Yes, Mistress!

Chapter 4: Intoxicating

Kir Tech, 23:14

Cattleya pulled off her Bluetooth headset from her ear, setting it on her desk. She undid the top two buttons of her blouse, opened one of her side drawers, taking out her favorite pack of flavored cigarettes. 

She had just had three lengthy conversations back-to-back with business associates and right now, she just wanted a break. She tucked the thin white stick in between her lips, brought her lighter to the tip and made the little flame spark, lighting it. 

She glanced at the time in her silvery watch before approaching the large window panels, sliding one open, gazing at the magnificent city that never slept. 

The skyscrapers were always so beautiful at night. The view never failed to take her breath away. Being on the highest floor in one the tallest edifices, it felt like she was on top of the world. And she was. What more could she want?

That thought haunted her every night. Anything she wanted she could get in a snap of her fingers and yet she felt hollow inside. She had everything and still... it was never going to be enough. She took a draw, passively aware of her office door opening.

“Cattleya? I’m coming in.”

She heard her personal assistant’s voice calling out to her and she slightly turned, resting back against one of the window panels, watching her set down the eighth or ninth cup of coffee on her desk. She has lost the count.

She blew the smoke slowly and said, directly updating her, “I had an insightful conversation with Bugatti's director, Seth Friedman. You’ll liaise with him to arrange a meeting to finalise the concept of the supercar.”

Without wasting a breath, Dana promptly took out her digital notepad, nodding at her as she made a note of this. 

She looked back towards the city, the breeze messing with the blonde strands of her hair, “We’ll also need to fly to Paris. I have some engagements pending there. Prioritize this.”

Her secretary arched an eyebrow, letting out an audible sigh, “Again Paris? Didn’t we just head there last month?” Cattleya glanced at her over her shoulder, lightly tapping her cigarette, “Don’t sound so disappointed.”

Dana flushed red, “Sorry… What else?” She took another long drag, exhaling the smoke slowly, “We’re sponsoring this year’s New York Fashion Week.”

It picked her interest. “Oh my God! Does that mean we’re getting exclusive invites?” 

She lifted an eyebrow, “I’m always invited, love. Twice a year, to all of the big 4 fashion weeks.”

Dana gaped at her, “Why am I learning that just now?!”

“I wonder myself. If you had a good fashion sense, you would understand where some of my attires come from.”

Dana winced at the remark, “Ugh, no need to be so cruel. Come on, I don't dress that badly. Anything else?”

“You tell me.” 

It was a routine for them. Now was her time to inform the boss about her personal matters. Things that the billionairess has missed throughout the day when she had been occupied with managing the business affairs.

She approached her, standing by her side, going through her tablet where she had jotted down some reminders by order of importance, “Okay, so let me see... Your father’s attorney, Victor Sorren called. He said he has news for you and wishes for you to pay him a visit.”

She tensed. That was a name she hasn’t heard since so long. Anything related to her father meant trouble and to have his attorney involve now… after all these years. It was a hard pass. She had had enough of dealing with his sick and gruesome schemes like that. There was much she could handle, and this wasn’t one of them.

Unaware of her thoughts, Dana continued, scrolling through her notes, “Next, a mutual agreement has finally been reached between Kir Tech and the government officials for the satellites. I’ve already scheduled another meeting.”

“Excellent.”

“And you’ve got an invite from the president! It’s his son’s birthday—”

"Again?" She grumbled, "Call him, thank him and tell him I can’t make it.”

Dana muttered under her breath, stretching her arms above her head, feeling weary. “Sometimes, I wonder if you enjoy putting me in awkward situations in your stead, Cattleya.” She noticed the small genuine smile forming on her lips. The first one she had seen in two days.

"Is there anything else?" Cattleya asked, watching the wind carry the toxic smoke away as it disappeared in the night. She noticed how her secretary instantly blushed, unable to meet her eyes. She let out a soft chuckle, already knowing that the subject must be about one of her play partners. 

“Italian top model, Miss Gina Lorenzo called. She… um, she said that she’ll fly here to New York next week and she can’t wait to see you.”

Cattleya hummed, recalling the devious things she had done to that woman last time they were together, “Send her some gifts. I want her ready for me.” 

Dana reddened furiously, knowing very well what sort of gifts her boss wanted her to send. “You can handle this, mmh?” Her stomach fluttered as she breathed, nodding shyly. 

Cattleya deliberately arched an eyebrow, enjoying as the woman was having a secret meltdown, “Or should I give you a detailed list?” 

She whimpered, protesting, “I think I did these enough times to know what you like…”

“Perfect. If there’s nothing else, let’s call it a day.” 

“Alright… I’ll see you tomorrow. Have a good night.” She murmured, gently touching her arm before heading out. She then paused, saying before she got sidetracked again, “Ah one more thing. I thought you might want to know. I managed to free you a few hours to spend with Ms. Sinclair tomorrow.” 

This name sounded familiar. Where has she heard it already? Was she another one of her lovers? When she gave her a blank look, Dana filled in, laughing softly as she realized that she has already forgotten, “The matchmaker that came to see you yesterday morning?”    

Cattleya arched an eyebrow, incredulously looking at her, wondering if her efficient and effective secretary really did something as ridiculous as that. She flicked her cigarette, dryly saying, “How wonderful…” 

Dana bit her lips, hesitantly asking, searching for an answer on her face, “Oh… I… shouldn’t have?” 

Cattleya frowned hard at the question, bringing the white stick to her lips again. “What do you think? Cancel on her immediately.”

Dana dutifully said, reasoning with her, “She’s here on your father’s order—” 

Cattleya calmly blew the smoke, “I don’t like saying things twice.” 

Her assistant insisted, considerate about her well-being, “It might be a good experience! You need a change of scenery—” 

“Tell me something, Dana…” She was instantly alerted by the low commanding tone. She stood straight, answering with a gulp, a shiver running up her spine, “Yes?”

“Do I look like someone who has time for such trivial matters?” 

She swallowed hard, instantly realizing her mistake. She watched her boss approach her, her distinctive green eyes not particularly warm. She stepped back, nervously saying, averting her eyes, wincing, “No. I apologize. I’ll… I’ll cancel on her.”

She hit the back of her desk, her hand clasping at it, accidentally spilling the coffee and she shrieked, “Oh God! I’m sorry.” She fearfully met her eyes, afraid of her wrath and instead she saw her tall figure leaning forward, over her, cornering her.

She closed her eyes, her heart pounding in her chest as the sultry voice whispered in her ear in a hot caress, “I’m certain I don’t need any superficial dating services to get what I want, love.” 

Dana instinctively held her shoulders, getting a whiff of her intoxicating perfume. She mumbled, trembling, pressing herself into her length, “I… I’ll tell her.”

“You better.” Cattleya sharply said, stubbing the butt of her cigarette in the ashtray behind her. A mischievous thought hovered in her mind, recalling how brazen the matchmaker had been in her office, “On second thought… don’t do anything at all. Let me see just how resilient she is.” 

She pulled away, lifting her blazer off her seat with a finger, flinging it over her shoulder. She pursed her lips, seeing the coffee drenching some of her documents, “And clean that mess before you leave. Good night.”

Flustered, Dana could only nod furiously, cursing her inappropriate thoughts about this woman. She timidly raised her eyes to see her disappearing behind the private elevator’s doors. She sighed heavily, running her fingers through her black hair. She pulled some tissues from the nearby box, throwing them over the brown liquid, knowing there could never be a real thing between her boss and her. 

One, because she knew Cattleya would never date anyone within the company and two… because she also knew that above everything, the woman was not even remotely interested in dating. 

Being her personal secretary, she had the privilege of glancing into the CEO’s private life. She learnt that her boss was never serious when it came to relationships. The string of lovers attached to her was proof of that. Like many times, she found herself shamelessly wondering what it would feel like to spend a night with her and she reminded herself that if this was to happen, she would have to forsake this job which earned her a six-figure along with its terrific benefits.

Cattleya stepped outside to her allotted parking, heading towards her Bugatti Chiron. She opened the driver’s door and the man sitting in the passenger seat jerked awake, cursing. She ignored him as she slammed the car key in its slot, the engine coming to life. “Why, did I wake you up?” She asked with a tip of sarcasm. 

He grumbled, rubbing his eyes, before sitting straight, “You should have called me to the main entrance. You must be tired. I’ll drive.” She eyed her bodyguard who looked as if he had been crushed by a bulldozer and she remarked, “Not as tired as you apparently.”

Siegfried glanced at the time before staring at her, “Christ. It’s already midnight. Don’t you think you’re overworking yourself?!” 

Saying nothing, she revved back the car before gently speeding away. He took out his phone and pensively said, checking his messages, “Around 11 ish, we arrested a sniper who was posted in one of the buildings 2 miles from you. He was waiting for an opportunity to strike you down.” 

“Ah? How did you find out?” 

“From one of our underworld contacts. It was a close call.”

At the stage where she was, nothing could surprise her. It was getting rather tiring though. She clenched the steering wheel, pressed on the gas pedal, accelerating harshly. She wouldn’t have needed to be that vigilant if it wasn’t for that bastard of a father that she had.

Siegfried clasped his seat, seeing the needles of the speedometer crossing the 300 mark and he buckled his seatbelt, shouting to be heard, “Damn it, Cattleya. I think it’s better if I drive.” 

“Quiet.”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~