WebNovelSIRI30.00%

Sent Forth

Miss Willoughby drove in to the underground parking lot that early morning fuming, the back exit had a caption above the door that read "for staff only" she shut her car door and was walking towards it when she remembered her purse was still in the car she turned back and went back to the car to get it. Her phone rang.

"Yes? I just got there."

"No, you can't come in to see me!"

"You said your mind and we've been over this!"

"She looked over her shoulder to ensure no one was there to watch the debacle.

"Don't ruin my morning. I beg of you."

And with that she ended the call. Her face was redder than a blood moon yet she was as poised and as composed as ever.

She walked into the building and took the elevator. It was empty and she was grateful for the silence.

The meeting with the board went successfully and her team had really helped her bag several contracts in the last few weeks with a top investor. She liked seeing her team work. It made her feel like the queen bee. She knew she had hard workers but she would never praise them for it. Praise was the best way to dampen productivity.

The elevator dinged and the doors noiselessly slid open. She walked in step by step, hovered by the door for a second and then she opened the door and walked in to scattered greetings and nods and smiles. She knew they were all mostly fake so she did not bother smiling back.

"Morning all."

She continued the long walk to her office and looked over as she neared her door towards the intern’s desk. She did not find the intern on her desk.

She opened the door and saw a bouquet of flowers on the table and a card that read:

"Hi Boss Lady,

Remember not to turn anyone into stone today, see you soon

Love Z"

The smile on her face was genuine and she sat on her swivel chair and turned to look outside the translucent windows. She was grateful to have Zack in her life and she wondered how he was able to get and deliver the flowers so early in the morning.

She started organizing important documents from the day before and remembered the good job the intern did in making the PPT for the last presentation. If only she came in earlier. She always came just in time. If an appointment was for 6am the intern would run in by 5:58, if it was a 12pm meeting she would only arrive by 11:57am. It annoyed her. She instinctively looked outside the doors and found the intern looking through her desk drawer. Miss Wille did not even look at the time before guessing it was 5:58. It was 5:59. She picked up the telephone and dialled. She watched as it rang at the other end and the intern slowly picked it up.

"Come into my office now."

"Yes Ma'am"

The phone went dead. Miss Willie looked at the young girl as she stood up and approached her office. She was reminded of herself when she was much younger. The intern never looked at her from the transparent doors when she answered her calls and she never made a fuss when getting things done like most of the others did. But she could tell that her name would nonetheless be saved in her phone as "Medusa"

"You called for me."

She looked up at the neatly dressed youngster. Her hair was full and held back neatly, her edges was smoothed. At least the intern was stylish. The turtle neck sweater was complimented with high waist jeans and a leather heeled boot. Miss Willie eyed her for a bit before speaking.

"Do you have the next Presentation ready?"

"I am still working on it."

"When will it be ready?"

"By Friday."

"Make it Thursday."

"Yes ma'am"

Miss Willie looked closely at the somewhat confident girl in front of her and felt a bit sad that she had to grow up early. Back in her days she was travelling and partying and exploring at that young age. She got into so much trouble and did not grow up till she was in her late twenties.

"What's your name again?"

"Siri."

"Siri?"

"Yes."

"Hmmn."

She was about to make a joke but decided against it.

"Any mails or appointment?"

"You have a meeting with the Board by noon and also a meeting with Mr Mark Lucas by-

Cancel the second appointment and I will not be taking any calls from him. Thank you."

"Got it. Those are the two appointments scheduled for today. If any other comes up I will inform you immediately."

Siri wondered if she had said something wrong to upset her.

"Please do inform me promptly. Dismissed."

And with that Miss Willie looked away, swivelling around on her chair to face the window. Siri looked at the graceful way she sat looking out the window and walked away, as she was walking, she noticed the bouquet and spoke.

"Shall I put these in a vase?"

Without turning back Miss Willie replied

"Please do."

Siri picked up the bouquet, kicked the urge to sniff them there and then walked out the office.

That was the longest conversation they had ever had. She was content with the inquiry for her name and hoped she would be addressed by her name. It gave her a glimmer of hope of being retained after the remaining probation months.

She quickly did the needful and returned back to the office where the manager was pacing about making calls and simply motioned to her to drop the vase near the shelf.

Siri immediately returned back to her desk and settled in for the day's work. She started off by dropping mails and writing SEO content and then finally attending meetings on behalf of the department. She appreciated her involvement and active participation while working but the workload was not getting any less instead she had more to do every day. Out of the numerous interns that were hired she was the last one standing and she knew she was not going to give up after having gotten that far.

She looked at her watch as the last meeting came to an end. Her time read 6:50pm. She checked her phone and she gratefully did not see any missed call notification from the manager. She slowly walked to the elevator and pressed the button; she did not have the strength to walk up the stairs. She was staring at her shoes when the door opened, she quickly adjusted the files and laptop in her hands which looked like it could slip off any moment and she stepped into the elevator with one person she did not bother to look at.

"Hi."

"Hi."

She replied without turning back. She was too hungry to bother with pleasantries.

"Need any help?"

"No. Thank you."

"Are you deliberately playing hard to get?"

Siri thought she recognised the voice buy could not pin point where she heard it.

"I'm sorry?"

"Sorry for?"

Siri turned her head to look at the person and she recognized him immediately. He was the gigolo from the day before. She did not want to be reported or get on the bad side of manager so she feigned a smile and she talked through her teeth.

"Good evening. I did not know it was you."

"What's your name?"

"Siri."

"Siri?'

"Yes."

"Hmmmn."

Siri rolled her eyes, and was grateful when the elevator got to her floor. She walked out briskly and he followed suit stopping in front of her and trying to take some of the files off her hands but she artfully dodged and faced him squarely. This time there was no smile on her face.

"I don't want to be rude but you are interrupting my work and I feel a little bit harassed. What you are doing could get me into trouble. Please. Stop."

Siri regretted using the word harassed but she could not and did not want to take it back. She was not going to lose her job because a very perfect looking guy wants to play.

"I'm Zack by the way."

"Nice to meet you."

And with that she walked into the office and went straight to her desk. She could hear his footsteps behind her and she walked more quickly. She got to her desk and dropped everything. And begun to finish up an article she was writing so she could pack up and leave. The blinds went down again in the manager's office.

Miss Willie looked at Zack as he walked artfully into her office and immediately left her work chair to perch beside him on the sofa.

"Hey. I got your flowers."

"Anything for you ma Cherrie"

"Oh, stop it!"

Zack looked at the worry lines on the woman's face and edged in closer.

"Tell me what's troubling you?"

She stood up and picked up the remote and pressed a button which brought down the blinds and then paced about trying to explain the ordeal.

"He said he would not leave his wife."

Zack sighed exasperatedly, he hated seeing her make one wrong decision after the other and he was tired of feigning support and waiting by the side-lines ever ready to wipe a tear or take her out for drink. He wished she did not bother with cheating men.

"I saw this from the beginning. Just because he's rich and seemed generous doesn't mean he's the right man for you."

"Seemed? I'm wearing a heavily studded diamond watch and he agreed to the deal. He's crazy rich."

"People can be complicated, you shouldn't trust so easily, people can be very awful"

"People are mostly awful. I don't think there's any such thing as a "good man"

"I am a good man. And you know it."

"Well, I can't marry you, can I?"

Zack laughed and allowed the conversation to be stirred away.

"Do you want to go on a trip with me?"

"I don't have the time. I'm not up for it."

"What's the matter?"

"Let's leave that for another time. For now, please take me out for the dinner date you promised."

"I promised a dinner date?"

"You just said it now."

"It was a question. You're buying right?"

"What do you do with all your money? Why are men so awful these days, it's not like-"

"I'm buying."

Zach quickly interrupted, as he shook his head. Miss Willie laughed hard at the face Zack made and they continued to converse.

"What do you reckon is happen inside right now?"

Miss T asked suspiciously leaning closer on Siri's table, her chest dancing in Siri's face as she spoke animatedly.

"Here is the Flash Drive. I saved your document as MTBB"

Miss T looked at Siri a bit disdainfully and then realizing she would not get a desired reply she moved retreated sitting back on the table.

"What does MTBB mean?"

"That's the name I saved your file with."

"What does it mean?"

"Nothing special. If you're uncomfortable with the filename I can change it now if you wish."

"Don't bother."

She took the USB from Siri's hand and suddenly grabbed her hand and pulled in closer to peer into Siri's face.

Why was Zack staring at you as he walked to the office?

Siri looked at Miss T and disgust welled up in her throat. She began to feel sparks of anger. She freed her hand and started typing on her laptop then stopped dramatically and leaned back in her chair.

"Why don't you ask the person that was staring?"

Miss T looked at Siri from her head to where her eyes could get below the desk and smirked.

"You're one smart young girl."

She smirked again.

"I've got my eyes on you."

And with that she walked away leaving Siri puzzled and very annoyed.

The blinds went up and both of them exited the office together, Zack had his hands around Miss Willie's shoulders and Miss Willie had her hands around his waist.

The remaining occupants in the office glanced at both of them who were oblivious or acted oblivious to the stares.

Siri stood up to leave a few minutes later. She looked around and she was the last person remaining. She quickly put off all the lights took her bag and ran to the door. She was so hungry and tired she couldn't wait to get home. As she opened the door, she saw Zack standing in front of her with a smile she was in no mood to return.

"Hi."

"Hi."

None of them moved for a second and then suddenly Zack moved in through the door and she moved back.

"So, What's your deal with me?"

"What?"

Siri's stomach growled and the pangs of hunger intensified. The frown on her face etched more deeply. She didn't understand what he meant.

"You heard me. You're playing me hard."

"I'm not playing. I need to go home and you need to leave too."

Zack ignored her, something about this girl attracted him. He had never felt attracted to someone as he did to her and she was looking so beautiful he felt enchanted. He moved in closer and she moved back.

"What are you doing?"

Siri kept moving back as he edged forward till her back softly hit a cubicle and she was pinned while this stranger kept coming in close.

"I'm sorry. I just have to check.'

"Check what?"

Zack moved closer and with his right hand held her waist ignoring the shocked look on her face. He closed his eyes and artfully placed his lips on hers.