Chapter eight

In the days passed, I thought Mr. Trevelyan would loosen up and tone down on the hostility, but I absolutely thought wrong.

Mr. Trevelyan became a lot more adverse and hostile as time withered away. It was like a whole new cycle of ours – I would go to work late, he'll yell at me, and I'll stagger into my office with tears in my eyes.

"You're lucky. I'm really starting to think you're his favorite." 

"What? He just said that to reprimand me. Nothing more." I let out an unladylike snort. I? Mr. Bossy Pants' favorite? I couldn't even dare to dream.

Susan and I were at the cafeteria and like always, she was helping to cheer me up after the usual back-and-forth with Mr. Trevelyan.

"But he could just have fired you there and then. There was this lady, that used to work as his PA. She brought his coffee in and it was cold, he fired her."

I feigned a surprised look and let out an exaggerated gasp. "He did that? I'm very surprised. He must have been angry at that time," I muttered the last part and Susan chuckled.

"Isabelle, stop denying. Just admit that you are his favorite." 

"No. And why would I admit that? I'm not him." I took a sip of my orange juice.

"True but-"

"Hey, ladies." Someone cut in and they slipped into one of the chairs in our booth.

"Hi, Eric," Susan said cheerfully, a tint of red on her cheeks. Oh?

"Hey, Eric," I said. "As I was saying," I turned to Susan. "No, I am not going to say that."

"Say what?" Eric asked.

Susan opened her mouth to talk but I cut her off even before she said a word. "Susan said that I'm Bossy CEO's favorite. Just because he didn't fire me today."

"Yeah, I think so too. I agree with Susan."

"Aha!" Susan said victoriously. "Told you so."

I groaned and rubbed my hand on my forehead. "You guys just don't get it. Do you? I'm just an average girl from downtown Seattle."

"Really?" Susan exclaimed. "What are you doing in NY then?"

Crap! I knew you shouldn't have blurted that out. My subconscious palmed her forehead.

"Uh, my best friend and I share an apartment.",I said and quickly changed the topic. "I'm not his favorite though. It could be you." I gestured to Eric who raised his brows. "Or you?" I gestured to Susan and she immediately shook her head a no. "Or that ginger-haired dude, I have never noticed until now." I gestured towards a man having lunch in the corner of the cafe. "But it's definitely not me." 

"Exactly, that's the point. You're the only girl that doesn't get affected by his looks, wealth, power, and all. So you're his favorite," Eric said and I groaned out loud.

"I get affected but I just don't show it."

"Yeah right." Susan rolled her eyes. "And you too, Eric you're the boss's manager and his closest friend, maybe even his only friend." She said and I widened my eyes.

"You're his friend?" I exclaimed, eyes still widened.

"Shh. Don't make a big deal of it. I'm still his employee. He could fire me." He chuckled.

"Really?"

"Nah, just kidding. If he did, I'll kick his ass."

"Shut the... You're that close?" I asked.

He shrugged. "But that doesn't make me his favorite, you're still his favorite in my eyes." He winked at me.

"Yeah, I agree," Susan said and I groaned.

This is going to be one long lunchtime.

*

I was busy typing some documents on my office laptop when an email popped up.

From: Ivan Trevelyan

Dinner at 7 with some contractors. Dismissed at 5 pm to get ready.

Ivan Trevelyan,

At least it sounded a lot nicer on email. Sighing, I typed a response.

From: Isabelle Greene

Yeah, sure.

Isabelle Greene,

I re-read the email and held in a giggle.

When I arrived home, I took a quick shower and slipped into a midnight blue bodycon dress and a white blazer. I did my makeup which was, as usual, mascara and shiny lip gloss, and I tied my hair into a ponytail and slipped into Kate's black pumps.

I flagged down a cab and hopped inside.

Geez! It's still early. I wonder why you're rushing. My subconscious arched a brow.

Because I want my complete salary. That's why. I shut her out and enjoyed the view outside. Green trees, beautiful birds, beautiful Mother Nature.

"Ma'am, we're here." The cabman said and I gave him a two-dollar bill. He nodded thanks and drove off, while I walked towards the building.

I took in a deep breath. It's going to go alright, I told myself before walking into the building.

"Evening Ms. Greene." 

I turned around and a gasp almost escaped my lips. My boss was in a gray Armani and it matched his eye color. He wore a white shirt underneath and a gray tie to compliment.

"Evening Mr. Trevelyan," I answered with a smile plastered on my lips.

"You're early. I like that." He said and his lips pulled up to a smile and I stopped breathing.

Crap! His smile is beautiful. My legs wanted to have a mind of their own to walk up to him.

Go kiss him, you fool. My stupid subconscious urged and I mentally slapped her.

He's my boss, you bozo. I said to her and she quietly went to her couch to sit.

"Come on, the dinner is up." He said walking to the elevator.

There's another floor above?

He led me to a case of stairs and we climbed it.

"Here we are." He led me to the highest floor of the building.

Whoa?

It was just like a restaurant, except that it didn't have a roof. It was like a balcony restaurant. The tables were covered with fine linen. It was like one of those fancy restaurants you see in films. I couldn't even dream, that I would ever be in a place like this.

Mr. Trevelyan's phone rang, snapping me out of my reverie.

"Trevelyan... What?" He said and then hung up.

 I held back an eye roll.  Drama king. "Sir, what's wrong again?" 

"The contractors just informed me, the contract can not be finalized."