✨✨ANNIE WEMBLEY✨✨

As the elevator drove down, I felt the sadness in my heart deepens. It felt like I was drowning in my problems and the feeling of the machine rolling down wasn't helping much. I was on my way to the 5th floor for a brief errand and I wasn't in the mood to talk to any of my colleagues, most especially my ex-team members who I worked with years before but luckily for me I  bagged the role of secretary to the CEO.

It was a wonderful and unexpected opportunity for me at the time because I wasn't as qualified for the position as my colleagues. Oliver and Sam were much more experienced than I was, they've been in the company way before me and always aspired for a spot on the tenth floor. Even though we were thoroughly screened for the role I still felt like it was pure luck on my side and I guess Oliver felt the same way or rather much worse.

My eyes found him while rounding the corner, heading towards the shredder, he began packing up his table like he suddenly remembered an important task but I knew him all too well.

I took my time shredding the papers, making sure there weren't any left. I knew how thorough my boss was and he wouldn't let any employee on the fifth floor learn what they shouldn't. And speaking of the boss, his entrance was one I anticipated with cold feet.

I've been so out of it since the day my mother slipped into a coma that I haven't been able to do things the right way. There was a slip in everything I did but I hoped he won't be in such a bad mood today.

"Annie!" Oliver whispered in his usual velvety tone, hoping it would sound alluring to me.

I put on a fake smile "Hi, what's up?"

"Nothing much, just curious as to what brought you down to our level," he asked, his words coated with sarcasm.

"The shredder has been broken for a while up there and this is important."

"Hm, I guessed that would be the case then."

"It's not like that Oliver, I've been pretty busy with work_"

"Oh yeah? the precious lucky you who suddenly got to the top by hard work right?"

"Don't start Oliver, you sound like a child," I cautioned.

"You think? Look, Annie, you may think I buy into your charade of a persona like the rest of them do." he said pointing towards the crowd. "But I don't! And that's because I know who the real you are."

"If you have something to say to me Oliver then say it!" I stood my ground waiting for him to unleash. Back when we were coworkers, Oliver and I used to be close friends and we worked together tirelessly for a promotion but I guess he was hurt when I got a better deal than him or because at that time I turned down his advances, I couldn't tell which reason had his knots in a twist.

He bent towards me seeing that I was shorter. "You can't pretend to_"

We were interrupted by someone who wanted to use the machine I was occupying. Lucky enough I was done with it so I cleared the top and strolled out of the office and upstairs to the tenth floor. I checked my time and it was five minutes to his arrival.

As usual, the first sign that he was in the building was his perfume. It was a rare scent, the type that left you feeling nostalgic.

The air was filled with it when he arrived, it carried a cold tension because everyone unconsciously froze.

The man Jeremy White walked through the door in all glory and might, silencing the whole tenth floor. It was his habit to nod at everyone's greeting while making his way to his office but not today. Today of all days someone had to spill goddamn coffee on him!

He strode and stopped right in the middle of the room close to my office door and roared at his driver. "I need fresh clothes, and help me get out of this shirt!"

His driver Danti held his briefcase while the boss pulled off his jacket, throwing it at him. "I don't want to see that fool clumsy enough to ruin my day in my company."

"Miss Wembley!!" He called out to me next and I scampered like a scaredy-cat and stood right in front of him. That was when I realized how intimidating he was. I thought of Jim's proposal and almost laughed out loud at how stupid and impossible it was. This man would never budge even if the world were to bend him.

"If you make me repeat myself, you'll not only be packing your stuff out of my building but you'll have your reputation to save." he rumbled through his throat, I felt cold jitters in my skin.

I jerked from my mini trance and gave a little bow before rushing to get my binder. I knew he was requesting for his schedule but I was more concerned with what his reaction would be when he saw the sheets on his desk.

"You have a meeting with the managers of each New York branch by ten, followed by a brief attendance to the warehouse downtown. There's been a report of incompetence from the ledger." I read out his schedule with ease while he sat in his office scraping down something.

His silence was a go-ahead for me. "You have a meeting with your father by six in the h_" he interrupted me with the raise of a finger.

"Scrap that off, I don't feel like doing that. How about you tell me what these sheets containing names of laid-off employees are doing on my desk this early morning?"

I almost rolled my eyes at his choice of words. Laid off— They were unfairly sacked by him and they never got the chance at a fair trial.

"The HR team thought it would be of bad reputation for the company if their employees were sacked without compensation or fairness. It goes against the laws of corporate organizations."

He shut the binder with a loud thud. "Oh really?" he kept a tight jaw, contemplating his next move. "Since they cannot involve the CEO in their meetings then you would have the head of HR Mr. Louise Smith know that he's been suspended for two weeks and it will be deducted from his next pay."

Then, I refrained from speaking the words in my mouth. I could only nod as he instructed me to draft a suspension letter and let him sign it before it got to Mr. Smith.

I was appalled by his yet again cold demeanor and lack of empathy towards his employees. How could one be so insensitive about other people's lives, a little mistake was enough to get suspended or sacked by him. I recalled some Gardenia employees who had been fired for not-so-obvious reasons. One came privately to me, begging for help in restoring her job. It was part of the reason I took it up with the HR team and they promised to work on it.

I sat in front of my desk thinking of how ridiculous everything seemed. I'm to lure this insensitive joke of a human to fall in love with me? I thought to myself.

Jim's warning hammered in my head while I worked. Two weeks Annie.

It wasn't enough time, so I began making a draft of my plans, putting into consideration the kind of man he was. I had to zero out some possibilities if I was to make this work because a man of his caliber required more than looks to be seduced.

I had worked till late in the evening and as usual, we were always the last to check out of the office. When I shut my door and informed my boss of my departure he barely spared me a glance, a nod was what he offered and that was my cue to retire for the day.

I took the private elevator meant to take me down to the VIP lot. It was one of the privileges I enjoyed as his secretary. I didn't have to drag space with the other employees. A signpost with the insignia was there in the parking lot.

I drove a baby blue Hyundai. I couldn't afford a brand new one but it was pertinent that I arrived at work on time and without excuses of lateness. Deep down I knew my main purpose was to commute with my family especially when Mum got so sick. It took a lot of load off my back.

Speaking of my mum, I had to run a quick errand to the pharmacy store downtown for her prescriptions. It was cheaper and I would save money for Wendy's upcoming SAT.

I pulled out of the garage through the tarred roads, but before I could get to the company gate my car broke down. "Oh no, not now!! Not by the gateway," I cried as I stepped out of my car. One of the security guards came to my aid.

"Ma'am, did your car break down again?" He said with concern.

I felt embarrassed, they probably thought I intentionally drove about a not-so-roadworthy car. "It just stopped. It was fine when I drove to work John, I'm serious."

The man looked surprised for a second there.

"Is there a problem?" I was unsure whether I said something wrong.

"Oh nothing, just didn't know you still remembered my name." he chuckled. A bright smile played on his elderly face.

"Of course I do, John. You were the one who helped me the last time right?" I asked, reciprocating the smile.

"Yes it is, nice to meet you." he extended his hand.

"Nice to meet you too I'm Annie, Annie Wembley."

"I know that_" A loud blaring horn interrupted our conversation, we turned to the source and it was none other than the black signature car of Jeremy White right behind mine and he was behind the wheel.

I stood by the side watching as John explained the situation to him but his glare full face didn't loosen up when he learned of my situation, rather he swerved his car at a dangerous angle and surprisingly made it out of the premises without a scratch to his car.

John promised to help me take the car to the repair shop while I contacted my mechanic to let him know it was from me. My heels ached as I walked the remaining distance from the gateway and into the busy streets of New York. I should be able to board a train in the subway but I needed to first get the drugs which was a whole different location from where I lived.

I stopped, breathless from the stress of walking in such uncomfortable shoes, cussing at my car for being such a disappointment to me and life for being so unfair.

Everything I've earned in life I've had to pay for the hard way. Peace was never my priority, I just wanted stability since every day felt like a run for the hills in my life.

As I stood catching my breath and thinking of my sorry life, a familiar car stopped beside me, the glass rolled down to show Jeremy in all his glory. He nodded at me to get in.