For the first time since meeting Kaiden Blaq, her arrogant, sexist asshole of a boss, Ella slept soundly. And woke up with not a single thought of him.
"I take it you slept well," Alex commented with a sly smile.
Ella turned on the blender and nodded vigorously, bobbing her head in tune with Jim Croce's Don't mess around with Jim. She turned off the blender and emptied the contents into two bottles passing one to Alex as she swayed her hips to the beat of the music, clapping her hands to the rhythm.
"Morning!" She grabbed Alex's hand and twirled around their dainty kitchen with her, doing their best version of the ''70s New Orleans dance.
"I don't know what happened, babe. But I like it." Alex kissed her cheek and waved her goodbye before Ella practically skipped the door with a smile on her face.
On reaching the company, she parked her car in the parking spot, took the elevator to the main building, still humming the tune in her head. She was so distracted she didn't notice Tony calling out to her.
When she did, however, she stopped in her tracks and faced the handsome blonde who had on an Iron Man t-shirt with a quote that said 'I am Iron Man'. She held back her laughter and focused her gaze on his face.
He was handsome though. With that boy next door look. A type she was completely obsessed with back in high school. Not anymore.
"Where are you rushing off to? You walk fast." He said while trying to catch his breath.
Ella smiled sheepishly and apologized. "I was distracted. Did you want anything?"
He smiled jovially and gestured for her to continue walking while he took place beside her. "So, how's working for the bossman?"
She faced him with a playful glare. "You know that little joke you made about him being the Boogeyman wasn't funny." He chuckled lightly and a smile formed on her face. "I spent the entire thinking of my decision to accept a job here."
His chuckle turned to full-blown laughter and he had to clutch his stomach as he did, stopping their walk to the elevator.
He had a contagious laugh and soon enough, Ella found herself laughing with him.
"I wasn't lying though when I said that." He continued when he was through with his laughing fit. "The man is frightening. You know the last PA he had lasted two weeks before he quit. Mr. Blaq hasn't been introduced with the word subtle."
She smacked his shoulder lightly. "Are you trying to scare me away?"
He rubbed the spot she hit, smiling mischievously. "No! No, not at all."
He bumped her playfully. "You see, I like you Snow-white, that's why I'm even bothering to tell you all these. Normally I'd just sit in my office and watch the drama unfold."
She quirked an eyebrow at him. "So this is you giving me a heads up?"
"Of course. Think of it as a 'how to survive working for an arsehole' manual. And I am your irresistible guide." He winked flirtatiously and Ella rolled her eyes.
"So if I'm to believe you, what is the first thing you would tell me to do?"
He shook a finger at her like a headmistress would at a naughty child. "I'm not supposed to tell you what to do. I'm supposed to guide you." He put an arm around a shoulder, a move that should have irked her but rather made her feel comfortable. Much like one would feel when a close friend makes the gesture. "Firstly, if you don't want to run mad stuck in that upstairs bunker he's got himself in, then my first advice is that you leave that titanium steel room and visit us, mortals, down here now and then. To avoid going insane."
They had reached the elevator and Ella stopped to face him, the move removing his hand from her shoulder. "I have a ton of work to do, and I'm skeptical of leaving the office. He is a frightening man. And I get scared very effortlessly. I don't think he'd take it too well if I left the office."
Tony rolled his eyes. "He doesn't have a say over what you do during your break." Without waiting for a reply he continued. "You've got, what, for minutes break? I think that's more than enough time for you to clear your head."
"Thirty minutes. I don't have a forty minutes break." Ella admitted, only now realizing that all other employees had extra ten minutes which her 'boss' seemed to think she didn't need.
Tony's eyes widened. "Well, shit. It most is a nightmare working for him."
She shrugged. "So far it's been good. I mean he hasn't done anything to scare me." Except for giving her strikes. She'd hate to know what would happen after strike three.
"It's the calm before the storm." Tony checked his watch. "Just take it up. We meet at the cafeteria during the break. Everyone from development, secretaries, H.R, and a few others are usually there." He started walking away. "We'd be expecting you!"
She got in the elevator and pushed the button to her floor, not before inputting the pin Kaiden had left on her desk the previous day.
Getting out of the elevator, she came face to face with... nothing. She took in a deep breath looking around the space. Was it healthy to work in such conditions? She understood the quietness and all, but it just seemed odd.
Taking a deep breath she toyed with the locket on her neck and moved to her office. Exactly as she had left it yesterday she sighed deeply. She had a lot to do today.
Kaiden's monthly schedule was finally taken care of, at least that was one problem off her mind. Placing her bag on the chair she peeked through her door at Kaiden's office. As usual, the doors were closed, but she could see light underneath it. She checked her watch. Five minutes past eight. Her talk with Tony hadn't helped her a lot in her punctuality. She cursed quietly and straightened her outfit before walking up to the door. A feeling of dread overcame her at that time and she had to practice her breathing exercise although it did nothing to quell her anxiety. She was one step away from a panic attack.
She womaned up and knocked thrice on the door and waited for a response. When none came she knocked thrice again. And waited. And waited. She raised her hand to knock again when the large oak doors suddenly swing open to reveal a very handsome Kaiden.
He had on a burgundy-colored suit sans the tie, his hair gelled back and neat. She almost swooned but an image of him with Alessia Smith popped in her head and the warmth in her died instantly.
Yes! She was immune to Kaiden Blaq's charm.
Realizing she was starting she cleared her head. "Good morning."
He quirked an eyebrow and watched for a heartbeat before he turned and went inside. Ella swallowed as she followed closing the door behind her.
"You're late." He simply said.
"I'm sorry. I got distracted and the elevators were..." She trailed off at the dead look he gave her and sighed.
"You're late." He repeated sharp gaze fixed on her.
She bowed her head and mumbled an apology.
Years seemed to pass as silence reigned. She lifted her head only to meet Kaiden's sharp gaze. His pupils had dilated and his gaze darkened and she noticed the muscle in his jaw tick.
He closed his eyes and exhaled sharply letting out a curse he turned away from her. "There's a board meeting," he stopped and exhaled again. "You're supposed to be there. And I expect you," his fingers began tapping the table and Ella wished she could read his mind now. He seemed conflicted about something. "to take notes." He finished.
She nodded but quickly replied realizing he couldn't see her response. He nodded and gestured for her to leave which she did as quickly as possible, she let out a breath she didn't know she was holding as she leaned on the oak doors. God, the man was lethal. Forcing her jelly legs to move, she walked to her office and mentally prepared herself for the day.
And by the looks of it, it was going to be a very long day.