I did the sign of The cross before knocking on his office door.

"Come in," I heard his voice snarl from the other side of the door.

Oh, shit!

I slowly pulled open the door and perceived the aura that settled in the room.

Mr. Cartier glared at me from his chair with a pen and document in either of his hands as I walked in. He must have been going through the file before I came in.

I scanned his office, looking anywhere but his eyes.

All unused documents were immaculately tucked in the large file cabinet that occupied a segment of the left wall of his office.

Just at each side of his seat were glass walls. Though the one by his right was covered with pretty black blinds, it refused to look cosy. Rather, it gave his office some sort of dark atmosphere— like the typical villain character in most movies.

I coughed and stared at the floor as I walked, halting my steps just in front of his table. I held my hands together behind me, resting them on my bum.

"Look at me when you're in here. I don't employ easily-intimidated people," he said in a calm, yet firm tone.

I quickly shifted my gaze to him, trying so hard not to look away from his brown-pigmented irides.

I rubbed my palm against my arm as we engaged in a staring contest. I was sure I was losing as I almost dared to look away once.

The atmosphere became more intense and awkward than usual as he blinked very slowly and sometimes, didn't even blink at all.

If that were to be I, my eyeballs would have dried out, shrivelled.

He slightly furrowed his eyebrows and his forehead creased in response.

Oh Lord, is today the day I die? You should have hinted me, I'd have gone wild one last time before this shit.

"Did you come in here just to check me out? What are you here for?" He spat, intensifying his stare at me.

Eh? I frowned.

"You called for me, sir," I still managed to answer politely even as I held such a horrid gaze.

"Would I be that foolish to call for you, just to ask you why you're here?"

What was going on? Did I jinx it? Because it was really starting to seem like I was going to die.

I itched my neck, "I-I'm sorry sir."

"You should be," he snapped.

I felt my buried anger surface as I traced the origin of my problem, remembering how Hazel rushed into my office to inform me that he was calling for me.

What the hell, Hazel!

Didn't she know when to draw the line with her stupid pranks?

Oh Lord, why me?

"Mr. Cartier, I'm so sorry. It's really not my fault. Someone had told me you that called for me and I—"

"But you obliged to what such person told you like an idiot!" He cut me off and snapped at me, again.

He could really be a famous cameraman with all that snapping.

He used his thumb to uncover and snap his pen close with its cover continuously, "Are you one?"

I bowed my head, "I am not."

I had wanted this day to be so peaceful. I guess that wasn't going to happen anymore.

"I thought I told you earlier to look at me whenever I'm addressing you."

I slowly rose my head. Tears threatened to fall out of my eyes, stancing at my eyelids.

"Are you, an idiot?" he asked again in a calmer tone.

"I am not."

His eyes bore into my skin, fervently scanning me, "You've been working in this establishment for over a year, is it not? And as a sales director at that. Surely, you should be wise enough to know when you're being toyed with."

He slowly but continuously tapped his pen on the table as he went on, "You've put yourself into trouble, do you know?"

My eyes widened in horror and I became transfixed.

"I asked a question."

"S-Sir?"

Mr. Cartier shook his head and sighed, "You've seen it happen countless of times to deny knowing it."

"Mr. Car—"

"I'm going to punish you for wasting my precious time. Although, I have no idea what sort punishment will suit you yet."

"Mr. Cartier, please," I slapped my hands together in front of me.

"Quit that, would you?" He glared at me.

I let my hands lifelessly plop to their original place and stared at him, waiting for my predicament.

He stared at me for a hot minute, not saying a word.

He smirked, "I'll be thinking of your punishment and will surely alert you when I have found a suitable one."

"Until then, leave my office before I find some other fault with you," he adjusted his gold wristwatch and fixed his gaze back on the file, twirling his pen.

I turned around and dragged myself out of his office.

The moment I got out, I dailed Hazel's number on my phone. I walked into the elevator and pressed on the ground floor's button.

"Hello," I said angrily as her giggles filled my phone's speaker.

"I didn't think you'd go—"

"Meet me in the restroom. Now!" I said and ended the call as the elevator door parted ways.

My heels clacked as I stomped down the hallway of closed offices and all the way to the restroom.

The door retracted and let out a loud bang as I walked into the restroom. I approached the mirror and switched on the tap, watching the water rush out.

Fuck! Just when I thought I was doing alright.

The door retracted again as Hazel walked in, "What happened?"

I shut the tap and stared at my reflection in the mirror, "You're really asking me that? What sort of stupid prank was that? You didn't see any other person to prank me with, it was Mr. Cartier! What the hell, Hazel!"

"I'm so sorry, Claire. It was a dare. I can give you half of the money that they gave me."

"How much?" I stared at Hazel from the corner of my eye.

"Five hundred," she grinned like a fool.

I fully shifted my gaze from the mirror over to Hazel, "So, you put me in trouble for that amount of money? Really? Girl, you better go check your family tree for someone bearing Judas, 'cause I'm seeing some similarities."

She tried to giggle but immediately held her peace as she saw my facial expression.

"I'm really sorry. I'd do anything to make it up to you."

"There's nothing for you to do except get me into more trouble. Just leave me be."

"Was trying to help your messed up ass but if you say so," she turned around and walked out of the restroom, swaying her butt with it.

Damned bitch.

Hazel was a 28-year-old lady known for her ferocious character. She was most often angry and bitter, spiteful of everyone and minding her work in the finance department.

She was a sweetheart too. There were rare times when she would cajole around, cracking jokes on every floor of the office and relieving some of everyone's tension.

Those rare times were when she got her pay, like today.

Her wavering character left people feeling here and there, not too specific about her. It didn't seem to bother her, seeing as she hadn't changed a bit since she started working in Vanish.

What a stupid lady! Going all the way to the fifth floor just to prank me.

What a stupid me too! Going all the way to the ground floor just to accuse her.

Now I'd have to go back upstairs without any form of solution to my problem.

I sighed.

Some things really aren't necessary.

I washed my face and dabbed it clean with my pink face towel, taking the chance to admire my smooth, perfect skin.

I burst into laughter at my delusion.

I had acne baking comfortably on my skin, especially my cheek region.

No one is perfect— except Harrison Jake.

I stared at my I-was-red eyes once more before walking out of the ladies, heading straight for the elevator.

...
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A

nd that's a wrap for Chapter 1

I'm quite sure you didn't see the mistake coming😂.

Do you think Jeffery Cartier could have probably handled the matter in a better way? Let me know in the comments.

Thank you for reading♡. If you enjoyed this chapter, ensure to vote also.