NEGOTIATING WITH THE DEVIL
When Monday came, Cayenne came to work as usual. She slept in their lounge like she always does before her shift.
After what happened a year ago, when she was almost assaulted, she decided to leave her house early in the evening and catch some sleep when she reached their lounge. Her manager didn't really mind her doing so, knowing how much she works her bone, bending her body backwards just to support her family.
What she didn't expect was that, the moment she woke up, she'd see her boss sitting next to her. She was so startled that she threw the pillow away.
"Sir, what are you doing here? Do you need anything?" She asked him while she tried fixing her hair and her blouse. She wasn't wearing her uniform yet since she didn't want to crumple it.
Stefan wasn't the least bit bothered and continued to scroll on his tablet, looking at the documents that Chris sent over to him after the board meeting that day.
"Just continue to sleep. You still have an hour before shift." he mumbled softly, so soft that she could barely hear him.
"Haha. Don't make a joke on me, sir. You just caught me sleeping here and it would be very troublesome if you just let it slide. Shouldn't you he punishing your employees for slacking off? Though, I'd greatly appreciate if you don't."
"Why should I punish you? It's not your working hours. You fan sleep as much as you want as long as you won't be late for work and you won't be slacking off later as well."
Cayenne made an 'oh' sound as she picked up the pillow from the floor. She dusted it off and placed it back on the couch.
In truth, Stefan found out from the manager that Cayenne already arrived. He just told the men not to barge inside the lounge, not until she wakes up, but Stefan came uninvited.
Naturally, no one wanted to be in the same space as their boss, making it easier for Stefan as well.
He had been sitting there, guarding the sleeping lady for over an hour. Cayenne didn't even change her position and he was worried that she'd be uncomfortable. Nonetheless, he couldn't just touch her and reposition her body so he just waited there.
"Sir, about the thing you talked about..I -"
"Let's talk about it in my room. Would you like to talk now or would you like to get more rest?"
"Let's just talk now." Cayenne smiled faintly at him. 'I don't think I can still sleep with you here.' she added mentally while she fixed her blouse.
Stefan stood up first and she followed right behind him. The other employees thought she would be reprimanded after getting caught sleeping in the lounge.
'Fighting little sister. I hope the gods will favor you and not let the devil fire you from work.' this was what the employees thought or something along this line.
Manager Dan was also worried since he was the one who allowed her to sleep in the lounge so long as it wasn't her shift. Now, they were bothered by it.
Stefan and Cayenne went up to his room to talk. She sat on the same couch that she last sat on and waited for him to get the paper containing the proposal and contract.
"Sir, just to make sure, we are just going to sleep and nothing else, right?" she asked with a flush face.
Stefan chuckled at her question. "Don't worry, we will just really sleep together. No other things to be done."
"If I agree now, can you give me another week before I start? I want to at least talk to the cafe owner before quitting."
"Your choice. I will just wait up."
"Okay. So what time should I change my shift? I should consider your waking and sleeping hour for that."
"Just change it to nine in the morning until six in the evening. Since you don't want us to be seen, I can ask a taxi driver to come and pick you up every day."
"I don't mind. Will this include the weekend?"
"Yup. Same time on weekends."
"Alright. On weekend, I'll be going to the hospital to visit my mother, just give me the number of the taxi driver so I can contact him."
"Alright. I'll give his details to you once we've settled everything." Stefan paused for a moment and looked at her. "I haven't bought the house yet. How about you choose it with me?"
"Do you really have to buy one? How about we use one of your condo rooms? I mean, I don't think we'd last forever in this set up. Don't you think so?"
"Why not?"
"Sir? What do you mean 'why not-? What if I get married? Don't tell me you want me to have an affair with you."
Stefan was stunned at this realization. It was indeed true that they wouldn't stay together. "Well, are you planning to get married?"
"No. But-"
"If you are not then, that is fine. If one day you wanted to stop this, I will just let you go."
"That's sounds good. Alright, just let me know when you'd like to look for a house." Cayenne smiled once again. "Where should I sign my name?"
"Just sign at the bottom."
Cayenne signed it first and Stefan signed after her. He looked over the notes she wrote on the documents before placing it inside his drawer.
"If there's nothing else, I'll go back now. I still have to prepare for work."
She was just about to leave when Stefan called out to her. "What makes you agree to this?"
"My family. I will do anything for them. It just so happened that you didn't ask so much from me and I am glad for that. I'll make sure to do my best to help you sleep, sir."
"Stefan."
"Huh?" Cayenne asked, not getting what he meant.
"Just call me Stefan."
"Okay, sir Stefan."
"Drop the sir."
"Okay...Ste..let me think about it." Cayenne opened the door and went out. When she was finally out, she slid down on the floor and covered her face. Her confidence were all gone and now, she was embarrassed with what she did.
She slapped her face a couple of time to snap herself, feeling her face getting hotter upon remembering her confident conversation with him. 'My god! I must have gone crazy!' she didn't realize that in the hallway, there were two cameras aimed at her. And Stefan was holding his laughter while watching her.
"How adorable." he commented before drinking the water he got from his fridge. "Looking so confident in negotiating with me earlier. Now? Where did all that confidence go?" He wanted to tease her but she will have to work so, he just spent his time reading documents again. "I hope you won't get married." He mumbled when Cayenne's face flash across his mind.