Chapter 3 3.

"You've heard of him as well?" Isabella asked and I staved off.

"Kind of," my throat felt tight and my hands were clammy, "I need to use the restroom, I'll be right back." I stood and they all nodded.

I circled the floor twice before locating the restroom. I washed my sweaty hands clean and then stared at my reflection in the mirror. It could be a different person, I deceived myself. It was a fairly common name, so I tried again. I remembered him as smart and determined but he couldn't have made it. He shouldn't have made it. He was an asshole and assholes didn't deserve to get big breaks.

I washed my hands again and walked out of the restroom on shaky feet. Getting back to the office, my composure was significantly better but to my dismay, my new coworkers were gathered around Joanne's computer screen and staring intently at whatever it was they were looking at.

"Come take a look at him." Isabella beckoned. Left without much of a choice, I joined them.

I stifled a breath as the little fragments of hope I held slipped away. It was him. My mouth promptly went bitter. I could feel the negative effects of seeing him seep through my veins till they corroded everywhere.

"He's hot, swoon-worthy." Joanne complimented the picture of him standing next to a podium with one of his hands in his pocket and the other resting against the podium. He looked smart and aristocratic. A world of difference from how I remembered him.

"He's okay." John shrugged.

"Typical lesser guy." Isabella rolled her eyes.

"They bully me, do you see how they do?" John pouted and my lips lightly lifted into a smile.

"I totally agree with you John, he's not that swoon-worthy."

"You two must have buttons for eyes." Isabella tutted before walking back to her seat. I'd barely sat on mine when someone entered the office.

"What's up Kells?" Joanne asked the woman.

"Orders from above, everyone to tune into the info channel now, the CEOs have news for us." She said and they all exchanged concerned looks. The flat screen came alive with colour and a couple who looked well into their seventies appeared.

"That's Dieter and Leona," Joanne said from beside me.

"Good morning everyone." The grey-haired man greeted. His voice was a deep baritone yet it seemed to have weathered with age. "I'm not sure where to begin but Leona and I thought it better you hear the news from us before anyone else."

His wife, equally grey-haired like him but a tad more stylish stepped forward and held his hand.

"We took out loans and acquired debts we didn't expect to catch up to us so suddenly. The company was at stake and was going to be taken away and everyone inevitably resigned from their jobs," Leona paused, "but someone intervened and well, the company has been sold."

I watched the faces of my coworkers turn sad and confused. I felt sad too, but not at the turn of events. I knew a little about debts and loans and the damages they inflicted.

"This was our best option to ensure no one would be losing their jobs and have the integrity of our company preserved. Dieter & Leona will now be a subsidiary of Illston technologies. Mr Illston will be here in two days when we make the official announcement to the press and world. Till then, we ask for your discretion." Dieter said.

"Thank you," his wife finished and the feed was cut off.

"Wow." Joanne sighed.

"Don't they have children or something that could help?" I asked.

"Too wayward to care," Isabella shrugged.

"That's tragic," I said and looked down at my desk.

The situation at hand wasn't just tragic but laughable. Not Dieter and Leona losing their company to a takeover, which was terrible, but rather my new boss. That bastard was going to my boss. I almost laughed aloud. Why was I constantly playing the losing game with life?

"It is but life goes on. Let's show you the ropes of the job yeah?" Joanne's smile was warm. I spared no more time to think about the new CEO or anything else for the rest of the day. I poured myself into work. It was my first day and I'd been anticipating this day for months now. Nothing was going to ruin this moment for me. Not even him.

"I live that way," It was now past six and my first day had officially come to an end.

"Alright, see you, tomorrow girl." Joanne waved.

"Good night pretty Ophelia." Isabella winked. They took off in the opposite direction and I found my way to the subway. John had left the office about an hour earlier due to a minor home emergency. I took the subway four streets down and walked the rest. It was a cool evening and the breeze was brilliant for clearing my head space. In less than twenty minutes, I was entering the elevator to take me up to the apartment on the second floor. The building was a bit shabby but it had a working elevator. A working elevator always bettered everything.

"I've been waiting for you blondie."

My keys dropped at the intrusion. I faced my landlord. He was a short big-bellied man with thinning copper-coloured hair who loved money and booze probably more than his life.

"Jiggy, good evening." My smile was stiff.

"Hope you ain't gonna delay your rent for next month again?" He eyed me through bloodshot eyes and I shook my head. His breath reeked of alcohol as usual.

"I promise to pay on time, good night, Jiggy." I quickly picked up my keys, unlocked my door and entered.

Leaning against the door, my shoulders fell. It was embarrassing but it was my reality. I'd barely been able to pay rent for my shabby apartment this month. And the truth was, I hadn't. My parents had stepped in last minute to settle my bills.

This job just had to give.

I changed from my work clothes to pyjamas and went straight to bed skipping dinner altogether. That night, I dreamt about the past, the good, the bad and the ugly.

***

"Hey girl, Mary was just in here, she needs you in the blue boardroom."

"Oh okay, did she say why?" I asked and Joanne shook her head.

"Got it," I changed my course from my chair to the blue boardroom. It had been two days since my first day and today marked the official press release of Dieter & Leona signing and handing over their company to Illston tech. The media was on fire at the moment and calls had been coming in all day.

I walked into the boardroom and saw Mary and a pretty blonde I'd seen around in the office. They were both seated and looked to be deep in conversation. They looked up at my entry.

"Ah, Ophelia you are finally here," Mary smiled. One thing I'd learned about Mary so far was her smiles were always reassuring. I bet even if the building caught fire, she'd still be walking around with a wide grin. If only I could be so positive. I took the seat opposite her and smiled apologetically.

"I'm sorry if I wasted your time."

"It's okay," she waved it off, "I'm not sure if you two have met since I didn't have the opportunity to do a general introduction, but this is Heather Jack, and she's also new to the department." She introduced me to the pretty blonde.

"Nice to meet you, Heather," I smiled at Heather and she reciprocated with a handshake.

"I have news for you two, nothing too alarming, but it seems it'll have to wait. The new CEO is already here," she broke off and stood up, "Good morning, Mr Illston."