The Wrong place at the wrong time (Part 2)

Time stopped in the hallway for everyone. Ron and Katie were still at the receptionist desk but the HR employee was long gone. They were watching the scene in front of them like a movie.

Zoe and her visitor, Beth were suspiciously whispering in a corner when the CEO interrupted them. He had an irritated look in his eyes when he caught Zoe.

"And where are you going to during office hours?" his voice thundered behind her.

She didn't turn around, she already imagined how scary his face looked. Beth was by the elevators already and she too had taken a pause after the CEO emerged from his office. Beth's eyes were growing wide as saucers because of the creature standing behind her best friend.

They were so dead.

"I asked you a question Miss…wait, what was your name again?" Victor asked realizing he never knew her name, he didn't remember to ask during his steamy interrogation in the office.

Zoe was still stiff. She didn't bother to get pissed that he didn't know her name or anything about who she was, the only thing she cared about was disappearing. Vanishing into thin air was the only solution.

Please God let me disappear, just this one she pleaded.

She looked at Beth who had already put on her 'nice knowing ya, don't wanna be ya' face as if she was about to disappear at any moment.

She had signalled the elevator before the CEO showed up so it was about to arrive at any second.

Beth was abandoning her to face the CEO, alone. The frightening man who taunted and wrongfully accused her and now caught her sneaking out.

Zoe was surely dead either by embarrassment or whatever was hidden behind his wicked grin. She turned around slowly to meet her fate.

"I-I had a visitor."

"It's not your break, is it? What's the time?" he questioned without waiting to hear her reply because he looked at his Paul Newman Rolex to provide it.

"It's one thirty, exactly thirty minutes after your break" the CEO frowned.

"I was just seeing a visitor off-

"With your handbag?" he snickered.

Zoe held her breath, wishing the ground would open and swallow her rather than the CEO.

"I-I'm- Zoe." stuttered looking at the marbled floor.

"You're what?" he pulled closer, she responded by taking a step backward.

He was intimidating her, and she knew it. In a way she was moving closer to Beth and towards the elevator.

The plan was simple. Run.

She was thinking about quickly escaping in it when it arrived but there was a problem. Zoe didn't know if the CEO was fast and that crazy to chase her into the elevator.

Well a normal rich bossy man like him wasn't right?

Zoe planned to stall for time when the elevator arrived, ten seconds at most before getting on. For now, she was going to tell him about an emergency, something to do with her grandparents who have been dead for many years.

"Mr. Victor if I may" Beth said cutting in. "I'm Elizabeth Greene, Ethan Khors sister-in-law, it's nice to finally meet you" she said stretching a hand towards Victor.

The CEO turned to Beth for a split second, looking her up from head to toe before quickly turning back to Zoe as if she would disappear.

He was sharp. He knew they were stalling for the elevator.

He looked bored and pissed but was secretly enjoying himself. Just who are these women?

Zoe fought the urge to give herself a face palm. What was in the heavens was Beth doing?

No! She screamed internally Get back to the elevator you traitor!

Beth was supposed to flee like she had been doing for the last three minutes not coming to her aid. She was supposed to get on the elevator and wait for her not ruin their escape plan.

Zoe didn't know if she should be glad that Beth was loyal or not.

"I knew I must have seen you somewhere." He replied Beth disregarding her request for a handshake.

She quickly put it down hoping no one else noticed.

"As I was saying" Victor returned to Zoe folding his arms, but Beth wouldn't let him.

"Mr. Victor if I may" Beth said again.

"There is an emergency, I'm taking Zoe to the hospital to say her final words to her dying mother. She was just about to inform you before leaving." Beth lied.

Zoe's eyes widened with unbelief. Beth was literally killing her mom before her time.

In the past whenever she and Beth made up excuses for one another, they used their grandparents because they were late but not their actual living parents.

Even if Victor was seen as such a fearful man Zoe doubted that he deserved Beth bringing out the big guns. But it seemed to be working. Victor was now silent and thoughtful.

"There's no time to waste" Beth pressured taking Zoe's hands.

"Wait" Victor ordered.

"If there's no time to waste then I'd like to give you both a ride" he offered coolly but with suspicion.

"Thanks, but we have a car" Beth tried to say sweetly.

"At least let me accompany you. Now I feel terrible, for all the things I said" his voice sounded remorseful but Zoe saw something she couldn't define in his eyes.

"You don't need to sir" Cause you won't be seeing me again, Zoe refused.

The elevator finally chimed its arrival with Mrs. Eugenia in it. She was in her regular dull office outfit with paper documents in her hands. She stopped right in front of them.

"Leaving so soon Mr. Victor?" Mrs. Eugenia alarmed.

"Today is a short day for me you know"

"Of course, it is, but there is a slight issue that needs your attention" she paused to adjust her glasses only to see Zoe and Beth tiptoe their way into the vacant elevator.

"Miss. Zoe, please wait!" Mrs. Eugenia halted them.

"Shit!" Beth hissed. She watched Zoe step out of the elevator obediently. She knew Zoe was the kind to never ignore an elder. Still, Beth was not going to desert her. She was prepared to hold the elevator for as long as she could.

"Can't this wait till tomorrow or next or something" Victor sighed exhaustedly.

"No, not when Mr. Daniel needs an assistant ASAP" Mrs. Eugenia said.

"What do you mean?"

Quickly, Mrs. Eugenia brought out the papers in her hands.

Zoe recognized her application form and another that was a bit similar.

"I got the application request for an assistant for you and Daniel mixed up." She said to the CEO.

"What?" Zoe asked confused.

"I hired Zoey Kingsman for Victor and you, Zoe King for Mr. Daniel Khors in product design only to switch the departments up when sending you the employment letter." Mrs. Eugenia explained.

"Your names are either too similar or I'm getting really old" she laughed touching up her glasses.

"That's great" Zoe rejoiced.

"Really?" Victor smirked at her "Hire another assistant for him" he ordered to Mrs. Eugenia.

"That is not necessary. I'll just send Miss Zoe down to him" she replied.

"Or you can just send the assistant you hired for my office down to him instead. Miss Zoe King is enjoying her stay here I believe"

He turned to Zoe, but she didn't meet his eyes. She knew he was eager to keep her for something dubious.

"I don't think so. Mr. Daniel deals with aesthetics and product design while Miss Zoe here is a visual artist." She argued.

"Is she?" he laughed.

Zoe frowned. It was hard for her to figure out if he was truly impressed or just simply mocking her.

"Yes, she is."

"Miss Zoe you are report to Mr. Daniel on the 13th floor latest tomorrow" She warned before leaving.

Victor clenched his jaw at Mrs. Eugenia's insubordination. He has known and respected her and her decisions for years. She had full authority over HR and he didn't want to debate with her. He decided to let it go.

Miss Zoe wasn't going anywhere far away.

She was just relocating to another floor to work for his best friend. He still believed he had all the time in the world to do whatever he wanted.

"Well, goodbye sir" Zoe huffed before vanishing as Victor chuckled.

It's not goodbye but see you again, he thought.