Chapter 4 Lexie's POV

Chapter 3

Lexie's POV

"Good luck," Elizabeth said to me immediately after I got the message.

I sighed. "I thought he wanted to speak with only the head of departments?"

My department wasn't distinguished from either the public relations department or the architectural department. We work hand in hand with both teams and even other teams in the company but I was told explicitly when I was employed that we were just a subdivision under both departments. More like a branch of both departments. And I also knew before leaving to me with Dr. Elliot, that the new CEO had only requested to see heads of departments so why was I being summoned right now?

Elizabeth shrugged her shoulders. "I have no idea what he would want with you. But it's good you see him first. I'll get things started around here." She said to me,

I gave her a smirk. "With Dr. Elliott's project?" I asked her.

She laughed. "Obviously not. That one is all you. I'm going to do something I can understand and not rack my brains thinking about."

I chuckled as I stepped out of my small office. I was in the elevator when my phone rang and just seeing the caller ID was enough to send me into a sour mood. I was tired of my ex calling me. The relationship was over. There was nothing he could explain to me. But Daniel wasn't getting that through his thick brain and damn his brain happened to be so thick. Why did I never notice?

It's been a month but he continues calling and sending me text messages. And one time when he called, I answered but then I heard Austin's voice in the background and when I asked what Austin was doing there, he said he came over to take something.

I scoffed at that. Austin had come over to take something but he was calling him babe? Yeah, take something my arse. And after that, his narrative changed from it was a misunderstanding to I should understand and just go with it. Yeah, he also tried to convince me that being in a relationship with both of them was the best. Who even does that?

I released a sigh. Just thinking about my conversations with Daniel irked me and I should not be having a feeling like this when I was going to see my boss. A boss I still did not understand why he wanted to see me but what was I to do?

The elevator opened and I walked out, heading for the conference room because apparently, I was not the only one he was meeting with. He was also meeting with the heads of the design and public relations department.

I was the last to walk into the conference room. I stood when I noticed the heads of the two departments were already present and they had a confused look on both their faces. I was so focused on them that I did not take note of who was seated at the head of the table.

The conference room was spacious. But there was a huge table along with a projector in the room. The table had different chairs that could contain all heads of department in one sitting. There was a dispenser not too far away from the table and the floor-to-ceiling window gave a view of the busy city. Trees lined some corners and provided better scenery. I think maybe they thought the trees would make the conference room look more comfortable but I wish it was. Just the thought of waking in here made me tight with anxiety. Because it was either a meeting or a presentation.

"Hi...."

"Finally." A voice interrupted me. A voice I knew, one I had fantasized about for weeks and one I still think about even after that night. I looked up and locked eyes with familiar blue-grey eyes that made my thighs clench because I knew those eyes. I knew that look. I knew this person but what was he doing here?

Unlike the night at the club, he was wearing a suit and all his tattoos were covered up. There was an expensive Rolex on his wrist but his hairstyle was the same and while I preferred him with his tattoos out for display, I had to admit that he also looked like a treat without it. The suit highlighted most of his features and it made my mouth water. But still, I could not understand what he was doing here. I should not be curious. We never talked about seeing each other again. It was a one-night deal. But damn if I wasn't.

"Take a seat." He pointed next to Amber who led the public relations department.

I frowned but took a seat next to her. He wasn't welcoming like that night and the smirk that he had worn throughout that night was gone. Instead, he stared at me with blue-grey eyes. I had an inkling why he was here but I found it hard to believe.

"When your boss asks to see all heads of departments, he means all," Ethan said to me.

I frowned. "I do not head a department.'

"Is that so? Because from what I know you are in charge of the design management-client relations. Is that not a department?" He asked me.

I frowned at Ethan trying to see if there was even a hint of recognition in his eyes but I got nothing but a verbal lashing which annoyed me to no end. And if this was the way he wanted things to go then I was not going to back down.

"With all due respect, when I was given this job, I was told to head a team, yes, but I also know that this team is not distinct from either of the two teams present here. And from what I got, you wanted to meet with these teams, not my team that is still a part of them." I told him.

"It is a team, miss...."

So he was going to pretend he did not know me, that was fine by me.

"I'm not going to introduce myself if you also do not introduce yourself, Mr. CEO. I should at least know the name of the person trying to put me in my place." I said to him,

The other two gasped in shock. I knew I was being ballsy but I was tired of being pushed around and I was already in a foul mood. Add to the fact that Ethan was pretending not to know me or maybe he had forgotten my name. I facepalmed myself mentally. And here I was still killing myself over the mysterious Ethan I met at the bar when he did not even remember me.

There was absolute silence in the conference room and one could hear a pin drop. Ethan stared at me and I held his stare. I wasn't backing down. I knew it was a wrong move to challenge one's boss but I had done it now so there was no going back. I may as well deal with it.

"I'm Ethan Blackwood, your new CEO," Ethan said after five excruciating minutes. "May I now have the pleasure of knowing your name?" He asked me. His voice was filled with thinly deviled irritation and I have no idea why I was annoyed that he was irritated that I dared to ask him for his name.

"Alexandra Thompson," I told him.

"Alexandra." He drawled. He was quiet for some time before leaning forward on the table.

"One thing you should know is that your position is temporary. To be sincere, I still do not even know why my brother thought it would be a good idea to bring a department like yours into the company but here you are. You should know your place, Miss. Thompson. I don't like my authority being challenged." He told me.

I swallowed. "I apologize sir." I knew when to back down but it did not mean I was giving up.

"Now, for whatever reason, you think just because you are part of both teams doesn't make you ahead. Do you want to lose your job? Do you not know your worth?" He asked me.

I frowned. "I was under strict instructions when I joined not to work independently apart from these teams."

"That doesn't mean your department isn't distinct. Being temporary does not mean you are not distinct. And I'm sure you received the notification requesting a meeting with all departmental heads?" He asked me.

"No, sir," I replied through gritted teeth.

Did he have to continue insinuating that my department was temporary? I got that the first time. It was like he was threatening me. One little mistake and I would lose my job when I just finally got it. Nothing would make me lose this job. Temporary was going to become permanent. I was going to make sure of that.

Ethan frowned. "What do you mean you never received a notification?"

I released a deep breath. "Exactly what I mean sir. I never received any emails or notifications regarding a meeting. I heard from a coworker that you were meeting with the other heads of department and not my department." I told him.

Ethan frowned, confusion written all over his face. He pressed a button on his desk and requested for his assistant who walked in with pride. I never liked Susan. There was just something about her that put me off. Susan had just entered the conference room when Ethan asked her.

"Did you send the notification about a meeting to all department heads?" Ethan asked her.

Susan blinked in surprise. "Yes sir."

Ethan intertwined his fingers and leaned further on the table. I'm pretty sure if one gave him the opportunity then he would jump on it. "I hate liars, Susan and either you are lying, or Miss. Thompson here is lying so I'll ask again, did you send the notification to all department heads?"

Susan turned to me. "Well, I sent it to all the distinguished departments. Her department is still under...."

Ethan made an angry sound and Susan clamped her mouth shut. It seemed I was no longer the one on the hot seat.