Chapter 2 You!

After I took a relaxing bath, I managed to get a little bit of sleep but I was awakened by the thunderous sound of my alarm. Yes, it was the next day. Another work day of course!

I struggled to face reality, wondering if yesterday really happened or if it was just a dream? I couldn't get much sleep last night, my worries kept creeping in. Clearly there was no peace for me.

I looked at my clock, realizing I was late for work. I jumped out of bed and quickly prepared for work.

I was in my workspace- an office shared by four other workers, searching for an apartment online on my computer. Every apartment I looked for was more and more expensive and I realized how screwed I was. The only way out was for me to find a way to pay Mr Jacob as soon as possible. I couldn't afford rent anywhere else.

"Hey, what's with that face?" My coworker, Adrian, noticing my disheveled appearance, couldn't help but comment.

"Huh?"

"Everything alright? You look like you haven't slept for days"

"Yeah! What makes you say that?" I asked and quickly picked up my phone and used its sleeping screen to look at the reflection of my face.

"Well, you look like shit."

He was most probably right. I knew I wasn't looking my best and that was evident in my reflection.

I forced a tired smile, trying to brush off his concern. "Just a hectic week, that's all. Thanks for asking."

"You know, you have got to be careful. The Top Boss doesn't tolerate delays or mistakes, especially when it comes to important documents or projects."

"Who's the Top Boss?" I was curious.

Riley jumped in with so much excitement, "just the hottest, most handsome specimen on planet earth. A perfect 6.2 athletic figure carved from the core of the heavens itself."

"Jesus! That's a lot." I exclaimed in wonder.

"Yeah, he's a lot. You have no idea how much of a lot. I'd give half my liver to kiss his celestial forehead."

"You'd die with just half a liver, Riley."

"It'll be a happy death. One which even my grandpa who clocked out at 90 didn't get. Hmm, well unfortunately, his insides are not as hot as his outside."

"What do you mean?"

"His insides are made of ice, Antarctica ice. Like the type that doesn't melt even with the sun shining down on it. He's the most cold, rude, inconsiderate and mysterious person I know. And I know a lot of people, so that's saying something."

"His personality just keeps getting interesting. I really look forward to meeting him someday."

"Don't be too sure about that. If I were you, I wouldn't get too excited. Rather, I'd pray I never have the misfortune of making his acquaintance." Adrian dissuaded me.

"How bad can he be?" I asked.

"You're lucky he's on that long business trip. You could not imagine the severe lecture he would give if he came in here right now and saw any of us slacking off, not working. He'd go bananas. Every single time he's gone down to any of the other departments his scolds could be heard throughout the complex."

"Speaking of the boss," Susan, another co-worker, joined in the conversation, "he's such a successful guy, isn't he? He won every award there is, I mean, I admire his dedication and hard work, but sometimes it feels like he expects so much from us all because he works and is willing to work ten times as much."

"A genius! Incredibly intelligent yet an utter threat." Adrain simply put it

My co-workers nodded in agreement.

I could not shake off the weight of my coworkers' comment but I knew I had to hold my head high, I wouldn't want to do anything that would make me lose my work, for a fact, I needed this job more than anything.

My phone rang, it was a call from my head of department.

"Hello, Mr. James." I greeted him immediately after I picked the call.

"Thank you once again for last night. You saved me. The meeting would not have gone so well without your hard work."

"No problem, sir."

"Are the documents ready?"

"Yes, sir."

"Wonderful. Now, head to the top executive floor immediately with it, the receptionist will attend to you."

"Who should I say I want to meet?"

"Livia, the top executive floor belongs to one person alone."

He spoke with such a decisive tone that made me unable to ask any further questions, so I just said, "okay, sir, I'm on it."

I gathered the necessary documents and made my way to the top executive floor. The top executive floor sat just on top of the executive floor which housed several high-ranking officials, each with their own office.

When I stepped out of the elevator, I could not believe my eyes. It was impossible to believe that this floor had been here all this time and I had never been here. It was so spacious that if the luxurious furniture, rare flowers and interior weren't there, it would echo.

"Hello, I was told to submit these documents. Is this the right office?" I approached the receptionist who had the biggest desk I had ever seen.

The receptionist smiled warmly, "yes, you're in the right place. He's expecting you. Please, go in." She gestured to the door of the office room just ahead.

I entered the office with curiosity itching my mind. Trying to keep my eyes down, I walked through the large office to the desk which I stood in front of. A tall man stood behind it, backing me.

"Hello, Sir? I'm here with the documents." I began, trying to get his attention.

As he turned, my eyes widened in surprise as I recognized the face of the man I had bumped into the last night at the hotel-the very man who had been the cause of my frustration and annoyance.

The documents in my hands fell, I screamed, "YOU!"