Chapter 2 Complements and flustering

Beryl smoothed the black pencil skirt she wore, rubbing her palm on the leather material for the umpteenth time. When she considered its look on her neater and more presentable than the former, she rolled her orbs back to the full-size mirror before her once more. She was wearing a black shirt tucked into her black pencil skirt, and black flats. Her chestnut hair was put into a simple ponytail, but one that did a little appreciation to her prolate face.

The mirror told her she looked simply beautiful and dressed for office and she was more than glad she wouldn't be going to work looking extravagant or over dressed. Last night, a drunk Ciara had handed her the car keys and asked her to go back home whenever she wished and to her own fortune, Ciara was still yet to return this morning so she didn't have to worry about being forced to dress hot to work. She glanced at her wrist watch and when she'd read what the time said, she turned hurriedly to the dressing stool and picked up her bag that laid on it. Now, she was dressed and ready for her first day. And all she needed was a reassurance that she wasn't getting sacked on her first day or Ciara wouldn't forgive her.

"You won't mess up, Lilac." She told herself, patted her rosy cheeks before going out of the door.

When the cab alighted before Rainbows, she handed the cab man his pay and walked out of the car. She glanced around the company and despite the fact that she had been to it just two weeks ago, a wow still escaped her mouth. It was magnificent and she could swear to it that she had never seen something as big and expensive as this. It looked even more bigger and brighter than she remembered two weeks ago, or maybe it was just her. But she didn't have much time to gush over it's luxurious building, she was here for work and she needn't be late. She only smiled and urged herself to get in already.

"Mr Rainbows, please," she said to the petite blonde whom she met sitting outside the CEO's office, on the desk that was supposed to be her.

" Are you Ms McGraw?" Large blue orbs burned at her, demanding an effective reply.

"Yes." Beryl answered, placing both hands on the desk as she studied the lady before her. She had crispy blonde hair, large blue eyes that looked like they were going to fall out of their sockets anytime soon and plump lips. She looked liked the money type; that one that appreciated and loved money of all.

"Oh, well," Blue eyed said, realization dawning on her, "You're the boss's new acting secretary, right? Mr Rainbows is in a meeting in the moment but he'll be free by 9:00 am on the dot so you should receive your guides from him when he gets back in his office. But then, you should have your seat first," she suggested, moving out of her position. Beryl smiled, gratefully and nodded.

"By the way, my name is Snow and welcome to Rainbows." Maybe she was wrong in her assumption and judgement. Snow was nice and too sweet to be a stranger. At least, she was the first person in the company telling her welcome with a sunshine smile on despite her looks. Every other worker she'd meet on the way only gave her an awkward gawping and while some of them only whispered to themselves. Surely, she didn't have an easy time getting to the boss's office.

"Thank you, Snow. It's Beryl." She said after sitting her bums on the seat. Her new chair actually did give her buttocks a nice welcome too. They felt real soft and comfortable under her.

"Aye. You can call on me anytime you wish, cap!" Beryl didn't quite get it with all the salute but the gesture earned a hearty laugh from her.

" How many times do I have to tell you, Snow, that my office is no comedy room." That same strapping voice had her freezing the moment it came out. It sounded familiar, very familiar. And she could quite remember but couldn't be sure. His office? Did he mean to say he's her new boss? The CEO of Rainbows and the real Mr Rainbows? But didn't Snow mentioned he would only be here at nine? Time flied?!

" Sorry, boss. I was just giving her a welcome message. I'll leave now." She heard footsteps departing and heavy ones approaching. Her heart thumped in its cage as she tried to position herself well before her new boss. She didn't dare look up. Her face was flushed already as she anticipated her boss snapping at her or just doing something. She'd loose all confidence and cheerfulness in her the moment his voice came across the room. She had never seen her boss in reality or even listened to his voice, until now. She had heard, read and watched a lot of things about him, all of which didn't matter in the moment. She'd hear he was nice and a good philanthropist but that rumor wasn't able to compose herself in the present. And just like she'd expect him to, he spoke up again but in a more nicer tone than she had expected, "Meet me in my office when it is ten."

She heaved a loud sigh and finally looked up when she heard his door close. She could swear she almost peed on her pants. He had this aura, that aura that made him look the most superior and most powerful wherever he went. That had gotten her scared. Good thing was she hadn't looked at his face. Glancing around her little work place, a happy smile took over her lips. She was finally a decent worker with a good pay. She couldn't have wished for more in the past few years. Finally, she didn't have to work as a waiter anymore.

"This feels so good, Lilac!" She beamed, grinning hard as she relaxed into her chair to feel its comfort. They gave the best feeling. With a rush of eagerness and excitement going through her, she leaned away and laid her head on the table to feel it too. It felt just great with her head on it. She grinned again, and pulled away, setting to arranging her table and going off to work. Just as her hand picked up a document, her phone rang out from her bag that was now on the table, distracting her. She frowned upon the ceaseless music playing from it before taking her bag and rummaging the whole thing just to find her mobile. When she finally pulled it out and checked it, she groaned at the name on display. Fucking Ciara!

"Beryl!" Her sister's hoarse voice, yelled over the phone, "don't tell me you got in another of your ugly wears to work. Don't-"

"Huh, biggy sister. I have to get to work now. Sorry, we'll talk later. Maybe when I get home. Bye, and don't forget to prepare your kid sis a good soup. I love you!"

"Don't fucking..." But Beryl already cut the phone before she could finish her statement. She chuckled and dropped her phone on the desk.

"Oh, sweet Ciara, I hope you won't chop my head off with your scoldings whenever I get home." She said and placed her hands under her chin. She squeezed her face in her palm as her bright green eyes wondered about the room, trying to remember what she had planned to do formerly. She knew she looked funny but it was an habit.

"Come in." His burly reply came from inside the glass-demarcated room. She bit her bottom lip before gathering all courage to twist the knob and open the door. When she stepped in, her eyes nervously searched the whole room for her boss. And when she'd find him on his chair, she froze despite the fact that he wasn't looking at her. He had his chair swivelled and it faced the glassy walls. Suddenly, out of mere carelessness and lure, her green orbs ran across the whole of his office. She didn't have to wonder why he was ranked as one of the top three richest. His office spelt HEAVENLY RICHNESS and the interior was one of a kind, making her wonder what his home would look like. And even if the whole glassy walls and floors made her feel like she was going to break it if she took a step, she still admired them a lot.

"Did you bring my coffee?" He finally spoke, making her snap out of her thoughts and glance at him. She heaved a sigh when she saw that he hadn't turn around yet. But did he mention bringing him his coffee? She hadn't thought of that.

"Sir, I...Er, I didn't..." The whole words about to come got stuck in her throat as well as her breathe when he swivelled his chair to face her. His furrowed his brows as he ran his eyes on her, making her feel immensely hot and uncomfortable. "Take a sit, Ms McGraw." That was a nice request from him, however it sounded like she was finally getting scolded by her boss on her first day. And she could swear she had seen his face, and slapped it. She could swear he was that same man that approached her and tried to pay her for sex. But he was drunk that night and even if she tried to believe he didn't remember her, her legs still trembled as she approached his table.

He didn't take his gray eyes off her as he only held an amused look on, "If you had walked that way last night, I don't think you would've been able to escape my guards after slapping me." Her heart skipped and froze. He remembered! He knew she had slapped him last night! Oh, she was so dead. And he had every right to become harsh to her, she thought.

"C'mon, McGraw, I don't bite." A smile tugged at his lips when she finally managed to sit her butts down. That smile, she definitely didn't want to trust it a bit. But they looked beautiful on him, she had to admit within herself. She watched, very closely as he leaned back into his chair and laid his legs on his desk carelessly. He wore no shoes at the time and only had his black stockings on so she didn't get to see what his feet looked like but she didn't have to doubt they'd look more beautiful than hers. And as he clutched his hands at his nape and gazed at her, her patience seemed to fade off and her anxiety only grew the more. She was mentally counting the seconds he'd use to stare at her and it was a pity she couldn't scold him already. Judging from his caliber, he should surely know how wrong it is to stare. And for too long. Rude! And like some movie set, she watched him place those legs down back and leant forward again, "You have a nice hair, Ms McGraw, did anyone ever tell you?" A part of her flustered at his compliment. Almighty Mr Rainbows couldn't be complimenting her, but she wasn't dreaming. Of course.

"And gorgeous eyes, too. I love them," Oh, yes, he was_complementing her! She could literally feel the heat in herself and the flushing of her cheeks as she hurriedly looked down. She bit her bottom lip and tried to calm her nerves down, but that didn't work. Her heart didn't stop beating harder and faster and she wondered why it turned pathetic all of a sudden. Probably because she'd never gotten such nice words from a guy, and from someone like him. But he was just her boss and distant, she couldn't like him. He was good looking and rich and hot and very nice, like they said but... But maybe she just couldn't.

"So if you don't mind, Ms McGraw, I would like to know more of my pretty secretary." Her heart! Someone tell the poor thing to stop fluttering already!

"I like it when you look at me while I talk to you, Ms McGraw." An order! She bit her bottom lip nervously as she glanced up at her boss. Just the more she stared at his gray eyes, the more she felt uneasy in her seat and the more she wished the moment could stop. She tried to maintain their gaze but she ended up looking down, embarrassed.

"Do you have a boyfriend?" Now that's the bomb! Why was he asking her that? Why did he want to know? Was he going to mock her timid self now? He was beginning to get too intimidating and it was beginning to piss her off. And like she couldn't accept it anymore, she jerked up on her feet and glared at boss as hair bounced and swayed in the course of the action, "Sorry, but it's non of your business!" And without one more word, she turned around and stamped out of her boss's office, not minding if he had sought for her presence in the first place. She was annoyed and she needed to grab a hold of herself.