Chapter 3 What it's like to work for billionaires

The first days at work were always the worst, at least for Ava. It was a period of time that included knowing nothing about your boss, and it was never fun when you had no idea of the type of person you were working for. The lack of familiarity between the two of you made every conversation appear weird, and now she was going to be a secretary, she was going to be around Calvin Notre Dame all the time.

God, would she be able to resist it, to concentrate? She tried not to think too much about it as she went to work the next morning. She was busily finishing the last of her makeup in the taxi and checking her face in the mirror a hundred times. She wasn't sure she was looking good enough for the day. Do rich young men like women looking smart? Or perhaps Calvin would want something looking timid? Sexy?

Gosh!

She knew she needed a break. Already, she had planned to stop by at the hospital where her mother was admitted. She dropped by and went straight to her mother's room. She was awake when she got to the room. Her mother had been unconscious for quite a long time. It may have been three months of coma before she finally awoke. Still, the cancer was present and Ava knew they had to do something about the operation before it completely ate at her mother's life.

"I got a job, mum!" Ava announced. "I'd be working for the biggest company in the country, as secretary to the CEO."

Elena, her mother, with her white hair from the sickness, broke into a little smile. "I could already see you working exploits from when you were a little girl. You were such a fighter." Elena replied. Ava chuckled. Even she doubted herself when it came to that, but what she had been through with Elena was worthy of giving her a break and believing, perhaps, she was strong somewhere within.

"I love you, mum..." Ava wrapped her mother in a warm hug and waited for some prayers before she took off to work. It would be ironic to have come earlier than usual and get such a position, only to resume the next day at work, coming late. When she arrived at the office, she was lucky to realize that Calvin had yet to show up.

Shortly after Rufus came striding in with Calvin following suit, running through some files. When he looked up at her, his expression showed no difference.

"Oh, you..."

"Good morning, Mr. Calvin..." Ava replied as she took out an iPad that held his appointments.

"You're really going to be adding a 'Mr.' anytime you call my name?" Calvin scoffed.

"I'd call you whatever you wish to be addressed by..."

"Just Calvin works fine."

"Alright, Calvin... So, today's appointments..."

The day was going smoother than Ava had expected. At a point, it was beginning to look like he didn't need Ava. It wasn't like she wasn't present to do her job, but she wasn't finding it as tasking as she thought it would be. Again, do billionaires live a life this simple? Ava chose to give everything the benefit of the doubt. It was most likely that the privilege she was enjoying right now was only because she had just begun.

The first day passed successfully and so did subsequent days. However, as Ava had presumed, the more the days passed, the more tactical things were becoming. She had more jobs to do, more appointments to attend, and more meetings to follow the mighty Calvin Notre Dame to. All the while, Calvin wasn't exactly acting so interested in any of her personal affairs. He was keeping everything on a strictly work level. Ava, on the other hand, found herself thinking more about him than she normally should - when she was having a bath, sipping a coffee, or when she lay in bed to take a nap.

Calvin!

She stood from her bed and ran her fingers through her hair. What is wrong with me? She didn't want to talk to Alice about this. Alice was going to go all out and tell her to her face that she was falling for him.

Was she?

Certainly not! Ava erased the idea from her mind and focused on getting some sleep for the next day.

The next day at work, Ava did the usual of reading out the appointments for Calvin. He had just settled on his swivel chair and was munching on some wafers while going through his phone. Ava wasn't sure he was ever listening at all but she didn't care. He always had that character about him that Ava found pretty annoying. Irrespective of how adamant he was about listening to her or even stopping for a second to look her in the eye or have a casual conversation like he was a human and not some robot, Ava was determined to keep doing her job.

Remember, your mother is the goal.

Who knew working for younger people could also be a headache? Ava was seek of it.

"Hmmm?"

Wait...What?

Ava realized that all the while, he had been asking her a question and she was too lost in her thoughts to realize it. She flushed with embarrassment.

"Oh! I'm sorry. I didn't get your question."

"It's time for the meeting with the Western Brothers, is it not?" Calvin asked again. Ava stole a glance at the iPad.

"Oh yes. You will need your inventory report for this meeting."

Ava reached out for some files and dropped them before him. Calvin picked them up and ran through them as they both made their way to the elevator. When they were both in, Calvin hit the button to get to the first floor. As the elevator shut and began its descent, he continued his reading.

Suddenly, the elevator shook. Ava couldn't believe what just happened. Calvin was also looking around, quite shaken.

Then it happened again. The lights dwindled, sparked and the entire box rumbled. Ava was screaming as she stumbled, but for some reason, she had not knocked her head against the wall as she expected.

Calvin was holding her up by the waist.

The elevator grumbled and came to a stop again. It was in the stillness afterward that Ava began to realize that Calvin Notre Dame had his arms around her waist, staring into her eyes as he bent over her. She immediately broke away from him and picked up the iPad to ensure nothing was wrong with it, just a way to distract herself from the awkward moment.

Calvin was the one that made her realize their situation when he said the words.

"We're stuck in the elevator!"