Everything...

Sylvie

I stared at Michael in disbelief, my mouth agape and my eyes widened in shock. I felt a new restlessness as I psyched myself mentally for whatever was coming next. 

"I'm sorry, but I cannot do that work." I replied with a hung head. I was not about to let myself be used by another man, especially not moments after last night's disaster. If I had to guess, I'd probably say he was doing this out of pity, and that was the worst kind of favor anybody could do me. Once he stops pitying me, he'd probably dispose of me like I was nothing. Chances were that he had witnessed the events of last night, and that could be what drove him to make me his assistant. Just like Antonio, he wanted a lady he could push around without getting chastened for his actions. 

"Why? From what I've learned about you, you definitely need this job."" He said, and I felt my anger grow even further. It was just as I'd expected, he was helping me out of pity. He had researched me, and now he wanted to play the good guy just to get something from me. They were all alike, devilishly handsome with hearts full of hate. 

""Why are you helping me? I'm sure there are many workers more qualified than I am to be your assistant. What do you want from me?!"" I yelled at the man before me. My life was hanging in the balance, and this might be the only way to save myself, but I didn't care. I'd rather return to staying with my parents once again than have my dignity snatched from me a second time. 

"I understand your frustration, and I'd like to clarify things if you'd let me." His brown eyes searched mine for an answer, and despite my rude attitude towards him, he remained indifferent. 

"Fine..." 

He leaned back on his leather seat and got comfortable before gesturing that I should sit down.

 I considered declining, but felt that I might be doing a little too much. Reluctantly, I settled on the seat opposite him, and we locked eyes, my jet black pupils against his brown ones. 

"I saw what happened at the party, and I'm really sorry you got embarrassed that way," he paused, and I quickly turned my face away in embarrassment. Memories of last night came flooding in, and I felt my whole body quiver in shame and complete contempt for Antonio Carlos. 

Michael noticed my unease and waited until I had gotten myself together. After I returned my gaze to his face, he continued. ""I'll have Antonio send you a formal apology, and this offer is my own way of apologizing as well. Of course, it's up to you to accept or reject our apologies, nobody will blame you for your own decisions.""

"Antonio....where is he now?" I inquired. 

"He's taking a break for now, he'll be resuming work tomorrow," Michael answered. I was about to get angry once more that he wasn't sanctioned or demoted at least, but I soon discovered that my personal problems were of no concern to the company. Whatever issues I had with Antonio were between me and Antonio as long as it wasn't work-related. 

After giving myself a reality check, I took a minute to think everything over. Even though I didn't trust Michael Black one bit, he genuinely seemed like a nice guy, and was nothing like the rumors made him out to be. Working as his assistant would not only give me the raise I desperately needed, it also provided an opportunity for me to get back at Antonio. 

It might be one of my delusional thoughts once more, but somehow I had already begun to imagine a future where Michael Black had become my lover. Right now I was unsure if I still had any sort of romantic emotions, but maybe that would change in the future. At the moment, all I had was hatred, and an overflowing obsession to get back at Antonio. 

""You don't have to give me an answer right now. Take your time and think everything through—"

"I'll do it." I interjected silkily. "I'll be your assistant." I reaffirmed.

Michael raised a brow, ""Are you sure? You don't want to think it through?"" He asked, and I suddenly felt an inclination to decline, but didn't. The way he spoke made it seem as though he was unhappy with the fact that I had accepted the offer. Perhaps it had been a charade orchestrated to make me feel less bad about the company. I hadn't really made the observation, but news about the party hadn't really surfaced on the papers or television.

 Black Industries was one of the leading companies, and one would think that news about them would make the front line, but somehow it didn't. I could tell it was Michael Black's doing. He didn't want last night's drama to stain the image of his employees and company, and he had suppressed all information regarding the party from leaking out. Perhaps this was compensation for the humiliation, a strategic means to make me keep my mouth shut should I be approached by any news company. 

It didn't matter though, their tactics had helped secure me something good, so I couldn't complain. 

"If you don't mind, would you mind telling me more about yourself? If I'm going to be your assistant, we might as well get to know each other. I take it that you already know everything about me, given the fact that you took your time to research me." 

Michael's expression shifted from normal to demeaning. His cold eyes suddenly became colder, and the surrounding air shifted almost instantly. It felt as though I was staring at a complete stranger. The once understanding Michael Black had suddenly vanished, and before me now was the CEO of Black Industries, the cold, ruthless Michael Black that the rumors spoke about. 

"What would you like to know about me?" He asked as he leaned in, a wry smile spread across his face. 

I maintained my composure and leaned in as well. Determined to never be seen as weak anymore, I stole his aura and made it mine. The cold look in his eyes was replicated, and so was the wry smug he had on. Seductively, in a tone inappropriate for an assistant, I whispered: "Everything."