Essence of my life

Chapter 2

The alarm went off and Caitlyn groaned in annoyance. She was never the one to use an alarm to wake herself, but owing to the recent incidents and her drinking habits, she has become an addict to sleeping.

It had been more than six months from the time she had quit her job. She never really saved, for she believed that her money was good in the hands of charity and she even made sure that it was well spent. Because she was now hard pressed, she had to move from her huge apartment to her clumsy one to cut down on rent.

She looked around herself. Clothes everywhere. She always came home so tipsy that she barely had any strength to tidy up the mess in her matchbox like house. She was actually a neatness nerd, but when she couldn't fix her own broken pieces of her heart, she lost interest in doing anything she used to do before. It was not like anyone would come and check her house. She was practically a loner and was scared to even let anyone close to her. She had enough trouble getting over the fact that she was all alone in this world after her parents died, and she completely lost her trust in everyone after her love had shattered her heart. So there was no point in her having any friends.

But the point was, why did she switch on her alarm when she didn't even have to wake up? She never did anything without a reason, even if she was tipsy!

She tied her raven black hair up in a messy pony tail and started her morning dose of metal music. Being a 27 year old woman didn't bother her from changing her favourite genre! She never really gave a damn about others opinions. She made herself a cup of coffee and slumped down in front of her laptop. She had to hunt down jobs now! It was almost 9 and she checked her mails. Unimportant mails, spam, trash, forwards. Wait! There was a special mail today!

From: Jackie Baxter, Baxter companies.

Dear Ms. Mackarren,

I apologise for the sudden and absurd job invitation yesterday night in the bar.

I just wanted to make sure that it wasn't the tipsy me talking and the job is really yours. I want to officially appoint you as my secretary and I expect you to be here by 10.

Thanks,

Jackie Baxter

Oh dear lord! How could she forget such an important issue? Was she so tipsy that she couldn't even remember what happened last night? She checked her clock hanging on the wall, it was already quarter past nine. She now had to hurry!

She hit the shower, and was out in 10 minutes. She wasn't a huge fan of caking her face with makeup, so that made her task even easier now. She fixed her hair into a pony tail and put on some lip balm, just to cover her chapped lips due to excessive drinking. Her ultimate motive was to not look like a drunkard, and she pulled it off just fine with a pair of ash coloured linen pants and a black silk blouse. She slipped on her work heels and picked up her resume from the piled up papers on the couch. Her morning coffee had to suffice her stomach as she didn't have time to go for a quick breakfast. She slammed the door shut and locked it, hurrying downstairs to her car. She finally made it into the office by 9:59.

On the dot. Never late.

"Mr. Baxter, there is a lady here named Miss Caitlyn Mackarren, wishing to see you," the lady at the reception spoke into the phone. She looked pretty. Brunette, with big doe like brown eyes and wavy hair. She had a good sense of makeup as she looked more natural than the rest she saw in the office.

A voice cracked in the phone and she nodded at Caitlyn smiling. "You may go inside. Let me lead the way. And by the way, Miss Mackarren, my name is Emma." Caitlyn just nodded with a faint smile. She wasn't the one for conversations or smiles.

The brunette walked with a perfect sway in her hips. She was comparatively short, around 5'2, but tried to cover it up with her three inch heels. Caitlyn was tall enough, around 5'7 with long legs and an hour glass figure. She had all the right curves at all the right places and people envied her for that. She radiated an aura as a bold and strong woman.

"Sir, Miss Mackarren," she smiled and the handsome man sitting on his writing desk, looked up to her. As soon as his gaze flickered towards Caitlyn, his eyes widened for a fraction of a second and he quickly regained his composure.

He was all composed now. The last time she saw him in the bar, his tie was loose and his suit was a little crumpled and he looked troubled. Now, he was just the walking example of a perfect business man. His sandy brown hair was a little too long and fell over his light and merry chocolate eyes with long eyelashes. Well defined jaw and high cheekbones with a slight and desirable stubble. His suit was perfectly tucked in and looked more like royalty. Well, the Baxter's were so rich that they could easily pass for royalty.

"Ah, Miss Mackarren! You are on time!" he smirked.

"Always, sir," she nodded, her face expressionless.

He was curious about her expressionless face. Why wouldn't she smile? He even saw her yesterday but never did he see her smile! What was wrong with her? And god, didn't she look beautiful? He had always seen women go drooling for him but this lady in front of him, didn't even flinch! And what is with his sudden attraction towards a woman he barely knew? Maybe his father's words were getting into his head and he really needs to marry someone now!

"Alright then, Emma, I need you to take her resume and fill her in with all the updates regarding my schedules and meetings. She is going to be my secretary from this moment on. And, miss Mackarren, please follow me."

She nodded and could see from the corner of her eye, the way Emma was eyeing her up. She brushed off her stare and stood in her cool state, waiting for Jackie to stand up and show her around.

The office was huge. White and beige were the basic colours and gave off a perfect atmosphere for working. People smiled and greeted Jackie as he walked by. It seemed to Caitlyn that he was a good boss. Woman gave him flirty looks and giggled as he passed by. Younger ladies set their shirts, tugging them down so that their cleavage was clearly seen. Jackie turned to Caitlyn as to see her reaction, but her face was just as unreadable as before.

He internally groaned. What could he do to see her smile?

He introduced her to the office and she was left to Emma to get updated about the meetings and appointments of Mr. Jackie Baxter.

"So," Emma sighed, twirling her hair around her finger and observing Caitlyn's every movement carefully, "I never saw you in the interviews."

Caitlyn skimmed through the files, memorising whatever was necessary. "I haven't attended one," she simply stated.

That was something new Emma had ever heard. Mr. Baxter never took in a single employee without a personal interview from himself. So how come he just picked Caitlyn out of the blue to be hissecretary? Not to mention, Emma herself failed at the interview for being Mr. Baxter's secretary! And she regretted that very much.

"So, how come you got appointed?" she asked with a voice laced with curiosity.

"I was personally asked for." Caitlyn didn't even bother to look up at her reaction.

"Personally?" she gaped at her. Was she so special? She didn't know! How did he even find her? And how skilled is she exactly to have been offered the job everyone strived for? "How does he know you?"

"How would I know?" she snapped. Prolonging conversations always got on her nerves and she never liked sharing her personal life. She felt that it was really unimportant to be discussing about her personal life at workplace.

"Are you done?" Jackie walked in on them and Emma set her shirt, while Caitlyn stood up gracefully, placing the pile of files on the desk.

"Yes, sir. Is there anything else I need to know about?"

"Yeah," he shrugged, "you will be attending to all my calls and only the important ones shall be diverted to me. Understood?"

"Yes, sir."

"And only when my father pesters you about speaking to me, shall you forward his call to me."

Father's calls were not considered as important to him? Well, the time she saw him yesterday, he was actually on the phone with his father. And she could tell that he was definitely annoyed at that point. Maybe he was just trying to balance his stress level at his workplace.

"Yes, sir."

"And, never forward my mother's calls," he frowned. His expression was pained and she assumed his mother's topic was touchy and she would never knowingly or willingly speak about others' personal topics. Because she knew how it felt like speaking about the things which were sensitive.

They hurt.

Real bad.

"Yes, sir," she slightly nodded, understanding what he felt.

"Right," he took a deep breath, "so, why don't you come and check out my cabin."

He meant that in a flirty manner and Emma probably got the sign. Hell, everyone in that room got what he meant but Caityln paid no attention and motioned him to lead her. Emma's eyes widened as she saw that Caitlyn completely ignored the flirting in his statement. Generally, girls would swoon over the fact that Jackie actually paid attention to a woman and that he was even sparing his time to flirt with her. But this lady was nuts! She doesn't even care! She had some crazy resistance to his charm!

Or maybe she was lesbian?

Who would know?

But she didn't look at any woman there with such eyes either! So what is she?

As they both walked by, away from her to Mr. Baxter's office, Emma's heart felt as if it was sinking. All these days of being close to Mr. Baxter's office and talking to him often has made her fall hopelessly head over heels for him. He was the perfect gentleman; rich and well mannered. His smile was worth living for and when he spoke, it was like a beautiful symphony to the ears. She felt like she was the luckiest girl alive in this planet when he personally called for her when he needed any files or when he had to talk about a few appointments. But now, all her privilege was gone! This cold, ice queen like woman dropped by all of a sudden from somewhere and the ever so handsome man's eyes are all over her. He showed interest in her and even tried to be flirty, but she doesn't even acknowledge his charm!

She slumped back in her seat, thinking of the ways she could get back her boss all to herself from the clutches of this ice queen.

Jackie tried being flirty, just the way he did with other women when he felt like bedding them, but Caitlyn paid no attention to his flirty talks and even cut him off by directly stating her business. Never in his life had he seen a woman of that sort. A woman who could actually resist his charms and be bold. A woman who could brush him off in such a way that he questioned his own charm now. After a bunch of flirty trials, he gave up for the day and resumed on showing where all his files were and where she could find the other important things. He gave her the cabin which was right in front of his, which was covered in glass, so that he could see her all the time and keep an eye on her every movement.

He had a strange feeling when she was around. His always perfect self felt like it was crumbling and he felt more conscious about himself. He tried to impress her whereas he didn't even bother to acknowledge those beautiful women trying to hit on him and those who tried to seduce him. Why was this happening to him?

All day long, her head was lowered and she did her work. Sending mails, rescheduling his crammed appointments, updating him with the changes she made, she definitely was a workaholic. She was the first employee whom he had seen so dedicated to her work. But little did he know, that work was the only thing she did and kept her sanity as she had no family or friends.

He saw her do all the last bit of her work and it was way past the closing time. She sighed and shut her laptop, tucking it in her bag and locking all her shelves. She knocked at his cabin door and came in.

"Mr. Baxter, I have rescheduled your work and have emailed it to your personal ID. I have made all the calls required for the changes as well. I will be leaving now. Thank you for the job offer, sir. It means a lot to me," she spoke and turned around.

He looked at how bold and straight she was and adored her for that. All the day of being with her and even flirting with her; not even once has she shown any signs of interest in him. He desperately wanted to know what she thought of him but he couldn't ask!

"Miss Mackarren!" he called out admist his flow of thoughts.

"Yes, sir?" she turned around to face him.

Why did he call her? He had nothing to talk to her about! He just wanted to see her face one more time but if he told her, she would think that he was perverted for sure! He had to make up an excuse very fast or the situation could turn awkward!

"Umm, let me drop you at your place?" he said. It sounded much more like a question and he internally groaned for looking so stupid.

"It's fine, sir. I will go by myself," she replied curtly.

"It is already very dark now and I think it is dangerous for a woman to go out all by herself," he frowned.

"I have a car, sir. I'm sure that it will definitely take me home safely. Thank you for your concern, by the way. Good night." With that she disappeared in the dim lit hallways into the elevator.

Today was definitely not the day for luring women for him. Maybe he would be better prepared for this ice queen tomorrow and who would know? He could also melt her down on the way!