Chapter Two

 

Jocelyn

 

 

Rita points me to the fifth floor and then instructs me to turn left once I'm there. Catching up with the people going in the elevator, a gentleman holds the door for me until I manage to squeeze myself in.

 

"Good morning, sunshine." he smiles, a nice toothpaste model type of smile. He's the same guy who kindly waits for me even though the people behind us are mumbling their disapproval.

 

I smile back, unable to help myself. "Good morning, how are you today?"

 

“Stress, but holding up. I don't suppose you've been working here for long or else I would know those jewel green eyes."

 

Heat crawl up my neck to my face. I can practically feel the burning glare the people behind us are doing.

I don't have a problem receiving a compliment, but we're in the elevator, and everyone can practically hear what is being said. It's uncomfortable being in this kind of situation, but thankfully the elevator reaches the fifth floor.

 

It happens that Mr. Friendly is on the same floor as me.

 

His strides are long, but he adjusts to my pace. "Woah, that seems so long." He breathes, losing his neck tie.

 

I nod in agreement. "It looks like they want to kill the both of us for delaying their precious time."

 

He laughs. "I swear you're not from around here." he comment, thoughtful.

 

"Maybe that's because I'm only here for the second time. First when I applied and second now for an interview."

 

He educates me a little about the company and how the mechanics work in here, he also assures me not to worry much about the people who act like a pompous ass. Not my word, but his.

 

"But you seem to hold yourself alright, Jocelyn. That's something coming from someone who hasn't been here for so long."

 

By the time, we turn to the left, we get to know each other's names. I don't know what position he holds here, but we settle for a first name basis. He's like a guy friend I never have.

 

Up ahead of us I can see the intimidating Prohibited sign in a closed oak door.

 

We slow to a stop. "He might be there already."

 

The stomping elephant in my stomach come back, and suddenly I want to run the other way.

 

Jeff seems to notice my nervousness that he reassures me that I'll be fine and will do good. "He'll like your spirit, Josh, don't worry."

 

I am forced to suck it up because even though he's not saying it, I know that he's running late himself for work. I notice that everyone here works according to their precious time and who won't do so when Hemmington corporation is one of the top ten companies in New York.

 

Knocking softly, I push the door, holding my breath.

 

The breath is knocked out of my lungs when I walk in on a man who's practically half naked.

 

He is buttoning up his polo shirt when I walk in, but it does not cover him enough for me not to glimpse on his chest.

 

I instinctively cover my eyes and apologizes profusely. "I did knock," I tried to explain myself, standing there awkwardly.

 

"It seems like we have a funny way of meeting each other, Jocelyn."

 

I froze.

 

How does he know my name?

 

I peak through my fingers, catching him grinning at me. He's now fully cover sitting on a swivelling chair behind the desk.

 

"You can look now, Jocelyn." he let me know.

My name rolls off his tongue naturally like he's been speaking my name for so long. I don't really like my name, it seems old and boring, but with him, my names sound exotic. Like it holds beauty to it somehow.

 

I drop my hands beside me, looking at him fully now. I am not able to recognize him at first, but now that I'm looking properly he seems familiar.

 

"The guy who crash into you earlier, remember?" For a second he looks hopeful, or I might just be imagining it.

 

A light bulb switches on in my head, recognizing that blue eyes and lopsided grin.

 

I cannot believe my luck today. "Here I thought the boss's already here."

 

He frowns, "But I'm the boss."

 

For a moment, I cannot process his words, blinking at him, totally lost. I probably look really stupid, but I just cannot believe my ears.

 

"Are you saying who you said you are?" I find myself saying.

 

He gestures towards the seat, "Why don't you take a seat and I will enlighten you, Jocelyn."

 

I take the offered seat, thrown off guard.

 

The man who I carelessly dismiss earlier is my future boss. The odds cannot be this against me.

 

He is on the phone mumbling something I can't hear but that's probably he's trying to buy time to turn me down.

 

All of a sudden, his focus is on me, and I feel like a dear on a headlight.

 

"I see that you meet Jeff already. He said that you're perfect for being my assistant."

 

I don't know what surprises me more. The fact that Jeff's connected with him or that he forgets that I practically question his status in this company. Or better yet, casually telling me that I'm the perfect assistant for him.

 

"Look I know that I'm not what you expect to be a boss but I'm not one to scare off people. My only question here is, are you ready to be my assistant?"

 

His eyes burn a hole in me, the intensity in those blue eyes is making my thoughts go all over the place.

 

Being an assistant of Hemmington CEO is a job that cannot be taken easily. And although this will be my first job in a world of business, I do have the knowledge but it’s still daunting to be offer as big as a responsibility of being an assistant of the boss.

*

 

My previous assistant is fired for being caught making out with me if that blissful moment can be called making out but I'm not complaining. And now I'm supposed to find a new assistant who won't try to blow my mind away and not be fire again for a hundred times.

"Use your brain this time, Luke. Not your other brain. You have to find an assistant who will assist you to your business trips. And if an old woman is all there is left for a decent assistant you will find then so be it."

 

Jeff always acts the older brother here and most of the time I'm glad that he talks reason to my muddle head, but sometimes I wish he'll get off my back.

 

"It's not my fault that they're harassing me, man. Of all people, you should know that."

 

For a moment, the other line is quiet.

 

"I'll call a little later again. For now, try to find a possible candidate for your assistant." Before I can remark, he drops the call.

 

I proceed inside the room where I ask my fresh clothes to be kept for today. A blonde woman intentionally spills coffee on me on my way to the office. That tactic happens before, and it leads up to a quick ending. Fortunately for her, I don't repeat things twice.

 

I am changing to my new clothes when a gentle knock comes to my door. I stop what I'm doing, intentionally waiting for the person to come in. I'm up for a game right now.

 

A soft shriek of surprise catches me off guard. A smaller, round woman covers her eyes as if seeing an incredible sight.

 

My eyes zero in on her, recognizing her without my brain processing it fully.

 

Her natural beauty stands out from the rest, that's why I recognize her instantly. Unlike the women in this company, she looks raw. I will not say exotic, but there's something about her that draws me to her. She has the right curves in the right places, her slim waist dipping to full hips leading to her legs. She's not a long-legged babe, no, but she's a full curve woman a man likes to explore and more.

 

Those wild curls will look beautiful fans out in my bed as those soft pink lips form a big O. All blood rushes down to my southern region, muddling my mind.

 

If only she knows what I am thinking of doing to her right now, she will surely beat me to a bloody pulp. Jocelyn seems to be the kind of woman who put her dignity first before status, something that is very rare these days.

I quickly button up my clothes realizing that I am making her uncomfortable.

 

I do not mean to scare her off, I'll take the longest road if that's what it takes to earn her trust, but I sure won't force myself to her.

 

Practically making a run for my seat like a college boy with a raging hard on, I sit on my chair hiding my erection.

 

"You can look now, Jocelyn."

 

I want to get lost in those emerald eyes.

 

*

 

I cannot believe that Luke Hemmington is the son of Dawson Hemmington. Later after I come home and process the idea of being his assistant, I look him up on Google. There are a lot of rumours going on about him; newsflash always has his face either with blond babe beside him or his name is attached to some scandal.

 

But there's this one article that catches my attention. It reads: Dawson Hemmington, CEO of Hemmington corporation is allegedly thinking of passing down the business to a family friend’s son.

 

"Why is that? He's the CEO of Hemmington to present..." I mumble to myself.

 

The more I read about him the more I think harder on my choice of decision. I'm not given time to think about my answer, and now, I am officially working for him starting tomorrow.

 

Truth be told, offering fifty thousand salaries for my first month throw me off my chair. Try as I do I won't be able to earn that much money within a month let alone a year. Just last month, I am thinking to work for Gengy's diner, and now I'm a part of something big in this industry. If my auntie hears the news, she won't believe me unless I show her the proof. And so, without much thought, I sign the contract which might as well sign my death certificate.

 

I slump on my chair, wanting to back out. How I don't know...

 

All I know is I'm to start tomorrow.

 

His words flash back on my mind. Are you ready to be my assistant?

 

No wonder he asks that question. He might've assumed that I've heard or know about his womanizing reputation or the fact that he changes women every day like he changes clothes every day.

 

"What did I get myself into?" I groan.