Chapter 5 (2019)

PEARL

“I quit,” I announced as soon as Luke walked into the receptionist’s office on the second floor. 

“Are you playing with words?” He asked, changing his direction and stopping right in front of me. He was close, too close that I could smell his after-shaving cream. 

“No, Lucas. I quit,”

 Lucas placed his hand below my chin. 

“It’s Mr. Anderson for you, you work under me now. Have some respect,” 

I gritted my teeth. “Are you deaf? Because if you’re not, you would’ve heard what I just said. I quit, I don’t want to work here or anywhere that have you attached to it,”

 Lucas nodded, staring into my eyes. “Very well, Miss Pearl Augustus. You can leave as you want,” 

I picked up my bag from the chair behind me and began walking away. I wouldn’t make the mistake of getting involved with the devil twice. 

“It’ll be a shame if your father’s company gets bankrupt because of someone who could have averted the disaster,”

 I stopped in my tracks. 

“What?” I turned to face him. My body collided with his and I realized he had been following me closely behind. He snaked his hand around my waist and I held it, not giving him the pleasure of touching me. 

“Haven’t you seen the news?” He asked, his lips a few inches away from mine.

I clicked my tongue as my grip on his hand tightened, trying to pull his hand from my waist. 

“What stupid news?” 

Lucas suddenly let go of my body and I found myself tripping backward. He caught my hand, stopping the embarrassing fall, and suddenly let go. 

“Shit” My butt landed on the marble floor and I almost screamed in pain. I tried standing up but Lucas bent to my level, stopping me. 

“I invested 80 million dollars in your father’s company last week and that had called for more investors just because of my influence, Sil. If you walk out of this door, I wouldn’t hesitate to pull out my investment and watch your father’s company crumble under my feet. We both know how shaky the company had been,” 

He whispered into my ear. 

My father’s company had been through a bad year. It wasn’t making as much as it usually did and even though, father never confided in us whenever it comes to business, we could sense that something had gone wrong.

“So, what do you say, Sil? Stay or leave? It’s your fucking choice,” 

I stared at the devil in front of me and I saw he was smirking. I wish I could slap that smirk off his face. I bite my lips as tears filled my eyes. 

“Stay!” I whispered with wobbling lips. 

“Good girl,” He ran his hand through my hair and I slapped his hand away. 

“Don’t fucking touch me, you monster,” I spat. 

He touched my face. 

“This is a work environment, you should refrain from swearing and using the ‘f’ word. I might end up bending you against my desk and spanking you,” 

His mouth was close to my ear. His hot breath fanned my face as he said those useless words out. How can he say words like that and still be so calm about it? 

“Get a life, Lucas,”

 He chuckled. Lucas stood up and stretched his hand out at me. Knowing I couldn’t trust him again, I stood up by myself. 

“Like I said, Sil. It’s Mr. Anderson for you,” 

“I’m not Sil. Whoever Sil was is dead,” 

“Are you sure about that?” He raised an eyebrow. 

The clicking sound of stiletto heels echoes their presence on the hard stone floor. I turned to see a beautiful woman make her easy towards us. She was wearing a short brown pencil gown that suited her brunette hair. Her hair cascaded down to her waist. 

“Good morning, Mr. Anderson,” 

“Charlotte, Get Miss Adams to her newly furnished office and make sure she signs her contract before she steps out of here today. Also, try as much as possible to see to it that I don’t get to see her for the rest of the day,” 

Luke instructed and my mouth fell open. 

“What? I don’t want to see your face either, Luke. I’m staying because you didn’t give me the choi….” He cut me off before I could continue by placing a finger on my lips. 

“Another word from you and I’ll be backing out of our agreement,” He threatened.

I sealed my lips, not giving him the opportunity to mock me or disgrace me with everyone here. I swallowed hard, wishing I could smack the back of his head as he walked away. 

“Miss Augustus, this way please,” Charlotte asked me to follow her as she also began walking away. 

“Call me Pearl,” I asked, trying to not be too formal with the lady.

“I’m afraid I can’t call you that. This is a formal setting and things should be done formally,” She replied. I scoffed at her attitude. 

We got to the front of a door and she instructed me to enter my desired passcode which I did and only God knows what she pressed after. She told me to enter the passcode once more ad after I did, the door unlocked. I turned the knob and we both entered together. 

The office was the usual private enclosed space. There was a black-brown corner desk with metal legs in the middle of the room and a black leather chair behind it. There were also empty bookshelves. There was nothing special about it and if anyone had heard Lucas bluff about the newly decorated office, they would think it was something special. 

“Lunch is by noon and you can only go out for lunch with the permission of your boss. You answer to him always and sometimes, you answer to me,” 

I blinked, not believing what I just heard. 

“Wait! What exactly is my position in this office? Personal assistance to an asshole and his cohort," I asked. 

“I’ll advise you to watch your words,” She snapped. 

I shrugged, waiting for her to give an answer rather than a piece of advice. “Mr. Anderson hasn’t thought of any position that would suit you but for now, you have to do anything that he wants, I’m afraid,” 

“More like a slavery modernized work,”

 “You can put it any way you want, Miss Augustus. Anyway, I’m Miss Charlotte, Mr. Anderson’s personal assistant and the only person who has direct contact to him. If you want to inform him about anything, you have to go through me first,”  

I folded my hands against my chest as I listen to her annoying words. 

“Okay! I can’t blame anyone for my misfortune,” 

“That’s right. Also, welcome to our company and please, avoid Mr. Anderson for the rest of the day as he wanted. He’s a devil in a black suit,” 

I smirked. “Honey, you don’t know him better than I do,”

The smile on her face was soon replaced with a frown as she stared at me hard. I don’t know why but I already feel like I was in a competition with her for something. 

Charlotte was the last of my problems. I paced the office room as I wondered what I was supposed to say at home and how long I would keep up the act until my father finds out.