Down On Your Knees

FIRST DAY AT WORK

CHAPTER 4

Fully aware of  Samira's zealous gaze, Andi stared back at her with the same intensity. Their eyes locked for a while. No words came out from their mouths, but their eyes were speaking volumes. Andi was well aware that Samira was checking him out to minute detail. He was also mindful that she was pissed with him earlier, and Andi was enjoying the opportunity to goad. 

Samira had been bumptious since yesterday, so full of herself, but Andi was not a pushover. He couldn't let her do whatever she wanted all the time. He was there for a reason, and that was his focus.  

Andi was expecting the bitchy, short-tempered, and hideous snob character Samira had been displaying since yesterday. It was amusing him since he figured out her intention, and he intended to provoke her in a playful way every chance he got. 

"Is there something wrong with my face?" Andi asked Samira as if he was unaware that she was keeping details of the curves on his face and something fishy was moving in circles inside her head.

Samira smirked, looking at another side of the room, "That face?" She asked Andi, Then,  she gave him a once over, and uttered, "What could be wrong with a very handsome face?" Samira deliberately teased and flirted with him.

"Thank you." A slight curve appeared once again on Andi's lips, "If that is a compliment," he commented unmoved by her obvious flirtation.

"Oh--It was definitely meant as a compliment.," she grinned sheepishly, her hazel eyes glowing.

In Samira's thoughts, "I can get you, Andi." 

In Andi's mind, "Let's see what you've got, Ms. Tantaco."

They locked their gazes; both their eyes spoke a different language, but before they even put those thoughts into words...Knock knock…Two knocks on the door momentarily halted the fiery tension building inside the room. 

Andi’s deep voice echoed, averting the stare on her as his eyes transferred to the closed door, “Come in.” 

Samira followed his stare and looked at the door as well. 

They saw a man of average height peeping his head when the door opened. Andi raised his hand slightly to signal him to proceed inside. The man walked towards them quietly with two cups of tea in his hand.  He placed the tray on Samira's desk and stood next to Andi, meekly.

Samira was grateful for the interruption. Although she was up for a challenge, she never meant to be seriously attracted to Andi. After her baffling discovery, she figured there would be changes to her plan.

“Good morning Ms. Tantaco and Mr. Mendez." The man greeted politely.

Samira smiled slightly and uttered to herself, “So, his surname is Mendez. Andi Mendez! Cool," finally knowing the surname of Andi without the need to ask.

“Good morning, you are?” Samira asked the man casually.

“I am Noel Cuisia, miss, your personal secretary.” He introduced himself politely. 

Noel was called by HR when Samira and Andi arrived. He was not able to greet them properly since he was not at his desk.

Samira was a bit surprised that her personal assistant was a guy, but has no problem with that. She had previous experience in the States. She had co-workers with men assistants, and they were good at their work. 

“Hi, Noel.” she greeted him formally. 

"Hello, miss! Just tell me anything you need, and I will gladly do it for you." 

Noel bowed at Samira and then looked at Andi, while later moved to sit on a chair in front of Samira. His eyes twinkled on Andi's form as if he was a celebrity in front of him.

“Sir,” he smiled meaningfully, adoring him. "The conference hall is ready. Would you like me to call everyone now?” 

Samira almost burst out laughing while watching the way Noel looked at Andi. She was relieved that she was not the only one captivated by Andi's overwhelming manly appeal. 

“Give us thirty minutes, Noel. I have a few things to discuss with Ms. Tantaco before she meets the team,” Andi replied to him formally, his lips curved a little.

Noel enthusiastically bowed to both of them and excused himself as if Andi just kissed him instead of a slight smile. He left the two bosses to announced to the managers that the meeting would be slightly delayed.

Samira knew that Noel was crushing on Andi. She had a strong radar for men like him. Samira could discern quickly if the guy was straight or not. She has friends like him, and she could understand. Noel's gender wouldn't affect his capacity to deliver the task she would ask from him. "I think I will like you, Noel," She murmured. 

However, the husband material sitting in front of her desk was screaming with an oozing appeal, and not an inch of him was curved. Andi was a straight guy. Everything, including the thing in between his sexy legs, was straight. Maybe?

Samira cleared the lump in her throat, "Umm," Crazy! Crap! Cursing herself. 

She couldn’t believe she was ogling at the man she only met the day before. The enchanting creature was even engaged to be married to someone else, so what the hell was going on with her? She just intended to use him as part of her master plan. 

“Are you alright, now?” Andi asked again. He looked at her intently, wanting to read her thoughts.

Samira diverted her eyes to her phone.“Yeah. What is it you want to discuss?" 

“Well, you have to deliver a short message later, nothing so spesh or extraordinary. A simple message coming from your heart will be alright. It is your first meeting; make an impression." Andi handed her a piece of paper containing some ideas and reminders on what to say. He encouraged her to deliver a speech using her own words to make it come out naturally. 

"After this meeting, I will explain to you the different departments and their significance. You have to know each function and meet the heads individually. Noel will take care of the arrangement later in the week," Andi added.

"We will visit the different departments after lunch," Andi supplemented.

Andi was professional and polite while he spoke with her.  He was simply performing his assigned task. To train the next CEO of the Tantaco Group of Companies was not a big deal for him.

“Great!” Samira replied after looking at the prompts.

“So...shall I call you Samira, from now on?” The corners of Andi's mouth tilted upwards. He called her Samira as one of the names she had given to him to call her, but she had not agreed to it, yet.

Samira looked at him naughtily. She really liked the sound of her name coming from Andi's mouth. It was freaking sexy. "As you please, Mr. Andi Mendez!"

Andi smirked at her in response, ignoring the playful glitter that appeared in her hazel eyes.

After that, they all went to the conference room to meet with the department heads. Samira was introduced by Andi to the attendees. Her mood had improved to a striking extent, she was able to charm the attendees while delivering a brief speech to appeal for support to her position. The department heads promised her full cooperation. 

Andi was impressed with her conduct with the people. Samira didn't show them her snooty character. She looked genuinely pleased to take over the role of CEO.

However, at the bottom of Samira's heart, she was still reluctant to assume the role. It was never part of her life plan. To assume control of the business empire of her grandfather, would mean she agreed to her grandfather's condition. Don Germanio Tantaco would never get that from her. If by any chance her grandfather wouldn't call off the wedding, she would surely leave everything behind. 

Samira time was ticking. Her thirty days were down to twenty-eight days. She needed to move fast, and she needed Andi.