Chapter - 4 The Offer!!

She finally decided to ask the question that was bugging her mind for the past one week.

"Are you going to fire me?"

"Is that what you want?"

"Of course not!"

"So the kiss was just a mistake."

"Yes." she nodded her head as if just the words weren't enough for him to understand.

He looked at her for a moment and then turned around and started to walk away. She let out a sigh of relief but then suddenly he turned around and with his hands on either side of her head on wall she was trapped. Again!

Left with no where to go, she blinked at him, nervous and surprised. He brought his face close to her ear and said in a low voice,"Do you know Miss Evangeline Rose, good girls never lie. Did you really think that I will believe your stupid reason about that kiss?"

Eva's ears turned red. His breath was fanning her ear and she wasn't sure if it was because she was caught lying or that he was standing way too close to her but her knees were feeling weak. Then he brought his face close to hers and looking into her eyes he continued,"So Miss Evangeline Rose, never lie to me ever again because I don't like liars. Ok?"

"O-ok." she stammered.

His blue green eyes stared into her surprised and bewildered brown pair for a minute and then he stood straight. With his hands in the pocket of his trousers, he looked at her and said,"So Miss Rose, if you want to continue working here you will have to agree to two of my conditions."

"And what are they?"she asked.

"First you will never play truth and dare game with your colleagues or anyone else."

" Ok." I have vowed that to myself long ago. I played once and landed in trouble. I am not a fool to do it again.'

"Second, since I was away from the company for a long time a lot of work has piled up and it's becoming difficult for my secretary to handle all that alone. And I don't want to burden him more than this. So you will be his assistant and will help him with his work."

"What? You are asking me to be your secretary's assistant?"

"Everyone in this company already have enough on their plate while you..."

'Does he mean I do nothing?' Eva could feel her anger bubbling. 'Does he even know I hardly sit for 10 minutes during my working hours because all the while I have to run errands for them and do half of their work, taking out printouts, checking their calculations etc.'

"I know you do your best."he continued. "But from now on you just have to dedicate your time to help out my secretary."

She chewed nervously on her lower lip. She had found this job due to the old man's kindness, Arthur Richardson whom she had met accidentally. He had dropped his medicine and she had to run all the way after his car to return them  but in the process she had lost her chance for the interview of a job vacancy. But old man was kind enough to offer her this temporary job. If she lost this job then she wasn't sure when will she be able to find the next one.

"But I - I don't really have any experience and what if I messed up. I don't want to make things difficult for you."

"I have already seen your résumé. You   GPA is good. I don't know why you are doing this-"

"Because I couldn't find work anywhere else as there were no placements or internships. No vacancies in short. So when I was offered this job I agreed to do it and I like it here."

"So you have the qualifications. And you know how to use a computer, type mails and manage calls?"

"Yes."

"And you are ready to work hard."

"Yes."

"So he will teach you the rest."

"How about-"

"I don't have time to waste Miss Rose. Everyone is already busy with all the work on their plate and no one in HR will have the time to take the interviews and I don't have the patience to wait for someone to qualify the drill and since the job isn't that difficult I will make do with what's available. And you pretty much have the qualifications for the job."

'Does he read minds? How does he know I was I was about to ask him to hire someone else?'

" So tell me your answer quickly, Miss Rose. I am not a man of patience. Either you take it or leave it."

"Ok. I'll work for your secretary."

"Good." He continued,"And one more thing," she looked up at him "I don't want to see you kissing random guys in my office."

She could feel her face turning red with both embarrassment and anger.

He turned around and started walking towards his table.

"You can leave now and remember to report here tomorrow at 9 am sharp."

" Ok." She hurried to leave.

'Thank god, I still have the job.'

She closed the door behind her and took a deep breath. The last few minutes had driven her to the edges of her nerves. She was in awe of herself that she didn't collapse in front of him.

That night she went to bed with a giddy heart and a big smile on her face. She no longer had to worry about losing her job.

When her eyes opened she found herself standing in a dark room. It was so dark that she couldn't even see her own hands. She frantically started searching for a light source and finally found one. She started walking towards it and then she ran but the harder she ran the farther that source of light moved away from her. She ran with all her might and made it to light. She was panting heavily but it felt good to be out of the dark.

Then she noticed she wasn't alone there. There was a man standing with his back towards her. She was sure she had never met him before but he felt strangely familiar. She tapped lightly on his shoulder and he turned around. His blue green eyes staring into her brown ones.

But then he arched eyebrow and looked at her from his great height and said,"Ms Evangeline Rose, you are late.''

"What?" Eva's eyes flew open. "Sorry, Sir  I am really-" her eyes focused on the surroundings and she realised she was still in her room.

"Thank god! that was just a dream." When her eyes fell on the alarm clock she realised it was 7:50 a.m.. In her sleep she had stopped the alarm and now she was going to be late.

"Oh God, the bus leaves at 8:35 if I didn't make it in time I will be late on my first day."

She quickly jumped out of her bed rushed to the bathroom. She brushed her teeth and took a quick shower. By the time she got ready it was 8:25 already and bus was about to leave in 10 minutes which meant she had no time for breakfast so she quickly grabbed a cold Sandwich and a bottle of juice from the fridge and rushed to the bus stand

She literally ran to the bus stand but was able to catch the bus. By the time she reached the office building it was 8:50.

She entered the building and rushed to the lift but the lift doors closed and no one even bothered to stop it because it was already full.

She took the stairs to make it on time. Since she was on an errand girl and had no important position her plain top, jeans and sneakers did the job. Though it's a different matter that she never really had enough money to go for formals even if she wanted to but now, she thought she should start wearing formals and heels of course. After all she was now an assistant.

By the time she reached the 3rd floor she realised ONE HUGE MISTAKE!!

"Eva! Are you crazy? How can you make it to 50th floor on your feet!? Damn!!"

She ran towards the lift of the floor and this time luckily she found space for herself. She got into the lift and prayed for it to move faster. Finally she reached the 50th floor and quickly walked towards the CEO'S office. She knocked at  the door and from in came a voice.

"Come in."

She entered his office and slowly closed the door behind her.

"Good morning, Sir."

He was standing with his back towards her looking from his floor to ceiling window at other smaller buildings. She wasn't sure if this was a coincidence because he was wearing a suit similar to the one in her dream. She could tell that the suit was tailored especially for him. It accentuated his broad shoulders and biceps and his back looked se-

'Stop it, Eva! Behave.'  she kicked herself inwardly.

He turned around and started to walk towards her. His gaze focused on her as if she was the only living thing in the room which was true. But why was it that every time he looked at her she felt like a prey being sized by a ferocious Predator, popularly known as Liam Richardson.

He stopped at an arm's distance from her, looked at his watch and then at her.

''Miss Evangeline Rose, you are late."