CHAPTER THREE

   "Eric Benjamin!!" I screamed and dropped the cup of coffee on the floor. It broke into pieces and scattered everywhere.

   He stood up while I bent down to pick up the pieces of glasses with my hands. I ended up hurting myself in the process.

   "I'm very sorry for this..." I kept saying.

   "No...no, just leave it and call the cleaning service agent"

   I stood up and walked out of the office, I was lucky to find one immediately and told him to come clean the place. He entered and after sweeping the glasses and cleaning the spilled coffee, he left.

   Eric was standing in the middle of the office when I entered.

   "Can you explain this?" He asked sternly.

   "I'm very sorry, I was distracted for a while" I dare not look at his face, I was scared of this man and I didn't want to lose my job.

   He sighed loudly and from the corner of my eyes, I saw him putting his right hand in his pocket.

   "It seems you aren't fit for this job. You've done what none of my secretaries has done, spilling my coffee and breaking the cup!" He yelled at me and I was shocked.

   I felt goosebumps all over my body, I knew it there and at that moment, saying the truth will be the only way to gain his trust.

   I looked up at him "Spilling the coffee was not my intention. I was shocked because I didn't know you were the CEO and also Eric Benjamin. I'm really sorry"

   He smirked "You didn't know?"

   "I swear"

   He gave me a disgusted look "I ain't listening to a lady who denied seeing me outside the company building"

   I bit my lower lip and gave him a pitiful face "I'm sorry about that too, I was scared"

   "Scared of what?"

   "Scared of you and I didn't want to lose my job either"

    Silence creped in for some seconds and I respected myself by staying quiet.

   "Who doesn't know me in Nigeria?..." He pouted and looked elsewhere, he then looked at me "...am I that horrible that I look scary to you?"

    "Um...it's not like you're scary....just that...you're...you're..." I stuttered looking for the right words to use.

   He cut in "Don't worry, don't say it. I guess I will have to put you through some things. Firstly, my coffee must be ready before I get to work" He said calmly and I knew instantly that saying the truth was the best way to communicate with him. He must be a person that hates lies so, I've got to win his trust first.

    "...my coffee must be filled with lots of milk too and..."

   "....a teaspoon of sugar" I completed it for him with a smile but he rolled his eyes at me.

   He walked back to his desk "You must also tell me my schedule for the day every morning. I hate gossips and lateness"

   I nodded "I will keep that in mind"

   "There will be some occasions whereby we need to work in my house, I hope you're okay with that"

   "There will be no problem, sir"

   "Also, I need your phone, computer and drawer to be locked with a strong password. You must not tell anything about me to other secretaries. I'm sure you already noticed that you're kept in my office, whereas other secretaries has a different office of their own"

    "I noticed that, sir"

    "I won't explain it to you but this is the best option for you"

    I had lots of doubts and questions but I dare not ask. Why must everything be discreet? Are some people in the company enemies of my boss? I became suspicion of the new friend I had made earlier in the secretaries office, Eunice. She was too nice though I clearly saw others ignoring me.

    "What's your name again?"

    "Hannah" I replied softly.

    "Hannah, there are a lot going on in this company more than you know. I may sound mean but can you keep your distances from the other secretaries?..."

    I raised an eyebrow at him "In conclusion, I can't have friends at the company"

   He smiled "Yes..."

   "Why?"

   He rested his back on his black arm chair "You work for me, I can be your friend instead. Report everything to me and don't tell anything to others"

   "Do you have some enemies at the company?"

   "You see, Hannah...you will come to understand all this soon. As of now, I hope you can listen to me and also obey me" He empathized on the obey and went back to the files on his table.

   I stood there looking at him for a while, this man is weird that's for sure. I thought his Dad owned this company, how come he isn't free with his employees. He looked up at me and frowned.

   "I forgot something..."

    "What's that sir?"

    "My coffee, food and water but be gotten directly from you....I mean, you can't tell someone else to help you out with that. Including files and work I assigned to you. What I'm trying to say is, you must do all your work by yourself and also don't forget to put a strong password on your gadgets"

   "I'll remember that sir"

   "So, do I have any scheduled meetings for today?"

   "Not at all"

   He nodded "You haven't worked as a secretary before?"

   "No, sir"

   "I feel honoured to be your first boss"

   "I feel horrible for having such a stress filled boss" I thought.

   "I hope you enjoy your time in my company"

    "I hope so too" I replied with a sad face.

   "Also, change the password of the door. A password that only you and I knows"

   "I will"

   "You can get back to work now"

I walked to my desk slowly and sat. He was on his computer so I went to G****e and searched.

    How to be a perfect secretary to a problematic boss.

........

To be continued....