3. Her

Meave

"Here you go, Delaney." Christian Rogers dropped the hot coffee on my desk, going to his desk beside mine as he dropped his bag.

"Oh my God, you're a life saver!" I thanked, grabbing the coffee and taking a sip. "I needed this, as always." I told him, looking over at his direction. "How was your night?"

He sighed. "Not so great." He answered, opening his laptop. "I had tons of emails to answer, and my wife— God my wife needs to find a solution to her snoring problems, I can't sleep, I can't work, I can't even think."

I furrowed my brows, biting down a laugh. "Sounds serious."

"You don't know the half of it." He said, typing furiously on his laptop. "You should never get married, if you want to keep your sanity in check, my friend."

"I'll keep that in mind." I chuckled. "Have you resolved the issues with Castle's Bureau?"

"No, I feel like everyone in that company needs to get their head in check. They created this mess, and I'm the one working my ass off to solve it. Not to talk, dealing with the damn twins."

I narrowed my eyes at him. "Come on Rogers, they're precious."

"No, they're demons." He deadpanned.

At this, I laughed. "You'll figure it out." I told him, going back to work.

I loved working at Vargas, there was just something relaxing about the empire that had me coming earlier than anyone in my department. I was friends with everyone I had talked with, and I had come to learn that marriage wasn't just a walk in the park, it was so many things.

It hadn't crossed my mind, but it was something I had imagined a couple of times.

"Delaney, Rogers!" Our boss yelled out, gripping our attention almost immediately. "My office!"

I looked over at Christian. "I still think Mr. Norman had a vocal surgery done, cause that voice—I can't even begin to explain it." I said, getting to my feet.

The scowl on Christian's face increased. "I swear he's always high on something." He responded as we both begin making a way to his office.

"Probably weed."

"Yeah, do you think he mixes it with that weird tea of his?"

"The tea could even be the weed."

Christian nodded thoughtfully. "That's a possibility. "

Christian knocked on the door.

"Come in, quick."

Without wasting anymore time, we both got in, entering into work mood.

"Sir, we're hoping everything's fine?" was Christian's first sentence.

"Yes, Rogers..." He grinned. "We have a meeting at the Fifth wing, with Mr. Vargas, alongside all the managers of each wing, two of their very talented employees and a few shareholders."

I blinked, my heart skipping a beat. "What?"

"T-the fifth wing? With like t-the big boss himself?" Christian asked, eyes wide with shock, I was positive the look on his face mirrored mine at the moment.

"Yes, Rogers, that's kind of exactly what I just said." Mr. Norman clarified.

I swallowed. "So, you're choosing... us to go with you?"

The man looked over at me. "Yes, Delaney. Why else would I call you to tell you?"

"This is huge." Christian said... "I mean, not only do we get to go to the fifth wing, but we actually get to see Mr. Vargas? Can this day get any better?"

"I honestly can't tell if you're happy with this news or more frustrated." I whispered to him.

"I am freaking out!" Christian said. "Today just had to be the day I wear this damn sweater that screams, 'Don't pay attention to me, I'm okay with my salary!' Fuck."

Mr. Norman got to his feet. "I think you both are properly dressed. We have to hurry."

"When does the meeting start?" I inquired, trying to calm my own nerves.

"In about an hour time."

"We still have enough time; I can still go home and change—"

"No... we don't." Mr. Norman stopped. "We're having a meeting with Mr. Vargas... we should have been there at least two hours early. It helps paint a good image for our department." He informed, excitement in his own eyes. "So, leave your Dad sweatshirt on, and let's go impress some people today."

***

It took just 10 minutes to get to the Fifth wing, and since I stepped into the humongous building, I hadn't been able to stop my eyes from taking in the building like it was the first time I had ever seen a well-furnished place. Out of all the wings, this building, I had to admit, was the biggest and most eye catching.

It was white everywhere, and everything looked like glass.

"I envy the employees here." Christian said.

"Same here, feels like I just walked into some sort of first-class shit."

"No cursing, here." Mr. Norman warned, as we made our way towards the board room area.

When we reached, I spotted a few familiar faces, from the other wings.

"See, we should have been here earlier." Said, Norman, as we settled on our respective seats next to each other.

"This all feels so professional." Christian whispered beside me.

"Tell me about it." I answered.

I could feel my anxiety sky rocket. I had to put in much effort and make sure I impressed Mr. Vargas; I might just get a promotion. From the corner of my eyes, I saw Christian straighten his shirt, trying to look as professional as possible.

I could tell everyone was anticipating the big boss's presence... it was probably the curiosity biting our stomachs... this would be the first time we saw the new boss, and it was somewhat special because well, nobody really just gets to see him.

We waited and watched as people began to fill up the seats, and finally it was time. At exactly 10:00pm, the door opened, and though I wasn't looking due to the fact that I was setting up the laptop to record anything of importance, I knew Mr. Vargas had just walked in due to how silent the board room had gotten.

From my peripheral vision, I could tell he just took his seat.

"I apologize for any inconvenience this meeting might have caused to either of you. But there's a new deal arriving, one that can change the future of Vargas empire, and I need your bright minds to help bring this dream to reality." His voice was firm, strong and smooth... I couldn't deny the fact that there was something familiar about it.

Wait a minute—

Wait a damn minute.

I looked up for the first time.

Holy—

Freezing on that spot would have sounded like an understatement. My heart literally stopped, and I could feel the world turning... it was turning, spinning, spiraling at an abnormal speed.

Crap... holy crappy hell of fire and fangs!

My Boss... Mr. Vargas was the guy from—I think I'm gonna pass out.

"For those of you who have worked with us for a long time now, you would know our vision for the Vargas empire is to expand beyond normal expectation... I'm talking worldwide marketing. And finally, it is happening."

His intense calculating eyes moved around the board room, and immediately, I put my head down, moving in a way that my hair covered the side of my face.

My heart was hammering, and I could feel the beads of sweat beginning to gather around my forehead.

Oh lord please—please I love my job, rescue me from this disaster, I really do not want to be fired.

"I believe the marketing department is here today?" He asked, and I swear I felt my stomach coil.

Why is this happening to me?!

"Yes, Sir." Mr. Norman's voice resounded around the large board room, and I felt Christian's elbow connect with my side, motioning me to look up.

I'm screwed... royally.

I looked up, my heart jumping to my throat when our eyes locked.

The story of how Meave Eve Delaney lost her dream job, begins now.

His gaze didn't last one more second on my face as he looked away with no interest, no recognition, and no single emotion on sight.

What?

"Okay, so your team has a lot to play in this new project, and I would need you all at your full capacity."

Did he somehow forget about me?

"My assistant will explain further on the project, please take note." He said, relaxing back on his seat, and looking down at his phone, as his assistant took the floor.

She was beautiful, long straight blonde hair with a curve in all the appropriate places. It was obvious she wanted to show these curves as professionally as she could, seeing as she looked really confident in that... tight skirt.

She began talking, projecting the necessary details on the screen and explaining further on them.

My mind had long since stopped paying attention.

What could this mean? Doesn't he remember me? I mean, it was only a one-day difference... is it possible to forget someone you met the day before? I mean, we had quite the conversation.

I swallowed, trying to stop myself from straying off course.

Right now, my job was hanging on the balance, and he was the very person who could throw me off course with just a single flip of his finger.

Focus, Meave.

The meeting ended after an hour. And not once, I repeat, not once did he raise his head from his phone, even when questions were thrown his way, his assistant took the pleasure of answering them.

I had come to know her name as, Dina Munez.

I still wondered why the boss had zoned out of the very meeting he called, his attention solely on his phone as he tapped coolly.

It was almost like Saturday night, when I danced and all he paid attention to, was his phone, Except this was a Monday, and we weren't in the dark anymore, we were in the light.

The short trip back to our wing, my mind was still reeling at the fact that he had completely ignored my presence. I know I should be glad, but—I really am not, and it was because it felt like a storm was brewing, and sooner or later, it might explode, and I'd be clearing my desk within hours.

Mr. Norman had given us a little briefing as we reached our wing, and now I was settled back on my desk.

"You okay?" Christian asked from beside me.

"Yeah..."

"You pretty much zoned out at the meeting, shocked at the man's appearance? I honestly thought he'd be older." Christian said.

"I wish he was." I muttered.

My forehead hitting the table, as I let out a breath.

Time went by pretty fast, until it was just two hours till we signed off for the day.

I had been playing poker with anxiety all through the day, waiting for Mr. Norman to yell out my name, giving me a sack letter, but nothing happened.

It was just like every other normal day.

I had never put in so much effort in my work until today, I literally made sure I had all my pending work done within hours.

My head was buried in the last file to review for the day, when the sound of the elevator stopping at our wing, dinged for the hundredth time, but unlike every other time, everywhere seemed to have gone silent.

Only one footstep was heard and it only got louder by the minute.

I paused when it suddenly stopped.

I furrowed my brows, noticing the shadow looming over me. It came with three soft taps on my desk.

God... please.

I swallowed, the deadening silence causing shivers in my spine as I raised my head slowly.

There he stood, his aura screaming authority, one that had me swallowing the bile in my throat, fear gripping my bones as he tilted his head, watching me.

His eye moved to my ID card.

"Meave Eve Delaney." His voice, soft and smooth, stretched out my names like he was testing them out on his tongue.

I looked around to see everyone staring wide eyed at my desk, wondering what in hell was happening, but I was pretty sure I could process the thoughts going through their heads at the moment, Mr. Vargas had never... he had never visited any wing since he resumed as chief executive officer, but today, he had broken that record, and he was standing right in front of my desk...

My desk!

I swallowed, trying to blink my thoughts back in order. "S—sir?"

"Do you have a minute?" He asked. "I know you prefer the attention but... I would like to have a word in private."

Like I said, I am screwed... royally.