Chapter three

Honey, I'm home!" I announced to no one in particular when I walked into the apartment. I stepped out of my flats and walked into the sitting room. Kate laid sprawled on the couch with her legs dangling by the side of it, busy watching TV. "You're back from work early?" I asked and sat down.

"Yeah. Mr. Vincent allowed everyone home early. How was the interview?" She sat straight to face me.

"Everything went well until a  handsome dude – I think he's the boss though – entered the building and everyone started behaving weirdly. I think I took the wrong elevator and got to his office, thinking he was the interviewer. He fired two people, I guess because of me and now I feel bad. He asked a bunch of questions and asked for my resume. I gave it to him and he hired me as his secretary," I sighed and looked at Kate. She was gaping at me, eyes widened and mouth hanging open.

"You-" 

"I what?" I asked and I arched a brow at my roommate.

"Belle, you spoke with Ivan Trevelyan?" she said with disbelief on her face. I noticed a hint of sarcasm in her voice. It was clear she didn't believe me. 

"Yeah. I think he's the owner," I answered.

"Stop kidding around," She said and laughed, but I stared blankly at her

"I don't think I got the joke."

She paused, her mouth half-open. She stared at me blankly. "Stop joking around."

"I'm not, " I replied. "I spoke with him. What's the big deal? It's not like he's a god or something." I shrugged with one shoulder innocently.

"I might believe that you spoke with him but him hiring you as his secretary?" She snorted.

"He said, his company was about technology and that because I majored in business, I wouldn't just be hired as a normal regular employee, but as his secretary." I noticed, a muscle in Kate's jaw twitch and I quickly added, "He didn't say it in that way though."

"Alright alright, I believe you. Come on, let's go celebrate your new job."

*

I woke up with a groan. My head was banging. The previous night, Kate and I had a lot of beer. We ate chicken, watched TV, and made funny faces that we assumed was Mr. Trevelyan's. Squinting my eyes, I peeped to my alarm clock.

Crap, I'm late!

I jumped off the bed and ran to the bathroom. Within five minutes -which was the shortest time I've ever taken to get ready- I was done. I grabbed a granola bar from the fridge and rushed out. 

Getting to TE, I ran to the building. When I entered the elevator, I sighed and pressed my back on the wall, rubbing my hands through my hair.

What the heck were you thinking? My subconscious was in her reading glasses and she folded her arms, tapping her foot and slowly shaking her head. 

I heard a ping and I walked out of the elevator. I went to the brunette I saw yesterday.

"Hi." I smiled, though my mind was in conflict. "Is Mr. Trevelyan in?" I asked, clutching my bag tightly, hoping he wasn't here yet.

"Oh hello, you're the new one right?" She smiled at me.

"Yeah. Is he in yet?" I asked again.

"Oh, the boss? Nope, he isn't," She said and I let out a whiff of breath I didn't know I was holding.

You were lucky this time. Next time, just go over to a bar and forget you have a job. My subconscious sneered at me and I shut her out.

"Okay cool, thanks. Do you know where I'm supposed to be?" I asked. I don't even know what being the boss's secretary entailed to. What I was supposed to be doing and all.

The brunette arched a brow, clearly confused.

"I don't know where my office is," I clarified and she mouthed an oh

"Let me just finish up. Then, I'll show you your office," She said. "By the way, I'm Susan." She stretched out a hand.

"I'm Isabelle." I took her hand and smiled.

*

"Here's your office, Isabelle." She gestured her hand toward the office. The office was just like Mr. Trevelyan's except that it was smaller and it didn't have couches. It was about the size of my room. It had white walls. The desk was shining brown just like the desk of Mr. Trevelyan. 

"Seriously." I blinked. "This is my office." It was more than I thought. I had thought that my office would be smaller, way smaller. 

"Yeah, it is. Being the boss's secretary is high, and as you got hired to that position just like that," she said. "You have to be careful. People around here are mean. And because they might think you're the boss's favorite, they will be definitely meaner." 

Oh?

"Okay, thank you, Susan," I said and smiled.

"It's okay. Now get ready before the boss arrives. He hates nose poking employees," She said deadpanned.

"Hmm." I hummed and Susan was about to leave when I called out, "And Susan?"

She turned. "Yeah?"

"How long have you been here?" I asked.

"Just a week." She shrugged at the look on my face. "They say no employee lasts more than two months."

"Woah? Is that really true?" I asked and she shrugged again.

"I really have to go," she said and I nodded and she left.

I dropped my bag on one of the chairs in front of the desks.

No employee lasts more than two months. My subconscious huffed. Who is he? God?

I prayed to any supreme being out there that exists, that I last more than a week.

I really needed the money. My mum was a heart patient and she couldn't work anymore. My younger sister, Crystal was still in high school and I paid her fees. My dad had died seven years ago when I was still in high school. I needed the money to take of my mum and pay Crystal's fees. My mum and Crystal lived in a flat in Seattle, while I came here to New York to look for a suitable job that could take care of the fees. 

I plopped down on the seat behind the desk and ran my hand over the wood, still lost in thought. The wood was hard and smooth under my fingers and I rubbed my fingers on it. 

"Ms. Greene."

I closed my eyes and hummed in satisfaction. Ah, the perks of having a big office. I couldn't still believe that this was my office. Susan must have made a mistake. I made a quick mental note to ask her later. I rested my back on the swing chair, enjoying the cozy feeling.

"Ms. Greene."

Cool air blew over my face and I felt a shadow hovering over my face.

"Isabelle!"

I snapped my eyes open, startled, and saw green orbs staring into my eyes.

In the corner of my eyes, I saw a figure standing by the door, face clenched, brows furrowed, gray eyes cold and dark in anger.

My boss.