I pray that the man i dread seeing is not sitting in his room. William told me that Mr Lysander was leaving for an event this morning, surprisingly the executive floor isn't as silent as yesterday evening.
The hum of people conversing, telephone beepings and sound of fingers dancing on the keyboard fill the air. The door of the room between the elevator and Mr Lysander is open revealing a huge desk with Mr Tan sitting on it, frowning while reading a paper in his hand, laughter followed by two men in their forties emerging from the room at the other end of the hallway, where were these people yesterday??.
I walked to Mr Lysander door which to my surprise is slightly open a sign that he is still here. Damnit! my eyes roam over to the empty executive assistant desk, it's an L shape table with two computers on it, behind the assistant chair adorned by decorative shelves hanging above. This working place looks more luxurious than the one we have downstairs.
"You're here good"
I have no idea how long Mr Lysander has been standing at his doorway, his handsome face isn't as red as when i left yesterday, his sharp gaze is fixed on me making my corrupted courage sink. Should i apologize? but that doesn't mean i admit defeat? because despite my regret for moving to my impulsiveness I don't feel guilty he deserved it. But will he make my life living hell if i don't apologize? maybe i should then.
"Mr Lysander i apologize..." I start my line but my tongue betray me "For not being able to arrive here sooner"
Mr Lysander raises his eyebrows slightly "I believe William explained the predicament we have at the moment thus this isn't permanent and take this as an opportunity to learn "
The way he stresses the words 'predicament' and 'learn' makes me shiver, why does he sound so ominous? does he mean we as a company or we as Emma Garnet and Axton Lysander? He doesn't know that i know the part about the chilli sauce produce bullshit right!? he wasn't there when William told me about it so let's just pretend that William never brought that up
" Yes sir "
" From this morning i won't ask much from you except to clear all the schedules i have today after four, and if i have an appointment with clients cancel it and make a new one, summon every department head for an urgent meeting this afternoon anywhere between four and six is good "
I hurry to the desk bringing out note and a pen next to the computer screen, quickly i jot down his instructions.
"I will be out for an event and i won't be back before lunch, but when im back I want my coffee on my desk. please do not trouble yourself by making it this time" He takes his wallet out of his pocket and pulls out a blue card and toss it on my table "I want you to go to the coffee shop across the street and I want it black no sugar, any questions?"
I felt my throat dry instantly "No sir"
"Good you can study this week schedules that Alex had set before he left and prepare the documents. And Ms Garnet i don't want disturbance,any calls or inquiry that has nothing to do with this company shall be rejected "
" Duly noted sir"
" Excellent welcome to the thirteenth floor and I'm sure you will gain an unforgettable experience here "
I glance at the time on my phone and sigh. It feels like it was just five minutes ago when i joined the girls in the cafeteria for lunch and now it's time to continue my life as a temporary secretary to my CEO
Ginna frowns " You need to go back already? does he not let you have your full lunch break? "
I shake my head " No it's not that, I need to grab his coffee across the street before i go up, I'm just not sure how busy the coffee shop is "
" It's always busy all the time and getting his coffee is not your job " Ginna retorts
" Yeah! Alex never picked up his coffee from the shop either " Donna chips in " is David not coming today? "
" David? " I ask
" Yea the errand boy for the executive floor " Donna replies
" Uh there was a guy who took some documents from the other secretary desk to distribute them to the entire building but im not sure if he was David " I mumble " Anyway it doesn't matter for now, I'm done eating anyway."
After saying goodbye to the girls,I make my way out of the cafe and straight to exit the Remington building, while walking through the cold wind to the building across the street I can't stop pondering about how surreal my day has been,how did i end up in this situation? how did i start war with my boss? . After three years of building my skills and qualifications in sales and marketing I don't want to go back to the secretary job again,I like to meet and connect with other professionals,I love to define who and what our targets are,my adrenaline rushes for the challenge to pursue them. I sigh again this too shall pass, it's just temporary,play it smart Emm.
Suit 'N Beans is beyond busy, apparently it's the only coffee shop in this business street and it is situated on the ground floor of the most prestigious office building in the city. I'm in awe when i enter the shop, it's like campfire in the middle of a snowfield.
Just as Ginna said all the tables in the shop are occupied and people are standing in a rather long queue by the counter. I bet in the chill February weather like now,a hot coffee drink and some pastries are in high demand. I position myself at the tail of the line just hoping I will make it on time when im back.
I'm on my phone, checking my social media when someone bumps into me, followed by a baritone voice apologizing
"I'm sorry miss,I wasn't..." the man voice falters once I crane my neck to look up "Emmie?"
I feel the world stop spinning, the phone in my hand almost slips through my finger but i quickly tighten my grip on it,it takes me several seconds before i can respond
"James"
"What are you doing here?" James asks in disbelief
"I can ask the same question!" I answer while forcing myself to smile
" I'm working here,I mean in this building up there " he points the ceiling " In a law firm, what about you?"
" I just started working for the Remington Group, it's my second week by the way "
" Oh wow cool,I heard it's quite a challenge to get a spot there congratulations Emmie!"
" Thank you " I grin not sure what to say next; my brain suddenly bails on me. I thought my day couldn't go any weirder than it already was, but here i am running into my ex who i believed was already swallowed by a whale or something .
I stopped dreaming about getting back with James once Khloe was born. He did reach out to me a few months after the break up, confessing that as much he was hurt he couldn't get over me. It was the same week when i found out i was pregnant with Khloe, the timing was just not in our favor. In the next month, he was transferred to another university across the country and I have never heard from him ever since.
"Hey Emm, i do need to get going now but i do like to catch up sometime if you are up for it" James hands his coffee to the younger guy in a suit who has been standing beside him quietly eyeing our encounter. He pulls his wallet out of his pocket before taking a silver name card
"Call me or text me maybe we can meet up for lunch sometime this week or next week?"
I take the card and read it briefly 'James Watkins a senior associate '
"Sure I haven't had a business card to exchange yet but I'll give you a call"
"I'm looking forward forward to it" he flashes a smile that haunted my dream for years.
"Seems like you're happy with your new job" Mr Lysander says when he sees me walk to his desk with his black coffee in my hand
"A temporary job" I correct him "And why is that sir?"
"You wouldn't be smiling brightly if you dislike this role, would you?"
"Oh yes of course" I reply placing his coffee and his corporate credit card on his desk. I don't need to tell him the real reason why i have been grinning like a giddy school girl since i left the coffee shop "This is very generous of you to give me this valuable opportunity"
"And you are late"
"lunch time finishes at one o clock and it's two minutes to one o clock, I'm not late"
"I said i want my coffee ready when im back not when the lunch break is over"
I curl my fingers into fist , don't fall into this trap Emma don't fall
"My apologies,I will pay better attention to your instructions next time"
"You better" he nods as he picks up his coffee and brings it to his lip, carefully he takes a small sip from it and pauses, probably to make sure it wasn't spiced or something before taking another bigger sip.
"I want the documents for today's meeting printed out, everyone needs to have a copy"
"Sure anything else sir?"
"You can take the card with you because i will need you to get my beverage or maybe a snack from the shop regularly that's all for now "
" Yes sir " I take the card back before turning on my heels and walking to the door
" One more thing " Mr Lysander voice stops me " Have we by any chance... met before?"
My heart leaps as I stand rooted on my spot,oh no! I slowly turn to him giving him the best smile i can master " I'm not sure, have we?"
" I asked you first Emma " he leans back against his seat sipping his coffee while his eyes are boring into mine " Nevermind maybe i have mistaken you for someone else "
" That's possible sir, highly possible" I answer a little bit too quickly " I'm going to get... the document ready ".
As Mr Lysander nods,I immediately dash out of his office and close the door behind me, what does he remember? is it something involving the wild frat party eight years ago? does it mean he is really Khloe father? ,I have been pushing the thought to the back of my mind because deep down im not ready to deal with this, not yet.
All of a sudden I can't feel my legs properly but i fight the urge to lean against his door,he still can see me from the damn camera, trying to compose myself,I trudge to my seat and begin collecting all the files I need to print out. Yet my mind keeps jumping back to the conversation i had just now with my boss, it's when the elevator makes a ding sound revealing the boy i saw this morning carrying a tray full of coffee cups with the Suit 'N Beans logo.
He stops at Mr Tan secretary desk and hands the tray to the assistant
"Two cappuccinos , Three long blacks and one latte"
"Thank you David, I can't imagine my life without you!" Tanya Mr Tan secretary says in a sing song
"Oh I can, that would be horrendous" says the boy grinning, as if he notices that he's being stared at,he turns his head to me "Hello miss... you must be Mr Lysander new assistant, I'm David the thirteenth floor superhero, anything related to document distribution or picking up something from outside the building I will be at your service"
"Hello David I'm Emma,a pleasure to meet you" I get out of my desk and walk to him so i don't talk loudly to make sure the initial person doesn't hear our conversation
"Actually I have question"
"And would that be?"
"Do you also take care of of Mr Lysander beverages?"
" Always " he replies proudly " I mean only when he's around but he told me he didn't need my service today so i guess he's not in his office now "
I can hear myself growling " No he's inside " I answer while gritting my teeth " Thank you David, I might need your service alot in the next few days "
" ok miss ".