Working under the CEO

Part 6

Mia raised her eyebrows as a pink cocktail slid in front of her. She's sitting at the bar of the club she's been for like thousand times already. Shangri La the most happening spot in Manhattan. Also her favourite for several reasons.

Chris thought it would be a good idea to catch up in a loud place. Jane was going to join them soon. That's what Chris had said anyways, but he bailed half an hour ago for some brunette with long legs and a dazzling smile. Mia was a bit mad about that. What happened to talking and catching up? She's a little bitter because she is also a brunette with long legs and a dazzling smile. Then again Mia is not interested in sleeping with Chris, though, so she understood.

A man leaned against the bar next to her and motioned towards the drink. "Hey, angel. Couldn't help but notice you were here by yourself, so I thought I'd replace your drink."

She rolled her eyes at that because, 'angel,' honestly? Who even talks like that? The man had a sharp jawline, with just a bit of scruff, high cheekbones, and grey eyes. His chestnut hair was done up in a messy quiff, and well, she would go for him. Really but she didn't feel anything. Nothing.

"I'm fine thanks."

As he's about to open his mouth, probably to pursue her, the bartender cleared her throat. "Any problem gentleman?"

The guy shook his head and scrambled away, making Mia relive a sigh. Her night was already turning out to be worst the last thing she needed was to entertain some asshole.

Mia smiled brightly at the bartender, Stella, her best friend. They both were pursuing the same MBA degree at the same university. Despite that, it has been a while since they last saw each other. Its their work schedule. Mia worked during days while Stella had night shifts at the bar.

"Correct me if I'm wrong," Stella mumbled, leaning forward against the bar with a rugged look and added, "But didn't you say you'd be bringing a date to this club next time you're here?"

"You look lovely," She immediately babbled.

The light colour of her pastel uniform shone against the club lights with her blond hair tied up and few strands tickling the side of her face.

"Don't change the subject. But thank you," Stella narrowed her eyes. "Your date?"

"Did I say that?" Mia arched her brows, making a face. "My memory fails me."

Her friend scoffed. "Did your date fail you as well?"

Mia winced at the tone, folding her hands together. "Ouch. You get more devilish every time I see you."

"Thanks?"

"It wasn't a compliment."

"Felt like one," Her best friend said in her sing-song voice.

"So, really, what happened to your date?"

He never existed... Mia didn't say that out loud, though. It's embarrassing. When was the last time she went on a date? She couldn't remember that.

"The thing is...he was on his way here. And then got abducted by aliens as he was driving. They hovered right over his car and just," She motioned with her hand as if she's scooping something up, "zapped him up. Just like that."

Stella choked. "You're ridiculous. How would you even know that? If aliens abducted him on his way here, how'd you find out?"

"We were on Facetime."

Her friend shook her head. "I've had it with you," she said, still laughing. "The good news is that there's a man here named George. And he's single."

Why were her friends so obsessed with setting her up? She's fine, really. Mia groaned. "You and Jane both. You need to be stopped."

"He's cute," Stella carried on as if she hasn't heard anything. "And he's rich. Umm...he was engaged before things went sour. So I'm sure he's the kind to commit long term."

Just then, Mia felt a hand on her shoulder. Before she could react, she caught Jane's scent and instantly calmed down. Stella smiled at her. They both hugged before Jane gave a hug to Mia.

"So what's up?"

Stella pointed at Mia, "We're discussing how Mia is going to end up single with at least fifty cats."

"Yikes," Jane made a face as if she'd tasted something sour, extracting herself from Mia's arms so she can sit beside her. "Fifty are a bit much."

"Maybe twenty then."

"Yeah I can picture that"

"You both are the worst!" Mia huffed while taking a massive swig of her drink. Seriously she needed better friends.

***

Next morning she wanted to cry. And scream. Her head was pounding as if someone was repeatedly hammering her. Clutching the cup, she sighed, sipping the straight black coffee and scrunching her face in disgust. Mia hoped that drinking the black liquid will help her concentrate and also reduce her headache. She had no time to get aspirin.

Once again, she was the last one to arrive at the office. As Jane was pregnant, she didn't anything last night except for a classic mojito. Maybe Mia should have done the same thing. The twenty-five-year-old had important things to finish up, though, and she didn't trust anyone other than herself to do it.

So, here she was.

She's usually smart enough to handle Damon's schedule before she started on the other assignment. Still, sometimes her excitement got the better of her, and she's left in a panic, rushing to put together her boss's weekly meetings into something of a schedule that hopefully looked professional enough to keep her from being chewed out.

It didn't help that she had someone like Damon as her boss. He's, just, intimidating. He one of the most potent CEOs she had ever encountered who followed the rules a bit too seriously - not to mention how undeniably gorgeous he is.

"Good morning, Miss Grace."

Mia jumped at the greeting behind her, knocking the files slightly askew in shock. She immediately cringed. Its the start of the day and somehow she managed to make a fool of herself.

"Good morning, sir," She returned with a wince. "You've got a meeting in half an hour with the PR, and then at eleven—"

"I'm aware of my morning meetings," Damon interrupted. He's not donning his usual blank face; mostly his jaw was clenched, eyes into slits and she knew immediately that she's in for a talking to. "I went over my schedule that you sent - albeit late - yesterday night."

Mia looked down. She was so out of it the previous night that she didn't even remember sending him the schedule. When she got home, Mia hurriedly selected some file and sent him on his mail.

"Of course. Sorry about that, sir."

"Follow me."

She nodded, trailing behind him to his office.

"Close the door, Miss Grace."

Mia did.

Damon walked around to his desk chair, but he didn't take a seat. His eyes were focused intensely on Mia, making her want to run and hide. "I'm not going to say it's okay or that it's forgiven, lest you get it in your head that it's alright for this to continue," Her boss explained. "Would you mind taking a seat?"

"O-of course, sir."

She rushed to sit in the seat across from him, who still hasn't taken a seat himself. Instead, he walked around to the side of the desk and flipped through the stack of folders she carefully placed out. His hip was popped against the desk, and he's not making eye contact or even saying a word. It's unsettling.

After he's looked through a few, Damon closed the files and turned to her.

"I understand that I'm not exactly an easy man to please, but I don't think it's too out there for me to ask you to have my agenda emailed to me by eight pm sharp, do you?"

Mia gulped. "No, sir."

She had known that this was where things were headed, but she still was so unprepared. Her boss was standing a few heads taller than her in their current position and looking down on her in disappointment. It's a power move, Mia was aware of that, and it sure does work to make her feel absolutely powerless.

"Mmh good," He hummed. "We're on the same page with that. It isn't unreasonable for me to have my agenda at a certain time, and yet last night you were late with your delivery, so - "

"I'm sorry, sir. I - "

"Please don't cut me off, Miss Grace, it's incredibly disrespectful," He insisted, and she had to bite her tongue to stop another apology from tumbling out.

Suddenly Damon's face was in her face. The screen was displaying his inbox, and her email was starred, highlighted, and sticking out like a sore thumb in the middle of everything else. "Miss Grace this is the email you sent me last night"

Damon pressed on the mail. Everything seemed to be normal. There are a few misspellings in her apology, but there's even an attachment at the bottom, which left her even more confused. What was that?

"f**k!" She exclaimed, feeling all of the air leave her body, deflating her into a disgraced mess when her boss clicked on the attachment.

"I wasn't expecting this when I checked my inbox."

***