That Coffee Accident

Chapter 5 - The Consequences

    The news broke out like crazy. Tabloids were now exposing Dwayne's scandals before. They even gave him the title 'The Most Controversial Man of the Year.'

    Kathy was having the best day of her life. She was feeling that it was the greatest payback on Dwayne. I knew she felt attracted to Dwayne before but I wasn't sure anymore. I was sitting on my couch, looking at the television. Dwayne's father was being ambushed by the media but he was gracefully walking away and avoiding looking at the camera. 

        "This is gonna be bad." I muttered. 

    It wasn't a secret to everyone that Dwayne isn't in good terms with his father. He was very clear that he wants to build an empire by himself and without any help from the greatest Jonathan Taylor, his dad. Being involved in scandal issues every month must not be helping Dwayne.

    The main door opened. I saw my college roommate smiling sheepishly at me. She was holding her phone and showed me the picture of me stumbled upon the elevator. It's been all over the internet. It was a total nightmare for me. 

        "I knew from the moment I saw it,  it was you!" She laughed and hangs her coat on the back of my door. 

    I rolled my eyes and curled myself onto my couch. 

        "Kim, please slap me. I think I am dreaming!" I said. 

    She sat on the adjacent chair and watched me slapping my face. She was clearly out from her work. She was wearing her uniform. She went straight here when she received my text. 

        "You should cheer yourself up. At least, Dwayne know you exist." She smirked. 

        "I don't know, Kim. I am not even in the slightest interested in him like you girls on college."

        "Woah, there, you nun!" She stopped me. 

        "You cannot blame me. Have you seen him during our graduation? He was so hot and very attractive while giving that speech. Also, he was wearing a very tight suit."

        "Kimber!" I stopped her from enumerating every detail about Dwayne. "Stop talking about him."

    Dwayne used to be a guest speaker on our graduation. That was the day I knew about the internship program his company is offering. He explained the benefit and the connections we can build while interning under him. He knew so many publishers and having that intensive training under him could really be big difference. 

        "Why did you call me here in the first place if we will not talk about him? He's the one causing this problem. Or is it vice versa?" She kidded. 

    I pouted. I got something from my center table and handed it to her. Kimber whistled as he read the memorandum from Dwayne's office. 

        "Oh my god?" She said and folded the paper back to the center table. 

        "He was calling for a meeting with you? You're really something, Ellie!" She squealed. 

    I want to scream because of so much frustration. Kimber was telling me that it might a blessing in disguise. She was so into the thought that Dwayne and I will turn into something because of this. I cannot help but to think that tomorrow's meeting will be my last day at work. 

    Dwayne released a general statement to the public. He was telling the truth about what happened at the elevator but still, others wouldn't believe him. They're really obsessed with the guy that is putting too much pressure to me. 

    Kimber stopped talking and smiled at me. 

            "Come on, Ellie! I am trying to lighten up the mood by making love theories between you two. Let's just hope that he will not be pissed by the media to fire you. I think he's not that type of person." Kimber said. 

            "I hope so, Kimber." I said and stared at the ceiling. 

                                                                ************

    Kimber stayed the night to accompany me. I was very thankful because if it wasn't for her, I would've decide to sleep all day instead of going to work to meet Dwayne. Kimber dressed me in white today to mimic my sincerest apology to Dwayne. 

            "I am very jealous of your long black hair, Elle. You look pretty." She smiled. 

    I looked at the mirror and patted my cheeks. It  was evident that I was losing my sanity. Even the color on my face left me. I must have been so nervous. The thought of having to see Dwayne in person really scared the s**t out of me. 

    I swear that I looked like a hiding criminal when I entered the building lobby. As usual, there are paparazzies outside waiting for their prey. I clutched my coat fitted more to my petite body as if it will hide me. I rode the elevator with so much hurry and closed it before anyone can share it with me. 

            "Good morning, Eleanor." Kathy greeted me when I entered her office. 

    She was reading a draft edition of the Alpha Woman and encircling on it. She was leaning on her chair and smiled at me. 

            "You're in a good mood today, Kathy." I said and put my coat at the back of my chair. 

            "Oh, yes. I heard Dwayne is asking for a meeting, huh?" She said and flipped through the pages. 

        I walked to her table and put her coffee. She pushed a pile of papers. 

            "These are the survey forms on our last print. You should sort it out before the meeting. I am sure Dwayne will take a look at it." She said. 

        I signed and got it so I can sort it out when she suddenly stopped me. She was smirking the whole time. I tried to masked the irritation on my system. After all, after how irritating Katy is, she's still my boss.

            "You should also get ready, Eleanor. Dwayne will not hold back on the meeting. I heard how his father lashed out on him because of this."

        I squinted my eyes and sighed. Kathy flashed her smile of triumph. I don't know how I endured being under Kathy this past months. The woman was devious and delusional. Sitting on my table, I did everything I was instructed to do when lunch came. 

        Never been nervous like this, I chose not to eat lunch that can accept my stomach. After lunch, everyone is asked to be at the conference area for the general meeting. It made me fidgeting the whole lunch. 

            "Hey! Let's go, Walter. Ready your ass to be kicked." Kathy smirked. 

        I followed her to the glass conference room. I saw Calvin sitting on the chairs that is reserved for the managers. Kathy slid into one and crossed her arms. The room was cold. I wanted to cry every time the door opened. As if I was waiting for a reaper to drop me to my death. 

            "Uhm." 

        I looked up to see Paul holding the door. He scanned the area and stopped his gaze at me. The soul in me wanted to leave my body with the stare. I balled my fist and clutched my skirt with my palm afterwards. He nodded slightly to everyone and opened the door wider. 

        Dwayne was standing on his back. He was wearing a gorgeous army green colored suit with black tie. He was looking divine as always. He was shaved and his aura screams so much dominance. 

            "Good morning, everyone." He greeted in a low voice and opened the button of his clothes. He sat on the middle and nodded at every manager. I held my breath, when I realized that I was standing in front of him. His eyes brushed to me but did not stop. His reaction was also blank. His eyes drifted to the woman sitting beside me.

            "Kathy, I see that you're back." He said. 

   Kathy smirked and looked at him with mockery. 

            "It's because your mother asked me to. Nothing more, Dwayne." She said. 

        Dwayne did not react. He just let it slip and looked at Paul. He handed Dwayne a folder. Dwayne cleared his throat and scanned through it. He stopped and got his fountain pen to encircle something. 

            "Our sales went down this month. Anybody have something in mind, why is this happening." He asked in a low baritone voice. 

    The room went silent. Everyone looked at their feet, obviously avoiding to meet the daring gaze of Dwayne. I did the same and pinched my index finger to stop the wild beats of my chest. I'm gonna explode any minute. 

            "No one can answer me?" He asked and slammed the folder to the table. 

        I flinched with shock. He's been always so intense, but right now... he's really scary. And every minute it's getting worse and worse. This made me wish that someone will save me from this hell. Seeing him so angry, I know that after this meeting, I'll be damned. 

        He will be the death of me and my career. 

            "Calvin? Kathy? Adriana?" He asked them. 

        Calvin sighed and loosened his tie. 

            "With all due respect sir, I think it is because of the scandals we are facing right now. Based on the survey forms..." he stopped talking when Dwayne raised his hand. 

        Dwayne looked at Paul who gave her the folder I did. I sorted out the survey forms. Some are honest review of Alpha Women Magazine but most are hate comments about it's CEO. By the face of Dwayne while reading it. I already embraced myself. 

            "Where is Eleanor Walter?" He asked out of nowhere.   

    Kathy turned her head to me and mouthed. "Good luck."

    I sighed feeling the world collapsing on my feet. This is it. My eternal doom and its consequences will now get to me. Felt my throat dry, I cannot even talk. 

            "Eleanor Walter?" Dwayne repeated. 

        His eyes were like hawk hunting for a prey. Calvin was pretty confused the whole time. He was about to stand up and interfere but Kathy stopped her. 

        I was shaking and uneasy. Paul leaned to whisper at Dwayne. He nodded and stood up. He loosened up his tie and tilted his head to look at me better. His eyes were always cold and dead. But he was really radiating a dominant aura. It was like he's born to be obeyed. He stopped walking three steps away from me. 

          I held my breath.

        "I need you to write an article about our matchmaking article for our valentine's issue." He said in a controlled and authoritative tone.

        I blinked, not expecting what I had heard. I felt that my heart just jumped out of my chest. All eyes are fixated on me and our "spawn-from-hell" boss, Dwayne Taylor. I cannot utter a single word. All I can do is to hold the hem of my blouse.

        This was clearly wasn't the one on my mind. I was so ready to be fired or worse write an apology for what I've done to him. 

        I was so sure that I look stupid, standing and looking at the mad yet perfect face of Dwayne. At that time, I knew that is definitely wrong to show myself in this meeting after I spilled my cup of hot americano on his Louis Vuitton coat at the elevator.

        But after hearing what he said, I froze with confusion. 

            "Can you hear me, Ms?..." he asked me.

    I felt myself came back after a girl employee sitting beside me nudged me harshly. I saw Dwayne's eyes became more intense by my mind flying outside.

            "Uh... Eleanor, Sir."

    I bit my lips and nodded my head. He fixed his coat as he swayed his swivel chair and tapped the table with his firm and manly hand.

            "I want the draft by our valentine's issue on my table on the 20th. This is our last shot to prove my father of what is this company can do. I cannot accept failure. Especially you, Eleanor. One wrong move, and I will make your life miserable." he said every word with conviction.

    It made me more nervous. I have never written an article myself! I was a literature student in college but after getting my diploma, all I do is to make coffee for Kathy. 

            "You will be working with me for this whole quarter." 

     Now, I was so sure that my jaws were opened. What did I just hear?

            "What, Dwayne?" Kathy said. 

        Dwayne looked at her and shook his head. 

            "Why will you work with her? She's my assistant!" She screamed. 

            "I will hire you a new assistant. I have plans for Ms. Walter, Kathy." He dismissed. 

        Kathy cannot believe what she's hearing. Calvin looked at me. I shook my head also and swallowed.

            "She made her life miserable, Dwayne! Now, you won't fire her?" Kathy said. 

        Dwayne looked at me and smirked. He brushed his intimidating gaze from my head to toe and stared straight to my eyes. 

            "Exactly, Kathy. That's why she's perfect for the job."