Alessia.
Did I? That was the question I had been trying to find an answer to for hours. All I had going for me was to wait and see if Mr Jerk would change his mind. "Is that a... No?" Isabel asked, her eyes scanning my face for any hint of the answer. "It's a maybe." "Maybe? That does not make me feel better in the slightest." "Me neither. But there's nothing else I can do." Isabel slumped on the sofa with a soft thud. "This sucks." Tell me about. My hands unknowingly found their way to my stomach and I patted it softly. I steeled my mind, there was no way I was going to make this baby suffer. My child was going to have the life I never could growing up and I would make sure of it. "So what are you going to do now? Oh and, did the other person get fired too?" Isabel suddenly said, breaking me away from my thoughts. "Oh, er, I'm sure they were. We were asked to leave the same time." I lied through my teeth. That man had me conjuring up imaginary people which made my blood boil. "Alessia?" Isabel crossed over to my side and gripped my hands in a gentle touch. "Everything will be fine somehow, you'll see." I really wish I could tell her that as time passed that seemed more and more like a lie. "Thank you," I said regardless. With nothing left to talk about, I went to my room and tried to "sleep". It was really just me laying and waiting for my mind to shut off which wasn't happening anytime soon. I rolled over to the left side of the bed and groaned before reaching for my phone. "It's just 10:00!" I dropped my phone and rubbed my tired hands over my face. Why couldn't I sleep? I was certainly tired enough. "It's all that Jerk's-" My phone's ringing stopped me mid complain and I glanced over at the screen. Who could be calling me at the hour? It couldn't be Xabier. An unknown private number flashed across the screen and with little hesistance, I picked it up. "Hello?" "You are to report to work tomorrow Alessia, bright and early too. I don't know if I made this clear to you before I left but I have no intention of firing you," Axel's smooth voice rolled through the phone and I gripped my sheets in surprise. "You? How did you get my number?" "Tsk, you ask such pointless questions. Why don't you try using the puny thing you have in your head hmm?" I would have chucked my phone across the room if I had the means to buy another because ending the call didn't seem like enough of a reaction. "Oh, and another thing. I won't tolerate you not showing me any respect from here on out. I'm you're superior and you'll address me as such. No more of that "you" business, is that clear?" Who did he think he was? I was off from work so he couldn't just command me whenever he felt like. Yet, I hated how I couldn't refuse him. I was riding on this job to survive. "Yes, I understand." "No, try again. Yes what?" What an insufferable man. "Yes Sir," I gritted out. The word tasted like ash in my mouth and I swallowed hard when I heard the rumbling of his chest through the phone. He sounded like he was trying to hold back a laugh. "Very good. See you tomorrow Alessia, and have not so sweet dreams. It's only what you deserve." The line went dead immediately and I had to content myself with glaring at the black screen. I didn't know it was possible to dislike a human being so much in such a short time but Axel existed. And he was testing my limits every time we had an encounter. I settled into bed again with new thoughts churning through my mind. I still had a job which was a good thing, but I would be naive to think that he wasn't getting something out of it by still keeping me around. I would have to tread carefully until I found something else to do because there was no way I could remain there with him breathing down my neck every day. And more importantly, I couldn't hide my pregnancy forever and if he found out, that's when I knew I would truly be done for. He would fight tooth and nail to get the child, and he would get it because he had so much more to offer. I would continue working there for no more than three months because I would start showing by then. I couldn't risk him even suspecting anything because if he got a whiff of it even after I had gone he would spare nothing to find me that time around. Sleep came to me in short successions but I managed just fine till day break. Tiredness still weighed on my bones but I had gotten the most amount of sleep I could while my mind was heavy. I really needed to start taking care of myself because that wasn't good for the baby. "Isabel, good news. I got a call from the office that I should report to work today. I'm not fired!" "Hmm, sorry what was that?" She rubbed her eyes and let out a long yawn and I chuckled. She always reminded me of a kitten any time she woke up. "I'm not fired." "You're not fired," she mumbled back then shrugged her shoulders. She turned away from me and took a few steps before she stopped. "You're not fired? You're not fired!" "I'm- oof!" She rushed to me and squeezed me in her arms, all the while rubbing her bird's nest hair on my face. "I can't believe this! This is great. What time is it? You need to leave early so let's get you ready." She pulled me back into my room and ushered me into the bathroom. Just before I closed the door, I saw her open and started rummaging through my closet. I smiled, a feeling of normalcy washed over me and I felt comforted. My mind however was steeled in what awaited me in that office. I just hoped I could survive it.Alessia.Isabel was a life saver, I thought, as I straightened the collar of my shirt. My neatly styled outfit spoke volumes and it didn't look like I had had five minutes to decide on what to wear.I exhaled slowly, my gaze fixed on the tall reflective building from the day before. I didn't know what it held for me but I was somewhat prepared to find out.The door let out a soft chime when I entered, and I was met with the sweet faced woman from yesterday. Her bleached blonde hair was pulled back in an impossibly tight bun while she offered me a sweet smile."Good morning," I greeted. "I'm Mr Martinez's new secretary," I explained and the woman's smile broadened."Yes I know. I was informed that you would be back today to start your job properly. If you don't remember, I told you your office would be on the 10th floor," she said and I smiled in return. I turned away from the desk but she stopped me."Here's a little welcoming gift, a token from the enterprise to new comers," she said
Alessia.A strangled sound left my lips immediately I was alone. What the hell?! I let out hot breaths through my nose while I glared at the closed door. I clenched my fists, but ultimately unclenched them because what more could I do? I needed this job and that damned jerk knew it too.I dragged myself over to the trolley of documents and decided to get started immediately. There was no way I was staying here past six, I wouldn't allow it.An hour in, i cursed while looking at the barely dented heap of files while having my tablet filled up."Isn't this supposed to be a multi million dollar enterprise? Why are they using so much paper anyways?" I muttered.And to top it off, he had dropped in thirty minutes before to let me know that I needed to enter it into the company's database. He had said all these was for "security", security my ass!I hadn't missed the way his lip tilted when he'd said it. All these orders were just to make my life difficult for being wrongly inseminated. It'
Alessia."Woah, what happened to you? And why are you home so late?" Isabel greeted me with questions at the door but I brushed passed her."Okay fine. Don't say anything yet," she commented as she closed the door. I collapsed on the couch and a drawn out sigh left my lips. I was beyond exhausted."Long day at work?" She asked, dropping down on the couch next to me, and I eyed her for a moment. It was my longest day at work, and I had just started the job, I wanted to tell her."Yep," I said instead.I didn't think it was possible for my body to ache from doing office work but here I was. I was glad Isabel didn't rush me into telling her what was going on because what would I have said? That I had a demonic boss who hated me and was intentionally doing everything possible to make my life difficult?I could tell her all these things but the biggest question I wanted to avoid would arise. Why? That was the million dollar question."Do we have any food?" I asked after a long while and I
Axel."Is there anything you wanted to ask me Winston?" I asked, glancing at my watch to make sure I stepped out at the right time. I flicked my eyes to the car mirror in time to catch my driver staring at me, his eyes bouncing from me to the office building."No Sir," he said hesitantly and I sat up, his response was to tense up in the process."Are you sure about that? Your eyes are asking a billion questions as it is."Winston was someone I allowed to interact with me often and I could say our relationship was slightly better than a strictly employer/ employee relationship.At my words, his shoulders relaxed a fraction. It didn't miss my notice that he'd been tensing up more often than usual, and I didn't need to think too much to know it was a response to my ever sour mood these days. My eyes narrowed at the office building where the cause of that sour mood currently decided. I would make her woke till her hands fell off."Sir?""Finally taking a leap of courage," I teased, and W
Alessia I could barely keep my eyes open as I went through the documents that were piled up on my desk. This was hell! I felt like a dignified slave rather than a personal assistant, hell even a slave got more free time than I do. I felt so drained and it felt like I might slump from exhaustion. Did he hate me that much? The amount of work I had to complete in a day was insane and I couldn’t even quit because this job was my only hope of saving up enough money to be able to lead a comfortable life and save up for my child. Gosh, I hated him. I felt like jumping off my seat when the door harshly swung open and I nearly rolled my eyes when Axel walked in but I had to put on a sweet smile and welcome him. I don’t know if it was my mind playing a trick on me but he looked unhappy when he looked at my “progress”. “I hope you’ve put the meeting plans together, because it’s in less than an hour.” My eyes twitched in irritation and I felt like hauling a stone at him as he smirked h
Alessia I stared at her, disbelief etched on my face. Who in their right mind would want to get anywhere near Axel right now? He was like a live grenade, just waiting to explode! She was fearless, I’d give her that maybe even a little reckless. But who was I to pass judgment? Part of me was bracing for Axel to hurl her across the room, yet he didn’t even look her way. His furious eyes were locked onto me, making my heart race. “Axel, what on earth is happening? Why are you shouting so early in the morning? Did she do something to set you off?” Her voice was sweet, a stark contrast to the storm brewing in the room, and I could almost feel the tension crackling in the air. She started to run her hands up and down his arm trying to soothe him and I felt like rolling my eyes. If she wanted to get touchy she should just drag him out of here why is she doing that shit right before me? “What the fuck are you staring at Alessia? Will you get the fucking papers or do I need to put you in
Alessia I took a moment to breathe deeply, trying to find a sense of calm as I made my way down the hallway. The last thing I wanted was to lose control and break down in tears right there in the office. Even though the floor was quiet, I couldn’t shake the anxiety that someone might walk in and witness my vulnerability. It’s such a tough position to be in, feeling overwhelmed yet trying to hold it all together.I felt suffocated! I rushed into the elevator and the more it descended the more workers piled in.The atmosphere in the building was stifling, almost like a prison, and I couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy for the other workers. Their vibrant energy filled the air as they bustled about in their cubicles, exchanging laughter and lively chatter. It was a stark contrast to my solitude, and I longed for the camaraderie they shared, the buzz of conversations sparking connections and igniting the day with a sense of community.As I strolled into the reception area, a surge
Alessia “You girls are truly unbelievable!” Hailey exclaimed.“Now that you've brought it up I also wonder if she is being a bitch because she is so pent up.”“Speaking from a place of experience, sexual frustration does make you bitchy and mean!”“Can you imagine being around such a hot man and not being able to do anything satisfactory?” “What do you mean by all that?” Ann jumped and I would have laughed at how frightened she looked by my appearance if I wasn't so curious to get the answer to my question. “I'm so sorry I scared you girls, I was sitting right there listening to you girls and I couldn't help but overhear you. I was so invested in what you were saying and it was honestly comforting because that “bitch” as you refer to her is the reason why I'm out here trying to cool down.” I said in one breath and they all looked reluctant. “I’m not a spy or anything ladies, I just want to listen to the full story. I'm intrigued and you do not leave such an interesting story unfin
ALESSIA I was screaming on the inside, willing Axel to just let me go. The car ride was tense and thick with silence, but I could still feel his gaze on me.It was unsettling. Not because it carried the usual frustration or barely contained anger he always directed at me but because it didn’t.His stare was different. It felt warm, almost comforting and I hated that it worked. That it soothed me in a way I hadn’t expected.His glances calmed my nerves but no amount of silent reassurance could erase what had happened earlier.I could not forget the laughter, the humiliation, and the cruel words that clung to me like a second skin. The memory was still fresh in my mind and it made my chest tighten.I swear I could still feel the cold floor beneath me and Sofia’s taunting words.I never wanted to go through that again.The car slowed before coming to a full stop in front of a massive black gate. My breath hitched as a guard moved to pull it open, revealing a mansion that looked like som
AlessiaSofia walked away and left me splat on the cold tiled floor. My palms stung from the impact, but I barely felt it over the humiliation sinking its claws into me. I couldn’t bring myself to look up, I already knew what I’d see. There would be hundreds of eyes laid on me, watching with amusement and cold judgment. It felt like I was frozen in place as my heart started beating erratically in my chest. I felt like I couldn’t breathe anymore, the air felt thick and suffocating. Whispers slithered through the crowd, each word cutting deeper than the last.“Poor girl.”“She must be dying of embarrassment.”“Why would she wear heels she clearly can’t walk in?”“If that were me, I’d rather disappear.”“Best entertainment of the night.”I clenched my fists, nails digging into my palms.I was dying of shame and embarrassment. How could I have been so stupid? I wished for the floor to open and swallow me whole. I should have seen this coming. I should have expected Sofia to pull somethi
Alessia I picked up a glass of cocktail from a waiter's tray and my eyes sparkled as the rich taste enveloped my senses. It left a refreshing feeling in its wake and I regretted not grabbing it from the beginning. It would have made all those boring talks more enjoyable for me.It didn’t matter at this point but this was the highlight of my night. I walked to a less crowded spot in the hall and leaned against the pillar as I took slow sips of my drink.My eyes flickered around the hall and I found myself enjoying the music as I gently swayed with my drink in hand. It felt liberating to be away from all those suffocating people and most especially Axel. “Are you celebrating because you think you’ve won?” My movements seized. I turned slowly, my gaze landing on Sofia, her face was twisted into a nasty scowl and I grimaced as she stalked forward. She glared at me like I had just ripped her favorite toy out of her hands, her eyes burning with pure venom.Seriously?I exhaled, pinchi
Alessia This was a drag.I knew I shouldn’t have come.Soft instrumental music played in the background, blending with the low murmur of conversation and the occasional clink of champagne glasses. Waiters in crisp black suits moved effortlessly between guests, offering trays of finely crafted cocktails, champagne, and sparkling wine. Everything was elegant and yet I found it completely unappealing.This wasn’t my kind of gathering, and my patience was wearing thin. Axel kept dragging me from one conversation to another, introducing me to clients, sealing deals over laughter and small talk that meant nothing. I stood there, nodding along, forcing a polite smile that barely masked my boredom.My eyes wandered over the crowd. With a single look one could tell they were people that held great power and influence, all dressed to impress. Sharp suits, glittering gowns and shimmering jewelry accompanied by empty laughter was flying around the hall as they repeated the same conversations abo
AxelWhat was happening? Why does this seem like a never-ending circle? It looked like the more I tried to bury my desires the more they grew and It was getting on my nerves. I was always in control, always the one calling the shots and making sure everything was in check. So why was it that the moment she stepped into the room, all of that slipped through my fingers like smoke?It scared me. She had a hold over me and I feared the outcome.I wasn’t used to feeling like a third wheel in my own body, my reactions were no longer mine to control and that was exactly what was happening at this exact moment. I couldn’t take my eyes off her. It felt like I was in a daze and my entire senses had been bewitched by her as her sweet scent filled the car, it stirred something deep within me. My pulse started to quicken and my thoughts were all over the place as I took in her elegant appearance. Her beautiful black gown looked like a second skin as it hugged her body perfectly and my eyes dar
Alessia “You are so mean! Why won’t you just let me enjoy my junk food in peace?” I whined, glaring at Isabel as she dropped a plate of salad and a glass of water in front of me like some kind of prison warden.She didn’t even flinch. Instead, she gave me that unimpressed, deadpan look that made me feel like an actual child.“What am I, a rabbit? Why are you treating me like this? I swear, I should sue you for feeding me nothing but grass.” I pouted dramatically, hoping she’d take pity on me, but she just shook her head in amusement and bit into her apple.“Stop whining like a baby and eat,” she said, completely unaffected by my suffering. “You need all the nutrients you can get, and as long as I’m around, I’ll make sure you eat healthy.”That last part made my heart do a little flip. She cared so much about my well-being. Annoyingly so, but still.I picked at the salad with my fork and narrowed my eyes at her. “And what about you? Don’t you need to eat healthy too? It’s not fair tha
Alessia “You look beat,” Isabel remarked, eyeing me with amusement as she relaxed on the couch. I rolled my eyes as I slipped off my shoes, placing them neatly on the rack. “Says the girl hiding dark circles under layers of concealer,” I shot back.She playfully glared at me, but before she could respond, I walked over and slumped against her, letting out an exaggerated sigh of exhaustion.She let out a dramatic groan. “You’re heavy! What have you been eating? Get off before you suffocate me and my precious Godchild.”I laughed but only made myself more comfortable. “Oh, please. You’re twice my size. I’m sure you can handle it.”She gasped, hand flying to her chest. “The audacity! We have the same body size!” We both started laughing and I felt all the stress leaving me as I cuddled up to her. She slowly started to run her hands through my hair and we both fell into a comfortable silence. Her touch felt comforting and I hummed as I enjoyed the sensation of her fingers slowly massa
Alessia I felt like I would blackout and fall flat on my face as I sat up on the bed. It felt like I had been run over by a truck as I struggled to keep my eyes open.I felt sharp pains as my head throbbed. It felt like someone was banging war drums and every movement I made sent a jolt of pain through my body.I tried to stand up and a pained moan left my lips as I gently rested my head back on the headboard. There was no way I would be able to do anything if I felt so sick. I cannot afford to be late, Axel would have my head if I did. I groaned in annoyance as I thought about all the workload he would throw at me once I got it the office. I cannot bear for him to make my life even more miserable than it was already. With the last bit of strength I had left I slowly stood on my feet and opened the bedside drawer. I popped my medications and Advil into my mouth as I quickly gulped water to push it down. “I'm a strong woman, I can overcome this.” I muttered under my breath as I dra
AxelI was livid. “What do you mean by she is not in the office?” I angrily yelled into the phone.“She has not shown up today sir, There is no record of her signing in or out.” Hailey replied and I angrily growled as I slammed the phone back in its place. What gave her the impression that she could neglect her work post? I have been in the office for over twenty minutes and there was still no sign of Alessia. Was she crazy? Did she suddenly think she was free to do whatever she wanted just because I helped her?If she was thinking about taking advantage of my kindness then she had another thing coming. “Good morning sir, may I come in?” I heard a deep voice and my eyes snapped to the door as I recalled that I was expecting Jordan to show up with the monthly reports. “Come in.” “Good morning sir, I have personally compiled everything into two different parts as you have instructed.” I gave him a nod of acknowledgement as I stretched my hand for the file. My eyes scanned the fi