Timeless

The air inside was cooler, a stark contrast to the warmth outside. The office was massive, its furnitures and fittings screaming of luxury and state of the art decoration.

A massive bookshelf on the left hand side of the room housing various books and volumes from various field of study. The blinds drawn to minimize the rays of sunlight streaming in through the floor to ceiling windows.

The large polished mahogany table sitting at the centre with several folder and files arranged in order.

A personal PC on the left side and a desktop on the centre of the table.

Scarlets eyes quickly swept across the room before they landed on the man sitting behind the desk.

Lucian.

Her new boss.

"You are?" Lucian asked with a knowing gaze on his face. She didn't know why, but she felt his gaze held a glint of mischief as though he knew her. But then—

The sharpness of his eyes, the way he sat with effortless authority, his cold face and set jaw sent a shiver down her spine.

"Scarlet Winter," she answered, her voice coming in trepidation and her face nervous. Seeing his steady gaze on her, Scarlet averted hers and swallowed hard, her heart threatening to escape from her ribcage but she forced herself to calm.

Quickly she gathered her composure, unclenching her fist as she relaxed her body. Lucian continuous stare remained on her to the point it began to feel uncomfortable.

Lucian felt shocked at the lady before him—his online friend Timeless, he couldn't believe such a coincidence. He wanted to call Bryan in for future clarification but recalling the situation he paused momentarily.

Noticing, he had stared too long, he coughed lightly to mask the situation while muttering the name under his breathe.

"Are you the one sent as my personal assistant?" He asked.

"Yes Sir." She chimed.

From the corner of her eyes, she continued skimming through the meticulous arrangement of the office. While lost in thought, she didn't hear Lucian's question.

"Miss Scarlet?" He called again, Scarlet snapped out of her daze. "Make me a cup of coffee.", he said. His gaze resting on her lightly.

"Yes Sir, but been my first time to make yours, I did prefer you say your coffee preferences.

"Alright, black and without sugar". He said.

Scarlet nodded, committing the details to memory. Black. No sugar.

She turned and exited the office, her steps measured but hurried. The break room wasn't far, and as soon as she entered, she let out a shaky breath.

This is insane. First, I get forced into an arranged marriage, then I land a position that no woman has ever held, and now I have to serve coffee to a man whose stare alone can freeze me in place?

"My poor life, will I be able to survive this office?" She mused.

Scarlet would have resigned, but then she needs to be prepared for eventuality. She is yet to know who she married, what date will she have if he can't have a source of income for herself in case of tomorrow?" She thought.

She pushed aside her thoughts and focused on the task at hand. The coffee machine hummed as it brewed the dark liquid, filling the air with its rich aroma. Black coffee. No sugar. That should be simple enough.

With careful hands, she poured the coffee into a cup, ensuring no spills. Perfect. She exhaled before making her way back to the office.

Lucian was already flipping through a file when she stepped inside. Without making a sound, she approached his desk and placed the coffee before him.

He didn't look at her immediately. Instead, he picked up the cup and took a breath of its fragrance then a slow, deliberate sip.

Silence.

Scarlet waited, eyes fixed on his expression. Her heart beating wildly in anxiety of the outcome of her first assignment in this office while patting herself silently at the back to keep calm.

Lucian finally set the cup down and met her gaze. "Acceptable."

Scarlet released a breath she didn't realize she had been holding. Slowly he stood up and walked towards the door, Scarlet was at loss of words but quickly followed him.

Lucia stopped at an office just at the entrance of his office. "Here is your office, you can stay here. The secretary is at that end." He said while pointing to the location of the large secretarial unit."

Scarlet nodded lightly. "Thank you Sir."

Lucian instructed, his voice neutral. "You'll receive instructions shortly regarding my itinerary, you are not just my assistant on the desk, you should be prepared and ready to handle any task both within and outside the company" Lucian smirked as he concealed the glint of mischief in his eyes.

"Yes, sir," she responded quickly. Lucian thought briefly and decided to let her be

He spurned on his heel and returned back to his office.

Scarlet patted her chest which seems to be hanging in the air fell back into its position. She carried her box and quickly settled on to arrange her desk with a mix of relief and wonder.

Lucian was still in shock over the situation of things going on. He had never expected his long planned marriage to the Robert family daughter to be replaced by his staff and an online friend in just a couple of hours.

He had never meet "Timeless" elsewhere but her profile picture is always her selfie but for his profile is just a twig of a rose flower. He didn't want to scare people aware from him as he did need a more sincere and genuine friend to talk to other than the hypocritic flattery and smile that people approach him because of his position.

And surprisingly she had taken on that role effortlessly, always offering consolation, ideas and even suggestions to him. In the course of their discussion, he had been able to learn a lot, he returned to his office and sat back down in daze.

Before the marriage alliance to the Roberts family was planned, he had planned on asking her but then she mentioned her dream of going to a higher school, obtaining an outstanding certificate and excelling in the profession she had chosen.

Lucia recalled telling her that fate has a way of doing things and may one day put her in a position where she will have all that she desired.

slowly, he lifted the intercom to his ears. "Scarlet, get ready to join me to a dinner party as my female companion by 8pm."

Scarlet nearly choked on the sip of water she had just taken when the intercom crackled to life with Lucian's unexpected command.

"A dinner party?" she echoed, blinking at the receiver as if she had just a foreign language she is not familiar with.

"Yes," Lucian's deep, authoritative voice came through, leaving no room for argument. "As my female companion. Be ready by seven. You'll be provided with a dress."

Scarlet's grip on the receiver tightened. "Sir, I—"

The call ended before she could utter another word.

She stared at the intercom, her thoughts spiraling. A dinner party? With the president of Sterling Group? As his date? No, as companion? What happens to all the high class girls that are willing to lay at his feet. What exactly was going on? She mused a sense of unease washing over her.

Mario's words from earlier rang in her ears. "Isn't our president against using female assistants? Why you now?"

Scarlet exhaled sharply. Her fingers curled into fists on the desk. "What exactly have I gotten into?"