Trapped in love with my Billionaire CEO

Their first encounter.

Eleanor sat in front of her mirror trying out her necklaces to see which one of them was going to fit perfectly with the dress. First, she picked up a silver one that had been gifted to her on her birthday, then a cheap bead necklace she had bought online before. She heaved a sigh and tried out the third necklace. They were very pretty, but she didn't know which one to pick. It had been a long time since she last attended a party.

More than it being a long time since she had attended a party before, she knew that her boss was a perfectionist to the core. So, even if she was using the cheap materials to adorn herself, she should at least choose the right one that went with the clothes she wore and the occasion. Otherwise, he might sack her because of it.

That horrible jerk who saw nothing good in anyone except himself.

If she was asked to voice her opinion, she would have told the man to do everything by himself since he thinks that no one else could measure up to his standard. But knowing how conceited the man was, he would probably sack everyone and do as she suggested, just to prove that he was truly a jerk.

So, no. She wouldn't be saying anything to the man, thank you. She wasn't about to lose the golden job she got because of her big mouth.

Still, the thought that she was attending the party because of her boss made her a little uncomfortable because she was not sure what was going to happen. What if she made a mistake and he yelled at her? Or she does something she's not supposed to do and ends up losing her job for it.

In the two weeks Eleanor had spent in the company, she heard different stories of Rex's terrible temper. Sometimes, he had behaved like that in front of her, albeit, mildly than how the other workers had painted him. The thought of it always made her scared and wary. She just didn't want to lose her job. If she happened to lose her job then she might have to start running around looking for jobs.

The job she got as a secretary was through recommendation. Eleanor knew she wouldn't have gotten the job if it were to be based on her qualifications. Although she was a college graduate, her grades were not what could get her into such a position as the one she fills at the company. So, the job meant a lot to her.

She looked at the clock on the wall and saw that it was only a few minutes past one. She was to meet Rex at the company before they headed to the party together. She loosened her ponytail, making her straight shoulder-length red hair falls to the sides of her shoulders. She flipped it all to the right at first, then to the left, trying to see which one was better.

“Or should I curl it up?” She asked herself, glancing at the hair curler on the table.

She took off the necklace on her neck and returned it to its case, picking up the curling tool. She plugged it in and started to curl up her hair in little sections. When she couldn't figure out what to do next with her hair, she picked up her phone and started to look up hairstyles she could rock at a party.

After changing her mind and finally picking the right hairstyle she wanted to go for. She dropped the curler and picked up the hair straightener instead.

*****

Eleanor waited at the company for Rex. Dennis gave her compliments about her look. She was putting on a short black dress held up by a tiny strap in her hand. Her makeup was cool but chic at the same time. Her hair was held up in a ponytail style as usual. Well yes, that was the final hairstyle she decided to go with after many contemplations.

She checked the time countless times, but Rex was nowhere near the office. It would be a hurt to her if she ended up returning home and not attending the party after having to pull out money to buy a dress and taking so much time to get ready.

She put her racing thoughts to a halt when she whiffed the scent of his sandalwood perfume. It was a smell everyone knew. Anytime it was perceived, it was to be sure that he was nearby. And truly, he appeared. The man wasn't looking any different from how he always looked. The gelled-up back hair, tall stature, and broad chest. A shirt buttoned halfway up and an expensive blazer. He had a great walking style that anyone could tell his character from seeing him—egoistic.

Eleanor was not intrigued in any way by his presence. The sigh she heaved was one of relief that all her efforts were not going to be in vain. She stood up to greet him with a bow. He took a few seconds to access her outfit. There wasn't any look of impressiveness on his face which got Eleanor even more upset. Why would he look at her like she was wearing something from the dumpster?

“You look different,” Rex told her.

Of course, she looked different. Who didn't know that? She wanted to scream at him but she held her breath. It wasn't like she expected him to complement her anyway.

"Your perfume smells cheap, secretary. Don't use it around me next time, unless you don't mind getting fired." He eyed her with disdain.

Her eyes flashed fire at him. When her boss c****d a perfectly carved brow at her, she cleared her throat and looked away from him.

Rex's driver led the way as they left for the garage where his car was parked. He walked behind his driver, while Eleanor walked behind Rex, with both her hands clutched tightly to her small silver purse. While they walked to the basement where the garage was, Eleanor missed a step and tripped, but she was quick to help herself up. Rex glanced at her with no expression and headed toward his car. The driver rushed to Eleanor's side to help her up.

“Are you okay?” He asked, taking her purse from her and holding her up by the arm.

“Yeah, I am.” She replied to him, a little flustered and embarrassed.

“She didn't twist her ankle, did she? So why the f**k are you not in the car right now?” Rex yelled at the driver who trotted quickly to the car. He opened up the back seat for his boss while he sat in.

Eleanor walked more cautiously towards the car. Her mood just got worse and there's no asking who was responsible for that, but she dared not show it. She made her way to the car and got in the passenger's seat. She took a glance at herself in the side view mirror, she knew she was looking pretty.

They were halfway through the ride when Mr. Perfectionist, as Eleanor had decided to start calling him in her mind of course, asked her a question that made her heart fly out of the car window.

"What's the agenda for tomorrow, secretary?" He didn't look at her as he spoke. Instead, he concentrated on what he was doing on his phone. However, when he didn't get any response from her, he looked up.

Eleanor's eyes were boggled like that of a high smoker, "Agenda? Tomorrow?" She was surprised, to say the least.

"I'm glad your eardrums are working perfectly." He retorted. "Now, answer me."

"But...but...they are in the...computer...back at the...office." She stuttered at him.

Rex was already out of his patience bar. "You mean as my secretary, you don't even know what and what I am supposed to be doing tomorrow? Where I am supposed to be?" His voice was raised a little.

The driver looked at the two from the mirror. When his eyes met with that of Eleanor, he shook his head slightly.

"Answer me right at this moment!" Rex screamed at her.

Eleanor was scared. She knew that she could very well be on the path that would never lose the job she didn't want to.

"So...sorry, sir." She mumbled, not knowing what else to do.

"That's it? You think sorry can just fix it?" Rex readjusted his tie. "You have to think again, woman." He grunted.

Eleanor held her two palms together to plead. She didn't think at that moment anymore, she didn't just want to lose her work because of her carelessness.

"I'll do better, sir. I promise to know your schedule for a month without looking at the computer or a file in the future. Please, don't sack me."

"Please, give her another chance, boss." The driver pitched in.

Rex sighed audibly. He would have fired her immediately if he wasn't attending an important party and it would look bad for him if everyone else has their secretary with them except him. He hated that feeling of not measuring to date with others.

"From Monday henceforth, you are not allowed to leave the office when everyone else is. You'll stay back and memorize each of my schedules. Is that clear?" He cleared his throat.

Eleanor heaved a sigh of relief, "Absolutely clear, sir. Thank you so much, sir." She bowed her head.

"Oh...one more thing, secretary. If at the end of a week, you still can't say all perfectly, tender your resignation letter yourself." He added.

Even though she was scared of how she would be able to get it done, she knew that she would have to put in her very best since it was not every day the boss gave people a second chance.

"Thank you so much, sir." She said and turned to look at him.

Rex cleared his throat once more and returned his attention to the iPhone in his hand. Now that the discussion was over, he was already regretting why he didn't sack her when he had the chance. The temptation to tell her he had changed his mind was great but he knew that he has to hold his status as a man of his word.

Knowing how slow she was though, he was sure that she would do a poor job, and then he can have the excuse to get her off his paying list. But for now, he would simply hold his horse and watch her struggle to retain her position as his secretary.

When Eleanor saw that the boss no longer had any interest in discussing her flaw with her, she turned her attention to the front. When she saw the driver raise a thumb at her, she smiled at him to thank him for his help.

She knew that her boss was looking for mistakes to crucify her but she was determined to keep her position as a secretary in his company. Her mother's hospital bill and welfare relied on it. Her own welfare relied on it also. So, hard as it looked, she would still make sure that nothing took the job from her.

She sighed and decided to let go of the matter for now. She turned to the driver and demanded if she could turn on the radio.

The man shook his head, "No, you can't. The boss prefers a quiet ride." He explained to her.

Eleanor felt like an i***t at that moment. She turned slightly to see if her boss would say anything else but the man looked like he was deeply engrossed in whatever he was doing. She turned back and sighed for what felt like the hundredth time to her.

It looked to her like she had more than just memorizing the man's schedule to do if she wanted to keep her job. She had to study the man himself and know what pleases him and whatnot.