Miss CEO

CHAPTER SEVEN

TOM

I have no idea where I got the courage to do what I just did , but seeing Zara being so sweet with that guy in front of me , and she was clearly doing it on purpose , it only made my blood boil , and just one glance at Lucy , I remembered the advice she used to give me every time this happened , so I decided to accept the card from the redhead with a smile.

Not just to give Zara a spoonful of her own medicine , but to check her reaction to this gesture , and I must say I was quite pleased by the way she got mad as soon as I put the card in my pocket.

I take out the card to look at it , pausing on the name: Eleanor Carroll , and I realize that I didn't even know the redhead's name until now , I was so focused on making Zara jealous , that I didn't even notice that important detail.

I think for a few seconds about whether I should continue with this or not , but finally , I decide that it is not worth it , that girl is seen to be problematic , also that the bad blood between the two of them is evident , and I do not want to be another problem between two shareholders from the company I just started working for.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Without dwelling on the matter , I toss the redhead's business card into the nearest trash can and head to my new job , but as soon as I enter the floor where the programming division is located , I feel an abrupt change in the air.

All the people stare at me and begin to murmur among themselves as I pass by , when I finally get to the desk that was assigned to me this morning , the pressure has already become unbearable , and I have no idea what to do to avoid people keep looking at me like I have something weird on my face.

After about twenty minutes of awkward mumbling , the area supervisor seems to have realized what is going on , and comes up to me to ask the question I was dreading:

“ So , new kid , how do you know the Arlington’s? They seem quite familiar with you, ” he asks me.

Fortunately , I have been preparing myself to think fast for years , so the answer I give after comes naturally:

" Oh , I am friends with Lucy, " I tell him casually.

" Mr. Arlington's fiancée? " he asks me again.

" Yes , that’s the one , we used to work together at the country club , I have known her for several years, " I tell him , but he doesn't seem satisfied with my answer.

" So , was she the one who helped you get the job? " he asks me , and I scowl at him , which makes him surprised.

" No , I went through the selection process just like everyone else , I took the exam , and I had to do the interview via Skype because I was still in Tokyo, " I answer him , and he seems curious.

" Tokyo? What were you doing there? " my supervisor asks.

" I studied at the university there , at that time I was working with Professor Nakamura , so I could not come to do the interview in person, " I answer with a shrug , and his eyes widen.

" Professor Aiko Nakamura? " he exclaims.

" The same one, " I reply confused by his reaction.

" Wow , how did you get to work with him? He is the best in this field! " he asks me in amazement.

" In the same way as I managed to get in this company , studying hard and taking an exam for which I was the best in the class , so he chose me, " I answer with a hint of smugness , because I know by his stunned expression , that any doubt about the way I got this job has been cleared up , and I may be able to silence whatever rumors are running about me and the Arlington's right now.

Fortunately , no one knows about my relationship with Zara , otherwise , this would cease to be hallway rumors to become a scandal that would surely fill the covers of various magazines and internet pages , taking into account how popular Zara is becoming , not to mention to her stupid boyfriend , who I found out checking on the internet for the last ten minutes , is quite famous , even more so than Lucy informed us.

" Well , now that I have the necessary information about you and your achievements , I think it would be good for you to accompany me to the meeting that we will have tomorrow with a potential client , so that you can learn how to manage the processes in the company , I also don’t think that the new CEO will be bothered by your presence there , you guys seemed pretty close in the elevator , from what I heard, ” he suddenly spats out , and I almost choke on my own saliva.

" What? " I exclaim in an alarmed tone.

" Well , the security guards have been talking about it all day , about how the new employee cornered the new CEO in the elevator , but that she was not bothered by it , and when they asked if she needed help , she refused , so , after seeing you talking to the Arlington's , everyone assumed it was you, ” he explains to me , and I run my hand over my face.

Zara was right , it is not good that I get so close to her when we are in the company , I have not been there for a day and people are already talking about us , if this continues like this it will be impossible to work quietly , besides , that Zara has just taken control of the company as she has always wanted it , and this could ruin it.

God , now I understand why Zara was so upset with me in the elevator , I should have thought better of things , but I was so happy to see her after so long that I acted without thinking about the consequences , and now that I can have a taste of what would happen if people find out what went on between the two of us a few years ago , I am fully aware that it is probably better that I don’t come near her at the office.

That doesn’t mean that I will stop fighting to be with her again , because it was always impregnated in my head all the times that Zara questioned me for not having fought for her and our relationship , so , no matter if she has a boyfriend , or If she is my boss now , I won't stop trying to be with her again.

I know it will be difficult to control myself in the meeting tomorrow , but I have to make an effort to pretend that we are just acquaintances , and so the rest of the workers will stop talking about us , especially about her , I don't want her work as new CEO to be tarnished for a rumor about me , she would hate me if that happened , she has struggled all her life to get there , I cannot ruin this for her.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -