Chapter 3 FIRST DAY AT WORK

CHAPTER 3… FIRST DAY AT WORK

*** Kate woke up to the breaking of dawn. The sun was just waking up and so was she. The only source of light in the dim room came from the little spaces among the window curtains.

Standing up, she yawned and stretched before turning on the bedside lamp and walking off to the bathroom. A quick shower, little –more like invincible- makeup, and coffee for breakfast, she was out of her ‘very comfortable’ apartment fifty five minutes later. She didn’t want to paint a bad picture of herself on the very first day of her work.

Today, she was going to begin a new job at the Sylvian Co. Not just any random company, but the Sylvian Co. The Sylvian companies, for the last thirty years, according to her research last night, had held the coveted title of Ontario's biggest and largest company. Recent records even showed that the company’s income had massively tripled in the last four years.

The media went on to depict the CEO, Kevin Sylvian, as a business god who held every other person in the business world at his fingertips. According to them, he made the rules in the business world and others followed at the unbelievable age of twenty nine.

Kate grabbed her white bag, picked to match the dazzling white of her crisp white shirt and the pencil knee-length skirt she would be wearing. She grabbed her framed glasses and slid them on her face before walking out and locking the house securely.

The company building was just around the corner across the street. Kate covered the distance in a short while and came to a standstill before the tall building.

She threw her head back to read the words that were boldly written at the far top of the skyscraper:

SYLVIAN CO.

A nervous sky escaped her lips and she pushed her glassed up the bridge of her nose before walking into the enormous and nerve whacking glass door.

Her heels clicked until she came to stop before the receptionist's table. Behind the solid wooden table, a perfectly dressed, red-head sat with a pleasant smile on her face. She stood up when Amber reached the table.

"Hello," Amber greeted, returning one of her own signature smile. "I'm here to see Mr. Sylvian."

"Miss Roosevelt?" The receptionist asked and Amber nodded.

"Excuse me, Miss." Kate stood at the side and watched her make a call before turning to face her with her smile still on.

"He's waiting." She said and turned to come out. "Come with me."

Kate followed her in silence as they mount the elevator. Her mind worked in different ways. She could literally feel her heart thumping in her chest.

Kate clenched and unclenched her fists, feeling nervous. Her feet tapped silently as she watched the numbers of the elevator count.

The receptionist noticed and turned to face her. "Nervous?"

Kate nodded and let a smile on. An awkward one.

The red-head chuckled and turned to face the door as the elevator door opened on the fourty fifth floor. Kate trailed behind her, letting her eyes roam about.

She stopped when Miss red-head came to a stop before a closed door.

"Miss Roosevelt, being nervous on the first day of work is perfectly normal." The red-head whispers. "Just be yourself. Mr. Sylvian doesn't bite."

'I bet he doesn't' Kate thought inwardly. Shw whispered a thank you to the red-head and proceeded to knock on the door.

A baritone voice responds from within, telling her to let herself in. Kate took another one of those raspy breathes and gathered her wits before pushing the door open.

"Here goes nothing" she whispered and stepped in to find the man standing by the window. He was staring outside the floor to ceiling window as he muttered a few words over the phone.

Kate took the time to assess his body from behind. His body was well hidden inside that intricately designed three piece suit he was wearing and she was sure they had been tailor-made to fit him. His legs were long, she could tell he was about 7'5 ft or 8'2ft.

Just when she was about to inspect his black hair that had been trimmed to a short, conservative cut, he put the phone away and turned around.

"Do have a seat, Miss Roosevelt" He extends a hand to the chair across his desk and shoved the other into his pocket but poor Amber was standing. Wide eyed.

'young and attractive' Kate thought as she stared into his intense blue eyes that looked empty and dark. For a moment, she couldn't breathe until he spoke.

"Miss Roosevelt?" K broke out of her trance and brings her head down, her knees suddenly going weak at his baritone voice.

Masking her nervousness, she stretches her hand out to him. "Mr. Sylvian, hello."

The man shook his head before taking her hand in his. "Call me Austin. Do take a seat."

This time, she took the seat and watch him take large powerful strides -each full of confidence. As his tall and muscular body folds into the swivel chair, Kate sighs silently and push all awkward thoughts away.

"Mr. Watson sent me." She said, looking above him. His face was intimidating. "For the new personal assistant position."

"So I was informed." His voice melts into an amused tone. Yet, his expression remains -impassive.

"So, Miss Roosevelt…"

"Kate…" Kate cuts in quickly. She wasn't used to being referred to as Miss. The whole thing was strange. "It's kate. Sir."

"Kate…" he drawls out with a nod. His lips curl up, not so noticeable though, at the top. "Would you like to tell me why you took the job?"

Kate froze. Her eyes widen at the thought of an exposed secret.

"H-how do you mean, sir?" She stuttered. He couldn't know. He doesn't know. Right? She fidgeted with her fingers that were placed on her legs.

If he knew of the whole plan, that would mean the end of it all. That would also mean her mother's intented treatment would be forfeited.

Nah! That didn't sound good at all. Very bad.

"Your records, if what I got were correct, show that you have never worked as a personal assistant before." Kevin said, leaning back in his seat. "So, that leaves me wondering why you would take a job that you have no idea how to deal with. You studied law in school, right?"

Kate nodded rapidly, still hoping he wouldn't see through her. She couldn't lose this job now. She'd already come far.

"But, you never practiced. Instead, you worked as a waitress for five years. Why did you take the job?" *****

"But, you never practiced. Instead, you worked as a waitress for five years. Why did you take the job?" He asked.

Kate's racing heart started to slow and she finally let go off the breathe she had been holding in.

He had been talking of the lie in the fake resume. He didn't know. He had no idea. He was oblivious and that was a good thing.

At least for her. She couldn't say same for him.

"Yes sir."

"Why?"

Kate bit her lower lips and sat straight. "Well, I've always wanted to work as in a more business setting but I couldn't get in to a business school. So, I took the law opportunity. Even after school, I couldn't get a job and had to manage with a waitress's post for five years."

Kate bit her tongue when she was done. The lie rolled off her tongue way too easy. It started to become uncomfortable when the man before her remained silent even after two minutes.

He finally let out a sigh and stood up. "Come with me, Miss Roosevelt."

Kate followed him further into the office and watched as he pushed open a door.

"You'd be working from here." He said and stepped aside to let her in. "There's a door that brings you in here directly. This one is to link both offices."

Kate nodded and stepped into the well furnished office. There was a two-seater couch at an angle, a coffee machine on a table in another corner. At the back, there was a set of shelves with different files on it. Her desk and chair were in the middle of the room, directly across the main door.

"Settle in today, tomorrow is a long way down." Kevin said to her and turned to leave.

Kate watched him leave and the door closed behind him. She walked round the office before coming to sit on the chair.

After she had successfully programmed the system to her taste, she pulled out her phone and called Mia, her colleague and friend with whom she had left her mother's care.

***

She had just gotten off the phone with Mia when she heard a timid knock. Wondering who it could be -seeing that she had only being there a fee hours- she opened the door to find a beautiful woman, -about her age- looking at her with a smile on her face