Jessica’s POV
I opened my mouth to speak but words wouldn’t come out, I could feel panic and tears making my throat constrict painfully, and I knew I had to end this call right this minute before I weep into the call.
I cleared my throat softly,”Erm… may you please let me know why my request is not being responded to positively?” I hated how my voice slightly shook.
He acted as though he didn’t hear my question, I was about to give up and turn off the call then he finally spoke.
“You can have the job. I’m only doing this because of the relationship between our mothers. Don’t in any way think I’ll be easy on you just because our moms are friends, I hate slackers and you won’t be the exception.”
Although he sounded mean and stern, but just for the fact that a way out of the mess had finally presented itself I felt instant relief.
”of…of course sir, I wouldn’t disappoint you at all. I promise you won’t regret this.“
I heard him blow out an arrogant huff but at this moment I really didn’t give a shit. Right now he just saved me big time.
“Time will tell whether or not I made the right decision to give you a job or not. I have a meeting right now but text your bank account details and mail your CV to me.”
“Thank you so much.” Despite his arrogant approach the man just saved my ass and I was grateful.
He put off the call without even responding but I don’t care. What mattered in this moment wasn’t the low feeling I got in the pit of my gut at the thought of working with this arrogant bastard. My mum was going to be alright.
I quickly typed my account details on my cell phone and sent to his number, almost instantly I received the sum of 300,000 dollars.
Wow, not a bad starting salary at all especially for such a simple role as being a secretary.
My phone beeped again and a message popped from him, “Still waiting for your CV, you resume at 8:30 in the morning sharp and not a minute late. If you do, consider yourself fired.”
I rolled my eyes at the arrogance, something tells me this job won’t be as straightforward as I think.
Getting up swiftly I headed to the hospital reception to pay my mothers bill so she could get better attention.
The next morning I woke up by 6am not wanting to be late. Thanks to the early payment I was able to get a private hospital room that had an extra bed last night. I stretched out, giving myself a few seconds to adjust before jumping down from the bed.
My mum was still sleeping, so I gently tiptoed and kissed her forehead. I was also able to secure a private nurse who would attend to her while I’m at work.
My things were still at the house so I had to quickly dash home and shower, and change into a navy blue office dress that flattered my slim curvy figure.
I was mindful of the time so I didn’t do much with my waist length hair, I simply slicked it down and used a claw clip, pairing the outfit with the only decent pair of black leather block heels and matching purse.
I twirled and turned in the mirror, sprayed on some body splash, satisfied with my look and dashed out.
I knew if I took the bus I’d be late so I hauled down a taxi and rushed in. At exactly 8: 00 am the cab pulled up to the skyscraper building, I paid the driver and came down tentatively.
I’ve always been socially awkward and big serious buildings like this always made me feel nervous.
“I’m doing this for me, be brave Jessica.” I muttered to myself. I walked into the building and was pleasantly surprised at the grandeur, the place managed to stay looking professional despite luxury minimalist furniture and decor.
A bald, overweight security guard approached me, “Excuse me miss, can you state what you're here for. No one is allowed to stand her idly, bosses orders.”
“I’m actually here for a job, I was offered the position of personal assistant to the CEO by the boss himself.”
The security arched his eyebrows at me in amusement and confusion, then spoke something into his walkie talkie. I looked at the time and noticed a good five minutes had passed, I didn’t want to be even a minute late.
The security guard affirmed something and turned to me with a warm smile. “You’re welcome, Miss Jessica, you can approach the receptionist over there, the Human Resources manager already made your id and access card.”
I let out a breath of relief I didn’t even know I was holding, “Thank you.” I said hurrying in the direction he pointed at me to go, I was halfway there when I immediately stopped dead in my tracks.
I felt goosebumps immediately cover my skin, of all the people that could’ve been the receptionist it had to be Jolene Francis. My legs immediately felt like jelly and I felt bile rise up to my throat.
Jolene Francis is not only the best friend of Rachelle who my ex husband is having an affair with but also my high school bully. My legs slowed down and I immediately wanted to exit the building.
I summoned my courage and approached the desk. She eyed me over immediately, I didn’t bother to exchange pleasantries, as far as I’m concerned, an ally to Rachelle and Michael, is a foe of mine.
Wordlessly she thrusts a brown envelope to me, I took it and turned not even checking the package.
I walked to the elevator while trying to pry the envelope open that probably contained my access card and company id but halted immediately when I collided with a hard wall.
Jessica’s Pov
“Ouch!” I exclaimed taking unsteady steps back only to feel a thick muscled hand to my waist steadying me. I immediately popped my eyes open, wondering who had rescued me from hitting the floor.
Watch where you’re going,” came a deep voice, laced with irritation and slight concern.
I looked up, my breath catching in my throat. There he stood all 6 ft 2 of Aaron Gates , his piercing blue eyes locked on to mine and the startling effect left me feeling light headed.
The air around us seemed to frizzled with electricity.
“Sorry! I was just—” I stammered, flustered.
“You were just heading up to resume work as my assistance , I take it?”
His smirk was infuriating and captivating all at once, the same as it was years ago. My cheeks flushed with embarrassment. Tell me why the hell I was having this sort of reaction to freaking arrogant and full of himself Aaron Gates . “I didn’t mean to run into you.”
“Jessica’s , right?” he interrupted, tilting his head slightly as if sizing me up.
I nodded in agreement.
The hell he knew my name, we grew up together! He was only acting like he didn’t.
The whole lobby seemed to be frozen and kept silent watching the exchange between myself and the CEO Aaron Gates.
He cleared his throat and everyone seemed to immediately go back to what they were all doing in fear and slight frenzy, he faced me.
“Follow me to the office, I really hope you’re ready and capable for this job. If you’re clueless enough to not look where you’re walking to, I can imagine the sort of mistakes you can likely make.”
I wanted to answer him but he walked away quickly and I had no choice but to follow. In the elevator I wiped my calmly hands down on my dress, I had an unsettling feeling as though something I wouldn’t like was looming in the air.
The elevator arrived at the last floor and dinged, myself and Aaron got out. I followed his lead to the last door in the hall. It had a huge red wood cherry door, the door scanned his thumb and the door opened automatically after saying, “welcome back Gates.”
When the door closed behind us I felt extremely nervous for no reason. He walked to his office table dumping his briefcase on it before plopping down on his office seat.
“Have a seat.” He said to me as he tossed his glossy hair with his thick long fingers.
“Thank you.” I responded.
He didn’t even give me a second look, his eyes were immediately fixed on his computer screen. “So we have a meeting with a top client in an hour, I hope you know how to take proper minutes of meeting.”
I nodded but to be honest I felt dizzy and mesmerized by him, an odd desire pooled in my lower stomach as I looked at him. His lean muscle, athletic build, his former handsome boyish looks had transformed into that of a handsome attractive man.
He would have even been more irresistible to me if he had a pleasant attitude.
“Jessica, Jessica?” His voice immediately snapped me out of my lustful thoughts.
“Si….. sir” I said, stuttering turning red as though he had heard me ogling him in my head.
He gave me a serious look with his piercing blue eyes.
“Is your attention span that low? I did warn you already about slacking off, I could fire you and the first early payment would count as a loan which I highly doubt you can pay.”
I immediately felt a flint catch a spark in my chest, what arrogance is this? And why would he automatically assume I couldn’t pay back the 300k even if I couldn’t afford it.
“Did you really assume just because we used to have play dates back in the day, I wouldn’t do a background check on you? I know you’re penniless, me hiring you was me putting in my good deed for the year.”
I clenched my fist in anger. Something about this conversation and the tone of his voice reminded me of my ex husband Micheal, he too looked down on me and made me feel like a liability.
I felt tears sting the edge of my eyes, but I refused to let them pour down my cheeks, I wouldn’t let any of them see me cry.
His eyes seemed to soften a bit when he noticed my demeanor but he immediately covered it with an aloof and unconcerned expression. He jerked his hand at me, “your office is the one opposite mine, get accustomed to it. We leave in thirty minutes .”
I didn’t trust my voice to come out confident and strong as I wanted it to appear, so I simply nodded and turned to leave. The door opened for me and i easily located my office.
Now in the privacy of my office, I let the water work burst freely. I wiped away my tears in anger wondering why once men become rich and influential they become something else.
To distract myself I took out my cell phone and called the nurse to check up on my mum’s health.
At thirty minutes exactly, myself and my new boss Aaron were seated in his exotic latest model of Mercedes Benz limousine heading to the North point view restaurant located in the most exquisite five star hotel the city had to offer.
The car ride was quiet and awkward. Aaron sat opposite me in the limousine typing away on his phone, although there were times I felt his eyes on me but when I raised my head I found him typing on his phone.
I let out a breath, fingers crossed that the meeting would be fast and end quickly. The car came to a halt at the restaurant and we got down from the car escorted by the security into the restaurant.
There was something in the air that made it tense and heavy, it reminded me of those dramatic moments about those soap Operas before something happened.
Familiar scent grazed my senses, the woody smell caressed my nostrils, I raised my eyes and they connected with a pair of gray ones. I couldn’t even stop myself from saying loudly, “ What the fuck?”
Jessica’s Pov
Almost everyone at the restaurant stopped to look at me including the reason I exclaimed none other than Micheal himself, l felt like the ground should open and swallow me.
Micheal in turn had a bored and an honestly irritated look as though my presence itself weirded him out. Aaron gave more and more time for the awkward moment to sort out the issue. But it didn't.
Michael fakes a cough and it snaps everyone out of the moment, he immediately gets up apparently to greet Aaron.
Seeing Micheal again in close proximity was hard because my feelings are definitely not yet that strong or stable enough towards him so I was shaken up.
Micheal stood up and shook Aaron who seemed to have become cold and upset. I noticed that he was acting a lot more official and that even he squeezed Michael's hand who winced slightly.
“Welcome Boss.” Micheal said and it dawned on me that Aaron was probably the one who Michael looked up to in the corporate world and basically wouldn’t shut up about when we were married.
“Good morning, I must apologize I arrived about two minutes late for our appointment. ”
I stood there just seeing mouths move and not hearing a thing. All I could do was watch them go back and plan something about a contract to build another skyscraper that’s like the one the company currently has.
“Sir, (he gave an awkward laugh) to be honest, the whole job that we’re talking about should on its own be about 699 million dollars.”
I could see Michael break out a cold sweat as he said this.
Aaron tapped the edge of this pen thoughtfully on the dinner table. And then clicked his tongue,“That’s not a problem, have your lawyer send me a copy of the contract by tonight latest and I’ll have my legal team look at it , if there’s anything we’re not comfortable with, I will revert back to you.”
All I could wonder was if life is playing a fast one on me, how could the man who married me and even got me pregnant only to abandon me high and dry. Is about to be rewarded the most empowering contract of all times and have his life elated.
I could imagine it was certainly Rachelle who hooked him with this sweet deal.
Since I was too disoriented and shocked to function, all I did was quietly tap the record button in my device and then I’d listen and take notes once we’re at the office.
My hands were shaking badly as I tried to reach for the glass of water to soothe my parched throat. I gave up trying to hold it steadily and decided to wait to get back to the office before I could get water.
I felt both eyes on me and I didn’t even want to respond to any of them so I kept my head focused on doing nothing.
I felt Aaron push his chair ever so slightly away from the table, giving himself enough stand, then I heard him say, “I’ll be on my way now, I’ll be expecting the contract as soon as possible.”
Micheal immediately got up, extending his hand, “ of course sir, it’ll be sent immediately.”
Aaron didn’t respond but simply nodded and walked away. It took me a few seconds to get my legs and brain to work together and I followed him behind quickly before Michael could say anything to me.
Now the outside security entourage opened the car door for us and I made sure he went in first before I followed suit. In a few minutes we drove away.
Seated in the limousine, lost in my thoughts of melancholy for myself, but common, who would blame me? I was about to become a baby mama to a man who would probably not want to be a part of my baby’s life.
I didn’t really blame Micheal though, my first mistake in the marriage was letting go of myself to please him and make the marriage work. Hot tears stung my eyes and one spilled, I quickly thumbed it away.
Today was turning out to be a nightmare and I just wanted to wake up from the horrible dream. The car stopped at the office and we got down from the car and into the building.
Instead of using the general elevator, the security protocol officer led us to the private one. If it wasn’t for what was going on today and the circumstances of my job today, I might have been enjoying the sightseeing of the office.
I leaned my back against the wall of the elevator, closing my eyes for a few seconds and I heard the sound of all the lights in the building shut down.
My eyes popped open immediately in panic because I was claustrophobic, Aaron immediately took out his phone and made a call, “what the heck? I give you 5 damn minutes and if the light is not up by then consider your department fucking fired!”
I held my chest trying to steady my breathing as it was slowly becoming erratic. I actually can’t think straight in small spaces, it scares me and causes me to hyperventilate till I feel out of breath.
I closed my eyes trying to imagine the beach or some exotic place but it wasn’t really working. I felt like I was about to pass out then strong arms encircled me.
At first I jumped when our bodies made contact but he whispered in his silky low baritone voice,” it’s okay, you’re safe, you’re good, the light will be back up soon just try and calm down please.”
My body, as though hearing his voice was the best opium I needed , relaxed and melted into him, but I kept my eyes closed.
The lights came back on but I noticed Aaron didn’t let go of me or even attempt to. I too truthfully was enjoying being comfortable, the elevator opens suddenly and I pop my eyes open, and I see a woman’s eyes go wide on seeing me and Aaron’s position.
