Chapter 30 No.30

FIRST ORDER

I WAITED for a while outside Marcus's office, I don't know how many minutes she took to walk before she came out.

"Just leave the folder, then come back later after lunch," she said to me while combing the hair wheel with his finger. I swallowed forcefully, I couldn't voice what to say. Her red lips before seemed to have lost color even the blazer she was wearing before is no longer wearing now.

"Didn't you hear me? Come back this afternoon after lunch," she said irritably.

"Mr. President is waiting for that," I said in my casual voice.

Instead of answering she just laughed at me. I tightened my grip on the folder as I watched her do so.

"I'll deliver that to Gabriel, so you may go..." She declares.

I shuddered at the last thing she said.

"Gabriel told me to wait for the folder to give to him before lunch."

She was momentarily stunned by what I said, but she also recovered immediately. "It's really good that Alessandra chose an ally." She shot me a disgusted look before presenting her hand to me.

"Give me the folder," She ordered.

I stared at her for a moment before I handed the folder to her who walked back inside.

When she disappeared from my sight I just noticed that there was a chair next to me. I had no strength to sit there before glancing around. As before there was no cubicle there but I saw some doors but they were closed.

I turned my gaze back to the open door.

"Marcus wants to talk to you," she said plainly. I can see in her appearance that she's are irritated, before sitting down in your own chair. I didn't speak anymore because I had already stepped my feet into the open door.

I immediately felt the coldness of my body when my feet stepped inside his office. Because the big curtain was down and the whole room was not exposed to sunlight, the whole area was a bit dark.

I look straight at Marcus' table, he is there leaning back in his swivel chair.

"Good morning, Sir!" I said in a low voice. Still feel the trembling of the knees.

"Please take a sit, Mrs. Grant," he said I a cold tone

I immediately complied, slowly moved my feet to walk towards the chair in front of his.

I immediately looked down at the folder on his desk. "I'm sorry, Gabriel is waiting for your approval before lunch," I said with my shaky voice. I can't deny I'm nervous at these times.

He expelled a deep sighed before lifting his back in his swivel chair. Now resting his two elbow at the top of the table. I looked up at him who was seriously staring into my eyes with two fists clasped in front of him.

"Do you know why you're here today?"

Immediately my lips parted, my hands tightly wrapped around my lap.

"Yes, Sir," I said in my tiny voice. My heads bowed because I couldn't bear to stare at him back.

Again, he let out a deep sighed before leaning back in his office chair.

"Alessandra is too stubborn," he said, shaking his head with disbelieving.

"I don't know what's running through your mind why you took this job easily. Yeah, I admit that you better work in an office like this, but as Gabriel's secretary, I think you took a stone's throw in your own head," he said in a serious tone

I looked up at him and gave him my questionable look.

"Alessandra is too possessive when it comes to a relationship, especially when it comes to Gabriel." He sighed again before shaking his head.

I swallowed hard, gathered my lips tightly and prepared myself for what he had to say more.

"She has a lot of laid off employees since Gabriel joined the company and it's all because of jealousy." He swivel to his chair, I feel like he's measuring me by looking at what he said.

"Sarah is one of the employees that I trusted the most. She do her job well, even outside this office... So even if Sandra wants to fire her, I can't." I swallowed again, it seemed like there was he wants to be interpreted differently to me.

I nodded, even though something else was running through my mind at these times.

"I just don't want to have a problem with Alessandra again. I know my sister very well and I don't think you like how she gets angry," he said in a threatening tone.

I lowered my head down, preferring not to answer.

Silence lingered between us, if the intercom hadn't rang I wouldn't be swallowed in relax.

"Yes, Sarah." Marcus told her over the phone.

"Mr. President is on the line, Sir." Said the voice on the other line.

"Alright, connect me right away." He commands the interlocutor before I glance for a moment. He immediately picked up the cordless phone before standing up in his chair.

"Yes, what can I do for you?" he asked casually with one hand tucked in his pocket.

I only watched him when he pulled back the big curtain causing the whole office to delight slightly.

"Yeah, she's still in my office." He turned his head to my direction then shrug a bit.

"All right, I'll read it right away," he said before dropping the call and walking back to his own chair.

"We still have a lot to talk about, but for the meantime, let's get back to work."

*****

While walking back to Gabriel's office, I can't help but to think about what Marcus said. Add up the anxiety and fear that's slowly eating me. It's possible for Alessandra to be jealous of me, and when that happens, am I ready to face her rage?

I shook my head repeatedly as I mindlessly got into the elevator. I waited for a few seconds before the steel door opened. I awkwardly stepped back when the employees got out from the elevator.

I'm not surprised with the stares that they gave me, it's slowly build up to me-why I felt like I was never welcome here. It's because of Alessandra, probably, they're thinking that I'm not gonna work for long here, just like how Gabriel's former secretaries did. And so, they decided to keep their distance and not be acquainted with me.

However, I put that thought aside as I smiled brightly at everyone... even if they're not smiling back.

I took a deep breath before entering the elevator, there are some workers who entered the platform but stayed at the back of the elevator. I also know that they are observing me closely, their whispers never escaped my ears as if they never meant to keep it a whisper.

"One week..."

"Tss, three days is long enough for her to be fired," someone whispered behind my back.

"Let's make a bet. I bet she'll resign tomorrow," the other one whispered from my right side.

I lightly shook my head in disbelief, I thanked that Gabriel's office is only at the fifth floor, so there's no reason for me to stay longer and hear how they bet about how long I'll be able to last here.

I knocked at his door a lot of times but no one answered. I contemplated but eventually came into a decision of opening the door myself. It's a relief that it's not locked.

"Sir?"

My eyes wandered around, he's not on his work table even at the chaise lounge. I looked around more until I saw a closed door at the right side.

"Sir Gabriel?" I called again but still, no one answered.

I guess he's not here so I decided to just leave the folder atop his table, but a picture frame from his table got my attention.

Drove by curiosity, I slowly picked it up. My heart thumped painfully, I can definitely say that the picture was captured perfectly. Alessandra was wearing her lovely gown, sitting at the car's hood, while Gabriel was standing next to her.

"What are you doing here?"

I quickly placed the frame back to its place before facing Gabriel. I can't help but to gulp at how he looked. He's wearing a casual T-shirt and black trouser. The tips of his dark hair were wet on his forehead, depicting that he just finished bathing with his wet hair and the towel hanging on his shoulders.

"I-I just brought the folder, I thought you're not here so I entered..." I said, confused.

Instead of talking back, his eyes lingered at the picture frame that I was holding a while ago.

I gasped at the enticing smell of his shower gel. I bit my lip secretly before I met with his eyes. He is now looking at me with his dark, sharpened eyes.

"Uh, do you have anything to say, sir?" I said in my shaky voice.

"I ordered a lunch, wait for the delivery outside," he mandated before walking towards his table.

I nodded my head, silently leading my feet outside. When the door closed, that was the only time I breathed