Chapter 10

Working on paperwork with back aches and your hair almost pulled out does not happen everyday but since I knew Garrett,I have gotten used to the pain.

I buried myself in my work that I didn't realise it was closing hours.

‘Hey babe,’ looking up I saw Jasmine strolling towards me.

‘Hi, you're leaving?’ I asked reaching for my watch.

‘yeah.’ Seeing that I wasn't getting up ready to leave she asked.

‘you're staying overnight?’

‘no I just want to finish these papers before leaving.’ I mumbled.

‘It's Friday night and I have a blind date today. So I have to leave now.’ She was blushing.

That made me ignore my work a bit to concentrate on her.

‘a blind date? Who arranged it? Your mom?’ I was eager to hear the spicy juice.

Jasmine unlike me comes from a well to do family. They are not entirely rich but they are not suffering.

‘no an Aunt’ she paused ‘he is a lawyer.’

Oh my.

‘aww that's so nice. You going on a date made me remember Tommy.’ I said showing her my thirty-two teeth.

‘Ohhh don't even remind me.’ She groaned.

Tommy was a young guy she met on one of her dates. He told her he was a medical doctor and Jasmine being Jasmine fell in love instantly.

They spoke together on phone almost all day. But at night she don't call him because he claimed that he always worked night duty in the emergency room.

One certain time, we went out to club after a very stressful Friday at work to ease our stress.

Jasmine kept on staring at the counter. I got concerned at decided to find out what she was seeing. Turned out her supposed doctor boyfriend was an attendant in Club Emergency.

When he came to serve us drinks he had the guts to smile at Jasmine fondly.

Turned out that he was free all day and his so called duty in the emergency room was as a waiter at Club Emergency.

All I can remember is her slapping him and calling the policesaying she was duped.

Jasmine was a person who was actually very concerned with her partner’s occupation.

But considering her taste in guys, the only guys who approach her don't have decent jobs. A cleaner once asked her out? She said no. Then a driver asked for her number and when the third guy a sales boy asked her out, Jasmine couldn't take it anymore she screamed the bonkers at him.

Since the guy for the blind date is a lawyer I can imagine her joy.

‘and don't worry according to my sources he is nothing like Tommy that slimy snake.’

She was grinning from ear to ear.

‘now off you go. You wouldn't want to be late for your date. ‘ I got up while reaching for her shoulders and pushing her to the door.

‘yeah yeah mama.’ She replied allowing herself to be pushed.

I opened the door and pushed her through.

‘make sure you hook that dude and give me the spicy juice later.’ I called after her departing figure.

She gave me the okay sign and wave wordlessly before getting into her car.

I went back to my work when I heard a ping from my phone.

A message from my boss.

‘we have a meeting. Come to my office asap.’

I thought you wanted professional sir.

‘I am going to show him professional’ I murmured to myself.

Without replying I sat down to continue my work.

It was about thirty minutes later I heard the door connecting my his office and mine open with so much force.

Or rather tried to open.

I turned to find my boss pull the door handle but the door was not ready to cooperate.

This was getting interesting all I need right now is a popcorn to enjoy this sight. My boss versus the door.

Speaking of sights why was he glaring at me with those coldkiller eyes.

His fists folded and he pounded on the glass wall. His eyes getting colder every minute.

I had to turn away from the very interesting and rare sight of my boss getting angry.

Why look at me?

It wasn't my fault you locked yourself in.

Then it hit me.

The realisation of what I had just done. I locked that door. I didn't open the door when I locked him in while Sabrina came to the office.

I got up with shaky legs, pulled the keys from my drawers.

As I walked towards him I tried to maintain a taut face but it wasn't working. I couldn't hid my giggles.

I inserted the key and turned it opened.

Payback successful.

‘You know sir, you should have used your spare key.’ Whatever it was that possessed me to say that I still don't know.

Immediately the door was opened, he pushed me all the way back to my desk and pinned me in between his arms.

‘You know, you shouldn't be naughty if you can't handle it.’ His eyes were dark.

‘I wasn't being naughty I genuinely forgot I locked you in.’ I replied in a shaky voice.

‘oh really.?’ He drawled it was obvious that he didn't believe me.

‘yes. You called me and threatened to fire me if I don't stop your crazy ex from getting into your office. I had to lock it so she won't enter only to have my hair pulled after I had hit my back in your office.’ The words were out of my mouth before I realised what I had said.

For a moment I saw hurt in his eyes but it vanished immediately.

‘You let a crazy woman pull your hair. How's that my fault?’ He asked with his arms still caging me in.

So much for being professional.

‘how about you ask your crazy girlfriend to stay in her leash.’ I asked staring at him directly in that cold dark eyes.

He kept on staring at me before releasing me from the cage he had formed with his hands.

‘why didn't you come for the meeting?’ He asked.

So there really was a meeting.

‘My back was broken sir. I wonder why? Perhaps I fell without realising.’

I almost bit my own tongue.

What the hell am I saying!

‘I apologize Miss Amaris for what happened earlier.’ He straightened up with hands in his pocket.

I wonder what exactly he was apologizing for.

The kiss or the fall?

I nodded.

‘Get ready you note and pen. The meeting begins in two minutes.’ He strolled to his office.

‘just the two of us sir?’ I asked for clarity sake.

‘no. Some people will join us online it's a conference meeting.’

I grabbed my pen and notebook before running him.

As I entered the office, memories of what had happened the noon flooded my mind making me flush.

You wanted to be professional Lorie. Get a grip.

I sat down and the meeting started immediately.

‘In order to purchase the company, we need to go global. And for us to go global we need branches in different countries of the world. The first branch will be opened by next month in Dubai. Then we will extend our merchandise to Asia and to some countries in Africa. Miss Amaris, when are we meeting the manager of the company we are purchasing?’

‘we will be meeting on Monday sir.’

‘have you scheduled the place and the plane tickets?’ He asked while tapping on his IPad.

‘yes sir. We will be leaving for Dubai on Sunday sir.’

‘Mr Hardin sir, don't you think opening an international Brandon Dubai is far fetched considering you are new in the office and the funds involved in the project?’ one of our managers Mr Andrews asked via online.

‘what's your name?’ my boss asked.

‘sir I was just trying to..’

‘trying to question my ability. What is your name?’ He asked again his voice was cold but not as his eyes.

‘My.. my name is Li.. Li.. Linton An.. Andrews sir.’ The man began to stutter.

‘Good Miss Amaris take note.’

‘sure sir.’ I wondered what he was doing.

‘so Mr Andrews, why do you think we will fail when we go global?’ my boss asked.

The man's face was becoming too red. Like tomato red.

‘sir that's not what I meant.’ I was beginning to feel bad for him. I mean he was almost as red as a tomato.

‘oh please do enlighten me Mr Linton’

‘I was only being considerate of the time sir. I was thinking we were moving a bit too fast. I mean it's only being a week since you entered the office.’ Mr Andrews was either too brave or extremely stupid.

Bet it's the latter.

‘Oh I see.’

‘moreover sir since we have been here for quite some time now and you are new to the business world considering that you are young I believe it's our duty to guide you. we can help you when making decisions.’ Mr Andrews was definitely stupid.

Gasps from other people online filled the room but our very dear Mr Andrews ignored them.

I wondered if he was even looking at Asher’s eyes.

I still admired his courage though.

Standing up to Asher was not something that anyone could do.

His voice alone carries authority. “That superiority that screams obey me or else I will tame your hide no matter how old you are” kind of authority.

His eyes always screams “if you talk to me I will crush you”.

It was wise to steer clear of such a person.

‘how nice of you Mr Dew.’ My boss eyes were glittering with crazy excitement.

‘it's Andrews sir.’ Mr Andrews smiled.

‘who else supports Mr Dew?’ He asked ignoring the him.

I thought I saw Mr Andrews roll his eyes.

Maybe he had something in it.

Just maybe.

‘I spent five years oversees to study business management. I did my masters in Harvard and I spent all my life working alongside my father despite having a personal business coach and you tell me I am not competent enough? How nice of you to notice.’ His smile was getting weird. ‘who else supports Mr Dew?’ He asked again.

No one responded.

‘Good. Miss Amaris we will proceed as planned.’ He added.

‘yes sir.’ I nodded.

‘but sir..’ Mr Andrews was saying.

‘meeting is over.’ He said getting up. ‘and Mr Dew, send in your resignation letter via text or email don't bother coming in tomorrow. You are fired.’

He walked out of the room.

The temptation to see the look on Mr Andrews face was too much to overcome.

So I yielded.

He was red earlier but now I wonder where all the blood in his face had gone.

His face was ashen.

He should have seen this coming.

The rest executives were busy doing what only they know while Mr Andrews search their face for supports.

‘You can't allow him do this!’

Oh I can.

I ended the conference call before grabbing my things and leaving the office.

When I got outside I saw him sitting on my chair with His head on his palms.

Poor man. The executives were not on his side.

But I am on his side.

I know he was cold and rude but I don't believe he does anything of great importance rashly. Perhaps he must have spent months thinking about this before implementing it. At least I have worked with him and he doesn't seem like who does things without thinking.

‘hmm Mr Hardin sir?’

He looked up at me.

‘I trust you. I believe you know what you are doing and I know You can do it.’

The side of his lips lifted up a bit. A very tiny bit.

My Boss attempted to smile!

But it vanished as soon as it appeared.

It was replaced with another kind of emotion.

Anger mixed with Hatred.

I don't think this was in anyway connected to Mr Andrews

And I don't think I’m going to like what's coming.

‘Go get yourself a dress. Henry has invited us to a party. He signed a successful deal. We have a party to attend.’