Selene:
Jace had gone to work earlier than I thought and I was still wrapping up the kitchen. I had no idea what my life was becoming since I met Jace at his office and our worlds collided. I was falling in love with him again and on top of that I was still his employee.
Instead of sitting at his place, I cleaned up the apartment, and took transits to my own place. I'd texted Jelly to leave me a key under the doormat and she'd done exactly that. The best thing was that she left it under a pile of mud giving it a disgusting look. I laughed shuffling the key out and getting in.
The apartment was the same but it felt alien to me. I licked my lips and went to my room. My stuff was still where it was supposed to be and it seemed as though Jelly didnt move anything. I snickered at how much she hated cleaning and was determined on staying that way.
Quickly cleaning myself up, I changed in a bright red one piece jumpsuit. The back was slit down to the middle of my back and the built in bralette in the dress allowed me to wear it without an extra garment. The pants of the suit came down to my ankles and was straight lined, and the torso was sleeveless.
Did I look too much?
I put a tinted red lip color with slight mascara on my eyes. My face looked fresh due to wash so I didnt have to do powder.
I was scared to enter the building when I finally reached it. I had my laptop bag hanging in my arm and my short black heels werent helping me up the steps.
"Ma'am." I heard a gruff voice behind and almost yelped turning on the second bottom step. The man was my height even if standing on a step lower than mine. He had an earpiece attached to him and he wore a suit like the men in black. I gumped loudly at the sleek black hair and dark shades.
"Mr. Anderson's asked me to escort you to his office." He suggested, not looking my way and I looked up at the building. Staring at the large glass exterior of it, I cussed under my breath.
Damn CEO.
"Okay." I pushed a strand back from my face and he led me into the building. I kept my head bowed, trying to ignore the murmurs around me.
"I need a coffee." I asked the guy and he led me to the cafeteria.
"Hi." I kept my head low but high enough to see the bubbly looking woman's face. She was round and short with a big pink smile and hair net in her bob brown hair.
"Hello, dear." She cupped her hands together.
"Coffee with one sugar?" I asked and she nodded. She came back with a paper cup wrapped in a large brown sleeve. I walked over to the condiments station and stirred one sugar packet in. Capping it with a lid, I followed the large man out, still ignoring the eyes on me. My heart relaxed when we were in the elavator and the man pressed the button to Jace's floor.
The floor was quiet. I didnt see Candice behind her table and sighed when the guard stayed in the elavator as it shut on him. Time to face the music.
I knocked on his door with a trembling hand and no sound came from inside. What if he was with her?
My brain argued but then I frowned. We'd spent every night together in his bed. Doing things that hadn't happened for me since Jace from ten years ago he was my first and had been my consistent. He wouldnt play with me. I knew it in my heart. I clutched onto my bag and opened the door slowly, holding my breath. He was sitting on his chair, with eyes closed. His fingers crossed in front of him and elbows rested on the seats arms.
"Hello?" I gulped and his eyes shot open. The stern expression on his face was suddenly clouded with a deeper frown. His shade was dark and I didnt know what caused it. He stood up and walked around the table slowly. I noticed how he was dressed in the darkest hue of brown pants and white shirt that I'd laid out for him this morning.
"Come in." He gestured with his head and I bit my lip before walking in and closing the door behind me. I stood frozen by the entrance, scared of what was coming my way.
"What is your future with this company?" He leaned his bottom back against his table and crossed his long legs by the feet. His arms held him up with his hands based on the desk top behind him.
"I'm looking for a small job that can assist with my university fee and usual needs. Other than that, I would love to shadow someone in the accountants' department so I can learn how to manage the numbers around in such an establishment as yours." My fingers grew tighter around the case in my hands.
"We do have a recent opening." He inhaled a deep breath and I looked at him with hope.
"I find myself in lack of an assistant and it would be a good idea if you decide to-"
"No." I quickly responded, knowing what was coming next. He cocked his brow and tilted his head.
"The only job I can offer is of that post outside. Other than that, you can shadow our accountant's vice manager, Mr. Robessa. He can teach you all the basics you require." He finished and I gulped loudly.
"I can do the shadowing, but not the job, sir." I spoke with respect in my voice.
"Very well then. Internship it is." He nodded and turned to his table. He held a brown bag in his hands and walked to me. I kept my feet firm so as to not fall.
When he was close enough for me to catch his intoxicating scent, he handed me the manilla envelope.
"Please, give this to Mr. Robessa and make sure he knows its urgent." I took the bag from him and pressed it against my bag to my chest.
"Is that all?"
"Yes and can you do me one favour?" He lifted a finger and I looked at it with almost crossed eyes. I agreed.
"Call this number and ask Ms. Baldwin to be at my office in the next hour. Thank you." He gave me a smug smile and walked away. My eyes widened in shock and my jaw dropped.
"Hell no. That girl can get a job anywhere in this office except her-" I realized what I was doing and stopped abruptly. He turned with a small smile playing on his lips.
"What?" He met me halfway in the walk to his table and held my waist, bringing me close to his belly.
"I just wanted to see if you care." He breathed near my mouth and I felt soft at the first sound of him.
"And as for your job, you can do whatever you like with it. You were always determined on making your own path, so I wont stand in the way of it." One of his hands came under my chin and he lifted my face just enough to leave a peck on my lips, "But I'll be walking on the sidelines with you. So, if you need me. You only have to ask."
"Thank you." I felt relieved that he wasnt trying to dominate me. He was giving me my best chance.
"Anytime, my love." His smile widened at the words and I felt a blush creep up my cheeks.
"Um, for your assistant-"
"I already hired someone." He interrupted and I glared at him.
"Its a man. His name is David Robert and he applied before Candice once. I was in a bad phase so I made and inappropriate choice." He accepted his mistake and spoke of it so clearly. He was a complete changed man, all of sudden.
"Don't look so surprised." He chuckled, catching my questioning eyes, "I'm a good man. I just played dirty for a bit." He winked and I shook my head.
"I love you, Selene." He sighed like it was the most normal thing in his life.
"I should, uh..." I couldn't say it. I still couldn't. I'd been able to say it so well, all the time but now they felt the hardest words in my throat.
"Yeah. Thirty second floor." He released and sniffed through his nose. He didnt say anything again and walked back to his table. I felt bad but didnt let that hold me back. Soon, I was headed back to the elavator.
***
Mr. Robessa or Adrian as he asked me to call him, was an amazing man. His buzz cut grey hair, short body and bubbly attitude made him the kindest boss there was. He instructed me through everything and even gave ma corner empty table in the large room of collective working booths. He told me to arrange the daily numbers that came to him, in order of dates and sometimes when he would ask, by the amount. I was happy to do so.
The thirty second floor, by far, was the most relaxed floor I had been to in the entire building. It was freshly scented by the electronic air fresheners plugged in almost every second socket. The people were kind to each other and talked like they had the most epic time of their lives when they worked there. It was a nice working environment.
I checked the time to be four in the afternoon when I was finished organising the daily resports coming in from the team of twenty workers. Large numbers were written on every report and I was impressed by Jace's work.
Our wedding wasnt announced yet. Yeah, Jace and I were still seperate in the eyes of many. I was just Selene Arly and he was the Jace Anderson. I knew he wanted to announce it but first awaited my permission. I was happy that he respected my choice in the matter.
Bidding farewell to Adrian, I headed for the elevator and bumped into a hard chest. When I looked up, I saw it to be Jace just staring down at me with a straight face.
"Mr. Anderson." Adrian came panting to us.
"Robessa, the file wasnt sent, what went wrong." Jace moved around me and the authority in voice, scared me. Guess, I really hadn't seen the real professional Jace.
"What file, sir?" Adrain seemed tensed and my eyes widened.
Shit. The file. My eyes drifted to the case in my hand realized that the envelope Jace had given me this morning was still in it.
"The Jacob Brooks file." I felt heat drain from my face.
"Uh, hello." I raised a soft voice and both men looked at me. Adrian gave me a nervous smile.
"I'm sorry, sir. I just forgot to hand the file over to Mr. Robessa." I pulled the envelope out of my case and Adrian seemed worried and sad. He was so nice. Jace's jaw hardened and he snatched the envelope from me. I flinched and took a step away.
"I want this filed now. Brooks wants it by morning tomorrow. Let's not give him the disappointment we have." He spat and that hurt. But he was right.
I'd disappointed both of them.
"I'm sorry, sir." I licked my lip and he waved me off before heading into the elevator.
"I'm sorry, Adrian." I held my breath.
"Dont worry, kid. First days are always a pain. Next time though, dont miss any work he gives. I learned that the hard way. Just like you." He pursed his lips and I thanked him for being so generous.
Clearly, he was right about Jace though.
Suddenly, I was scared about going to his home, so instead I headed to my place. I needed to put my head down somewhere.
I called up Jelly and she sprang with joy at the idea of picking me up.
We grabbed some McDonalds and headed home.