Chapter 3 The Devil Wears Armani

"I hate him. I hate him. I hate him." I said for the umpteenth time to my roommates since I came back from the interview. I remembered the smirk on his face and just feel like if I could wrangle his neck right now. He made me feel tiny by smirking and if I could have wiped that smirk off his cocky face, best believe me I would have.

"Violet, I am not a party pooper neither am I on the stop-the-hate-on-the-man train. But, it will be nice if we can know who you hate asides Connor, so we can all hate him together. Ain't I right, Annie?" Rainie turned to Annie who was in the Kitchen trying out a new recipe she learnt at culinary school so we could have it as dinner. She looked so serious as she folded the dumplings and I smiled, forgetting my anger at Ryan because I was just so proud of how close she has come to achieving her goals.

There was silence until she finished folding the last dumpling and plopped all of them into the point of boiling hot water, before she dusted her flour hands on her apron.

"I'm with Rainie on this. Let's know who you hate, so we can get on the internet, print pictures of him and throw darts on them. That way you can feel better."

"Remember the night I broke up with that douchebag Connor. You know I came back raving about some guy that I met at the bar that refused to tell me his name?" I asked.

"Yeah, we remember." Annie said.

"The one you called a hottie in five different languages?" Rainie asked, lifting her brows playfully earning a snicker from me.

"Yeah, that one. Anyway, turns out he works at Falcon Enterprises and he was part of the interviewers that interviewed me today."

"So this is love." Rainie sing song as she grabbed a clean spatula and started gyrating her hips around the living room.

I snorted, "Yeah, as if. Turns out he is a major A-hole and also corky. I wouldn't touch his nasty ass with a ten-foot pole. He was just so direct in his speech in a way that irked me. It was like he was a different person from the person I met at the bar, like that was his alter ego. Also, it annoyed me that despite him being a major pain, he was still so fine to look at! That is what I hate admitting." I groaned whilst banding my head lightly on the kitchen counter.

Rainie grabbed her laptop from her room and came back to the living room. Putting it on the center table, she sat on the rug and flexed her fingers while her system was booting

"Tell me his name now and I am going to help you find him."

"Ryan. That's all I know." I replied her.

She grinned and started typing, "That's more than enough dearie."

We all have that one friend that we think missed their calling to work in the CIA or FBI because of how good they are at finding someone. Raine was that person in our friendship group.

After minutes of searching, she turned the laptop in my direction, "Is he the one?"

Indeed, yes, he was the one. The arrogant human was wearing an Armani suit and had his hand on his jaw lightly. He looked so good, not like I was willingly going to admit that right now.

"Yes, he is." I replied.

She took the laptop back, concern evident on her face. After which she turned to me and said, "My dear, this is the CEO of Falcon Enterprises."

"What? That isn't possible. The CEO is Marcus Falcon, last I checked yesterday." I almost choked on my spit at her revelation. There was definitely no way what Rainie was saying is true.

"Yeah, that was yesterday. As of this morning, it was announced that his Son who has been away from the spotlight and under interim leadership training is now the new CEO of Falcon Enterprises. His name is Ryan Falcon."

Suddenly all the dots connected in my head. No wonder the receptionist wished me luck. No wonder the interviewers were treading on thin ice with him. A lot of insiders must have known he was the new CEO before the news broke out and knew what he is like. This right now is like my life is a bad soap opera and I am the lead character who dies halfway to the end of the movie. I remembered how I said he should have a miserable day and he heard it. Everything is indeed over and there is no point crying over split milk.

I chuckled for a long time with my friends looking at me like I had gone bonkers.

"Guys, let's go clubbing tonight. I need a stiff drink because one thing is of certain. There is no way on this green earth that I am getting that job."

After telling someone that was going to be my boss to have an unpleasant day, he must be bonkers to give me a job as his P.A.

**********************

My phone rang at a distance. I opened my eyes slowly, trying to get them adjusted to the harsh lightning in the living room. After clubbing last night, and taking a couple of shots too. The three of us stumbled back home and collapsed on the pull out couch. As I opened my eyes halfway, I noticed my friends sprawled in different positions on the couch.

I used my hands to feel on the couch for my phone and my fingers finally touched the cold object.

"Hello." I said immediately I picked up in my coarse voice for shouting over the music.

"I believe I am speaking with Violet Sanderson. I just called to tell you that you got the job as the P.A to the CEO of Falcon Enterprises and you are to begin effective from Monday." The cheerily voice said like that was the best thing she had to say today.

My brain booted for a minute before I finally understood what she just told me.

The first thing that popped out of my mouth was, "I'm sorry, but why would I get the job?"

"I'm confused. Do you want the job or not? Most people are usually elated about getting this type of call." The voice sounded like she was confused about me acting like this and from the questions she asked me, this was possibly the first time someone is acting this way. Well, that clearly makes the both of us dear. I definitely thought I bombed the interview, especially when I told him to have an unfortunate day, which he heard by the way, incase you don't get how absurd this is. So, imagine my surprise when he ended up giving the go ahead for me to be hired. If she was me, she too would be confused.

"You don't understand," I started because she really didn't, "I bombed the interview. Like it's like when a model falls face flat on an international walkway that is supposed to take her career to the next level with the judges watching. And the next day, when she thinks her career is over, she messed up, she gets a call that she won. That's exactly what happened to me."

"Well, it doesn't matter now does it because the CEO specifically asked for you. So, if you are still interested interested in the job so I can know my next line of action. Although, my advice to you is to take the job. This is the number one Enterprise in New York, in America and the world. You have won in life if you get an employment here even if work for a month here. Your life becomes easier after this even when you want to move on to something else. So, I think you should say yes to this." She advised me. This oddly reminded me of a TV show where people took their family members wedding dress shopping and then the shop attendants and the family members ask the lady 'Would you say yes to the dress?' and like ten or fifteen pairs of eyes are on her as everyone waits with bated breath on what she'll say. I just realized how much pressure comes with being put on the spot. I wished my friends were awake, but since the are knocked out from our busy night yesterday, I knew I had to make this decision on my own.

"Okay, I accept the job." I said some seconds after mulling it over. I mean how bad could it be working for a boss that is a bit of a douchebag? I have worked with a sleazeball before and it ended with me hitting him in the nuts when he tried to grope me. If Ryan turned out to be insufferable, enough that I can't tolerate him, I'll just quit. It should be that easy.

"Nice! Believe me when I tell you that you just made the best decision of your life." The lady declared triumphantly. She was definitely more excited than I was, made me wonder how much they paid her to be so excited about working at Falcon Enterprises.

"So, your name tag would be ready over the weekend. You'll be getting the All Entry Express card as the P.A to the CEO so that you can have access to all floors in the building. Then, an employee handbook that tells you all the benefits you are entitled to," She was saying when I interrupted her.

"Wait, what benefits am I entitled to asides my Salary?"

"Well, the company provides health insurance for all their workers plus a stipend as travel bonus for a year. This was implemented two years ago when the current CEO came on the company's board of directors. As a Human Resource Director, he ensured that everyone was looked after. He might be a lot of things, but one thing is for certain, he works hard to ensure all employee are treated right." I could hear the smile in her voice. This was definitely a 'Ryan' fangirl and I definitely don't want to be in her bad graces for saying something bad about Ryan. So, the person I saw yesterday that was snarky towards me somehow has the heart of the people. If the world isn't ending, I don't why else this is happening.

"Wow! That's nice." I genuinely exclaimed because even if the CEO was not the nicest person, this was actually the most thoughtful thing I have heard in a long time. Yes, I can admit that much. I knew most big corporations were never people oriented and they treated their employees like dirt under their shoes. As a mere P.A having a health insurance is amazing because healthcare here in the U.S is bizarre. I don't know how one would pull through if the person didn't have one.

"These are one of the numerous reasons why working at Falcon Enterprises is amazing! Anyway, I wouldn't want to bore you by overselling the company or acting like a fangirl. Pick up your name tag and other essentials at the main lobby receptionist desk on Monday. I wish you good luck on your journey at Falcon Enterprises. Have a lovely day."

"You too," I said. With that she hung up the phone.

I walked to my room and collapsed on the bed. I stared at my ceiling for a solid five minutes and decided to go back to bed. Maybe, it'll turn out that I just had a nightmare and I'll then go back to the reality. I was possibly in an alternative universe just like how Peter in Spiderman: The Spider verse went through different alternative universes to defeat Thanos.

I slept for another three hours and woke up to a message on my phone.

Welcome to Falcon Enterprises. The Head of IT would be coming over to the office by 9:00a.m to set up your Employee dashboard. If that would not work, please call the office on Line 9 to save him the trip and tell us when would work for you. Welcome once again Miss Violet Sanderson.

I was now convinced, this was not a bad dream that I could wake up from or an alternate universe.

This was really happening.

I accepted to work at Falcon Enterprises with RYAN FREAKING FALCON!

I indeed must have gone crazy.

******************

"Good morning." I greeted the main lobby receptionist Lillian immediately I got to the office that Monday. It feels weird to tell anyone that I now worked here. Still feels like a dream.

"Hello! I knew you were going to get the job the moment I saw you. You had the most audacious look amongst all applicants. Welcome to Falcon Enterprises." She greeted me in a cheery tone that I considered marching up to the Finance department in order to find out how much they paid everyone in this company that made them act like the world is rainbows and sunshine.

"Thank you so much. I was told I am going to get my employees box here?"

"Yes, please," She bent down and got it from under the counter and handed it over to me, "It contains every essential thing you will need. Do take your time to peruse the box and if you are confused at any point and think it's something I can help you with, my table is always here and I am always willing to lend a listening ear," She glanced at her watch and gasped audibly, "Oh please, hurry upstairs. The CEO has a thing about punctuality and he hates it when people are tardy, even if it's by one minute."

With that, I hurried to the elevator. With the number of stops of people getting off the elevator at different floors, I got to the main floor five minutes late.

The receptionist of that floor gave me a 'you are so screwed' look as I hurried to Ryan's door. I placed the employees box I got at the receptionist desk by the door and I took a deep breath and knocked on the mahogany door.

"Come in." A gruff voice called from inside.

I turned the knob of the door and pushed the heavy door. When I got in, I pushed the heavy door shut.

"Good morning Sir." I greeted.

"There is nothing good about the morning. You are three minutes late." He said in a low tone that told me he was indeed pissed.

Just my luck! Pissing someone off that just might hate my guts.

"Sorry about that Sir. It won't happen again." I simply said. Something about Ryan told me that he was one of those bosses that doesn't care why you were late. They just want you not to be late.

He scribbled something on a post-it note and beckoned me to come closer.

"Here. Go to this coffee house. Ask for Freddie and tell him to give you my usual coffee order. You should be back in thirty minutes time."

I looked at the coffee house and realized why it wasn't so far away, it was one of those problematic areas that were harder to navigate because of the bus system was messed up. As a carless New Yorker, I was in for some sweating this morning.

I zipped out of the office and downstairs. When I passed her, she gave me a quizzing look and I couldn't stop to explain. I'll tell her later.

After waiting for the bus, which didn't come by the way, I decided to run there.

Have you ever ran in stilettos? My advice is don't try it at all. I almost toppled a couple of times, but I made it to the coffee house in ten minutes. Usain Bolt needs to watch his back.

"I'm looking for Freddie." I said immediately I got in, breathing heavily. My white chiffon top clung to my body and my skirt had ridden up. I probably looked like a hot mess, but I didn't care.

"You might want to take a breather." The Barista advised me. On a regular day, I would have admired how hot he was, but today wasn't that day when I had a Boss who was breathing down my neck and might chew my head off if I didn't get back in time.

"Thanks for the care, but I have no time for that. Do you know Freddie?" I asked again.

"You are speaking to him." He replied with a smile on his lips.

"Oh, thank goodness. So, Ryan said you should give his usual coffee order." I said.

"Ryan? As in Ryan Falcon?" He quizzed.

"Yeah, that very one. I am the new P.A and I just started working there today."

"Oh, he already told me you were coming to get his coffee today, although I didn't think it would be today since he already got his coffee himself this morning." He said the last bit under his breath that I almost missed it.

After some minutes, he handed me the cup and I thanked him before zipping out again.

Unable to get a bus again, I ran as fast as my stilettos and the hot coffee let me.

I got to the office with five minutes to spare.

When I got to the main floor, I breathed a sigh of relief when I checked my wristwatch and saw I still had four minutes to spare.

"Mr. Ryan said to tell you to join him in the underground parking lot. You both are going for a meeting at one of the branches."

"And the coffee?" I gestured at the coffee in my hand that I practically sprinted for because I knew there was no way someone like him would have coffee in a moving car.

"Oh, he said you can have it. Do hurry though, he went downstairs about five minutes ago and I think you know by now how much he hates tardiness." With that said, she went back to typing.

I looked at the coffee and my now sweaty top and I felt anger bubbling in my chest.

I was now convinced that the scriptwriters of The Devil wears Prada got it all wrong. The Devil wears Armani and the Devil is my boss.

How could he make me get coffee he had no plans to drink to punish me for coming just three minutes late?

I might get blood on my hands soon and it definitely won't be mine.