Chapter 7: Back to reality

From her first year in college and until she graduated,

all Danielle did was work and study. Even though she was busy in school and in

her work as a service crew, she still managed to do stories for the

publication  she was hired as an

author/writer.

She didn't expect that her books would become famous

internationally speaking. She just wanted to enjoy herself while making money

out of it. When she graduated, she was asked to be a full time worker in Greenwich

but she refused and she just finished her contract with them.

Unfortunately, when she tried to take her board

exam  as a teacher, she failed. But she

didn't lose hope. She went to find a new job around the city and she was lined

up in becoming a personal assistant of a CEO. The company was being managed by

Anthony Gregor.

Rumours says that the CEO was a really stubborn person

and really hard to deal with. His temper was quite unexplainable. He never

smiles to anyone in the company.

Hearing the fuss, Danielle was still determined to

take the job. When it was her turn for the interview, she gasped and prayed

before entering the office of the CEO.

“ Miss Artates, please follow me.” The female

personnel lead her to the CEO office. She straightened her posture and followed

the female personnel who was in charge of calling the applicants.

As the female personnel opened the door, a magnificent

view of the office made Danielle fascinated. It was like she was entering a

royalties room. The wall was painted in silver and black.

The sofa at the side looked so elegant and expensive.

There was a three dimensional chandelier on the ceiling. But there were no

pictures nor no certificate or trophies displayed in the room. The atmosphere

in that room seemed gloomy somehow.

“ Sir, the new applicant is here. “ The female

personnel announced and then she turned her back and left the room when she

received a go signal from her boss.

A man about 6’ 1” tall, very masculine and quite a

bachelor look appeared to her when he turned to take a look at her.

“ What's your name?” The CEO asked directly.

Hearing his deep voice, Danielle alerted herself. “ My

name is Danielle Artates, Sir.”

“ Take a seat , Miss Artates.  Can you do cleaning? Cooking and doing

business works? “ Anthony looked at her like an arrogant  beast.

Danielle was sitting in front of him in his desk.”

Yes, Sir. I can do anything you wish as long as it doesn't go beyond my

boundaries. “

Anthony scanned her profile from the folder that he

was holding.

“ I see that you have experience in work in Greenwich.

But I don't need a cleaner here. What I need is someone I could trust? If I ask

you to kill someone for me, will you do that?” Anthony had an eye of a hook

ready to attack when he asked her that question.

Shock filled Danielle's mind for a brief moment. She

clasped her fist and met Anthony's eyes with full of courage. “ I can beat

anyone  if my boss needs but i can't kill

people. I think you should have changed the character preference for the job,

Sir. I think what you need is a body guard and not a personal assistant. “

“Hmmm.... Very clever! I'm impress by your bravery,

Miss Artates. It looks like you are the one fitted in this job. You're  hired.” Anthony announced deliberately. He

had a mocking face though. His eyes were glaring like fire. He was intimidated

by her words.

No one had ever dare speak and look at him like what

Danielle did. He looked at Danielle with interest. “ Here's the contract. “

Feeling her heart skipped a beat, Danielle grabbed the

contract and read it first. She scanned the content of the contract while

Anthony was also observing her every move.

This woman seems ordinary but there is something in

her that attracted me. I never felt interested to know more about someone. She must

be hiding something from me. Maybe she came here to spy on my business. Anthony

thought as he's eyes were directly focused on Danielle.

“ What's taking you so long to read that contract? “

Anthony burst in anger.

He showed his temper for the first time in front of

Danielle.

But as expected from Danielle, she just ignored the bad

behaviour of Anthony and she smiled as she took out her pen from her bag and

signed the contract. She gave it to him after.

“ Is it okay if I have a photo copy of the contract,

Sir?” Danielle asked permission from him.

“ Sure! I don't 

mind. You can start working now if you want because I really need an

assistant right now!” Anthony demanded.

“ What do you want me to do now, Sir?” Danielle asked

innocently.

Anthony dialled the intercom and asked someone to come

in his office. After a few minutes, the female personnel who assisted her a

while ago came in rushing.

“ This is Miss Hannah, she's my secretary and she'll

be in charge of all what you needed to know about work.” Anthony introduced the

female personnel to Danielle.” Miss Hannah meet my new personal assistant, Miss

Artates. “ He glanced at Danielle.

Hannah smiled to Danielle and they shake hands.

Danielle smiled too.

“ Will you please go out now? And go to work.”

Anthony's voice raised as he commanded them.

“ Okay, Sir!” Hannah replied .

Danielle and Hannah went out of the office silently.

There was tension already rising in Danielle’s mind. No wonder everyone is

afraid  of him. She thought.

“ Miss Artates, your desk is beside mine. I'll give

you a tour around the building first so that you’ll be familiar with everyone

too.” Hannah was wearing big glasses but she still looked elegant and beautiful

in her business suit.

“ Please do call me, Danielle.

It's too formal when you call me Miss Artates.

“ Danielle said with a pleasing look on her face.

“ Sure. Then, call me Hannah. We could be friends. If

you need anything, just call me. It give you my number. “ Hannah was happy to

be with her.

“ Thank you so much. You're the first person here that

I have encountered and you're the first friend I met here too. I'm so excited

to work now.” Danielle giggled in excitement.

Suddenly, Hannah faced her and she looked a little

worried. “ Danielle, please be careful whenever you're with our boss. He can

really be so mean but deep inside, he's really a good person.”

Danielle patted Hannah's shoulder to make her feel

at  ease. “ Don't worry. I will! I don't

go up so easily in any challenges I face.”

Full of confidence with her capabilities, Danielle swore

that she won't be beaten easily by anyone. Then, they continued walking around

the hallway and introducing her by Hannah to their fellow  workers.

Afterwards,

Hannah gave her instructions on what to do as the CEO's personal assistant. She

explained everything very well. She told her the Do's and Don'ts to avoid making

the CEO burst in anger.

Danielle noted every details that Hannah just

mentioned. They went into their designated table and began to do their work. Danielle's

daily routine is more complex than of the regular workers. She began to

classify the folders that Hannah gave her that is needed in the conference

later that afternoon.

At first, Danielle was a little nervous but as time

passes, she felt comfortable in her work. She was enjoying everything she was

doing.

“Wow! You learn so fast! I'm quite impress.” Hannah

was amazed that in less than a few minutes, Danielle had already finished

classifying the folders and even printed some files on her computer.

“ Thanks for the compliment.” Danielle smiled happily.

“ Keep up the good work, my dear.” Hannah made a

thumbs up for her job well done.

At 3 o'clock in the afternoon, Hannah and Danielle

went first in the conference room. Danielle was assigned to scan the

president's seat if it is clean or not. She wiped the

President's chair with a clean wet cloth and then

a dry cloth just to make it thoroughly clean.

Now, it's time for her to leave Hannah alone in the

conference room while she opens the door and walked towards the CEO's office.

When she was in front of the door of their CEO's

office, she took a deep breath first before knocking on the door.

“ Who is it?” Anthony's voice was so loud that she can

clearly hear him outside.

“ Sir, It's me. Danielle!”

“ Come in!” Anthony gave her permission before

entering his office.

Danielle opened the door and went inside. She closed

the door quietly too upon entering.

“ Sir, you have a meeting at around 3:30 pm today.”

Danielle was holding a note.

“ Come here. Help me with my things.” Anthony

commanded. His voice was calm and very soothing to the Danielle's ears.

Without any hesitation, Danielle went closer to him

and took his briefcase. They went outside the office together. She was silently

walking along with him into the conference room.

Immediately, Danielle acted to open the door for him.

She remembered everything that Hannah instructed her.

With a proud look, Anthony entered the conference

room.

“ Good afternoon, Sir!” Everyone in the conference

room greeted in chorus. They all stood up to greet him.

“ Good afternoon!” Anthony continued walking towards

his seat.

In a rush, Danielle grabbed his seat to let him sit on

it. Anthony quietly sat while Danielle remained standing next to him. She

placed his briefcase at his side.

“ Let’s start the meeting. Shall we?” Anthony looked

at his subordinates intently.

Then, they started the meeting. Danielle take notes of

the meeting while she was standing. It took the meeting for almost three hours

before it ended. Danielle felt a little uncomfortable but she remained

composed.

“ So that's it for today. I'll look forward into the

good outcome. You may all go now!” Anthony dismissed his subordinates.

Hannah was fixing her eye glasses while fixing the

files she was assigned to. Danielle tried to help her carry the files because

it looked so heavy.

“ Come on. Let me help you!” Danielle whispered to

Hannah.

“ Thanks!” Hannah was grateful for her kindness. She

let her help her carry the files.

“ Don't worry about my things. I can do it myself. “

Anthony took his briefcase and went ahead of them.

Hannah and Danielle looked at each other and smiled.

“ I told you he's

a good person!” Hannah bumped her elbow  to Danielle.

“ Shhh....” Danielle signalled Hannah to stop talking

by putting one of her fingers on her lips.

Hannah closed her lips but they were still giggling.

Anthony got irritated by hearing them but felt a little proud about the

compliment he heard from Hannah.

It was already 7 pm when their work was finished.

“ Do you have a car?” Hannah glanced at her when they

were inside the elevator with their boss along with them and two bodyguards.

“ No. I’ll just commute.” Danielle whispered to

Hannah.

Anthony heard their whisperings. He was not annoyed

but kept a formal look as he stands in front of them. As the door of the

elevator opened, Anthony with his bodyguards came out first while the two

ladies were just right behind them.

“ Goodbye, Sir!” Hannah glanced at their boss when she

was about to go near her own car.” Good bye, Danielle! See you tomorrow!”

“ Good bye! Drive safely.” Danielle waved her hand

when Hannah turned her back and got inside her car.

Anthony's car stopped in front of them. He glanced at

her. “ It's already late. We'll send you home. I don't accept “ No" for an

answer.  So get in.”

Danielle gulped. She wanted to refuse but he gave

already a warning tone. She obeyed and went inside the car. Anthony followed.

“ Let’s send her to her place first before going home.”

He said to his driver. “ Where can we drop you?” He glanced at Danielle.

“ Just near Edna's boarding house in front of the

University of Northern Philippines, Sir.”

They seated near each other and Danielle was getting

nervous. Her hands were getting colder and colder. She bit her lower lips and

bowed her head to hide her embarrassment. This is the first time she went

inside a man's car. She thought it was not proper but he left him with no

choice. She kept her distance from him.

Anthony felt the tension between them. “ Am I making

you feel uncomfortable?  Don't worry. I'm

not going to do anything bad. So chillax, will you?”

But Danielle can't help it. They were so close. She

tried to answer back. “ Yes, Sir.” She choked as if she wanted to clear her

throat. She face the car window and leaned her back a bit.

Suddenly, her phone rang. She opened  her bag and took out her phone in it.

“ Hello?” She lowered her voice as if she was disturbing

someone if she speak out loud.

“ Danielle, it's me.” A voice from the other line of

the phone seemed very scared. Her voice was shaking.

“ Jenny, Can I just call you when I get home? I'm with

my boss. Later, okay? Bye!” Danielle hang up her phone immediately without

hearing out Jenny's reply.

Anthony wasn't bothered at all. He was silent all throughout

the ride until they finally reached her place.

“ Thank you, Sir and good night!”

Danielle step out of the car.

“ You're welcome. See you tomorrow, Miss Artates. “

Anthony was leaning at the open car window while

talking to her. Then he slide up the glass window of the car when the car

engine started.

Danielle smiled and waved her hand. When the car

disappeared from her sight, she walked towards the dark  side ways going to her boarding house. She used

her phone's flashlight so that she ca see her way in.