Chapter 4 - Unmerited Punishment From Boss

 Carissa shuddered and muttered, "Sorry, David."

"What?" George emerged, giving her an uncanny look. "Did you just address the boss by his name?"

"N…no, sir. I didn't," She gently denied it, and she noticed David's expression hardened, but he said nothing. 

George tried to argue, saying he overheard it. 

"Enough, George. Leave us for the moment," David ordered sharply.

George hesitated but eventually left the room.

 Alone with Carissa, David's demeanor turned even colder.

"I don't know what you're playing at, addressing me so casually. We have a professional relationship here, and I expect you to treat it as such and don't be a bitch. Understand?"

Carissa swallowed her pride and nodded. "I'm sorry, sir. It won't happen again."

"See that it doesn't because I don't have time for nonsense."

Unable to keep up with his gaze, she looked away. Carissa couldn't shake off the hurt and confusion. David's behavior was a stark contrast to the man she once knew. She wondered why he was acting so cold. He seemed different and distant as if they had never had anything to do with each other in the past. It hurt her deeply, but she tried to compose herself and focus on what was at hand. 

"And for fucking sake, you came late to work on your first day, Miss Draven," David stated, intolerably as he walked to his desk.

Carissa's eyes widened, and she came to stand before his desk to defend herself. "No, sir. I arrived 20 minutes earlier."

She noticed his eyebrows creased. "You can confirm from Mr. George…"

He slammed the desk so hard that it almost startled her to death. "I'm the boss! Not George."

"I…I'm sorry, sir." She bowed.

"Nonsense. You can leave." He dismissed her with a wave of his hand. As she turned to leave, she stopped when he uttered, "I feel I'm going to be wasting ten thousand dollars by giving it to an undeserving worker like you as a salary."

'Ten thousand dollars? No,' she thought and spun. Surprise was written all over her face. "Is my salary going to be… ten thousand dollars, sir?"

He stared at her and nodded. "You're not even worth up to that," he remarked, curtly.

"No. I mean, the fixed salary I got to know regarding this world was thirty thousand dollars."

He folded his hands and gave her a mean look. "Really?"

"Yes, sir." She nodded, frantically.

"Well, you're going to be getting only ten thousand dollars every month, and it's going to be less than that if you annoy me."

'That's not really much,' she thought, staring at him in astonishment.

"If you can't take it, get out." He pointed at the door, causing her to blink uncontrollably.

Carissa took a deep breath to calm her nerves before speaking.

"But…this isn't what I got to know. I mean, why the salary reduction?"

"Are you that daft that you can't tell why?" He arched a brow as he walked over to her, slipping a hand into his pocket. "You don't have any qualifications. No experience and you're an undergraduate. And you think ten thousand dollars isn't okay?"

"I…thought…"

"Quit thinking like a dummy," he silenced her unexpectedly. "It was out of my benevolence that I gave you this job because I wanted to see what an unqualified woman like you who was bold enough to apply for such a position at my great company could offer. Though I know you won't meet up to one of my many expectations. So, count yourself lucky."

"Lucky?"

"Yes. You should be working in one nonsense supermarket as a salesgirl and earning a maximum of a couple of dollars, you know. Maybe your stars are just working in your favor, don't you think?"

She nodded. "Okay."

"So, are you going to work with that salary or get out?"

"I will work." Carissa sighed and dropped her gaze before leaving the office. Getting to the hallway, she stopped halfway almost reaching the elevator and took a deep breath.

 Her mind swirled with how she was going to manage the salary and use it for her daughter's upkeep and family. She was literally shouldering three families' responsibilities and had hoped to start earning big to be able to handle it.

 Though the salary was over two times what she usually earned from all her part-time jobs combined.

"Sick of me to have hoped for too much. He was right anyway," she muttered to herself and sniffed.

 After she met George, who explained better to her what her work was to be, she was taken to her desk situated in the open space office two floors below David's office floor. 

Carissa had never imagined that her first day at work would be devastating.

 After the lunch break, she was in the restroom talking to Daisy on the phone.

"Hello, P.A., how are you doing?" Daisy cheerfully asked, forcing Carissa to laugh.

"I am good. And you?"

"Same here. I just passed your company with my company's editorial team, and I thought about you. Hence, I called. What's the gist?"

"Hey. It's my first day at work. And I really didn't want to return your calls if it wasn't because of how much I know you were senselessly going to keep calling if I didn't."

"Ouch, that was hurtful. Anyway, what's up."

"I'm hanging up now. I need to return to my work."

"Okay. I'm going to drop by after work, so we head home together…"

"No!" Carissa yelled and gave an apologetic expression to the female cleaner who was leaving the restroom.

"What's wrong? I want to use the opportunity to get to see your boss."

"Not today. Please."

"Alright, you're something else. Talk to you later."

"Okay. Bye." She hung up and sighed. "You can't see David now, Daisy, no," she whispered to herself, seething with fear of Daisy knowing she lied.

 Carissa was working on some data later when she was informed that Davis needed to see her. She also got a summoning call from him and quickly went off to see him.

"Sir David is going for a business meeting in G.U.P hotel, and you've got to escort him as his P.A.," George informed her when she walked in, and she nodded.

 She glanced at David as he put on his coat and left the office. They followed behind closely.

 She sat in the front seat while George drove. David sat in the back seat. She couldn't help stealing glances at him until he caught her during her last attempt. She wasn't expecting him to stare longer at her before she looked away and fixed her eyes on the road.

 Fifteen minutes later, George drove into the parking lot of a grand hotel. The G.U.P hotel was a five-star establishment, radiating luxury and elegance. The exterior was adorned with dazzling lights, and the architecture exuded opulence.

 A valet swiftly approached to assist with parking, and as they entered, the lobby showcased marble floors, intricate chandeliers, and tasteful decor, creating an air of sophistication.

 The concierge greeted them warmly, and Carissa couldn't help but feel a mixture of awe and anxiety in this new, lavish environment. The atmosphere in the hotel reflected the importance of the business meeting they were about to attend.

 Carissa was taken aback when David abruptly stopped before they reached the elevator. He turned to face her directly and stated grumpily, "You will stay outside."

"W…what, s… sir ?" She stuttered.

"You heard me clearly. You. Go stand outside the hotel."

"Outside? Is there a problem, sir? I can simply wait here in the foyer."

"No. I want you to stand outside and enjoy the summer weather."

"Huh?"

"Yes. That's your punishment for coming late."

"But, I came in early, sir," she said and glanced at George who couldn't say anything.

"Don't argue with me and do as I said," he said, firmly, resulting in her being speechless and surprised.