She Stans The CEO

Chapter 3: Stan Crash Course

“Please sign here and here,” Carol - Damien’s secretary - said, pointing to the marked signing place on the document.

Damien swiftly stroked his pen on the paper.

Carol picked up the paper on the table and checked if her boss might miss something.

“Say, Carol. Do you know what ‘stan’ is?” Damien asked without looking at her.

“Pardon? You mean if we have an employee named Stan?”

Damien chuckled. “Never mind. Thank you, Carol.”

Carol nodded and left her boss’s office.

He swung his office chair, facing the window next to him. His pen was swirling between his fingers while he’s looking at the clouds in the sky. In his mind, he’s reminiscing about the conversation he had last night with one of his fans... pardon, his STAN - Miss Kylie Dane.

*****

“In short, you’re a stalker,” Damien said before he took a big bite of the vegetarian burger. His eyes went big when the flavor burst in his mouth, it’s very delicious, unlike the other burger he had tasted before.

BANG! - Kylie punched the table.

“I’m a fan, not a stalker,” she groaned. “Stan, as for stalker and fan,” she added. Her almond-shaped hazel eyes were glaring at him while her mouth wouldn’t stop chewing.

Damien thought she resembled a hamster - a brown chestnut hamster. She kept her food on one side of her cheek while her mouth kept moving. He had a hard time not to laugh at her. He swallowed his burger and reached for the coke zero on the table - trying to hide his smile.

“You said it yourself, stalker fan. As ‘stalker’ is the first part of the definition, it weighs more than the ‘fan’ part,” he said - teasing her further.

Kylie gasped. She wanted to deny it, yet his statement was correct. In the end, she just mumbled her disapproval while stuffing her mouth with French fries.

“I couldn’t hear you if you’re mumbling,” Damien said. He reached for the paper bag, took out the sweet potato fries, and ate it. ‘Moe’s Awful Burger’? What a weird name - he thought. The burger was far from tasting awful, it’s delicious, simply chef kisses.

“What I’m saying is, you think too much on the stalker part. I’m purely a fan of yours.” Kylie took out her ranch dip and suggested with her finger for Damien to dip his fries into it. “It tastes better.”

He did what she suggested, and she wasn’t lying. The sweetness from the fries and the faint sourness from the ranch dip combined perfectly. The restaurant’s name didn’t give justice to the rich and tasty flavor of their food.

“I’m just summarizing based on the ‘stan’ definition you mentioned,” he said as his fingers dipped another batch of sweet potato fries into the dressing.

“Look, boss, stalkers have an unhealthy obsession with their subjects. Me, as a stan, have a healthy obsessive adoration,” she said. Her eyes gazed firmly at Damien. She expostulated her stand as a fan, and didn’t want to be grouped as those creepy stalkers.

“Elaborate this healthy obsessive adoration of yours,” he demanded.

I’m obsessed with your good looks and body - she thought. Dayum! How could a person win the best genes lottery? He’s more majestic in person, now that he’s sitting across from her.

“I’m obsessed with your physique,” she said. She gasped. Did she just blurt it out loud? - she thought. She flustered, her face turned beet red. I just wanna die - she cried in her mind.

Damien almost choked on his fries. Did she just say what I thought she said? - He couldn’t believe it. How bold this stan of his, confessing her obsession with his physical appearance. Yet, she’s now flustered like a little girl.

“Come on, boss. With your look; the male envies you and the female wants you,” she added.

Should I sue her for harassment? - He thought. The way she objectified him it should be repulsive, yet he didn’t hate her for it. On the contrary, she piqued his interest even more.

“I mean, just see yourself in the mirror. If I were you, I would worship myself every day,” she said. “And good looks compensate for unpleasant personality,” she winked at him.

Unconsciously, Damien touched his left chest. Her last statement sent a jab to his heart, making it hurt a little. Was that how she saw him? A handsome face with an unpleasant personality? It made him wonder if she’s a fan of his or not.

DING! DING! DING! - Kylie’s phone made sounds. It wouldn’t stop buzzing the moment it started.

Kylie grabbed her phone and swiped it open. The first thing she read was all capital letters messages from Jimmy in their dedicated stanning chat room.

J.Dicklover: YOU BIJ! EXPLAIN THE PICTURE!!

Kylie tapped the screen to enlarge the picture. It was a picture of her and Damien eating their dinner in the lobby’s pantry. Only one person could take this picture - Jeff. You asshole! - she thought. At the same time, she felt happy about the fact she’s sitting across from her idol.

Juliaisnothere: Kylie, don’t forget to wipe your drool girl! Lol lol.

Charlesrainbowgay: Jeff needs to check the flood in the pantry. Sticky flood. Lmao.

Amylovescat: OMG! My mind went out to the gutter when I read the sticky flood.

Charlesrainbowgay: Go get laid, Amy. It’s been a while. Let’s go to a club this Friday. I’ll be your wingman.

KD♥DR: Shut your hole, Jimmy!

J.Dicklover: Bij enters the room.

Juliaisnothere: lol

Charlesrainbowgay: lol

Amylovescat: How did you end up eating together with the god?

J.Dicklover: Jeff said she was trapped in the elevator, together with vitamin D.

Lauraqueenbitch: Girl, I dunno how u r able to hold yourself back. I might already pin him down and give him head. Lol.

J.Dicklover: Wait in line, queen b***h.

KD♥DR: Nothing happened, okay. So everybody just keeps quiet.

Well, it sort of happened - Kylie thought. The pinning, it’s undeliberate, but it happened.

Damien was amused by the sight he saw in front of him. At first she frowned, then she gasped, pouted, grumbled, whined, giggled, and frowned again. Her eyes grew bigger and then squinting, back and forth between those two. He got curious about what she did.

“What are you chatting about?” He asked as he leaned forward at her - getting closer. His eyes peered down on Kylie’s monitor and the first thing he read, ‘Damien’s temple.’ “Ah, you guys are talking about me.”

Kylie’s corner mouth twitched. Will he fire us? - she gasped.

“As the owner of the temple, I want to read the chat. Please,” he said - or more he commanded. His thumbs and index fingers already clenched at the top of her phone, unwilling to let go. He’s smiling mischievously at her. He enjoyed teasing her just to pull those expressions in her face.

Kylie was reluctant. She kept holding her phone tightly in her hand.

Damien clicked his tongue. His lips pursed while his eyes peered to the left, he needed to make her handover the phone willingly. Then his eyes turned bright. He might have an idea.

“I’ll let you take a selfie with me if you let me read the chat,” he said.

Kylie’s eyes sparkled. “Really?” She shouted.

Damien nodded.

I’m sorry guys, this is one in a lifetime chance - Kylie thought. “Selfie first, then the phone,” she bargained.

Damien walked to her, then placed his arm around her shoulder.

Aw my gawd! ‘The’ Damien Rawling hugged me - Kylie was screaming in her mind.

“Come on, take a picture now,” he said.

Kylie’s fingers were trembling nervously. She almost dropped her phone. When the camera turned on, she could see Damien’s gorgeous smile. This was the best fan-service she could ever wish for.

Damien went back to his chair and sat. He swiped open the chat and scrolled up to read the older chat. It’s a lot. He wondered how they came up with the chat topic every day? He practically lived a normal life, just between home and office, perhaps some social drinks now and then with his friend, but nothing else. From the chat he learned how his fans had been following him since ages ago; they noted down his daily schedule in perfect detail. These are not fans, they’re stalkers - he thought.

He sighed, and didn’t know how to react. Should he rejoice at the existence of these stalkers or feel annoyed? His publicist would jump in joy if she knew about this, but… he lost words.

Suddenly a new chat buzzing in the monitor.

J.Dicklover: Did you lure him for dinner with your cleavage?

Damien unconsciously glanced at her bosom. What are you doing, Damien Rawlings? - he reprimanded himself.

Although by the quick glance he knew, those under her shirt were not small. He studied her; a round baby face with big almond-shaped hazel eyes, feathery chestnut hair. Her body had nice curves and round-full hips. Not bad, more to quite a pleasing sight. Especially the way she chewed her food like now, she’s like a cute hamster.

“Did someone ever tell you that you look like a hamster?” Damien said.

“Huh?” Kylie was baffled.

*****

“Sir, it’s lunchtime. Shall I order anything for you?”

Carol’s voice brought Damien back to reality.

He didn’t realize time flew so fast while he was lost in his thoughts. “I’ll go down to the cafeteria. Where is Mr. Royce?”

“Vice president already went down to the cafeteria, sir,” Carol replied.

Damien nodded and left the room.

The cafeteria was already full with employees of R&R. It had a good variety of tenants that offered different food and beverages. Since today was Thursday - his cheating day - Damien was thinking of buying lasagna. He queued in front of the Italian cuisine food stall, just like everybody else. He never abused his authority as the owner of the building for a special treatment, it’s not who he is.

“What will you have, Kylie?” A girl’s voice was heard from the queue beside him.

When he heard it, he turned around to see if that was the same Kylie that met last night, and he’s right. Her eyes were glued to her phone in her hand while her fingers swiping left and right. She had a lollipop in her mouth, which she put on the side of her right cheek. He chuckled. Kylie the cute hamster - he thought.

“I want to try this!” Kylie showed her friend the phone. “I have a voucher for a $5 discount,” she grinned.

“I bet you’ll buy Moe’s burger again tonight?” A man they’re with said. The girl giggled.

“Moe’s burger is delicious and today’s menu is ‘Gloomy Thursday’.” Kylie pouted. Her thin lips pursed, it made her right cheek look swollen even more.

Damien bit his lower lip, trying not to laugh. But then he thought he better order salad for lunch, because suddenly he already had something in mind for dinner.

*****

Kylie’s phone buzzed with a message arriving. She put down her fork and double tapped the screen to read it.

D.A.Rawlings: Order the regular Moe’s burger for me. Meet you up at the same place as last night.

She gasped. Her face looked up to the executive lounge and there she saw Damien. He was looking back at her.

KD♥DR: Is it you, boss?

D.A.Rawlings: Anyone else you know named Damien Alexander Rawlings?

KD♥DR: Nope.

D.A.Rawlings: What’s the menu for tonight?

KD♥DR: Gloomy Thursday. its boneless BBQ ribs with special herbs and cheese.

D.A.Rawlings: Good. And please order the same sweet potato fries for me.

KD♥DR: Got it.

D.A.Rawlings: See you tonight, Kylie.

KD♥DR: See you tonight, boss.

After she put down her phone, she squealed. She pinched Jimmy, who sat next to her.

“Argh!” Jimmy cried. “What are you doing, bij?” Jimmy rubbed his hand to soothe the pain.

“It’s not a dream!” Kylie shouted.

“I can knock you unconscious,” he sneered. He shook his head and thought that she’s gone crazy.

If only Jimmy knew, he might react the same. IF only.