7. Meeting the C.E.O

I am in shock. I am riddled with shock. I can't even move my feet further.

My mouth falls open at the sight before me. When I inputted the address of Double H Tech into my GPS, I didn't think it would take me to this place.

Heather told me they were big, but they aren't big. They are huge. I can't even try to guess the number of floors in the building, but I know it is over twenty, and it isn't just a square building. It is curved so it is U-shaped.

"Close your mouth. You'll attract flies."

I snap my mouth shut, looking beside me, my eyes falling on a woman the same height as me. When I take her form in though, I realize her heels are a lot higher than mine.

She has wavy blonde hair and sharp green eyes. Her makeup is perfectly done, accentuating the color of her eyes and she's putting on a dress that hugs her body and stops at her mid-thigh. It is the perfect combination of classy and sexy. I envy her.

"What are you doing here?" She asks, probably realizing I'm definitely not a client if I'm standing outside the building and gawking at it.

"I'm new here," I inform her.

"Obviously." She sasses and I'm shocked by her behavior. Why is she being rude? She doesn't even know me! "You're the person Zoey said she was hiring? How did you get this job?"

I frown. "I applied for it?"

"Sure? And what incentive did you use?"

"Look here, miss." I start when I decipher the disdain in her voice. "I don't know you. You don't know me. I'm here to work and not to put up with your shit okay? It's obvious you're already an employee here and I doubt our employer will take well to how you treat newer employees."

I watch as her eye twitches when I emphasize on the word, 'our'. "Go on and report to him if you'll even get the opportunity to see him."

I shake my head, knowing she's not going to back down. I know women like her. They were mostly insecure and unsure of themselves, fearing someone else would take their job when they came along.

I hold back a sigh. I'm not even fully an employee here yet, but I already have an enemy. I don't reply to her as I finally make my way towards the huge ass door at the front, pushing it open.

My eyes immediately find the receptionist and I walk toward him. He smiles brightly at the sight of me. "Good morning. How may I help you?"

"I've been recently employed and the manager requested for me to come in today so I could sign my employee contract."

"One sec. What's your name?"

"Aria Jennings."

He looks through his computer for a minute before looking back at me. "ID?"

I quickly open my purse and take out my ID, handing it over to him. He hums in approval and gives it back to me, together with a visitor's card. I look at the card in confusion and he quickly rushes to explain.

"It's for the elevator. Since you don't have an employee card yet, you'll need a pass to use the elevator."

"Oh."

"Yes. The manager is on the 19th floor, but I'm certain you'll see her assistant instead."

I nod, consuming the information, before turning around to approach the elevator. I stop short and turn back around. "What's your name?"

If I'm going to be working here, I need to know at least one friendly face. "Grayson."

I can't conceal my snort. Typical. Thankfully, he doesn't get offended. He only gives me a look that says 'I know right?' and shrugs. "See you around," I call out, seeing him smile before I walk toward the lift.

When I step inside the elevator, I see a slot for the card and I swipe it though before the buttons on the wall light up. Fucking hell. How advanced is this company? I press on the nineteenth floor and wait patiently.

It seems like it takes forever before it finally reaches the nineteenth floor. When I step out, I pause for a second, taking the floor in. It looks very elegant with everything being white or gold.

There's another reception here and I approach the receptionist. This one is not as friendly as the one from before, only greeting me with a curt, "hello."

"Good morning. I have an appointment with the managerial department by nine o'clock."

"Name and ID."

"Aria Jennings," I answer, simultaneously showing him my ID card.

"Go wait in that room over there." He points to a gold door opposite me. "She will be with you shortly."

I thank him and walk in the direction he pointed me to, opening the gold door to reveal what looks like a conference room. Hesitantly, I step inside and take a seat on one of the many chairs.

I don't have to wait too long because in less than a minute, I hear the door open and I fix my eyes in that direction as a woman who looks like she's in my age range walks in. But she's on a pantsuit and her hair is in a sophisticated bun.

"Hello, Ms. Jennings. I'm Zoey, the assistant manager."

She stretches out a hand that I stand up to take before sitting down as well.

"So basically, you've already been hired, but we need to go through the contract so we can revise what you're not comfortable with."

I don't speak because I know I won't be able to keep the awe off my voice.

She flips through the file in her hand. "It states here that you're to come in by nine thirty latest, is that alright?"

I scrunch up my nose in confusion. That's an odd time to start work, but I agree anyway. It works for me. "Nine thirty to?"

"Five, but sometimes, you might be required to work overtime if there's a deadline."

I nod my head. "That's okay. When's my lunch break though? Because I'll need to pick my son up from school."

"Can't his father do that?"

I bite my lip to suppress the building emotions. I hate it when I'm reminded of his absence. It's like I don't believe he's really not here. "He's dead."

An uncomfortable myriad of expressions crosses her face, guilt being at the forefront. "I'm sorry. When do you want your break? It lasts for an hour."

"Does twelve-thirty work?

"Of course."

Then, she passes the file to me and I look through it carefully, seeing that everything was done to my liking. When I reach the last page, I see two dotted lines at the end of the page, one of which has already been signed. "So, I sign here?"

"Yes."

I don't waste any time in signing and giving it back to her. She smiles brightly at me.

"Welcome to Double H Tech."

"Thank you."

She looks at the spot where I put down my signature and stares at me like she's trying to figure me out.

I laugh nervously. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing." She quickly answers. "I'm just wondering what's special about you. I mean, I've gone through your resume and it's impressive, especially the projects you've completed, but it's eerie that the boss will accept you without an interview."

I frown. "The boss?"

"Yes, he requested for you to be hired immediately, even before you sent in your application. Maybe, he sees something in you."

I freeze. He sees something in me? The fucking boss sees something in me? Does this mean… no. "Uhm, forgive me but who's the boss."

She opens her mouth, going to answer, but closes it back when the door slams open. She immediately scrambles to her feet. "Good day, sir."

"Leave." He says without looking at her as he stares directly at me, unblinking.

I should've expected it; I don't know why I didn't honestly. He was too good to be true, he had to have a hand in all these.

As Zoey leaves, I crack my brain for something to say to him. I've been hoping to see him again because I had a few grateful words for him, but now that I have seen him, I don't know what to say.

The only word that exits my trap of a mouth is, "You."