Chapter 3: The CEO

“But I haven’t properly introduced myself,” said the man in the swivel chair. He rose smoothly from the chair, showing his tall frame, and stepped in long confident strides towards Ella. “Mohred Kazor, CEO of Wyvern Minerals,” he said and almost simultaneously extended his right hand for a hand shake.

“I-I don’t know what to say,” said Ella, feeling her face warming up. She looked at the man who was offering his right hand and found his hazel eyes mesmerizing. His dark brown hair was slicked back and neatly cut around the ears while his chiseled chin was smooth and clean-shaven.

“You don’t have to say anything as your reputation precedes you,” said Mohred, still staring into Ella’s eyes. Ella could not help but blush as she locked eyes with the CEO.

“Your hand, Elle! You can shake his hand,” suggested Matt who stood there bewildered at Ella not shaking the CEO’s offered hand.

Ella blinked her eyes and disconnected from Mohred’s stare. “Oh, sorry! I’m forgetting my manners,” she said, trying to recover from her mistake. She immediately shook the CEO’s hand and felt his warm and firm grip. His large palm and long fingers covered most of her hand but Ella soon forgot about it as she looked at the CEO’s dazzling smile that showed his sparklingly white teeth. After a slightly extended handshake that made Matt look away and raise his hands, Ella released the CEO’s hand and turned to her desk, finding something else to look at.

“I guess I have to say, welcome to our lab, Mr. Kazor,” said Ella, raising her shoulders slightly and pretending to look at her calendar posted on the wall.

“Please, call me Red,” said the CEO whose eyes never left Ella’s face.

Ella felt uncomfortable as she sensed Red’s eyes looking at her. She nodded her head slightly and then said, “I suppose Matt has told you about the work we do here, Red.”

“He was just about to tell me about the laboratory when you entered, Dr. Garcia,” said Red, his modulated voice easily filling the small office. “But since you’re here, I hope you can tell me more about the work you do here in the laboratory.”

“Well, I was hoping that Matt would do that,” said Ella, forcing a laugh. She looked behind Red’s tall frame to see Matt.

“No, Elle. Go ahead. You’re the senior researcher. I’m just the assistant researcher. You can tell Mr. Kazor so much more about the lab than I can,” replied Matt, emphasizing that Ella tells the CEO more about the lab. Afterwards, Matt raised his eyebrows repeatedly and licked his lips before forming a heart shape with his two hands. He made a kissing gesture at Elle as he pointed two fingers at Red.

Red noticed Ella staring at Matt behind him and he slowly turned his head to look at the assistant researcher as well. Matt’s face immediately became serious and he took off his glasses to clean it using his handkerchief. Ella made an angry expression at Matt while Red was not looking, meant to reproach her colleague. Red suddenly returned his gaze back to Ella and caught her snarling at Matt.

Red smiled warmly after briefly seeing Ella’s expression. “I guess that means you can show me around, Doctor.”

Ella’s face became serious. She felt embarrassed that Red had seen her making faces at Matt. “Well, I suppose I should,” she said. “L-Let me just g-get my lab gown,” she stammered. She wanted to scold herself for being disarmed by Red’s charming smile and penetrating eyes.

She went to the adjoining room where the researchers kept their gear and took out her lab gown. Silently, she donned her lab gown automatically, forgetting that she had not taken a shower yet and was still wearing her running outfit. She then went back to the office where she saw that Red was still standing with his black coat on. Only then did she realize that the CEO did not have a lab gown.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I forgot that you don’t have a lab gown,” said Ella, looking at the sharply dressed CEO from head to foot. “I’m afraid we don’t have a lab gown for you.”

“Here, he can borrow my lab coat,” said Matt offering a folded white garment to Red.

Ella gave Matt a meaningful look that the assistant researcher only took a moment to decipher.

“Don’t worry, Elle. I just got that from the washer. It’s clean!” Matt chuckled before sitting in a chair and looking at his computer.

“Thank you,” said Red, holding Matt’s lab coat in his hand. He hesitated for a moment and looked around him before placing the lab coat gently on top of a desk that had open notebooks and loose paper.

“Sorry about that,” said Ella stepping closer to Red. “Nancy’s desk tends to be a bit more crowded when she’s writing.” Ella then took the used coffee mug and hair brush from Nancy’s desk. She opened a drawer to drop the hairbrush, but saw that it was filled with crumpled paper and candy trash. She immediately closed Nancy’s drawer and just placed Nancy’s mug and hairbrush on top of her own neat desk.

Ella noticed that Red was observing her so she said, “These are Nancy’s. I’m just keeping them for her for a while.” She realized a bit later that there was really no need to explain.

Ella bit her lip as if to stop herself from saying anymore stupid things. She then noticed that Red was having some difficulty removing his black coat from his broad shoulders. “Let me help you with that,” she said as she stepped behind Red and helped him take off his coat. She had to admire the quality of the charcoal suit that was amazingly soft to her touch. She held on to Red’s suit as the CEO removed his arms from the long sleeves. Ella observed Red’s muscular arms as he pulled them out of his suit. She was still admiring Red’s biceps when the CEO turned to face her. She immediately turned her gaze to the CEO’s face. It was the closest that she had seen Red’s eyes and noticed for the first time under the light, the brilliant specks of gold on the green and brown of his irises.

“I guess I need to take this off as well,” said Red. Ella took a moment to realize that Red was speaking to her. She blinked, confused at what Red was referring to. Then, she saw that Red had a finger on his tie. Ella looked closely at the silver tie with wine-red abstract patterns before realizing that Red was asking her if he should take his tie off.

“Uh… Yes…” replied Ella, a few seconds late. “Yes. We don’t want your tie getting splashed with chemicals. It looks too beautiful and expensive.” Again, Ella bit her lip as she realized she said more than she should.

Red inserted his arms inside the sleeves of Matt’s lab coat, hiding his crisp white shirt underneath. Ella watched him button up and noticed his pectorals bulging underneath the ill-fitting lab garment.

“I’m all set,” said Red and raised his chin to look at Ella. “Shall we go, Doctor?”