The shadows between

Thandi POV

I don't like change. I have been dreading this day for months now waking up this morning was damn near impossible task for me knowing that in mere hours my world as I know it was going to change or maybe I was just being dramatic, over thinking things as always, of course! but that was all up to my new boss, a one Mr Knight, Nickolas Knight.

Rumours had been going around the office about him, his a strict, no nonsense type of a man, his very handsome and blah blah blah. Oh how they won't shut up about his handsomeness this factor alone was working on my last nerve.

But you see that's the problem with majority of people in this world, they would rather spread rumors and go on hearsays because they were or are too lazy to actually do their research but I on the other hand made my life's mission to get as much information on this guy as I could after all he had the power to make me or break me.

if he doesn't like me than that would mean I'd be out of a job and in these times being unemployed isn't an option even with all my qualifications it was hard enough to get this job as it is.

So I had to 'know' him it's a amazing if you know where to look how the internet can be your friend for months my eyes had been glued to my laptop eyeing the picture of man who looked like he had the world on his hands his wavy full bodied dark chocolate hair was styled to perfection, his emerald green eyes looked like he had dark secrets but than again who doesn't these days even I have a few tucked away in my closet.

His smile was beautiful indeed but that too made my skin crawl though his smile could land him all that his hearts desire there was something about it. About him and I couldn't put my pinky on it though but I wasn't in no hurry am NEVER in a hurry!.

"Don't worry thandi, Mr Knight is a good honest man. He will take good care of you. I did have a talk with the man and told him that you are a great asset to the company, that with you by his side he can't go wrong" a memory of my old boss came to my mind Mr Nelson had informed me about his successor and had tried to reassure me that my place within the company hadn't changed due to his departure.

Mr Nelson was now in his 70's and had decided that he had enough of the business world and wanted to retire and spend the rest of days with his family stress free and that was noble notion from a man who has achieved so much in his lifetime.

"I just don't know Mr Nelson, the place would not be the same without you here and you know I dont do well with change" I confessed to which he smiled genuinely at Me I really don't have the time nor the patience to learn someone and their ways Mr nelson I muttered to myself and I continued "what would happen if i don't like him or worse he doesn't like me and the way i do things" Would that mean that I would have to look for another job? If he doesn't like me and decides to fire me. I wondered.

"Oh you will be fine thandi again i see no reason Mr Knight should have a problem with you. now if you do what you did for me for him you'll be alright and who knows maybe the two of you might like each other god forbid if you do" he smiled and looked at me for what felt like a while. God forbid indeed!

Mr Nelson and I had a good working relationship between the two of us he was a fair man and reasonable and I enjoyed his company little there was of.

The old man had put in a good word with his successor regarding me though I was greatful for the old man to put in a word or two for me but my alter ego didn't like it not one bit I couldn't help but feel that the young man would only do so out of pity I didn't know for who though pity for me the damsel in distress or pity for the old timer but non the less I hated the idea but there was nothing I could do for truth be told I am a rather desperate woman.

The picture said a thousand words without saying much either. Mr Knight was a handsome man indeed he looked like he was plucked from the world of the old gods.

From my research I had discovered that he was a self made man from the streets of Brooklyn, New York, he graduated from high school at the tender age of 15 and by 17 he graduated from college earning him master's in business analysis by the age of 20 he started a business which he than sold and this made him a millionaire he than went on to achieve alot within the business world he was in his own right a KING! And a genius also!

AFTER a long unfulfilling debate with myself I ended up getting out bed and headed to the shower and for the life of me I couldn't control my nerves I wasn't looking forward to this day and if the gods could've told me that the day has come I would've prayed it away but it seems that not even the gods were on my side today. Assholes, the whole lot of them I thought to myself.

It didn't take me long to get ready, I wasn't sure what I was aiming for when it came to my outfit but I decided that professional elegance was the way to go.

After all I couldn't have Mr Knight think of me as anything less than professional they do say that first impressions last longer and I had everything riding on this. So I opted for a black body wrap knee long dress with a slightly dipped v-neckline, too much cleavage can send the wrong message, a blood red jacket with trimmed black out lines along with red suite high pumps completed my outfit.

My naturally curly afro hair laid lazily on my shoulders. I had dyed my ends blonde in a cry out of the dilemma I had found myself in but I looked rather good the blonde agreed with me and surprisingly it blended well with my medium dark skin tone. Who would've thought!

"Alright Mr Knight, am ready for you!" I murmured to myself after taking a good look at myself in the mirror.

I wasn't too tall nor was I too short I was surprisingly just the right amount of height. I had curves and a belly that liked playing hide and seek with me but today in this black dress my body was sculpted to perfection if i have to say so myself with a quick twirl I was out the door and ready to face my day of unknowns. I grabbed my brief case and laptop bag am headed out the door.

It didn't take me long to get to the office I was an hour early image that! As soon as I stepped out the elevator I was greeted by a familiar voice.

"Aren't we a tad early?? I see we trying to impress the new boss hey" I turned to the direction the voice came from and there stood Abigail Chester, she was dressed to kill.

So she too opted for a professional look with a tad of I promise I can be a slut to her look. I thought to myself.

She wore a dark grey mini dress with a deep plunging neckline and black heels. Her jet black hair was in a high pony tail and her make was natural whereas I wore non!

Smile! I reminded myself.

I plaster a smile on my face as I approach her she smiles too but hers is more genuine as mine is just there! I have never considered Abigail a friend nor did I see her as such in the near future though we had been working together for nearly three years now. She was just a colleague and someone i conversed with now and than but she seemed to consider me more than I did her!

"I don't know about impressing but I do know that there is no such thing as too early. Some of us have good time management unlike...." I was cut off before I could continue.

"Unlike you Abigail though am very surprised your here early!" John said surprising both me and Abigail. "It seems like your the one that is trying to impress aren't we always fashionably late?" He continued it was more of a statement than a question.

John was a handsome man who knew this fact and he liked to play this card to his advantage. I had no feelings regarding John hoops he was a man. A man that regarded himself as a gift to women I could say alot more on him but I just don't have the time.

"Oh hush John, you know these walls have ears. We don't want this information falling on the wrong ears do we? After all we trying to impress! Right thandi" she taunted me. Abigail turned to look at me and winked. I felt nurm to the conversation at hand.

"Well, while this whole topic is very interesting" I lied "I should be going" before anyone could object I promptly my way to my office, I set my belongings on the desk and went to the Mr Knight's office which if you wanted access to you would walk through my office first than to his. I stood there looking at the huge office and recalled all those long hours and few laughs I had shared with Mr Nelson.

I started cleaning the office Mr Nelson always wanted me to do the cleaning in his office because he trusted me more than the other employees. He had a certain paranoia that I didn't seem to grasp but this was one of my duties as his assistant i had gotten used to the mundane task but strangely it relax

ed me in weird way.

I set everything he would need and made his coffee, black two sugars and strong. I sprayed the room with clean Lenin air freshener and went out and started on my desk preparing for the day ahead. I glanced at the clock and it read 7:45am I wondered if Mr Knight would be a no show but I doubted that little thought. Just as I was about to make my way out to collect a few files the door opened.

A fairly tall gentleman in a midnight blue suit walked in. I froze in my actions and looked at the man, he was a site to behold. Indeed he was something else! For a brief moment my eyes failed to move and look at his profile i stared at the floor and after what felt like an eternity I looked from his feet slowly but steadily went up his brought shoulders which whispered of muscled arms and his suit jacket agreed in this statement due to the way it wrapped around his arms. It didn't take long for my eyes to land upon his face and his lips curved into what seemed to be a smile but it disappeared just as fast as it had appeared. Emerald green orbs narrowed in on me.

Its only now that I realise that the man was on the phone talking someones ear off.

"You seem to think i care Felix" His Adams apple moved as he spoke his deep voice filled my ears sending vibrations that awakened me from my nurm state. "Get it done. No more excuses" I swallowed and looked up at him once again catching his eyes hadn't noticed it before but he had kept his eyes on me. He promptly dropped the call without saying bye rude enough. I raised an eyebrow at him in question exactly what the question was, was undecided.

"Mr Knight." I finally say holding my hand out to him. He looked at my hand and than up to my face and walked away. A smile played across my face as he did so. Well well!.

"Bring me coffee, no milk, two Sugars and make it str-" I cut him off before he could finish his sentence. he opened the door to his office and I walked behind him and as he entered.

"Your coffee is already on your desk Mr Knight and it's still steaming hot. I placed all your meeting schedules for today on your desk too, cleaned your office and in about five minutes we have a staff meeting in the conference room to officially welcome you to the company" I finish off as he looks at me in awe. His eyes trail up and down my body taking every detail of me in he walks towards his desk takes his cup of coffee and leans Infront of his desk crossing his ankles and swiftly sips his coffee and a smile plays across his face.

"Miss Roswell I hope this won't be a habit of yours cutting me short while am still speaking. You will listen to me while am talking and you will by all means wait till am done to speak" he utters the words as if throwing daggers at me in an attempt to display his manly dominance? "Do I make myself clear?" He finishes off. I look away finding myself already bored of his attempts. I fiddle with my fingers feeling an urge creep up in me but I quickly drag it down where it belongs.

I finally turn my face to look at him again. His greens still on my browns.

"If you feel that I was somehow disrespectful than I apologize Mr Knight" I say the words not even sure if I meant every word that I spewed out. I glance at him this time I try to read him but his nonchalant in his stance. I dont like you Mr Knight. But it's not your fault I never really like anyone but I can make exceptions then again I rarely make those! I mutter to myself

"Tell me Miss Roswell do you always try so hard to empress your bosses?" It's more of a statement than a question but i decide to answer anyway.

"Mr Knight. Forgive me but I haven't even started to 'try' to impress you" I say dryly. A smirk rears it ugly head on his face but again it disappears just as fast. Exactly what is it that woman find attractive on you?

I realize the redundancy of the question but now standing in a room with him. I found myself questioning his creators.

"I see" is all he says as he walks around his table and sits down and ignores me. I take a deep breath and fix my dress and walk out after receiving the non verbal message.

I head to my desk and sit down. It wasn't long before the emerged from his office, without saying anything he walked past me and out the door and I followed after him with a notepad. Now it had been exactly six minutes a minute late and it would take us four minutes to walk to the conference room which means that we will be about five minutes late. How rude of you Mr Knight! I thought as i followed behind.

The man looked impressive from the back I would give him that who am I to deny a sexy ass when I see one? I smirked at the thought of him naked. naked.

Now that will be something won't it?

As we entered the conference room he made his way to the head if the table and started talking. I couldn't help but notice someone lurking behind Mr Knight. His Raven hair fell dangerously on his face concealing his identity his light grey eyes pierced through open spaces of his hair. He wore a black suit with a black dress shirt. It seemed like the rest of the crowd was oblivious to the man. Am I the only one noticing this?

The man moved from Mr Knight and slowly with gracious smooth strides made his way to me. His face was still hidden from my view

For a moment I lost my breath, my eyes glued at the individual who now stood Infront of me. My heart too lost its beat for a split second. he was the exact height and body structure and shape as Mr Knight but he had something about him that carried more POWER and DOMINANCE!

"Could this be true?" His lips moved and with that I felt my heart beat fast and loud against my chest. Suddenly my lungs filled with unexpected air causing them to expend making my breathing to increase. I felt a hand against my cheek. A cold rough hand, time felt like it came to a stand still. A cold shiver ran through me. What is this? The question plagued my mind. A voice equally as strong shook me out my daze.

"NIKOLAI!"