Awaiting me...

ARIANA

"Now, welcome Mr Jeffery Ross, the CEO to our wonderful company."

Again, everyone applauded as the man walked to the...

Wait...why does he look like the.....the assassin.....

"Oh my gawd..." I cursed out loud before I could stop myself.

Peering into my eyes with questioning gaze, Miss. Clark questioned me in hushed whispers. "You okay?"

"Hm." I hummed, nodding absentmindedly.

How did the...

"You sure?" Her question interrupted my thoughts and I glared inwardly at her.

'just leave me alone...' I wanted to say to her face but I just faked a smile and gave her a small nod.

"Okay." She muttered still holding her gaze on me, definitely not buying my smile.

"Just felt a small tumble in my tommy." I gave her a little fib hoping she buys it. She nodded and finally lifted her gaze.

Immediately her attention wasn't channeled towards me, I sank into the universe of thoughts.

How did an assassin become a CEO?

CEO's are meant to be ugly and chubby, right? Not sinfully hot.

I've broken a rule twice in a just day of employment?

But it's not really my fault, right?

I didn't know he was the CEO and even if I did know..how was I suppose to know I was prohibited from using the same elevator as the almighty CEO?

Am i gonna get fired?

A scenario of me being dragged out of the company flashed in my head...Goosebumps covered my skin and I started trembling in fright.

I can't get fired! I...I just got my dream job and...and...no! I can't! Am gonna...

"Ariana!" I was abruptly brought back to the real world.

"Yes!" Yelling, I flinched backward.

"Are you certain you're fine? You've been acting weird since the second rule was read out."

Sh..she noticed! How did she know?

"Am fi..."

"Don't even use that word cuz I know you ain't. I called you several times since secretary Gift ended her..."

"Ariana Gwen!"

My time halted...it stood still as I heard my name being called from the podium.

Am finally dead.

Miss. Clark gasped loudly as she heard my name being called. "You! What did you do?"

I shook my head negatively, shivering inwardly.

"Then why's SG yelling your name?" My heart sank into my stomach as i heard who was calling my name.

"Uh?" She tapped my shoulder, snapping me back to earth.

I swallowed nothing as I lifted my eyes on her. Her eyes were fixed on me, like she was trying to read me like a book . "What have you done Ariana..."

"Ariana Gwen!" The same voice yelled again but this time, in impatience.

"Go. We'll talk later." She rose on her feet and patted my shoulder gently as she walked out of the hall, still trying to figure everything out.

Taking a deep breath, I pushed myself off the chair, shivering as I took each step forward.

"G...good afternoon ma'am." I greeted, stuttering in fright.

"Afternoon Miss. Gwen." A small smile was on her red lips as she lifted her intense gaze upon me and I quivered even more. "It came to my notices that you've violated a rule in just a day of your employment." She told me, scrutinizing my every move. "Is that true?"

I breath out heavily and nodded downcastly.

Nothing I say would change anything so I'll rather just keep mute and wait for my dismissal.

It's so unbelievable that I would be losing my dream job the same day I got it...pathetic, right?

I sighed softly.

"But..." My eyes flew to her red lips as her word fell out. "Because you did it out of ignorance, you would be pardoned..."

My heart leapt out my stomach and flew for joy.

'Yes!'

"But..." She added, crashing my moment of happiness. The smile fell off my lips. "You would be penalized."

My joy deflated and my heart went back to its original place in dejection.

"Mr Ross, the Chief boss would give you a call when your penalty's ready."

"Hm." I nodded sadly.

"At least, I wasn't dismissed." I mumbled to myself, trying to cheer myself up but it didn't work, one bit.

She gave me a gentle smile and strode away.

I should be happy, right?

"Yes!" I nodded to myself and departed the hall.

*

"Nothing." I said again to Miss. Clark. She's been on my neck since I got back from the hall and it's f***ing annoying. "I need some space to work."

"Just tell me." She whined, puckering lower lip with her face so close to mine. I could literally feel her breath in my face.

Gosh! She's too nosy.

"Like I said before, nothing happened."

"Don't lie to me."

"Am not." I told her but she shook her head negatively.

"Okay. Let's say I believe what you said, why did secretary Gift call you then?"

'what do I say?'

"I don't know." I uttered without thinking properly.

'Shit! Shouldn't have said that.' I facepalm.

"Okay." She nodded sarcastically. "So was it your clone she called?"

"Gawd..." I groaned in sheer torment.

She shifted her head even more closer to me and pouted. "Just tell me."

"Can you please leave me alone? I'd like to focus on my work now!!" I snapped frustratedly and she jerked backward gazing at me with hurts in her eyes.

I reached out, apologizing but she stepped back. "I'm sorry..."

"No qualms." She grinned hurtfully. "Good luck solving your shit." Harshly, she muttered and strode back to her seat.

What have I done?

*

"Take!" Snapping out of my daze, my eyes fell on Miss. Clark as she pointed some files at me.

I stretched my hand, took the files from hers and placed it on my desk before lifting my gaze back on her.

"What should i do with it?" I questioned her but she kept her gaze on her system without responding to my question.

Mrs. Andrew answered instead "Edit it and file it properly."

"Okay." I nodded as I scanned the opened file in front of me.

"Then take it to the CEO'S office." Her next word threw my heart into turmoil.

"C....C.....C....C...."

"CEO's office." She repeated.

My eyes enlarged in its socket as I gazed at her for confirmation. "CE..E...O?"

Giving me a skeptical glance, Mrs. Andrew affirmed. "Yes! Do you have a problem with that?"

"No! No..no, not at all. I..I'm gonna do it..now."

"It should be ready before two hours, right?"

"Yeah...yeah...yes." i nodded almost frantically, staring into thin air.

"Then, start!" She yelled, seeing me still nodding my head after almost a minute.

"Yes..." I stopped nodding and looked at the cursed files in front of me.

*

For thirty minutes now, I've been done filling the shitty file but my ass won't bulge, it's as if it was glued to the chair.

"Ariana?" I heard my name being called by Mrs Andrew and I answered.

"Yes!"

"Aren't you done? It been over two hours."

My heart again, started thumping loudly in panic. "Erm..em..I..I..."

Think Ariana. Think!

My stomach crumbled in hunger.

'...aw..'

Not now.

My eyes widened as something clicked in my brain and a small smile arched at the corner of my lips.

"Awww..." I cried loudly, calling attention to myself.

"You okay?" Mrs. Andrew questioned.

"Uh huh..my stomach hurts." Clutching my stomach in forged pain, I gave a little fib.

"Oh...sorry!"

"Aww...mm." I cried, squeezing my face in pain.

"Sorry. Gabby, please take those files to Mr. Ross's office."

"Oh gawd..." I heard Miss. Stefani grumbled but I kept my face lowered.

"Gabby." Mrs. Andrew called again and she grunted before answering.

"Okay Mrs. Andrew. Am off." I heard her footsteps approach my desk, then a slamming noise followed. She must have slammed her hand on my desk to call my attention but I didn't raise my head. "Pray your stomach curl even more." She muttered scornfully to my hearing.

"Gabriella!" Mrs. Andrew sternly called her name and she groaned before, finally, the door slammed.

"I think you should go the clinic." Someone suggested and I lifted my head.

"I agree with Mr. Douglas. Maybe you ate something bad." Mrs. Andrew added.

"No. No. I'm fine, I'm on my period and it must be my cramps." I told them and they nodded.

I'm not lying.

Am really on my period so I'm not actually lying.

"Oh...okay! Sorry. Have you taken anything?" Mrs. Andrew stared at me sympathetically.

"Mm-hmm." I nodded.

"A cup of warm water would do." Miss. Clark muttered, suggesting without lifting her head from her system and I glanced at her from the corner of my eye.

She still cares?

"Thank you." I said in feigned pain.

"Should i get it for yo..." Mrs. Andrew volunteered but I interrupted immediately.

"No!" I answered too quickly and she gave me a questioning look. "You've done enough." I added, hoping she buys it and she did because she nodded thoughtfully.

I stood up with twisted legs and made way for the door slowly, still clutching my stomach.

"Sorry." She said. "Are you certain you don't want me to get it for you?'

"I'm certain." I pushed the door open and stepped out. "Phew.." I sighed in relief, adjusted my legs and walked to the cafeteria.

I was hungry anyway.

*

I sighed for the umpteenth time today thinking about the penalty waiting for me tomorrow. Even as I laid in my bed, all that filled my head was the penalty waiting for me tomorrow.

'what would i be asked to do?...'

That was the single question that kept running in my bed.

"Ari." My door pulled open as my mom stepped into my room. "You okay?" Her scrutinizing gaze searched my face.

"I'm fine, mom." I told her and she nodded but still didn't seems convinced.

"How was your first day of work?"

"Good." I shrugged.

"Just good?"

"It was fantastic, mom."

"Uh huh?" She gave me a questioning gaze.

"I'm exhausted, mom. That's all."

"Okay." She nodded. "Dinner's ready."

I sighed softly. "Okay."

"Just okay? No attempt to stand?"

"Wanna rest a little."

You sure you, tywysoges?"

"Yes, mom." I assured her.

"We don't want you eating cold food, okay?"

"Yes, mom. Will be down in a minute."

"Exactly what I wanted to hear." She said, grinning as she stepped out of my room.

I wish I could tell her.

*

My feet tapped anxiously on the floor as I await the penalty; the telephone in front me has even vibrated at all throughout out the day.

Sitting in my chair, I've been reading the rules and regulations read to us by Secretary Gift because i didn't get a single rule she said yesterday, of course, apart from the first two rules which placed my life into jeopardy. Miss. Clark lend me the note...she's still not in good terms with me. I even tried apologize today but she pretended I said nothing, yet, she lend me her note.

'zooooo....' The telephone on my desk vibrated interrupting my thought and setting my heart in mullock.

"H..hello!" My voice quivered in sheer anxiety.

"Hello." A masculine voice echoed from the other side. "Is this Miss Ariana Gwen?" The person questioned.

"Yes!" I mumbled.

"Mr Ross would like to see you in his office..."

My breath hitched and i started gasping for breath...

'calm down Ari.' I told myself as my hands trembled.

"Hello? Are you there Miss Ariana?"

"Y...yes!" I nodded trying to modulate my breaths.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes!" I spoke louder than intended.

'what are you doing Ari?'

"Oh...kay. Mr Ross would like to see you now." He stated and i nodded.

"I'll be right there." I dropped the cell and reclined into the chair, taking heavy breaths with my lips.

"Are you okay Miss Ariana?" Mrs. Andrew questioned, giving me a concerned look.

"Yeah!" I yelled unexpectedly and her expression turned inquiring. "A..am fine!" I stuttered, faking a smile as I lifted my gaze upon her.

'pull yourself together girl!' I screamed inwardly to myself.

"You sure?" She asked in puzzlement and I nodded positively. "Is it your cramps?"

"No ma'am." I answered and she returned her gaze to her system.

"Mrs. Andrew!" I called her and she lifted her gaze back upon me. "Please what floor is the..er..Mr Ross' office located?"

"The CEO?" She inquired quizzically.

"No." I told her and her eyes dilated in realization.

"Chief boss!" She exclaimed. "Is everything alright?" Her brows were arched in worry.

"Yeah. Yeah" I shook my head faking a reassuring smile...how do I tell her I broke a rule and I'm going to get my sentence.

"Just an assignment." I added hoping she buys it.

"Oh..kay." She nodded looking not so convinced. "It's at the 18th floor."

"Thank you ma'am." I faked another smile and headed to the elevator.

My hands were literally trembling as i waited in front of the elevator.

After awhile, the elevator slid opened and my feet froze as I stared at the devil that placed my life into jeopardy.

"Good morning sir." I lowered my head politely, and just like before, no response fell from his devilishly hot lips but still I didn't lift my gaze.

Who knows it might be a test?