Taming the Devil

On a Friday morning in a self contained apartment.

Ring!....ring!!......ring!!!

She stretch out her hand to put the alarm off but curse midway.

"what the heck!" She quickly hopped out of bed to check the alarm on the table.

"My first day of work starts off badly, I can't believe my alarm has been ringing for thirty minutes. Geez!"

She rushed into the bathroom and had a speed bath, dressed up and left the house hurriedly. She went to the bus station and board a bus.

Finally arriving at the MARS building, she was marveled at the glorious building in front of her. And going in were other job seekers, and judging from their expressions; she couldn't help but pray within her.

"Oh father Lord, please help me!" She gave a small prayer.

Her inner conscience gave a speed walk, but her body gave nice walk instead, into the reception area, and she sat down gently.

"Isabelle Brown!" The receptionist called.

"Yes!" she replied, raising up her hand as she took a walk to the receptionist desk.

The woman at the desk wore a shirt so tight you fear it's going to split into half, and a much red lipstick more necessary for work. She took a rude look at Isabelle, before dropping the pass card on the desk for her to pick.

"The forth floor." She picked the pass without a thank you and left wondering if she has met her before, or somewhere? She took a turn to the elevator and found out there was a queue and decided to use the stairs.

*

"Fourth floor, ah.. finally." She sighed, finally getting to the forth floor just as a girl ran past her. What's going on here? She thought to herself as she walked to the office door. The door was slightly open but still she knocked.

Not hearing any response, she slowly open the door to an empty office with the chair backing the table.

"Get out!" She heard a deep masculine voice, which unexpectedly send shivers down her spine. But how could she get out when she is here for a job? And this is the only office here, if she wasn't mistaken.

"I...I am.."

"Get out now!" the voice commanded again, and this time she couldn't help but look out and look back in. People aren't coming, that's strange. The chair slowly turns revealing the face that makes up every woman fantasies, yet they reveal no emotions. He pause mid sentence as he shamelessly scanned her from head to toe.

"Who sent you here?" he asked.

"I am here to..."

"it's my Aunt again right?, let's not worry about that, let's say I can manage you for now, let's see what you've got. Undress!"

"What?!"

"You can't? Then get out!"

Bang!

The receptionist rushed in unannounced frightening Isabelle while the man behind the desk just sit there calmly like nothing freaks him.

"I am sorry for barging in like that sir, this girl missed her way intentionally." The receptionist quickly said while scoffing at Isabelle.

"She is supposed to go to the fourth for an interview sir."

Isabelle couldn't believe her eyes because the shirt button of the receptionist was opened to her cleavage and she seem to be seducing the man rather than talking to him, with this kind of man who wouldn't do anything to get noticed.

"I counted the floors as..." Isabelle tried to defend herself.

"What did you mean you counted the floors?" the receptionist rudely interrupted.

"There was a queue for the elevator so I took the stairs and cou..."

"Leave us alone." The man coldly interrupted rendering Isabelle speechless.

"Are you deaf" The receptionist shouted at me.

"Yes, I mean..."

"I mean you Lisa, out."

"Sir?" She exclaimed, putting me in a good mood as she is rendered speechless. She then turn around while swinging her butt intentionally and not forgetting to gave Isabelle a stinky eye on her way out.

"I'm sorry sir. I took the wrong turn. I should take my leave now sir." Isabelle quickly apologized as she turn to leave the office.

"Sit down Mrs?"

"Miss Isabelle sir."

"Have your sit and hand over your file Miss Isabelle." There is something about the way her name rolled out of his tongue so romantically but his ethers gave nothing away, it's still as cold as it was when she came in. This makes Isabelle wonder if he ever smiles.

"Are you done staring" he suddenly said Isabelle immediately, she brought out the file in her bag and hand it to him.

"Have it sir."

"Take your sit first." he replied

"Oh.." She took her sit.

"Here sir." she said again He collected it, took a look at it, and then put it in his drawer.

"You are twenty-four." He scoffed.

"According to your file you just graduated and don't have any work experience yet, right?"

"Yes sir..,but I am a fast learner sir, I easily catch up to anything."

"The company will get back during the working days, I don't know if you are aware that you will first intern for three months, depending on your skill and performance you will either be staff or pay off."

"Alright sir, I promise to be in my possible best." she nods her head professionally.

"You may leave now, see you hopefully on Monday."

"Sir, thank you so much sir." She walked out of the office, towards the elevator.

She turned back around to look at the office she had just walked out from. Chilling. No wonder she got exhausted from climbing so much. Who is that? She walked into the elevator, and pressed the bottom to the first floor. And it was quite a shock when she saw the number on the bottom.

Sixth floor?! Ehe gasped in shock. 'i must have missed my counts.' Isabelle exit the building and fortunately for her, not meeting the receptionist.

Getting outside, her phone beep, having qm incoming call.

Ring...ring.... She picked up.

"Hi bestie" Laughs.

"What's up?"

"It was crazy. I unfortunately happened to be interviewed by the wrong person, and the good thing about it is that he is drop dead handsome. I couldn't stop staring at him, long story short I hope the company would send me an email of an offer letter during the weekend so I can resume on Monday."

"I am really looking forward to the email. I hope I get a job here, I would be glad." They both laughed together.

"When are you coming back Alex?"

"I don't know yet Isabelle. This project is taking so long." Alex replied.

"How long do you think will it take you to be down with the project, can you just guess and give a time, I have missed you"

"Perhaps a two or three months, between those two months."

"So you aren't certain?"

"Yes, I really don't know. But I am very sure it will be up to two months."

"Okay, I have got to go. It's drizzling out here."

"Okay, bye."

"Bye." She put the phone back inside her bag and made her way to the bus station where she board a bus home.

She finally got home in evening. She dropped her things on her single sofa, and walked into the kitchen

"I need something to keep me busy from refreshing my mailbox." she said to herself as she moves around the kitchen.

"Okay let's make a homemade pizza!" she cheered herself up. She went for her phone and play song from her playlist then plug in her earpod, she dance while humming to the song as she makes the pizza.

"Finally, let me see if the time as gone long enough for me to check my mail." she said as she serves herself the pizza and the reach for her phone.

"One hour has passed, let's seeee" She opened her mail to see that there's no notification, disappointed she drop the phone, then takes the pizza to her room.

"isabelle, you didn't even give them time, and you are just checking your mailbox. Are you crazy?!" She reprimanded herself.

"It's just today, we will see tomorrow, so let enjoy and hope for the best." she said, after scolding herself herself, just to get better.

Ding..ding.. She jump up so fast to get her phone to open the mailbox

"What? Just what I need." She said, but after reading the mail, she slumped down.

"Two months notice to evacuate the building because it's going on renovation, and I haven't secure a job yet. The last thing I want to do is call Alex, I just don't want to bother him.. I guess I won't have to put all my eggs in one basket, I have to begin another job hunt on Monday if I didn't get MARS company offer letter."

I have been anticipating the moment my email will beep with a job offer letter notification, and of course I have done my research on the MARS company, and I got to know the man I encountered then was Antonio Maxwell who is the President of the company.

He is said to be a billionaire and the country's no.1 bachelor. Cool... But he is a cold and strict man; nicknamed "The Devil"

There are pictures of him with different women. I scroll, I see picture of a woman, I scroll and see another picture of a woman. But they all have two things in common 'the blonde hair on their head, unlike my brunette hair, and another thing is their model like shape making me ashamed of my curvy shape and thick thighs for a second, and not to forget the fact that they are all tall unlike my 5ft2. Geez! This man has established that he like his women tall and blonde, but try telling that to my heart, I just can't help it this man is every woman dream come true, and ridiculously, including mine.

I don't think I can't stop crushing on him, but I guess I will just keep it to myself. Nope, I can't possibly like that man. Absolutely not!

*

Sunday has come and yet no good news I guess it's now hopeless, it will be another working days starting from tomorrow, and it no notification comes in, I guess I will begin my job hunt.

Ding...ding...

"I hope it is it!." I said to myself as I open my mail box to see that I am right, but it's just the one I have been hoping for.

"Ahh....oh my god!" I screamed happily.

"i had thought this wouldn't come anymore." I said to no one in particular. I jumped around in joy as I tried to dial my friend's number.

"Hey bestie, guess what?"

"oh.. you are such a joy killer, can't you just pretend and say something else at least allow my to shine it's my time"

"I just got the notification now, yeah sure when you get back I will take you out for lunch, bills on me" Laughs...

"Thanks" Smiles...

"Okay, bye"

Now let me prepare for tomorrow, I remember there is a dress a save specially for a day like this, I opened my wardrobe to find what I had in mind. A nice black fitted pencil skirt, and a white shirt the prefect size to go with it. It is not revealing and of course the heels my friends forced me into buying for myself as a gift, and this is where I started having second thoughts I feel like the heels are too sexy for a working environment, but then as long as it matches with what I'm wearing and I feel comfortable in it. It's classy too.

The next morning.

I woke up excited today and you wouldn't believe I woke up before my alarm rang. I must say after dressing up I neither look overdressed nor the dress too revealing, which is what I'm aiming for exactly.

Arriving at the company I proceed to get my intern card as the mail suggested and then proceed to the office assigned to me, on getting there I see four persons cubicle and I made my way to the empty one, the last one to the left.

While trying the make the space comfortable and to my taste I heard the sound of for opening and I look up to see a woman who walked in, and from her look would be in her late 40s.

"Good morning ma'am." I greeted ecstatically, as I stood up.

"Good morning, you must be Isabelle, the new intern?" she replied with a smile.

"Yes ma'am, I.."

"I am Matilda the Deputy Vice President, Welcome to MARS company, I will be working with you during your internship period. If there is anything you don't know or need you can always reach out to me."

"Alright, thank you Miss Matilda."

"You welcome Isabelle, I look forward to seeing you around after your internship."

"Good morning, and who do we have here?" I turned towards the voice to see a young lady like myself walks in and gives Mrs Matilda a hug, and then faces me.

"I am Isabelle the new intern, I.." She suddenly hugged me too as I try to introduce myself making me lose my breath for a moment. Wow, that was a tight hug.

"I am Rose and it's nice to meet you Isabelle" she said beaming at me.

"Same here, and you can call me Belle" I replied.

"Okay, I am also an intern just like you, it's just that I came a week earlier than you and there is one more of us too. Her name is Kate, you will meet her soon and be careful, she is crazy. But not to worry, and not to take her behavior to heart she always like that with everyone."

Koi...koi...The sound of footsteps sounds closer.

"Speak of the Devil," Just then a young lady walks in with an air of arrogance which surrounded her, she murmured a greeting to Mrs Matilda and goes to her space not even acknowledging the new face, Rose nudges me on the shoulder and smile as she assumes her sit while I also make my way to mine.

The day went in with no issues. And that fact that I haven't even seen the boss around. I really wanted to ask, but I kept it to myself. When it was time for a lunch break.

Rose was kind enough to tag me alongside herself and she also denied me the access of paying for the lunch, as she said it's a welcome gift. She also introduced me to the few friends she had throughout the days of her internship, and promised to organize a party on my behalf on Friday.

The rest of the day went by in a blur without me sighting the President and so does the week and so soon Friday is finally here. The company close my 5pm and we fix the party to 7pm and Rose promise to pick me up in her 'small ride' like she calls it.

"Woah!" I was marveled at the sight before me. I have heard about this new bar, but I wasn't expecting this.

"It's glamorous, I know, but let's hurry in so we can get the rich guys before it's late." Rose joked beside me.

"At least someone to pay for the drinks." I replied to her jokes. We laughed it out, as we got out of the car and made our way to the bar. The others arrived and we had fun, drank liquor shot after shot, except for Rose who took a shot because she was driving.

"Excuse me guys, I have to use the rest room." I excused myself, after doing my business I came out and was about to exit the restroom corridor when I almost collided with someone.

"Can't you watch where you are going." I snapped angrily as I raise my head to meet the person's face.

"Huh!" I was shocked by the face that was coldly staring back at me.

"Mm..Mr..Mr Antonio?" my words came with a stutter.

"Are you not the new girl at the company?" he asked and continued.

"After getting a job the next thing you decide to do is to party"

"No, no sir. It's a..."

"I don't care about your private life." he waved his hand cutting me off from explaining.

"But if it will affect the work of my company then we would have no other option but to lay you off." he said and walks off to wherever the corridor leads to, while I struggle to put myself together after what he said.

When I got back to my colleagues, Rose looked at me and screamed over the loud music.

"What took you so long" she questioned.

"I..I lost my way" I replied with a lie, but I guess she could hear me. I took out my phone from my bag and type out a sentence and show it to her.

< I would like to go home now, I am having a headache> She collected the phone and type back to me.

"No, there's no need" i shouted over the music and collected back my phone and type to her.

"Hey guys" she shouted over the music to get our colleagues attention.

"Belle would be going home because she has headache" she said to them. They all wish me a quick recovery and told me to rest well and good before Monday. I left there made my way outside where I hail a cab.

As the driver drives me off I keep thinking about what Mr Antonio said, how he judged me without listening to my explanation. I was lost in my thoughts not aware that I have arrive at my destination until the driver voice brought me back to present.

"Madam, we are here" the driver said.

"Oh! So sorry, I was lost in thought" I said as I got out of the cab and head to my house.

I settled in as I prepare to sleep but not forgetting to get a chocolate bar from my fridge, trying to forget about what makes my supposed welcome party an uneventful night.

The weekend didn't get any better as I couldn't stop seeing his disapproving cold face, putting me on the edge making me anticipate if I would be getting my resignation letter on Monday. I haven't even prove myself, am I going to have to quit just like that and go through the process of job hunting again.

I have been refreshing my mail over and over again to know my fate, but I see nothing but still my mind wasn't at peace till I got to work on Moday and I went to my office to check my desk which was empty like the easy I left it on Friday. Soon my colleagues arrive and we begin the day's work.

"Belle" I heard Mrs Matilda calling me.

"Ma'am" I answered.

"Come go submit this to the President"

"I... yes ma'am" I said despite the strong temptation of suggesting someone else to her, which would be bad.

I collect the documents with a dreadful feeling in my heart. Just as I was getting close to his office I felt a hit, I look at the situation and realize that I collide with someone who has a cup of coffee. I don't know if I should cry or shout, the document has been affected.

"Haven't you got eyes?" I heard a female voice snapped at me. But the situation at hand didn't give the chance to reply her.

Oh my goodness, I am so dead, I thought to myself as I try to gently dab the document with my hands. After trying my best I proceed to his office and press on the door bell and the door open almost immediately.

"Good morning sir." I greeted.

"Drop the document and leave." he said without raising his head from his work.

"Here sir" I drop them and he reach for them as I take my leave.