New Boss

Zelda

“Thank you,” I muttered as I stepped out of the truck.

“Pleasure is all mine munchkin.” He smiled.

Munchkin? Seriously?

He’s gone into daddy mode. Already?

I scoffed inwardly and shook my head as I turned to leave. Taking another look at my wristwatch, I sighed in exasperation as I stepped inside the store.

I was thirty minutes late. I just hope that Randolph leaves some crumbs from my brain after chewing on it. I could survive on that.

“If it isn’t princess Zelda.”

Randolph was right at the door as I stepped in. He seemed to be waiting there for me.

“I had a fever,” I lied.

Without waiting for him to speak further, I went into the changing room to change into my work suit. It was a yellow polo shirt with the store’s logo written boldly on it.

“Oh really?” Randolph was right behind me, manning the door. “I’m so lucky to have you here right now,” he gasped dramatically.

I rolled my eyes and smacked my lips. The man is one hell of a drama king.

“I’m fine now,” I said as I stepped out.

“Hmm,” he checked me out and came closer to whisper, “Corona?”

“What?” I jumped. “No way!”

“Okay,” he shrugged. “Just making sure.”

If anyone caught the virus, it would be you. I mumbled.

“Did you say something?” Randolph looked back.

I shook my head and feigned a serious look.

“The new manager is resuming today,” he began. “I want you to cooperate with him and be on your best behaviour, Zel.” Randolph handed me the keys and left.

“What did he say?” Gina whispered as I arrived at the desk.

Gina is a twenty-two-year-old single mother. And my workmate.

I’ve known her for five months and she’s been nothing but sweet. Except sweet don’t work for me.

All she wants is to work and save up so she can take care of her daughter.

“Uh… Something about a new manager." I shrugged. "Heard that before?”

Gina squeezed her face, shook her head and cussed.

“As if old Randolph isn’t enough. Now, we'd get another one? Urgh.”

I smiled and tapped her shoulder.

“Let’s just hope this one whines less than Randolph.”

“Randolph is a whiner, he’ll definitely bring a senior whiner for the….”

“Shh,” I silenced her as I noticed that a customer was approaching.

“Hello. Can I have a hamburger with cappuccino?” A middle-aged woman with the voice of a rooster ordered.

“Sure ma’am,” I picked her order and passed it to her.

I raised my head as there was a sudden noise coming from the front door. I looked in the direction of the noise and wondered what was happening.

“I’ll go see,” Gina was off in an instant.

She returned with a pout on her face. She was angry.

“What happened?” I asked, but before she could respond, I heard that voice again.

“You’re here to work, not gossip.” That divine baritone was right here.

No. It possibly can’t be. It’s probably my imagination.

I mean, why would Drake come back here? I saw him leave earlier and I didn’t leave anything behind in the car.

“I wasn’t gossiping, I only wanted to know what the noise was about.” Gina replied in her defense.

“The door isn’t where you were hired to be. You should’ve let security handle that,” Drake stated firmly.

Seriously?

Is he always so blunt? I didn’t notice that before.

Well, I didn’t notice anything about him except his extraordinary beauty. I was too busy gawking at him to notice other traits.

Why is he here anyway?

As if to answer my question, Randolph came out and let out a loud chuckle as he noticed Drake.

“Welcome.”

Randolph put forth his hand for a handshake, but Drake just stared at the hand and stood unbothered with both his hands in his pocket.

He’s full of himself too.

“Thank you, Randolph,” he replied.

Oh, that voice.

“The place is yours to control, with or without my presence.” Randolph pointed at the corner of the store.

What?

His to control? What is Randolph saying?

Drake has only just arrived in Silvertail. He hasn’t been here for twenty-four hours and he’s already the manager of Rand Store?

“This here is Gina,” Randolph pointed at us, respectively. “And Zelda. They handle the desk.

“The place needs a lot of adjustments,” Drake moved forward to take a proper look at the store. “And the people here need proper orientation.”

Randolph closed his mouth and eyed me.

“I didn’t do anything,” I mouthed, and he frowned.

Guess he thinks it’s my fault that Drake is all fuzzy. I wish I could tell him that the guy is just naturally an ass.

He doesn’t look like it, but acts like it.

“It’s yours to handle now. You can do as you please.”

If I didn’t hear it properly at first, I hear it clearly now. Randolph literally just gave the leadership and ownership of his store to Drake.

How did that happen?

“Of course. I’ll bring it to order," Drake sounded sure.

He is narcissistic too.

A bad combo for a stud like him.

As if the conversation wasn’t loud enough for us to hear, Randolph stood before the desk and pointed at Drake. He was smiling foolishly like he was staring at his idol.

“Girls, this is Mr. Drake, the new manager.”

Mr. Drake? Really?

“Welcome aboard,” Gina and I spoke in unison.

“Howdy girls.” He flashed that genial smile again, making me want to….

Oh no.

Something is wrong with my head. What the hell am I even thinking?

“He’s hot!” Gina gasped, stunning me.

Wasn’t she furious earlier? She even cussed at him and now she’s fawning?

“Are you serious?”

She already understood why I said that and she shrugged, “All is forgiven.”

“Oh, I see.” I muttered as my eyes caught Drake’s.

He was staring at me.

I looked away and returned to attending to customers and Drake also left, heading towards his new office.

However, the table phone suddenly rang. Gina answered it, but immediately passed it to me.

“It’s for you.”

I placed the receiver on my ear and was immediately hit by that divine voice as he said, “Munchkin, can I have you here in my office?”

I took a long pause and contemplated declining, but his tone became all bossy as he yelled, “... .Now!”