse. I found a job as an assistant in the city by some miracle. That's the only way I could afford my own place. I could've gotten my old job at the store back, but there were too many memories of Gio there. I needed a fresh start.
The sun shining through my windows proves to be a beautiful day. The weather has been getting warmer. A new season, new job, and a new place. If only any of that could make me feel better.
I have gotten better at hiding the pain. I can keep the tears in. I'm able to fake my way through a conversation I care nothing about, and my phony smile is perfection.
My alarm goes off, alerting me that my time for sorrow is over, and I need to get ready for work.
I'm the assistant to the CEO of a big hotel chain. I've been told that I'll be doing the same things I was doing for Gio. Setting up business meetings, scheduling lunches, preparing the conference room, and files for meetings, getting him coffee. Same shit different office.
I have yet to meet said boss. I know nothing about him except that he's 32, and his name is Jasper Phillips. I probably should have googled him to get an idea of what I'm in for, but thought hell, let it be a surprise.
I dress in my usual pencil skirt and button up blouse, and black heals. I go easy on the makeup seeing as how I don't have anyone I want to impress. I run a thick curling iron through my hair leaving it down and a spritz of flower bomb to my neck. Checking the time, of course there isn't enough for coffee. So I just grab my shit and leave. I'm sure they have a coffee maker at the office.
I get a cab outside my apartment. There's no way I'm taking the train on my first day. My luck it'll get stuck in between stations. At least in a cab I can get out and run.
The cab pulls up in front of the building and I give the guy cash, "Keep the change. " Not waiting for his replay I get out and walk quickly to the revolving doors, getting my work I.d. out in case I get stopped. Thankfully I don't. As I wait with a group of people for the elevator, all I can think is something bad is probably coming my way. I never have this much luck on one day.
As everyone piles in, my assumption comes to life. There's no room for me. A guy offers to wait and let me go, but I wave him off. While I wait for the next one I check out my shoes, making sure there aren't any scuffs or scratches. Out of the corner of my eye a tall man stands next to me a few feet away. He's wearing a Gray three piece suit, with brown leather shoes.
I look back at my shoes, bending one leg up to check the side of my shoe.
I slowly look up, feeling eyes on me, it's his eyes. His blue eyes, go well with his dark hair, and beard. I offer him a shy smile and a nod. He nods back but has more of a smirk on his face then a smile.
The doors open and the man extends his hand letting me get on first. I nod as a thank you. I get on as he follows, noticing there's nobody else. I hit the button to close the doors, not wasting anymore time. I hit 64, for my floor. I turn to ask him his floor and he's watching me.
"Which floor?" His smirk ever present.
"Same as you." oh. I simply nod again and take a step back. "First day?" I turn my head to him with a lopsided smile.
"Is it that obvious?"
"Not really, no. I just know most of the people in this building, and I don't recall ever meeting you before. What position did you get?" He turns his body to face me and leans against the hand rail of the elevator.
"I was lucky enough to be hired as the Ceo's new assistant. " I turn slightly towards him, in my spot.
"Oh, really? I heard he's a real hard ass." I don't like the sound of that. But I don't give anything away. For all I know this guy is a lazy worker and that's why he has hard feelings towards the boss.
"Well I haven't met him yet. And I don't like to make assumptions or listen to rumors. I'd rath-" The elevator jerks and comes to a stop, I lose my footing just a bit. The nice stranger grabs my arm to help steady me. "Thanks, I'm good." I straight my stance and my skirt. Looking up to see a red light flashing does not sit well with me "Shit. Now I definitely wont be early like I planned." He goes back to leaning against the rail.
"Early?" he quirks his one brow.
"Yeah, since it's my first day I was hoping to get settled before Mr. Phillips arrived. That way I could jump right into whatever he needed me to do. I wouldn't want to hold him up because I'm new. " He nods his head, looking impressed.
"What were you saying before the elevator stopped? About not listening to rumors?" I forgot we were even talking about that.
"Oh, it was nothing. I just like to get my own impression of people. You hardly ever have the same experience with a boss as someone else. So why base my opinion of someone based off someone else's experience?" I shrug my shoulders while looking at the red light that's mocking me. "I really wish this stupid thing would start moving again." I check my watch for the time. I'm still early but only by ten minutes.
"I'm sure you'll be okay. The CEO understands if you get stuck in the elevator. He's been trying to get this thing fixed for months. " I look up at him, and he offers me a small smile to make me feel better. I release a sigh and lean my back against the rail opposite him. He rests his hands on the rail spreading them out. "So, you really didn't look this guy up?" I shake my head.
"Nope, all I've learned during the interview was his name and age. I figured anything that I needed to know he would tell me, or I'd learn on my own. Half the stuff you read on the internet is usually crap anyway." I say with a shrug.
"You're right about that. Where did you work before this?" Fuck, the one question I didn't want to tell coworkers.
"Marino Industries. I was Giovanni Marino's assistant." I look down at my one shoe that I have extended in front of me.
"Wow!" I look up through my lashes at him. "Why'd you leave? Get your life threatened?" He laughs at his own joke, I just grin, and look back down. I cough clearing my throat.
"Ha, no nothing like that. It's complicated. I'd rather not get into it, but I left on good terms." I don't give any more information than is needed and stay quiet.
"Holy shit!" My head shoots up, his eyes are wide and his mouth in the shape of an O. "Your that Aurora?" I furrow my brows. I never told him my name. "You were engaged to Giovanni Marino! I knew you looked familiar."
"Have we met before?" I search my brain trying to remember ever seeing him, but I come up empty.
"I was at a party that was thrown for him a few months back. I left early luckily, we were briefly introduced but you barely looked at me. Plus we had masks on. Probably why you don't know what your new boss looks like." Now I'm the one with the raised brows and open mouth. Wait, Phillips.
"Shit! You were the man Gio was talking to right before I went to the bar for a drink. And then the shooting started no long after." He gives me a knowing look. "Mr. Phillips, sir. I'm sorry for my language. Oh my god! I hope I didn't say anything to embarrass myself now." I literally face palm myself. This is what I get for not making eye contact at that party, and for being too lazy to even google my own boss. He starts to chuckle at my embarrassment, and I blush profusely.
"It's really ok, no apologies are necessary. In fact you did the opposite. You've really impressed me Aurora. You have a great head on your shoulder, and a great work ethic, and we haven't even started working together yet. I can tell this is going to be a great working relationship."
"Thanks." I finally look back up feeling more confident. And offer him a real smile. "off the work record?" He smiles and nods.
"Sure off the work record. What is it Aurora?" I bite my bottom lip.
"I don't know if anyone else here knows who I am, but I'd appreciate it if you kept it to yourself. The fact of who I was engaged to?" Just saying the word engaged makes my eyes burn, and I know they probably look glassy. Judging by the look of pity on his face they are.
"I don't think anyone else here would know that information. I was the only one invited to that party, and I went alone. But I give you my word that I will keep it to myself."
"Thank you." he give a tight lip grin with a stern nod.
The elevator jerks again, as it starts to move. Thankfully I was already holding onto the rail. I let out a sigh of relief.
"Um, Mr. Phillips? I hope you wont dock my pay for being 5 minutes late?" I say with a smile, his eyes look up from the floor dragging up my body in the process and a sexy smirk is on his face.
"We'll have to see how the rest of the day goes, but I think I'll probably let your tardiness slide for today. Lets just not make this habit." I laugh at him, and let my head drop to my chest. I start to shake my head.
"I think I'll be taking the stairs from now on. I'll just leave a pair of heels in the office and wear sneakers to and from work." He laughs as well, as the doors open finally on our floor.
"Follow me Aurora. I'll show you around." I follow behind him taking in all the other desks in the middle of the main office, and some offices along the perimeter of the the floor.
"Isn't there someone else less important that could do that for you? I'm sure you have more important things to do." He comes to a stop, allowing me to catch up to his side.
"Just as you prepared to get here early, I prepared my morning and afternoon making sure I was free. I wanted to make sure you'd be fully informed on how I like things done. Ten minutes first thing in the morning is not nearly enough time." He turns back in the direction we were going in before. He wraps my arm around his and escorts me to his office. Or at least I thought it was just his. But just like how Gio had me in his office, so does Mr. Phillips.
Walking in, the office is set up almost Identical to Gio's. If I hadn't picked out everything in my old office myself, I'd say they shared the same interior designer. I laugh out loud to myself, but not really meaning too. I try to cover my mouth, but fail to do it in time. Mr. Phillips turns to face me when he's half way to his desk.
"What's so funny?" I try to wave it off, but no luck. "Come on, let me in on the joke."
"I'm sorry. It's just, well. If I hadn't picked out and designed Gios office myself, I'd swear you guys shared the same interior designer. I just couldn't help but laugh at myself, I meant no disrespect to you Mr. Phillips."
"That is funny. Great minds think alike I guess, because I picked this all out and designed it myself." He says holding his hands out gesturing to the room. He turns to continue to his desk. "Oh and when we are alone in the office or even out to lunch alone, just call me Jas, or Jasper. No need to be so formal." He sits behind his desk and signs on to his laptop. I grab a note pad and pen from the desk I'm assuming will be mine before taking a seat in front of his desk. Looking up from his laptop he checks me out seeing the note pad and pen, a huge smile that makes the corners of his eyes wrinkle blesses his face. "Good girl." being the praise whore that I am I blush, bowing my head to try and hide it.
The rest of the morning goes on uneventful. He gives me the tour. gives me the names of people I will be dealing with on a daily bases and their floors if they aren't on ours. he tells me how he takes his coffee, and what times he usually likes to have it. I get my laptop set up, and before I know it Jasper is telling me it's time for lunch.
He gets to his office door and turns around expecting me to be beside him. When i'm not he looks to me.
"Well, are you coming?"
