Chapter 5 ''Behind Closed Doors''

MITCHELL POV

I stood beside the door where the board members were holding a meeting. Jonathan walked out of the door at a fast pace. His movement was so forceful that I had to move away quickly so that he wouldn't knock me down. His face was grim, and he gave me a glaring glance before he walked past me.

I widened my eyes, dropped my chin to my chest, and turned to my front. Jonathan and Anthony's feud is a family thing. I had heard he was the son of Victor Martins' mistress, born before Victor married Anthony's mother. That's all I know about them, thanks to gossiping Cassandra.

"Members of the board, something important is on me right now and I have to attend to it. I'm sorry but we have to adjourn the meeting now and reschedule for the next few weeks. You can come with your complaints, reports, and suggestions at the next meeting. Thanks and have a nice day."

What? Did he just end a meeting that began less than fifteen minutes ago? I said in my mind. I looked at the faces of the directors and no one seemed to complain.

I and Victor left the board member, his pacing was faster than mine. He wasn't going to his office, he picked up his phone and made a brief call.

"Mitchell, I'm heading home for something important. Cancel all my schedule for the day and push it over to the next day."

"But you have other things that occupy tomorrow."

"That's not your problem. Your job is to tell me my schedule, add when I say add, and cancel when I say so. How it may affect me is none of your business."

I blinked pressed my lips against each other and nodded. "I'm sorry Sir."

"What are the remaining things on my schedule for today?"

"Erm," I cleared my throat and shook my head, the nervousness vanished. "You have a meeting with the lawyers by 3:30 pm, and then a meeting with the family by 5 pm."

"Tick off the family meeting because I am going for it right now. Move my meeting with the company lawyer to tomorrow morning by 10 am."

"Okay Sir," I said, as I simultaneously gave weak head and knee bow. He walked away hastily and joggled down the stairs. I stood for some seconds looking at him, scanning his decently trimmed, styled hair and his physique adorable carved in the fitted blazer. I looked at his face from the top floor and I wondered how a handsome-looking young man would have such a harsh attitude, it didn't agree with his looks at all.

I walked down to my office and sat down heavily. I blew out breath from my mouth and crashed my back to the seat.

Suddenly I heard a knock on the door. I sat up quickly and organized my sitting posture immediately. "Who is it?"

"It's me.." from the voice I felt relaxed. "Cassandra, come in."

Cassandra opened the door and bent her upper body through the door showing only his face to her belly.

"What's wrong with you? I'm alone, come in." She walked in and dragged the empty seat beside my table. She looked around for a moment and then drew her face closer to me like she wanted to say something private.

"How was it? I spoke with him. What was he like?"

I shut my eyes, opened it rolled my eyes up to the roof, held up my arms, and clenched my fingers tightly. "Oh God!"

I looked around to be sure that no one was hearing me. "I have never seen someone so difficult to please in my entire life. It's like he finds fault in everything I do!"

Cassandra chuckled, "Really? You must be joking right? You mean that beautiful man is who you are talking about. No, it can't be, he doesn't look like it."

"I was also telling myself that. You can't believe it until you see it for yourself." I sighed and looked down. "Starting with the way he scolded Mr. Coasta to how he addressed the board members. Right before he eyes he demoted Mr. Jonathan Martins and removed him from being a board member."

"Jonathan? You mean his half-brother?"

"No, his stepmother, silly. Are you not the one who told me Jonathan was his stepbrother?"

"Whatever."

"I didn't know the boss was like that. Jonathan has been a strong hand in this company, he has much influence here, don't you think this will cause a problem for Anthony?"

I shrugged and showed up my arms, "Babe, I honestly don't know anymore. I think it might be a personal issue that they had."

"But that's not what I'm concerned about. My major concern is trying my best to meet his standards because he always wants his things done perfectly. Honestly, Cassandra, you can't find yourself seeing a word in front of him."

"Is he that strict?"

"Yeah. Like, he doesn't give room for any excuse or mistake. And this is not just to me, he does it to everyone."

"You just have to be more careful dear. Just try to cope with him, I know it may be easy, but you need the pay for yourself and your family."

"Yeah, you're right. I have already endured a lot of things in life, so being a secretary to this iron-hearted boss won't be an issue for me. Yeah! I can do it," I said to myself nodding.

"Yeah, that's my girl! I know you can do it. I remembered the first time I started working here in Mart Group, Mr. Costa was like a thorn in my flesh."

I laughed as she was speaking. "Mr. Costa is like that to everyone. Mr. Anthony is better, he corrects the slight mistakes, but in a harsh way. But Costa?" I laughed and Cassandra chuckled and laughed out too.

"He's like a nagging wife, especially the pregnant ones," Cassandra said.

I and Cassandra laughed hysterically, I slammed my palm on the desk and threw my back to the chair raising my face to the roof as I laughed out loud.

"Oh! My God." Cassandra heaved, "It was something else, but I got used to him. After some time when I used to the workplace, and soon the directors and Mr. Victor Martins began to notice me and my job there, I started getting the courage to stand my ground. Especially, when I'm right."

"So, just take your time to get used to the job as the CEO's secretary. Things will soon get easier."

"Yeah," I said and smiled. "Thank you for these words."

Just then my phone rang. I looked at it, it was Denise. I remembered that I had forgotten to call her to ask how she was coping at home and I school.

I answered the call, "Hello."

I heard her sniffing and sobbing, "Mitchell?" She called in a teary voice.

"Denise, are you okay?"

"It's mom. She slumped and fainted again..."

"Call the ambulance immediately! I'm on my way."