CHAPTER THREE

This was an indication that things weren’t going to go well for me. This was bad.

His eyes stayed on me for a few seconds and moved over to the rest of the room.

I swallowed hard. Maybe he didn't recognize me, maybe he was looking at someone else.

"But his friend sure did recognize you." My subconscious spoke.

Fudge! I didn't swear. It just made me cringe on the inside.

"Not at all, Mr Drey. Just something we're about fixing." Alfred answered his earlier question. I could see a slight sheen of sweat forming on Alfred's eyebrows as he answered nervously.

He had that much power in his gaze.

"Then we can start?" He asked.

"Of course, sir." 

Everyone else rushed to their seat. Luckily, Dara came just in time with a flash in her hand. 

The atmosphere eased a little as Alfred started with the presentation slides.

We were making changes to the app but I had completely zoned out looking at the man in front of me.

The way his lips moved as he spoke.

His arms extended in front of him as he flipped through the pages of the clipboard in front of him. The slight purse of his lips when he heard something he didn't like.

There were barely any expressions on his face but I had the full excuse to oogle him because he was speaking.

'I can't believe such a man exists.' I thought to myself. 

"Excuse me?" Someone nudged me in the rib. I jerked conscious.

"What?" I looked to the side.

I could see everyone staring at me. Some snickering. I realised. I had said my thoughts out loud while dreamily staring at him. 

Mr Drey was looking at me his full attention on me. His friend looked thoroughly amused.

"Miss..." urging me to say my name.

"Victoria. It's Victoria."

"Victoria." My name rolled off his tongue like silk. Like tasting fine wine. My mouth felt dry.

"You're new here. Aren't you?"

I nodded unable to get my mouth to function well. My hands squeezed together for comfort beneath the table. 

"It is quite obvious, isn’t it?" He said with obvious distaste. 

"I expect that employees pay full attention when at meetings. Daydreaming while in a meeting just shows how highly incompetent you are and that makes me wonder how you got here in the first place."

Slowly, my chest tightened. I had never been called out  before but he wasn't done.

"If you can't be focused in a meeting, where else will you be focused? I reckon such thoughts be kept to yourself. I do not appreciate them from employees neither do I take nonchalance at work lightly."

My eyes were cast down in embarrassment. I couldn't say a word. Nothing to plead my case because all the cards were stacked against me.

I wanted the ground to open up. No one liked being chastised, especially in public. Jeni who was sitting a few seats from me smirked. "Serves her right." She made sure she was loud enough for me to hear her. 

"I'm sorry sir." I apologised. I fought hard to keep my eyes dry. Having everyone look at me while being berated was enough to open up a well of tears but I promised myself that no man would ever make me cry again. Ever. I breathed in sharply trying to control my nerves.

"Continue." He dismissed me without a thought. His work was done though. I felt small. Incredibly small, like a pesky fly that annoyed him. 

The meeting continued like nothing happened. Not even when Alfred had made a mistake. I was enough lesson for the day and for everyone. My first day and I'd managed to be become the laughing stock of the entire company. 

Mr Drey continued to list off inconsistencies with the project and everyone started to get edgy with each one, taking notes. By the end of the meeting, everyone looked sullen.

"By the next meeting I want everything fixed. We have less than a month to launch this product. Do less than expected and we will have a problem." 

"You're dismissed. Except you Alfred. We have things to discuss with the HR department." 

I forced my legs to move even though my world had just about shattered.

Would this be the end?

Everyone else scrambled out of the conference room. 

We had barely made it to the office when Jeni opened her big mouth like she couldn't wait to say what was on her mind. 

"You know... I think you're quite brave for saying what we all think." She had been looking for an excuse to say something and she finally found it.

She didn't waste the opportunity either.

People stopped in their tracks to look at us. She had drawn enough attention by being so loud you could hear her on another floor.

"I could never do what you did even though everyone's thinking the same thing. You've just made the list of the world's brassiest..." she covered her mouth like she made an honest mistake. "Sorry. I meant bravest. Bravest woman." 

"Common Jeni. Leave her alone." It was David that spoke up. He had introduced himself earlier in the day to me and he had seemed nice.

"What? At least she'll be remembered as that girl. You heard the CEO. They're probably going to fire her."

I only looked at her without so much as an expression. She wouldn't get to me. Mr Drey already had.

I didn't have a retort for her because I couldn't find one. So, I just went to my cubicle and drowned myself in work till the day ended.

We'd closed for the day by 4pm. I had waited for everyone to leave the office before I did for 2 reasons. 

1. I was a newbie. I couldn't leave earlier than everyone else.

2. I was just trying to avoid the inevitable as much as I could.

Neither worked. There were still as many people in the offices and I could hear whispers. Some were pointing.

It was when I got to the elevator, I realised the news had spread far and wide even if some had no idea who I was. 

"I heard someone was daydreaming about the CEO during a meeting today." The lady whispered like it was top secret information, looking around cautiously.

"What? No!" Her friend whispered in reply too.

"I mean, I do it but I'll never be caught dead doing it" She cackled.

"I feel sorry for her though."

"Why? They said she's as ugly as it comes. The audacity to even think of him and say it out loud. I was so disgusted when I heard it." She gagged to drive her point home.

"Some people really are delusional" her friend added.

And I was right there all the while. They had managed to twist the truth into something so ugly. Fair enough I had thought about him but it was more an appreciation of how he looked than who he was.

I cleared my throat not so subtly to remind them that someone was right beside them. They looked back at me, their eyes widening still having no clue I was the subject of their gossip. They remained quiet the entire ride.

The ride home I couldn't stop thinking to myself. I had messed up badly. 

I thought of all possible ways I could restart my day but alas, I was no magician. I was branded.

I would now be known as the girl who had the audacity to crush openly on her boss even though that wasn't true.

Nobody would care about what I had, what I could do, what I could bring to the company.

My plans were now ruined. I only got to spend a day at my new job and I was most likely going to lose it.

My shoulders vibrated with painful laughter. Passengers visibly scooted away from the crazy woman who was now laughing at herself on the bus.

I didn't blame them. I just broke the record for holding a job for the shortest time possible. 

He didn't have to speak to me the way he did. Yes, I was wrong for what I did but did it warrant those harsh words? No. 

Thea was right. What an asshole indeed! I was only momentarily blinded by his looks.

Whatever I had thought of him initially died instantly. Served me right for thinking about a co-worker much more importantly, the CEO, even though I swore to myself I wouldn't be involved with anybody at work. 

The rumours were true. He was cold as he was brutal and I hated him for it. But I hated myself more.

***

Thea wasn't there when I got home. At least she wouldn't see me breakdown. She had such high hopes for me. I flung my shoes to the side and collapsed on the bed. I didn't bother taking off my work clothes. All those hours spent picking an outfit, lying awake throughout the night, puking all over the place, all for absolutely nothing.

The tears I'd been holding in for so long started to pour out in rivers. My shoulders shaking violently as I cried with my fist in my mouth so I wouldn't be loud.

I was doomed right from the night at the bar, I realised.

There was so much uncertainty looming in the air.  

Was he so cruel that he would fire me for my mistake?