6

"Mr. Holden would like to see you"

I froze at the utterance, eyes beholding the form of Adalynn, who had now made her way into the space of my office.

"Sorry?" My eyes blinked at her, like that would make it any easier deciphering the words.

"Mr Holden would like to see you" She called, yet again.

"And if I were you....She drew even nearer, eyes holding onto mine. "I wouldn't be a minute late"

Of course, I was used to being late. That sure was her impression of me.

"And get this office to a better state" She called, face scrunched up.

"Even rats would reject living here" The scowl followed, right before her figure walked out of the modest, yet comfortable area, I had grown to adapt to.

Excuse me? Whoever did this gruff lady think she is? Was that some sort of show of authority out here?

Yes, she might be the secretary to the company's director, but did that give her any right to ordering me around?

There were departments here. Every department different from the other. Restricted from those who had no business whatsoever there.

So the next time, Mr Holden's secretary, who happened to have worked here longer than I have, comes to boss me about, I just might give her a piece of my mind.

***

My eyes dare not meet the ones before me.

Calm they were, intent on me for the past five minutes since I had made my entrance.

His form was relaxed back in that chair, eyes taking in my trepidatious figure.

"You're fascinating Miss Parker"

That gaze of his lingered on my form so well, I was left with nothing but to avoid it.

"You had called me into your office, sir" I followed at once, hands held together, eyes staring at the interesting space on the ground.

"Yes"

"There has been a recent report of drop of sales in the company" His tone was low, eyes beholding the ones of mine which had snapped up at his utterance.

"Sir—

"You haven't been doing a good job, Miss Parker"

Night and day, I've been up, searching for just one little thing that would shoot the company's ever-frequent sales up the ladder.

I had created presentations, worked with the advertising departments, and in as much as I hated praising myself, I had done much more than I ever had since my eight years of Marketing and Communications.

What now was he saying?

"Mr. Holden, do forgive me. But I'm doing all I can to make sure the company achieves its goal, but you should know this isn't just one man's push" I called at once.

"It is of collective efforts" My voice was firm

"And trust me, if one department is lagging, the rest will fail"

"I believe that is yours to worry about, Miss Parker"

"For that was the reason you were employed" He followed.

The silence which had broken between our forms got me letting out a low breath, eyes shifting to the papers scattered on his desk.

"Or why do you think you were employed, Miss Parker?"

When no response came from me, his form relaxed back in his seat, fingers stroking his chin.

"Then I believe you should get to work, and fetch us results"

I spun around at once, departing from the tension that had hit the room, but the sudden call of his voice got me pausing mid-words.

"Miss Parker?" His voice was low, my figure turning around slowly to behold that expression held on his face.

"You should stay after closing hours" He began.

"There will be a meeting" He called, and at once resumed tending to the business held on his desk.