Danger At The Office

I went home a little later than midnight so I decided to spend the night at the hotel. I was too tired to argue with mum the morning after.

I had a little headache when I woke up the next morning. I forgot to bring any extra clothes except for the one I used to change at the party which smelt like a mix of sweat and champagne. So I left my hotel room still in my gold cocktail dress. I stopped by the hotel café to drink my daily dose of espresso.

I was in the middle of meditating things I have to say to mum when we meet later, thinking maybe I have to live at the hotel for the next few weeks, when a guy asked to share the table with me. The hotel café is quite famous so it is a little packed in the morning. I had my dark sunglasses on and my eyes till groggy so I didn't have the chance to see him clearly.

When I nodded and he had seated already. Sipping his coffee that smelled Americano, he spiked up a conversation.

"Were you at the Hera's party last night?" he asked in politely.

I answered only after I checked if he was talking to me.

"Oh, yeah?" I answered hesitantly. That was when I was trying to figure out who was this person talking to me. He was in a business suit, crisp and neat. He smelled like a fresh shower and old spice. He had a long dark hair ponytailed at the back. He looked cool and handsome at the same time. As my mind cleared up, I recognized him. It was Gregory, smiling at me like a creep.

My phone immediately rang, thanks God, that I got away from this nosy guy. It was Jason. I then excused myself from Gregory and stood away from him.

"Where the hell are you?" he asked.

"I am at the hotel café, why?" I still have an hour before my office time. I texted him last night that I would be at the hotel.

"Mum's at the office," he sounded alarmed.

"What the hell? What is it this time?"

"She is looking for you. She was not that happy that she did not see you last night and how the party turned out," he warned.

"Wow. After all these times, she was still bothered by it?" I retorted.

"I am picking you up right now."

G R E G O R Y

I had a blast last night. Before I went home, I found Jason drunk mingling with other drunk ladies. He had me dropped off at the hotel before going home.

I got used to these parties a lot so a little hangover is not a big deal for me. Jason texted he'll pick me up soon so I went down to have my coffee at the café. The café is growing on me. They had amazing coffees.

I was surprised to find it packed. After I receive my order, I found a table by the window. A woman looking so chill was sitting alone drinking her coffee. Her gold dress and dark sunglasses glittered against the rising sun. I approached her and asked if I could sit opposite her. She nodded and turned away.

As I was sipping my Americano, it dawned on me that she might be at the party last night given her attire. Wait, was she the sexy lady at the entrance and who caught me making out at the cabin? I smiled at my embarrassment as I ask her if she was at the party last night.

She just furrowed her brows and frowned at me. Then her phone rang and excused herself to answer. She was undeniably gorgeous and a real man-killer. She sat after her call ended. I tried to recognize her face. Her face was bare, revealing the little freckles on her nose like gold dust. Her cheeks red from heat of the sun, her plump full lips wet from the coffee. I would really love to taste those.

Sensing my unwanted attention, she let out some of her dark brown wavy locks of her hair behind her ear to cover her bare creamy brown shoulders, neck, and full breasts pushed up by her body-hugging dress. She crossed her legs and I had a peek of her long, slender legs complimented by a pair of high heels with red soles. Probably Louboutin, I have been around women for so long to recognize them.

I saw Jason approaching me. He must have recognized the woman opposite me when he smiled at her. Lucky me, it seems I have the chance to know more about her.

"It seems you've known my little sister, Artemis," Jason declared.

"No, I did not know," What? That was unexpected! So, this is Artemis.

"Jason!" She was surprised as well.

"Well, Greg, this is Artemis, my baby sister. I am sorry she was nowhere to be found last night, so I wasn't able to introduce you to her…" eyeing her sister with disbelief.

I held out my hand to Artemis. She took off her sunglasses revealing her emerald green eyes and shyly accepted my hand and shook it. "Nice to meet you, Gregory."

"Well, let's continue this meeting at the office since Mum was looking for you," Jason breaking us off.

A R T E M I S

Jason preferred to drive on his own. He was driving and Gregory was in the passenger seat. I was sitting alone at the back.

"Do you want me to drop you off at the villa to change?" Jason reminded me.

"I got all my business suits at the office. I just have to sneak in before she catches me," I said sounding very alarmed.

"She was not very happy not seeing you at the party last night," Jason said looking over the mirror.

"Wow, after all these times, am I now the center of her unwanted attention?" I retorted.

"Don't say I didn't warn you," Jason chuckled when eventually joined by Gregory. Are they teaming up against me?

G R E G O R Y

As we went through the revolving glass doors onto the wide and all-glass-ceiling-to-floor lobby, we were welcomed by a group of employees in company uniform lining up, bowing and greeting us along the way. What a nice company etiquette.

As I was being introduced by Jason to the key people in the company at the end of the line, the employees stopped at their tracks and their eyes widen at what they are witnessing. Meanwhile, Artemis entered and trotted the lobby. She was a walking like a goddess and a model in a runway while bowing to the employees in between. She then rushed towards the elevator.

One employee whose jaw just dropped declared, "That is a first in the company's history."

Jason then patted me, finished the introductions and led me to the elevator. Sensing my curiosity, Jason explained, "Usually, Artemis goes to work in a hoodie or shirt and jeans. She said blouse and skirt lessen her efficiency. A typical computer nerd get-up. She changes into a business suit when Hera is visiting since she found it unprofessional of her. "

Hera, looking like the Miranda in Devil Wears Prada, greeted us in Jason's office.

"It's so nice to see you Gregory dear in the company," Hera beaming with excitement. "I heard you are staying at the hotel. Why don't you join us at the villa?"

Jason foreseeing the unending pestering of Hera if we see her everyday, interrupted, "Mum, Gregory was already settled at the hotel and we had plans."

"No, that's not possible. Gregory deserves the better and the best, Jason. We will take care of you at the villa, dear." Hera decided with no chance of changing her mind. He looked at Jason with straight face and penetrating eyes. Hera can be a little demanding and authoritative.

We are now in the conference room overlooking the famous beach and city landscape. Hera ran down to me the company's profile while Jason was shaking his head with a smirk plastered over his face. We were just interrupted by Artemis coming in the room looking immaculate and intimidating in her gray blazer over a silk top and skirt. Her wavy locks were tamed in a bun. She put on a little dramatic make-up which made Jason chortled.

"Mum, I heard you were looking for me," Artemis said in a serious voice, trying to hide amusement in her eyes.

"What's with your face, weirdo?" Jason teasing her with her weird make-up.

"Shut up," she mouthed back.

Hera swiveled her chair towards her and crossed her arms. "Look, who finally showed up," Hera's voice deepened with obvious anger.

"Uhm, sorry? I went directly to the satellite office on the other side of the town this morning. I didn't know you were coming," Artemis said in confident voice, seeing she is used to lie to Hera in the face.

"Where were you last night at the party? And do you even know who is with us given you supposed to be there receiving him," Hera is now shamelessly reprimanding Artemis in front of us. Poor girl.

Artemis feigning ignorance exclaimed, "Oh, yeah. Hey, Gregory! It is nice to see you again. I actually met Gregory last night at the part on the dance floor. Right?" Artemis looked at me with pleading eyes, telling me to agree with her.

Is she forcing me lie to Hera face-to-face? "Right?" she repeated, signaling me to say yes when Hera turned to me. I looked over Jason and he was just smiling.

This little game Artemis is a bit tricky. Whose side am I going to take? The powerful or the powerless?

I furrowed my brows and shook my head. "I don't think I remembered you. You're too pretty to be forgotten."

Then, Jason let out a boisterous laugh. He might be thinking, Artemis is caught in her own rabbit hole.

Hera looked at her, eyes squinting, nose flaring, and biting her lower lip – she's enraged.

Artemis, surprised by my blatant nonparticipation, was totally disappointed. She looked like she's going to kill me, mouthed "f*ck you" at me as she stormed out of the room.

Sorry, darling, I need your mother before I get to you.