Chapter 4 Promoted

4. Promoted

Pearla who was having a hard time keeping her head up to work, gave up to sleep. Her face stuffed with the cables in her hands as she had not slept well the previous night.

She had been doing alot of work lately. The company's power kept coming and going out, it even caused most system to shut down without turning on.

This made her to be available in everywhere, coupled with the broken flash drive Simon Montero had personally asked her to repair.

Her eye bags kept increasing by the day and she needed some sleep.

Time check: 6pm.

Pearla as the tech-lady had to check if everyone logged out of their systems before they leave the building, this made her one of the last few people to leave the building.

Along with some security guards who works shifts, and some other tech personels like her on the other floors

The office phone on Pearla's desk rang.

She quickly guessed the caller and made a quick thought to leave.

"Haha, that's a trick. I'm not picking up" she muttered to herself. She quickly picked up her bags and made her way to the elevator.

By then, the phone had already rang like four times. She was aware of the camera's there and could get fired for not responding but what could she do?

Simon on the other hand stepped into the elevator to check the floor which Pearla was working as a tech-lady since Jaden had forgotten, or refused to go get her.

His excuse of repairing his phone was silly, Simon couldn't explain why but he wanted to see Pearla.

Upon reaching the floor where the elevator stopped, he wanted to step out when his eyes landed on Pearla who was trying to get in, with her grip tight on her bag.

Shock was evident on her face as she didn't expect to see him, she just stared back at Simon in the elevator without saying anything. How was whe going to explain herself?

Did he come here for her? Simon never comes to this part of the building what's up? Or maybe that was another employee calling for a repair. She thought to herself.

"You're leaving this early?" he finally spoke, his voice came out surprised, even for Pearla who stood there in shock.

"I-uh, I am through w-with work today" she managed to say.

"Tech-ladies or guys leave that early?" He scoffs, "No- no, that's not what I meant. I just have somewhere I have to be" she bit her buttom lip, hoping he wouldn't catch up to her lies.

"What did he mean by 'that early' , it's almost 7!

"It's a good thing you're still around then. Let's go to my office, my phone is broken and needs repair" Simon informed, to which Pearla only gave a nod.

"Great, let me have it. I'll have it fix it and returned tomorrow" suggested Pearla.

"No. I want it fixed now" he affirmed.

She was pissed at him but still managed to keep a straight face, while adjusting the glasses that fell on the bridge of her nose. After all, Simon is still the CEO, her crush, the same man who had caught her fvcking him yesterday, literally.

Simon's face looked more friendlier than yesterday. Pearla on the other hand felt her stomach churn with anxiety. What could probably be wrong with his phone that couldn't wait till tomorrow? and now of all times? When she was supposed to be going home?

Simon double clicked the elevator button to open, it got delayed a bit. Simon ran his hand through his hair to mess it up, this only made him more handsome. Pearla could tell he was already angry with the elevator as he grinded his teeth together.

She stood behind him, as her eyes travelled through his body, admiring his perfect features. Her cheeks turned light red as she smiled to her shamelessness.

His next action shook Pearla with fear as he suddenly kicked the elevator with force, the poor thing immediately opened up.

"Took you long enough" he murmured, as be walked towards his office, opening one door after another. Only their shoes that padded on the floor could be heard as most employees had gone home.

When he finally stepped into his office, he sat down in his chair, while gesturing her to sit down as well.

She sat there as her eyes continued to look at nothing in particular, just moving back and forth, avoiding his gaze by all means.

Seconds turned into minutes, Simon sat there, like a boss he is, moving his fingers on his laptop repeatedly.

"Uh-uhm" she cleared her throat.

"Can I take a look at the phone now?" her velvety voice shook the air.

"Sure." he sighed softly, as he brought out his phone from his pocket. Pearla felt tired and sleepy, and the chair she was sitting on wasn't helping matters at all. So soft and comfortable!

"Here you go." He said, dropping the phone on his desk and pushing it towards Pearla with his index finger on it.

"What is the problem?" she asked calmly, trying her possible best to avoid his gaze still, which Simon didn't fail to notice.

"You're the technician. Or no, 'tech-lady'. Check for the problem and have it fixed." He sat across her with his legs now crossed, stopping whatever he was doing on his computer.

Pearla was wondering how she was going to speak now without sounding offensive, what is wrong with this Montero kid? - she yelled inwardly.

"I- uh- think it's fine. I mean, the settings look fine to me. You just need to charge it a bit, that's all" she examined his phone, turning it upside down to look properly. She dropped it on the table and finally muttered a courage to look at his face.

She removed her eyes immediately when she noticed Simon's eyes were fixed on her.

"Is there anything else you will like me to do for you?" she questioned, gripping her bag tight as if ready to leave.

Simon who didn't want her to leave just yet asked "How long have you been working here?". This question took Pearla by surprise. Was that the reason he called her here? She thought to herself.

"Two years and half - counting- -" she stopped herself, before she ends up saying something she wasn't supposed to.

"Do you like your work here?" he asked again, this time leaning back in his chair. Pearla was already uncomfortable with the stare, and now it looked like an interrogation.

"Be honest with me-" he added.

"I wouldn't be here for two years if I didn't. We're always trying to cope with the work load", she blurted out, seizing her breathe to expect the worst. On a second thought, he told her to be honest.

"How stressful is the work load for you?"

"Not just for me, the rest of the employees too. There are positions that one person can't handle in this company, but we still have to do our work no matter how hard it is, just to make ends meet at the end of the day" she explained, even as Simon eyes were obviously ogling at her as if he had seen an alien.

"But you said you liked your work here, isn't that's why you've been here for two years? Your words right there Ms. Wilton" Simon responded.

"Only because the pay is good, Sir" came out her reply, she felt her nerves were going to explode.

Where did she borrow this type of courage? her mind, screaming!

"You mean to say, my employees work too hard for their monthly salaries? Including you?" his brow raised as he asked.

"That's another way to put it. I am the only tech personel on my floor which makes me available everywhere, all the time. Even when someone mistakenly turns off a system or accidentally break something" she explained, tapping her fingers on the chair she was sitting.

"Break something, like a flash drive." He added, to which her eyes widened, she already knew where this was going.

"I uh- didn't me-an" she tried to speak, then Simon interrupted.

"How would you like to work for me as my Assistant? I know you know that position is free" Pearla felt everything paused, she even forgot how to breathe for a second. What is this new trick? An assistant? To get fired in a span of what? Two weeks? - Pearla's thoughts went wild.

"With due respect Sir, I wish to remain here as a tech-lady. Who knows, I might even get fired before the end of the month if I fail to meet your expectations" she blurted out immediately.

How can she risk getting fired when she can always do everything she wanted from her small office where she found a bit of peace.

"You don't need to meet my expectations, I just need someone to fill in that position" his intimidating eyes still looking through her soul as she couldn't hide enough of her thoughts from her face.

"I will double the old salary. That should be enough to have you" he spoke authoritatively, giving no room for a debate.

Did she hear that correctly? Double the salary? That's almost a hundred thousand dollar baby. She screamed internally.

"Okay, I will work as your Ass-is-tant" she trailed on her words. She knew deep down she wasn't thinking this through, but how could she refuse that kind of money when she needed it.

"Great. I will have Jaden run the paper works to assure you a month and maybe more" he added, pushing his chair to the back and standing up to shake Pearla's hand. His face now straight without no emotion like he had just closed a deal.

Pearla's small hand almost got lost in his, as she managed to put up a smile after.

"When you resume work tomorrow, I'll leave you to employ or fire anyone you see fit or incapable of their job". All Pearla's mind could think of was the money.

"Are you being serious, Sir?" she asked, unsure if this was some kind of prank, because if it isn't she was going to enjoy and regret working for Simon Montero.

"See you tomorrow." was the last he said before walking out of the office, picking up his phone which wasn't faulty by the way, and leaving Pearla to her thoughts.