New Boss

We were practically mad women by the time we reached Gray Enterprises. We were sweating like goats about to be slaughtered as we couldn't get any cab.

 We ran through the lobby to the elevator. But the elevator was taking too damn long! We could have taken the stairs if the building hadn't been so high!

 When the elevator finally arrived, we thanked the stars and took it up the floor.

 Thankfully, Lucas Gray hadn't made a formal introduction to the employees yet. He was in his new office talking to the vice president.

 Our coworkers were surprised to see me there. They were at the wedding and had seen how I was embarrassed at my wedding day.

 “Luna, what are you doing here?” One of them asked.

 “Shouldn't you be at home?” another asked.

 “Are you okay?” Another asked.

 To Luna… to me… it felt like they were still mocking me.

 “I'm fine,” I said a little curtly. “And please, do not worry about me. Thank you.”

 They were all surprised by my brusqueness, but at that moment, Lucas Gray, alongside his assistant and the vice president, came out of the office and called us the whole coworkers.

 Lucas Gray was tall, stunning, and sexy… I mean, I have to describe characters as the Author wrote them… he was brown, leanly muscular, and his brunette hair looked magnificent! His flawless suit was wrapped around his body, highlighting his sexy biceps and abs. He looked charming, aloof, intimidating, and well-mannered.

 “Everyone,” The vice president, a short stout man, said, “As you already know, this is the new CEO, Lucas Gray.”

 The whole hall erupted with applause.

 “Thank you for your generosity.” Lucas spoke in that perfect deep voice the Author bestowed on him, “Things are going to be different around here. Working under me, there are rules everyone must abide by and if you break those rules, there will be no second chance! My assistant will be sending all of you a text. You will read it and if you have a problem with that, the door is open for your resignation.”

 And then our phone began to beep. Everyone fished for their phone and began to read the rules.

 It read:

 If anyone has a problem with these rules, he or she is welcome to leave his or her employee ID and walk out through the door.

 Communication

 * All emails must be responded to within 30 minutes.

 * Employees are not allowed to use emojis or slang in work-related communication.

 * All phone calls must be answered within three rings.

 Work Hours and Attendance

 * Employees must arrive exactly on time; no early or late arrivals are tolerated.

 * All employees must work a standard 10-hour day, with no exceptions.

 * Any absences, including doctor's appointments, must be approved three weeks in advance.

 Office Environment

 * The office temperature must remain at exactly 72°F (22°C) at all times.

 * No plants or personal decorations are allowed at workstations.

 * Employees are required to wear formal business attire, including ties for men and heels for women.

 Productivity and Performance

 * Employees must meet their daily productivity quotas, with no exceptions.

 * Any mistakes or errors must be reported to management immediately.

 * Employees are required to work on weekends or holidays if necessary to meet deadlines.

 Technology and Security

 * Employees are not allowed to use personal devices for work-related activities.

 * All company data must be encrypted and stored on company-approved devices.

 * Employees must change their passwords every week and use a password manager.

 Break Room and Meals

 * Employees are not allowed to eat at their workstations.

 * The break room must be spotless at all times; employees must clean up after themselves.

 * Only company-approved snacks and beverages are allowed in the break room.

 Miscellaneous

 * Employees are required to address management with formal titles (e.g., "Mr./Ms./Mrs./Dr.") at all times.

 * No gossiping or discussing personal matters is allowed in the workplace.

 * Employees must participate in mandatory team-building activities, including trust falls and group outings.

 I mean, I could go on, but this was the one the Authors had written down in the book.

 The whole hall erupted with murmurs.

 “Are you seeing this?” Kate asked, staring at me.

 Yeah, the Author’s favorite; I'm not blind. I'm seeing it!

 “Of course.” I answered, “This is ridiculous!”

 “Silence!” Lucas's voice cut through the air like a sword, shutting everyone up. “Anyone have a problem with those rules?”

 There was no response.

 “Anyone?” He asked again but there was no response.

 Of course, the rules were ludicrous, but no one dared quit. Working at Gray Enterprises was a one-in-a-lifetime opportunity! And the pay was hella awesome!

 “Good.” Lucas said, “I thought as much. Bear in mind that anyone who breaks those rules will be fired with immediate effect. Thank you for your time. Now you can get to work.”

 And then he returned to his office.

 Everyone moved silently to their cubicles and began to put the rules in order. Those ones wearing unprofessional attires looked for a way to change and the ones that had plants or any personal decorations on their desk began to remove them.

 “Can you believe it?” Kate asked, “He's so strict!”

 Yes, the Author’s favorite, I can. Because I've read it.

 “I'm surprised myself,” I said sitting down on my seat.

 “Working is gonna be harder now, and boring,” Kate murmured.

 “Well, you can always quit,” I said.

 Kate glanced at me and then jokingly rolled her eyes. “I'll quit if you do. Remember, best friends forever.”

 And then we began to work.

 The office was unusually quiet for the first time except for the clacking of numerous keyboards and the telephone ringing from the customer service area.

 The next scene is where Kate will third male lead. The third male lead was a rich, controversial celebrity who was the cynosure of society's attention, and the company had hired him as the brand ambassador for a new product the company was launching.

 As the content creative team members, Kate and I will have to oversee the photoshoot taking place in an hour.

 We logged off our computer and stood to leave.

 “I can't believe we're finally meeting Liam Pierce!” Kate squealed I'm excitement as we headed down the corridor.

 In the novel, Kate is Liam Pierce’s huge fan and idolizer. She became a huge fan of his after watching his debut romance/ Mafia drama where he played the role of a Mafia assassin who fell in love with the enemy’s daughter.

 As we moved to the elevator, her attention was on me, and she couldn't see the man standing in front of her.

 “Ow!” She exclaimed as she bumped into the man.

 The man was taller, so she had to look up at him as he turned around.

 The man was Lucas Gray, his angry handsome face glaring down at Kate.