Chapter Thirteen

'Ah. Yes, I'm sorry but I wasn't expecting your call till-'

'- till Wednesday, I know. But I have some work which I find important to be done with my secretary. I'll send you a list of tasks to be done before my arrival and I expect them to be done before Monday. Are we clear?'

'Yes, we are.' She immediately agreed. That was her job.

'Good. I'll email you right away.'

'okay, I-' He hung up? Rude.

"Trouble neighbour?" James asked looking suspicious of the sudden phone call. It was obvious that someone important had called that she was being continuously interrupted in between.

Alexis looked in his direction a bit alarmed from the sudden intrusion. Breathing out and calming herself, she replied, "Yes, well no, I mean there's no trouble, just my new boss and his new demands." She looked around and felt her phone vibrating indicating that she had received the mail. She breathed in and out again, this could be done later. Right now Diesel was her priority and she was going to walk him. Having a small talk with her neighbour she said goodbye to him. She took the leash again and they walked out of the building into the fresh air. They walked through their normal route of bakery shops, antique stores and people jogging past them. Diesel being the hungry puppy he was, always walked into the direction of the bakery shops which were baking heavenly goodies early morning for their customers, only for Alexis to drag the hungry boy away.

Reaching the dog park which was their usual resting point, they both occupied their usual third bench. She sat on the bench and Diesel jumped next to her and placed his head on her lap. She smiled reaching over and gently running her fingers over his head. She thought of the situations she was going to face now. A new boss meant new responsibilities; either he was a workaholic or he was lazy and would put all the work and blame on her but by judging the tone of the voice he had, she was sure of one thing, he knew how to get the work done. If he knew that, then for sure he was a man of command and he would not hesitate to put someone in their place without a moment's thought.

'Great.' She sighed. 'It might or might work out in my favour. Also, there could be a possible downsizing.'

She looked back at Diesel who was looking at her, feeling her distress.

"What's the wrong boy?" She eyed him.

He looked in front and then back at her. He lifted his left paw and placed it over her right hand which was gripping the end of the bench. Her heart swelled, she didn't know if it was true for everyone but dogs were truly the best gift to mankind from the almighty. She turned her hand and grabbed his paw and held it tightly. She swore with this action it was as if he smiled. He looked ahead and she followed the suit. She let out a long sigh feeling content.

The moment had to be cut short. Looking after the new boss's demands and needs was now the top priority for her on the professional front. They jogged back home and Diesel was more than happy to do that. She gave him food and water and changed into a nude shade pantsuit with a black blouse and matching black heels. Her job at times came with unexpected lunches or brunch which required her opinion but that was what Mr Walker felt, she had to be open-minded about the new one. He might or might not be a person who wanted a second opinion from an employee working under him. Walking down to the parking after locking her door, she started her car and drove to the building she looked forward to each day. She had seen the email and the work had to be done in the office itself. She was early anyway; rarely did it ever happen that she was late. She nodded at the guard in greeting and made a run for his office. She saw a man in the area which was the break room for higher-level executives but never turned his way to greet him.

Entering her cabin first she laid down all her files and her laptop bag on her desk, grabbing her notepad and phone, she then dashed into his cabin. Starting with making a list of what he wanted to be done first, she copied it down. Then she started with what was convenient and quicker and the one which could be delayed. Starting with the files in the boxes, she took off her heels and got down to work. New projects, on-going ones and completed they all were placed date and alphabetical manner and date wise.

Then the ones that can be delegated to the subordinates. Yet, the original files stayed with him. She placed the ongoing ones which he was currently focusing on his desk in a slanting manner. It showed the names of the file and then started with the other. The drawers filed with the stationery as he wanted, then the magazines and bank-related books. The bathroom stocked the products he used and the emergency suit and a pair of shoes that he had already sent.

With all of it done, the lengthy task of filing in the adjacent storeroom came. Breathing in she grabbed her phone and called Anna; the receptionist on this floor and two interns Kristine and Celeste for help.

******

She came back in, after thanking the employees for their time and work and double checked everything herself. She nodded to herself and then hurried out. Her hand reached for the doorknob but it had a mind to its own. It turned and the door opened. A man stood there and entered past her. She opened her mouth at the utter disrespect shown to her.

She walked up to him and tapped him on the shoulder and then stepped back a few steps to have a proper conversation.

"Yes?" he answered, turning around.

She stared at his back, her anger starting to brew. "What do you mean by 'yes'? Don't you know who this new office belongs to? I am politely asking you to leave because I just arranged everything and if something goes missing it will be blamed on me and I might get fired."

This intrigued the man more. Didn't she call two employees for her help? "Didn't you call two ladies for help? They could be blamed too?"

She shrugged and answered back, "Yes but then again, it was my fault to ask them to help me and once again please leave." She pleaded with a stern expression which was wavering anyway.

He looked at her finally turning back, finding the beauty utterly beautiful, he spoke. "I like you."

The feeling was mutual, he was no less of a man possessing more beauty that could ever be bestowed on anyone, yet she snapped back. "And I don't care. Leave."

"I think you should. People tend to make their boss happy at any cost and you my secretary have asked me to leave for the third time." He said adding an innocent smile in the end.