Chapter Thirty-Nine

The moment he entered the room, he began picking on her. Why? She did not know the man and had no recollection of meeting him anywhere. Sighing, she realized he was the male version of Madam Sinclair: another annoying and uptight boss. 

Her mind suddenly thought of Nicholas, her boss' boss, her future husband, the sweetest man she had ever met, and inwardly thought with a scoff or so she thought. 

"The man in question would not even act like these two."

Everyone's eyes fell on her person, including Rita's and Janice's wide ones. 

"Which 'these two,' are you referring to, Miss. Cunning-ham?"

Whoops. Did she talk out loud? 

Gasping when she realized she did, Sharlene hurriedly dismissed the awkwardness by waving her hands.

"I apologize. I was thinking about a matter at home."

'Oh god. What is wrong with me?'

Embarrassingly groaning inside, Sharlene felt like another human had possessed her body for the past three days. She spoke her mind often, had no energy to think of unimportant things, and dozed off too many times to mention. She felt like her brain was frying with nonsensicalness. 

She would not be surprised if she broke down in tears one day, absolutely for nothing. Maybe it was high time she hit the pregnancy books and educated herself.

Feeling a soft nudge on her shoulder by Rita, she frowned when she realized everyone was still gazing at her. Did she do something again?

She did because Hector was frowning, though only in his eyes. 

While daydreaming, she presumed Hector had concluded the meeting, but everyone was still sitting.

She quickly humbled herself by refocusing her mind on the meeting while cursing her bad luck.

Hector cleared his throat for maybe the hundredth time before proceeding. 

Sharlene began writing down her notes, her blush turning redder because of her lack of concentration. Putting on a somber expression on her face, after thanking Rita for her mindful nudge with a smile, she tuned her ears to hear every word that fell from Hector Thomas and Madam Sinclair's mouths.

Her determination: she did not want a bad review on her profile.

"Placing Miss. Cunning-ham idea aside, what materials should we invest in for the products?"

An unfamiliar woman raised her hands, and Hector pointed in her direction. She was from the Planning and Event Department.

"Diamonds are an assured investment."

Sharlene saw Janice writing such information down and sheepishly smiled at her. She brushed her embarrassment aside because she could relate. Being a secretary was hard work, especially if the boss was not ideal.

"What of pearls?"

Somebody else voiced. 

The discussion of the different materials to use in crafting the jewelry went on for the next hour. Hector was satisfied with the results; the smile on his face was evidence of that fact.

Removing his glasses from his face, he sighed.

"I believe we can proceed with viewing the actual designs of the products after lunch."

As he spoke, he stood. 

Stretching her fingers, for it had been the fastest she had written, Sharlene was happy about the one-hour break.

"Meeting is adjourned."

Sternly, he added, and everyone was eager to leave the room. Chattering amongst themselves, everyone walked out of the door into the empty hallway. 

"I am starving."

Rubbing her stomach, Rita stood. 

"Me too."

Smiling up at her, Sharlene mimicked her action. Putting her pen between the pages of her notebook so she would not lose it again, she took her phone from the table.

Rita had also taken her tablet while smiling at Janice.

"Do you want to join us for lunch, Jan?"

Janice returned her smile with a blush. 

"I would love to."

"Great. Why...?"

Rita was about to suggest when Hector suddenly interrupted. 

"Can I have a word with you, Miss Cunning-ham?"

Glancing at both puzzled Rita and Janice, Sharlene was confused. 

"Me?"

A perplexed expression adorned Hector's face.

"Why, yes, you, Miss. Cunning-ham, unless that is not your name."

The smile on his face and his sarcastic words did not match. It made Sharlene give a small nervous chuckle.

"Right."

Nodding as if he agreed, Hector turned towards Janice and Rita. 

"I will not keep her long."

With that assurance, he looked apologetic because he had consciously interrupted their conversation. However, the awkward air circulating them did not go unnoticed.

"We will wait for you outside, Shar."

Rita spoke up first while Janice silently nodded. 

"Okay."

With that said, both women left towards the opened door and were out of sight. 

The only ones left in the room were Sharlene, Hector, Madam Sinclair, Ashanti, and Robin, whose assignment was sorting out the best ideas mentioned in their notes a small distance from them. They were conversing with Madam Sinclair, who was occasionally nodding, then shaking her head when something said did not sit well with her. Earlier, Madam Sinclair had requested some of her notes, something she was eager to distribute, and the smiling lines around her eyes made her proud of her dictation.

Her silent approval was all the encouragement Sharlene needed.

Unconsciously rubbing her elbow, Sharlene felt out of place in front of Hector, whose cold black eyes felt as if they were piercing into her skull. 

As if sensing her discomfort, he took a measured step back, even if he was already a safe distance from her. 

"So, um, what did you like to speak to me about, sir?"

Sharlene cringed at her awkward question.

Clearing his throat to dispel her uneasiness, which failed from her constant twitching, he asked.

"What is your name?"

Sharlene frowned, finding his statement weird, but out of courtesy, she politely responded. 

"Sharlene...Sharlene Cunning-ham, ah, sir."

Humming as he allowed that information to sink in, Hector asked, yet again.

"And how long have you been working here, Miss. Cunning-ham?"

His odd question caught her off guard again. Searching for the right words to say, her answer sounded unsure and hesitant. Was she being interrogated?

"Um, about two months and five days."

"So you are a new employee?"

"Uh, yes."

"I see."

He glanced up at the ceiling as if he struggled for the right words to say as well. Hector was both an interesting and frustrating fellow.

'Okay?'

Thinking this in her head with scrunched eyebrows, Sharlene began to bounce from one foot to the next. 

"So this is your first event with the company?"

Muttering, Hector returned his eyes to her person. He sounded uncertain as if he was meaning to ask something on a more personal level.

"Yes, it is."

She responded with a brisk shake of her head.

Scrunching his eyebrows, Hector nodded with another mutter.

"No wonder."

Finding his statement odd, Sharlene inquisitively questioned.

"What do you mean, sir?"

"What I mean, Miss. Cunning-ham, whether this is your first event with the company or otherwise, I did not appreciate your work attitude."

Slightly opened eyes, for he spoke impassively, Sharlene was stunned.

"What?"

A frown overcame his lips and a crease between his eyebrows.

"There it is, Miss. Cunning-ham. Your absentness. As the secretary of the COO, you should not be absent or distracted, especially with this big event coming on. Your position enables no fixtures or dents to appear in your employer's schedule and doings. You should always be on top of things even before your employer opens his/her mouth."

'Was this man for real?'

Muttering in her mind, Sharlene became filled with disbelief.

"But it was not..."

Trying to justify her supposed error, Sharlene was forced into silence when he interjected with a raised hand. 

"There are two things I do not tolerate during work hours, Miss. Cunning-ham and I suppose Madam Sinclair will also agree: distraction and talking while another is. I hope you will keep that in mind during the future meetings we will have in the future. As the COO's secretary, I expect a better work performance in the upcoming months."

His harsh and succinct words concluded the abrupt conversation.

Swiftly turning around to accompany the lowly discussing women, Sharlene remained frozen, her mouth gapped open like a fish. 

She watched as he sat down in the empty seat near Madam Sinclair. Hector Thomas had told her, in other words, that if she continued with her attitude, she would no longer be able to maintain her position and job as the secretary of Madam Sinclair. She had disappointed him. His expectation was on a level of perfection, something she lacked in his peripheral.

He opened his mouth to speak, but Sharlene interrupted, her tone brisk.

"I do not deserve your scolding, sir. I know what my 'position' entails."

She was offended by his statement and cold attitude. 

'How dare he?! Who did he think he was?!'

She inwardly fumed. 

Like others seeking a job in society, she had worked hard to secure a spot in the company. Being chosen as the secretary of the COO had been unexpected.

To her, his words indicated she gained her position through nepotism. 

'Was it because I got chosen from a long list of applicants or my best friend's acquaintance with the HR Manager?'

She pondered. 

She wanted to clear Mr. Thomas' judgment since this was the first time someone accused her of something like this.

Not even Madam Sinclair, the meanest boss she worked for, had demeaned her like that, and the woman in question occasionally made her irritated on numerous occasions. But never angry. 

No. That was something completely different.

Her words gained the attention of the three women. 

Lifting their heads from the devices on the table, they were amazed. In her peripheral, Sharlene saw Madam Sinclair raise an eyebrow. She was probably wondering what constituted such anger she had only witnessed zero times.

They grew amused when she marched towards them. With flustered cheeks, Sharlene repeated her statement but a bit louder. She wanted him to understand she was not a pushover.

"I do not deserve your scolding, sir. I know what my 'position' entails."

Hector was amused and taken aback but did not let his emotions show. Instead, he dismissed her statement by lifting one of the devices off the table while muttering.

"Our conversation is over, Miss. Cunning-ham. I have said my share. Your friends are waiting for you outside. Enjoy your lunch."

Aghast by his dismissive tone, Sharlene's hands began to shake from her growing anger, and she was about to speak more like bark since her anger was close to her skin. However, surprisingly, Madam Sinclair saved her from causing more trouble.

"It is best you leave, Miss. Cunning-ham, considering time is rolling as you stand here."

Softly spoken, but Sharlene obediently heeded her silent command.

Breathing in and out twice to decrease her rage, Sharlene briskly nodded and swiftly turned around, but her hands were shaking from both anger and embarrassment. Banging the door behind her, Sharlene bristled as she realized her action when passersby people glanced in her direction. Ignoring their raised eyebrows, she speed-walked out of the room and into the hallway.