Substitute for Lawson

4

"Here, drink this."

The girl, still tearful, was sitting in Alice's office. She was frowning, muttering obscenities under her breath, and trying to calm the new girl down. Of course, that wasn't part of her plan for the day, but Kim couldn't get over the idea that Damian had snapped at the poor girl like that. Where can he understand the subtle feelings? A lout.

- That's all, I'm calm... - said the girl, refusing to take another sedative pill. — It's all right. I am grateful to you…

"You?" - Alice just felt a little hurt. The girl was only a year younger than her. — Do I look so old?"

— What?" Ah, no… You... I mean, you look great... " the girl corrects herself, trying to smile. It turns out a little strange.

— I can take you off work for the day, so you can go home and recover."…

"No," I said. Amy jumps up from her seat. — I want to work!" After all, I came here precisely for this, and not to whine, so please give me a job, and you can even keep me for the time that I was late... - With a quick movement, she wipes the moisture from her cheeks, straightens up, acquiring a proud look. — It's my fault that I'm late. Mr. Lawsen is right.

***

Damian was pacing the office, hands behind his back. His footsteps were fast, and he shuffled along at the speed of sound. From time to time, he snorted something under his breath and tried to figure out what he had done wrong, that he had been let down like this. Isn't that what you should do with non-native workers?

"Ahem," he heard an awkward cough behind him, just to attract attention. The man starts, seeing the secretary in front of him.

"How long have you been here?" He gets a little lost, leaning his hips on the table.

"Well," he thinks, and nods uncertainly, pursing his lips. "Mrs. Kim forgot this," she says, holding out the large, thick folder that Alice hastily left in the waiting room. "I think she was carrying it to you."

"Me?" He raises his eyebrows in surprise and looks at the black cover in disbelief before taking it in his hands. He opens it, frowning at the bridge of his nose, and begins to read carefully. Brittany continues to stand in front of him, carefully considering what he will do next, his nervousness felt from several kilometers away. And Damian feels the scrutiny irritate him even more.

"Well?" He looks up incredulously from under his brows. "Why are you up?" Go to work. Or is there something else?

Brittany shrugs and, realizing that her boss really isn't in the mood, quickly retreats to the reception area.

— And why do you always have to run to me if you can do it all by yourself?" - He sighs tiredly, throwing the checked documents on the table. Damian knew that Alice sometimes lacked confidence and risk-taking, because she always did everything right, but she was afraid of making a mistake and ran for advice.

He's going to take the file back to her, because it feels like they've had a fight.

— Where are you going?" As soon as he steps out of the office, the receptionist jumps up reflexively.

- We need to put the folder in... - sighs tiredly pointing to the folder in his hand. And why does it report back?

"Should I drop it off?" "usually the girl did it herself.

"I'll do it myself. He quickly leaves the waiting room, leaving the girl with a strange feeling inside. And what did he say?

Blacker than a cloud enters the elevator meeting the stares of employees who are packed not so little. A thought flashed through Mr. Lawsen's mind about where they were all going, but he didn't say it, it would have been too stupid. Having descended to the necessary floor, the man went along the corridor, which was like home to him.

"Hello, Mr. Lawsen. — A young employee appeared from one of the offices, almost immediately from a serious girl in a strict suit, turned into strawberry jelly.

If he was in the mood, Damian might even have a few words with her, but not now.

There is no one to meet him in the reception area, so he bursts into the office without even knocking. Alice appears in front of his eyes, as if not noticing anything, continues to type something.

"Ahem," Lawsen clears his throat and taps the knuckles of his right hand on the table.

— What?" The girl stubbornly doesn't look up. What kind of kindergarten is this?

— Everything is correct here, you didn't have to worry. He casually throws the documents on the table, sniffing reflexively.

"I see. - The girl is actively engaged in her work, or pretends to appear offended or important in front of him, but with Damian such games will not work, let Lucas show crazy people.

He looks around the office for some reason and immediately lands on the couch.

— Don't you have anything to do?" The girl stands up, rummaging through something on the shelves behind the desk.

"Let's find out?"

— What?"

"Okay, that's it! - The man gets annoyed. — I was wrong! Where's the intern?

— I'm not going to fire her!"

"Don't fire me," he says with a long sigh. — I overreacted. Okay, I'll just have a chat with her and that's it. Let it work.

— It works without you talking to it. Don't worry. If you don't like it, then the internship and probation period are under my control. The girl walks angrily around the desk, glancing at the next few documents as she stands over Damian, giving him a fleeting, not-so-friendly look. "Check it out." She answers along the way, just as Lawson is about to open his mouth in response and hands him the papers.

Damian's eyes flick nervously over them and then back again.

"It's fine.

— Thank you." The girl nods and returns to the table.

— Hey, - the deputy jumps up from his seat and rests his palms on the table, looking at his friend's wife. — You... you're not going to give it back?"

"It's not a thing to return. So - " The girl is so busy with business that she often pauses. "No," she says, looking up at Damian gravely, and then thrusting another piece of paper at him. The deputy clicks his tongue and angrily snatches the paper from the girl's fingers.

— Yes, everything is fine! - Finally he can't stand it, raising his voice. "Stop doubting. Don't come to me for small things!

***

When she got a grip on herself, she was given a very simple task, sending her to the archive to sort through contracts and old documents. The trainees, of course, were not given anything serious and usually looked like slaves or errands, even the secretaries had more privileges.

The girl was sitting between the shelves on a low stool, looking at documents sewn into thick hard folders and she was interested. Amy was grateful that she had met this girl this morning, that she was not afraid of the deputy general, so stood up for her. Damian's speech was very depressing for the girl's already fragile nature. Of course, she was persistent, but she could barely stand it and took to heart what others said about her. In order to avoid this, she tried to give her best in business, which is probably why she was the best student on the stream. But what does it matter to her when she's already finished? university? After all, now connections and appearance are important. She couldn't boast of either. That's such a pity. And when the girl was very worried, she became even more clumsy than usual.

Emily was so engrossed in reading that she didn't notice someone creeping up behind her.

"Emily," Sarah said, causing the girl to accidentally drop the volume of documents.

— What?" She was starting to get scared, but the other woman gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder.

"Don't strain yourself so much! The secretary chuckles. "It's a well-deserved lunch. Have a rest. Do you want to eat with us? Or… I think I've seen the rest of the interns around here somewhere.

"Oh, no! Emily protests. — I'm late and I'm not supposed to have lunch... " And at that very moment, as if by the law of the genre, her stomach lets out the long moan of a dying whale.

"Even so," the girl twists her lips to the side, shaking her head. "Lunch, there's lunch! Let's go!

Seeing how difficult it is for Emily right now, Sarah tries to lighten the situation with her jokes, and she succeeds. Emily can't help but smile as she follows the secretary. As soon as they reach the reception area, they see Alice coming out of the office.

— Well?" How are you? The girl smiles affably, and again Amy may not notice how beautiful and built this girl is.

"It's all right! Thank you... - And yet, as far as her character goes, she is terribly uncomfortable.

— What are your plans?"

"Well, we were thinking of having lunch with Mrs. Kim," Sarah blurts out immediately.

— Aah, - Alice nods in response and apparently completely forgot about it, looks at her wristwatch. "Since that's the case, do you want to have lunch with me?"

There's an awkward silence. Sarah tries not to show a terrible surprise, tries her best to keep her emotions and facial expressions under control, and Emily is lost and slightly opens her mouth and blinks her eyes.

"Me?" he asks uncertainly. Is it possible to look for a catch in this? Or does justice exist?

— Yes! Keep me company, so let's go!" Before she could even think or respond, Emily was almost unconsciously walking beside the deputy head of the legal department. Have lunch! What's this… Moving up the career ladder?

After they step out of the elevator on the first floor, the confused intern opens her mouth.

— Where are we going?"

"Did you see the restaurant across from the office?"

The new employee's mind immediately starts to brainstorm, and she frantically remembers what she managed to remember on the way here. Exactly...there was a restaurant, but judging by the design, it's terribly expensive! The girl slows down a little behind her companion and stops a little later.

— What?" Alice slows down, confused.

— It's very expensive there. Yes, for one meal, I can leave my entire salary there! - The girl is embarrassed, realizing that she can't afford it.

— Who told you you were paying?" The deputy raises his eyebrows in surprise.

"And you… That is, you… I won't let you pay for me!

"Who told you I was going to pay?" Kim grins even more as she puts her arm around the new employee's shoulder. "Don't worry about the money, let's go!"

"But ... how?" Emily bites her lip nervously, but still moves her legs, even though she wants to protest in her heart.

"It's all been paid for a long time! - With ease and frivolity in his head, Kim throws.

Emily was surprised when they were received with honors at the same restaurant. And not only that! They were seated not just in the hall at a table, but in a box closed on the second floor of the restaurant. The so-called box was arranged so that no one could hear their conversations and could not shamelessly spy on them.

Oh, my God, Fox thought. As she settled herself in a comfortable chair, the waiter came up to them.

— As usual, please, - Alice said without much difficulty, giving the young man a smile. If someone were here right now, no one would just get away with this smile. — And although! - When the waiter nods understandingly and is about to leave, Alice stops him, remembering the new person in their company.

— What?" Emily sees her boss and the waiter staring at her.

"Order it." The girl points to the menu. — What do you want?"

— I don't know... - My throat is terribly dry just from the prices seen on paper. Nightmare. She can only afford a glass of water here! And then ... um ... there are multiple views?! Wow, how can ordinary still water cost so much?!

"Hey, don't look at the prices, it's all paid for! Choose whatever you want!

And so, a confused, clueless girl pokes her finger at the menu, trying to order something adequate in name and price. Was was not.

Damian, in the company of his friend, tries not to think about the simple morning, reminding himself that Monday is a hard day, and leaves the office, already looking forward to eating a delicious marbled beef steak.

— Why are you so glum this morning?" Didn't you have a good night?" Lucas teases, nudging the man in the side.

Damian sighs wearily. What should I tell him? That he was ashamed? And heck, does he want to fall in love after all? Or about that awful morning when he'd met that ridiculous girl? He's definitely not going to say anything right now. After all, he doesn't want to talk about his personal life in front of Alice, and even more so about the girl, because she was so fiercely protective of her.

They enter the restaurant, where they are greeted by the staff as regular customers. Lucas already knows where to sit down and that food will arrive soon. The men go up to the second floor and go to the closed box, chatting about something, and when, while chewing meat, Emily chokes on her food at the sight of subjects who look in. What? Isn't that the CEO? That's what a girl can't mistake for anyone else! Before going to interviews, she spent a long time studying websites with various information about this company. And this is ... the CEO, the chairman's son, Lukas Kim. Her gaze was so riveted right now someone so important that she doesn't even notice Damian coming to pick him up.

Without any hesitation, Lucas kisses his wife and breaks into a soft smile. — You ordered what I asked for, good girl! He sits down next to her, and then notices the girl sitting across from him. "Oh, your friend?" An employee?

Emily just couldn't eat anymore. She had no idea what to do. Bow down or kiss your hands, as they do there? But he's so beautiful...it just makes a girl blush.

While Damian hesitated, staring at his phone, and was about to sit down next to Alice's companion without looking, Lucas ' question made him look up out of curiosity.

Emily and Damian, almost simultaneously, stared at each other in shock beyond words. The girl had been startled by such a sudden encounter, and so close at that, but Lawson's mind was still going through a hell of a lot of things.

"What the ..." he almost cursed, grimacing. — Why did you bring her here?" Damian's eyes widen as he glances at his friend's young wife.

"What do you mean?" Alice clucks in displeasure. — I came to have lunch with a friend. Isn't that right, Amy?

"Er ... what?" - The girl doesn't answer right away, but if she does, it doesn't come out in a coherent speech. "And we —" She looks at Alice in confusion and then looks at Lucas.

"Ah," the girl says, coming to her senses. - Meet me! This is my husband! - He's smiling all over his face, as if nothing has happened, and this is the CEO! Heck!

"M-husband?" - The girl stutters, immediately blushing.

"Nice to meet you," Lucas says, extending his hand in greeting, and she takes it awkwardly, knocking her cutlery to the floor.

"Damn it! Damian Says, annoyed. — You can't even act like a mumbler right now!" And then you said I was wrong?! Damian quickly looks from the startled girl to Alice. — Just look at her!" And why did you bring an intern here?!

Amy almost whispers, but the two of them can't hear her.

— I'm here to have lunch with a friend!" Is something wrong?!

"What kind of friend is she?" Mr. Lawsen retorts. — You've known her for half a day!

"What difference does it make to you?

And while the two of them exchange arguments, as if a lawyer and a prosecutor are in court, Lucas munches on his lunch as if nothing has happened and looks with interest from his wife to his friend. Emily, realizing that she is the cause of their quarrel, suffers with the last of her strength, squeezes the hem of her skirt under the table and already squeezes her eyes in fear begins to count to ten in her head. And the moment she says "ten," she jumps up and apologizes again, and runs out of the booth, hoping to get away from this nightmare.

"Emily! Alice runs after the girl, leaving her shocked husband alone.

Lucas slowly stops chewing and puts down the cutlery, wiping his lips with a napkin.

— And... - The man clears his throat, still unable to move away from what he saw. — What was that?"