Chapter 5 Her Annoying Boss

Six Years later

Ellen's POV

"Argghh!!" I groaned in my sleep. I could hear the faint blaring of my alarm clock, but I was too tired to react. I stretched out my hand in a sluggish manner, fiddling with everything that lay atop the cupboard.

I slammed down on the buttons as soon as my fingers found the alarm. It became quiet and I could finally enjoy the blissful sleep of the morning.

"Holy shit!!" I sprang out of my bed like a toad. My brain had finally processed itself to remind me of the fact that it was Monday morning.

I checked the time, and It was way past 7:00 am. I dashed out of my room, running frantically like a vampire trying to hide from the rising sunlight.

I bumped into the next room, which was just a distance away from mine. Sapphire was already awake playing with her dolls when I came in.

"Mummy!" she greeted me with her usual smile which radiated way better than the rising sun.

"Hello Hunny! I'm so sorry mummy woke up late today," I said with a pout as I walked over to her and kissed her forehead.

"It's okay!" she replied innocently. I smiled at her pretty face. She had the eyes of her father, the same eyes that melted my mind years back.

"Alright Sapphire, time to go prepare for school. You gotta hurry so you won't make mummy late for work, okay?" I commanded and she obeyed like an angel. She was an angel, my angel-and I would never let any harm come to her, never!

As I watched her scurry into her bathroom, I dashed out of her room and ran into mine. It took only 10 minutes to scurry out of the shower, with water forming a trail as I prepared for work.

I got myself dressed in no time. It was a well-ironed white shirt and a pair of black trousers, so it wasn't hard to slide my body into it.

I ran back to Sapphire's room. She was playing with bubbles as I got to her bathroom.

"Baby!" I cried out in frustration as she grinned at me, exposing her broken front tooth. Although my mind was in a whirlwind, time didn't matter to me when it came to my daughter.

I slipped her off her pink pajamas and guided her into the shower. My white shirt was all soaked by the time I was done with Sapphire. I got her ready for school and ran to change into another white shirt.

The school bus arrived just in time to pick her up. I could hear her scream, "I love you mummy," before running into the bus.

"I love you too," I whispered more to myself. She was already six years old, and she had my beauty.

I had vowed to keep her a secret, but deep inside I knew that someday, I would have to confront her questions.

I snapped back to my consciousness. I hurried out of the room with my jacket on one hand, and my shoes on the other hand. I was already looking scattered, even before the day began.

I got into my car and took a deep breath. I was once again going to be driving on the roads of Los Angeles, the city of Angels. After the shocking news I received from the doctor, I decided to keep the baby and start a new life-a new life away from Hammond, Elfreda, and everything.

I slammed the accelerator and drove wildly. It was a 35-minute drive from my house to work. The car died down as it halted directly in front of the huge twenty-story building with the inscription "HOUSE OF WALTZ" boldly written on it.

I grabbed my bag and headed into the building, crossing my fingers not to bump into Roderick on my way in.

The elevator seemed to take forever before reaching the floor that housed my desk-as well as the others.

There were cardboards of different dresses all splayed on one side of the hallway. The other side was filled with people all working on either a new fashion design or engrossed in their computers.

"I'm so late," I whispered to myself as I glided silently to my work desk. I paused in shock as I saw the one person I wanted to see the least.

Roderick Waltz, the billionaire and CEO of Waltz Group, leaned on my desk with his hands folded on his broad chest.

I composed myself and walked towards him, preparing for the worst.

"I would believe, Miss Bennet, that you had other pressing matters to handle at home which caused your lateness, right?" he said with a cold, yet insidious tone that would make other workers tremble, well except me.

"I am so sorry, sir. I was..." I made to explain, but I was shushed abruptly by the most annoying man in the world.

"I don't want to hear it, Miss Bennet. You started working with us as an Intern. Although, it would be cruel of me to neglect your success over the past years, do not toy with my business," he said and stormed out of my corner.

I stood there with a fake smile on my cheeks which pained me because of how much I had gritted my teeth in anger. Seeing everyone's attention on me, I dropped my bag on the table and lowered myself into my chair.

I decided to pursue my career as a Fashion Designer a few months after I gave birth to Sapphire. I figured it would be better to pursue my career and leave my old life behind.

Because of my effort and zeal, I had risen higher than the workers I had come to meet. In my first two years, I had progressed from the ground floor to the tenth floor-ranking me a level ten worker.

Currently, I was on the eighteenth floor, and I was already bossing my floor mates. I silently wished Hammond could see how much I had moved on without him.

"Hello, Ellen!" A familiar voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

"Oh hi," I replied with a smile. I had never seen her face before, but the way she smiled at me, it seemed like she had known me all her life.

She stared at me for some time which made me feel weird.

"Can I help you with something?" I asked as I dragged my voice to not sound rude.

"Oh no! I saw how the boss talked to you. He never talked with anyone that way,"she said with her African accent. She was dark-skinned, with dark long hair which complimented her beauty.

"Really?" I said.

"Yeah! He practically came from the twenty-first floor and waited for you to arrive," she said.

I rolled my eyes in frustration. I guess my level of hard work had attracted the eyes of the higher workers in the industry.

"I heard a rumor that he was contesting for the position of the senate in the US," the lady said.

"Okay! Are you new here?" I asked plainly.

"Yeah! I mean No! I was level seventeen but I got a promotion to this level today," she replied with a weird smile.

"Okay. I'd advise you to not spread rumors you're not sure of, especially if it's about your CEO," I said with a grin that she seemed to understand and carefully turned towards her computer.

I turned on my computer and began the work for the day. My job was to assess the designs which were to be produced by the lower-level workers.

As I was assessing a few templates on my computer, an email notification popped into my screen.

My heart convulsed for a second as I discovered the email was from Roderick. I checked the time he sent the email-it was not long ago, which meant that he was not angry yet.

I recalled the last time I went to the twenty-first floor. I had prayed for the earth to swallow me from his presence. Everything about him pissed me off, even his name sounded annoying to my ears.

Roderick was one of the wealthiest men in Los Angeles, and even beyond. Also, he was very handsome. He was a seven-foot-zero, with a well-broadened shoulder and a fit build that complimented his physical handsomeness.

He was also a playboy who would date and dump any rich girl who would stupidly fall for his looks and appearances. I wondered how such a rude person would attract even a fly.

I quickly hibernated my laptop and grabbed a few files I knew I was supposed to submit to him. I hastened into the elevator which took me to the last floor.

Everything was talking about money, and I was not surprised by a CEO who took over his late mother's wealth. After waiting for a few minutes, Roderick's secretary ushered me into his office.

I walked into his office and was shocked to the core at what I saw.