In His Voice

Alexia.

I was woken up by annoying vibrations on my left wrist and groaned as I pressed the off button on the watch. I immediately snuggled deeper into the comforter, figuring that an extra thirty minutes couldn't hurt anybody. 

It was a glossy pink wristwatch that was recommended to children between the ages five to twelve and it was a really embarrassing gadget for a woman my age to carry around. Being partially deaf, I used this thingamajig as an alarm because my usual alarm was either too low to be heard or loud enough to give me a migraine. 

An hour later, I was scrambling out of my car and locked it as I made my way through the parking lot. I had slept in for more than I had planned, not that it was unexpected, but still! I tied my hair tightly and left my heels unbuckled for the office. I also wasn't confident that I didn't have a smudge of dried toothpaste at the corner of my mouth, but that was the least of my worries.

"Alex!" My best friend, Luis, called excitedly as she ran towards me before I could walk passed the revolving doors. Her light black hair was in a neat bun and unlike me, who was struggling to get myself together, she was looking presentable and calm.

"Hey, Luis. How are you?" I greeted without stopping and she walked along with me.

"I'm okay. You know, for a moment I thought that you wouldn't be able to come. You're unusually late."

Says the woman who made me binge watch Riverdale last night. 

"I couldn't hear my alarm," I lied.

"Again? What happened to your little wrist toy thingy?"

Desperately wanting to change the subject, I said, "Let's go inside. It's really cold today."

She nodded slowly while giving me a once-over. "Your hair needs a brush and you barely have your shoes on. Why didn't you fix yourself up in your car?"

"No time." No sooner had we walked passed the doors, than she held my arm and steered me into the opposite direction. "Uhm... my office is that way, Luis."

"I know but let's go fix you up in the bathroom. You're the Personal Assistant to the CEO of this company, the least you can do is look presentable."

"I'm always presentable. Today wasn't intentional," I defended as she quickly began to brush my hair after we had entered the bathroom.

"It's funny how you can set up a successful business meeting yet fail to do trivial personal tasks at times." I smiled as she patted my head and she continued, "For a twenty-six year old woman, you're such a child."

"I can't help it," I said, wincing when she practically tore through a knot of hair. "I'm used to taking care of others and please, have mercy on my scalp." 

She rolled her eyes. "Of course. Look at the time." She put the hairbrush back in her handbag and sighed. "I'm sure that you have your shoe issue covered so, I'll be on my way." 

With that, she walked out of the bathroom, leaving me to mumble, "See you at lunch," to myself while buckling the straps on my shoes. She probably had already began her work so, I was grateful that she made time to help me out.

I walked out and after waiting for a few minutes, I entered an elevator. I worked on the highest floor of the building and was the P.A of Mr. Daniel Clarkson. A sixy-two year old billionaire who owned this company amongst many others. I loved my job and enjoyed being seen as an asset by the boss because of my efficiency. Despite my hearing problem, Mr. Clarkson didn't treat me differently from the others and for that, I was extremely grateful. 

Inside the elevator were two men who were engaged in a conversation. I stood at a corner to avoid being noticed but one man turned to me after a while.

"Have you heard? Th.... Since it's kinda craz..... In the compa...... The boss' son didn't...... Immidiat....... Haha, right?" He whispered.

I blinked in confusion. "Excuse me?"

His eyes widened. "Oh, I forgot. You're the deaf girl," he said a little louder. "Nevermind." And he turned to continue talking to the other person.

My mood died down as I leaned on the cold metal and wished that I could become one with it and vanish. These people were only loud enough when they were saying hurtful things.

The deaf girl, huh?

When the elevator reached my floor, I quickly got out and made my way to my station which was in front - but at the side - of Mr. Clarkson's office door. I put my bag on the wooden table and sat down. Taking out my notepad, I made sure that I had everything well set on the boss' schedule for the day. He was in, so I knocked lightly on the door.

"Come on in," the rough voice replied and I felt a little sad for him as I did occasionally. He was getting old but had no successor.

Wait, what was the man in the elevator saying? The boss' son? Well, we had a lot of bosses and heads of departments but could it be this boss or another?

I got in and smiled at him. "Good morning, sir." 

He looked up from his computer and returned my smile. "Morning Ariana, you look younger. Did you dye your hair?"

"It's Alexia, sir," I corrected as politely as I could, "and my hair's always been like this." 

I had been working for him for four years and he still got my name wrong. It was either due to aging or he just didn't care. I didn't mind it though. I was getting paid very well so, he could call me Ariana for as long as he liked. 

"Sorry." He chuckled. "I keep on forgetting."

"I don't mind." Clearing my throat, I began, "This is your schedule for today. At nine a.m, you have a meeting with Betl-"

"Wait. Leave my schedule with me. I have another job for you today," he interrupted as he tapped the table, indicating that I should put the notepad there.

I rose a skeptical brow. "Yes?"

"My son, Michael, will be taking over next week," he lowered his voice and I didn't catch the last part that he mumbled. 

"Sorry but may you please repeat the last part?"

He nodded with an apologetic smile and said a little louder, "He's coming back from Portugal today. He's never been interested in the family business but he's my oldest son. Circumstances of him taking over are inevitable. I need you to throw a welcoming party for him this Saturday."

"Of course. What does he look like?"

"Well...." He scratched the back of his head in mild embarrasment. "I'm not very sure. I haven't seen him in twelve years."

As surprised as I was, I kept my composure. The last thing I wanted was for him to get uncomfortable but how was I supposed to know what he looked like when his own father didn't?

"Don't you have a picture somewhere?" I asked.

"I will ask my older brother. Michael has been living with him since his mother and I divorced. Anyway, the weekend is close and I hope that you'll throw something simple." His facial expression softened. "Something I remember vividly about him was that he hated being showy or overly classy."

"No problem, sir. I'll do my best to meet your standards." I hesitantly put the notepad next to his computer. "Are you sure that you're going to be okay alone?"

"I'll have someone else help me. You're the only one I trust with this party, Andrea."

"Yes.... Sir?" I asked in confusion.

Andrea? That was new. Well, I guess that I should at least give him a point for sticking to the first letter of my name. 

He smiled. "Go back to work and start the preparations as soon as you can. How much will you need? A couple of thousands? A million maybe?"

"That's not necessary, sir. You said that your son hates being showy, so it will just be a small get-together. I'll present the budget tomorrow."

He nodded. "Okay. Thanks a lot."

"No. Thank you." 

With his permission, I left the room with a small smile on my face as my bad mood cleared over. I was glad to be given an important job right off the bat and seeing how fondly he spoke of his son, it made me feel like I was doing something very special.