I left my steady work of five years for this company , which means I can get fired during my six months probation if I fail to deliver the required performance. If I'm out of the job, I will need to find another job as soon as possible to keep my bills covered, and if I'm not able to get one , I will have to make few adjustments and It will suck because I have a kid to raise.
Talk about being nervous!, okay fuck I'm exaggerating a bit, we do have savings to survive for at least two years of not so extravagant life, still that money should stay wherever it is now. Isn't that the very reason we call it savings? we need to keep it, increase the amount if possible and try not to spend it right?
The elevator stops at the fourth floor and the door slide open, I was welcomed by a compact yet cozy lobby with a big blue sign Lysander and CO's on the white granite wall behind the receptionist desk, A pair of gold palms in the white pots adorns the corners of the room bringing in nature's vibe to balance the beautiful modern interior design, there are corridors on either side of the company's logo but I can't see it any else other than glass walls along the passage ways.
A young woman which im guessing is in her early twenties sits behind the desk talking on the phone while her eyes fixed on the computer screen. she didn't notice me walking to her direction until I stand right before her desk, she lifts her face and raises her index finger to give me a sign that she won't take long. I nod and stepped away giving her room to finish whatever she is doing. The elevator makes a ding sound, the door open revealing a woman around my age in a knee length black dress, her straight hair is pulled into ponytail, she walks to my direction
"Morning" she greets
I smile at her and greet her back "Good morning"
she walked past me and the receptionist desk heading to the corridor on the left, then she halt and turn around
"Are you the new account executive who is starting today" she asks twisting her head trying to remember something " Ella right"
" Yes am the new account executive " I reply with a smile, I take a few steps forward and extend my hand " And it's Emma, a pleasure to meet you "
" I'm Ginna and we will be working together " she shakes my hand " Welcome on board, and let's go the meeting is almost starting " with that she turns around and begins to walk, I have no choice but to follow suit.
" Woah, where are you guys going?, you can't just bring her inside Ginna! " the receptionist girl said
" Of course i can " Ginna replies
" But i need to have her name first, the last time I let in a woman who wasn't on the guest list, I almost got slaughtered alive! "
Ginna spins round giving the receptionist girl a deadly look " Girl I'm making your life but easier, she's the new executive on my team she isn't big boss one night stand meaning her name is sitting on your list, I'm bringing her in"
seeing how these two women glare at each other, I clear my throat "The name is Emma, Emma Garnet". The receptionist quickly took a pen and jots down my name on her note, she glances at me while mouthing "Thank you"
Realizing Ginna is already few meters ahead I catch up while my eyes roam around the surroundings. The corridor is not as narrow as it looked from the lobby, judging from the absence of light in several rooms, I doubt that this side of the floor is the employees working place. I hear murmurs and hums coming from the far end of the corridor.
"Here's where all the meeting rooms are, our working place is on the other side but we don't have time to check them out now, we have a kick off meeting every first monday of the month and you don't wanna be late " Ginna said stopping at the last door of the hallway and looked at me " Ready? "
" As ever " I lie, taking a deep breath and walking to the door that Ginna is holding open for me.
The room is packed with people, most of them standing in groups engaged in serious discussions, few sitting alone buring their faces on their gadgets. They took a second glance before continuing whatever they have been doing before I walk in, maybe seeing new faces isn't uncommon for them or it's just me that doesn't look impressive, I glance at my chiffon blouse and black pants to check if my outfits looks presentable.
These people are what we call office fashionistas, men in suits while women in business attire which screams professionalism and wealthiness. compared to them, I look like a waitress who delivers tray of drinks and snacks at a party. I feel under dressed, but I didn't mind.
Ginna escorts me to one of the groups that were spot on the front corner of the window, two women sitting on the desk while two guys stand in front of them. I instantly spot William, my direct boss who was involved in my interview.
"Hi Emma, it's good to see you here finally welcome to the team" William greets with a smile, he shakes my hand before introducing me to the rest of the team. The other guy is Sebastian who has been on the team for four years, before them are Kiara and Donna who handle the administration work. Kiara has been with the company longer than Sebastian while Donna joined in last year. After a little chit chat William and Sebastian are summoned by another team leaving me with the girls.
"So what's the meeting about?" I ask the girls
Ginna busy scrolling down her phone screen answered "Boring stuff, we will recap about our last month achievement and what the plan for this month"
"But why does everyone have to be here? why not just the VIPs?"
"Oh, he wants to see all of us because he loves us too much, just as much as we love him" Kiara replies, followed by a giggle from Donna
"He who?" I ask
"You will see" Kiara said before leaning to my ears "He's the hottest creature in the building, make sure you hold your knickers in place or they will drop on the floor when he enters the room"
Ginna chipped in " Wait until you have to talk to him, your panties will go back up by themselves in one blink of an eye, he is always nasty you will need to check your blood pressure when he's around "Ginna is before adding " Have you heard about his new assistant? he's not coming back today "
" Alex is leaving? " Donna chips in, I can hear disappointment in her tone " who told you "
" I have my sources " Ginna replies still not shifting her gaze from her phone " let's see how fast they can find the replacement "
" I don't mind going up and helping out " Kiara said dreamily
" Over my dead body " Ginna scoffs
" What dead body " Sebastian voice comes from behind me. He then went in between Kiara and Donna
" It's about Mr Lysander new assistant..... "
" He is dead!? " Sebastian eyes widen
" No stop cutting me " Donna glares at Sebastian" According to Ginna Mr Lysander new executive assistant quit again and Kiara is more than happy to help out until they find his replacement "
" Not happening Kiara stays with us" Sebastian replies before turning to Kiara " What will you gain from that?, you know he won't drop any penny for your service "
" He doesn't need to I prefer that he drops something else " Kiara said twirling her brown hair playfully
" Like what? "
" Like his hugo boss boxer "
Sebastian wrinkles his nose" Eww how do you even know the brand of his underwear? "
" Ohh I know almost everything about him you have no idea "
" Enlighten me, what do you know about him that I don't " Sebastian challenges" Except for his underwear brands".
Kiara pauses her lips looking up the ceiling " That his balls are bigger than your brain"
Donna screams while Ginna snorts. I'm in love with my team already.
"poor Hugo boss" Sebastian said shaking his head "what has his underwear done to him to deserve all this"
Kiara looks at him "It an insult to your brain, you dimwit not to his balls"
The meeting door swings open revealing a man dressed in a dark grey suit, behind him stands a middle aged Asian man. The laughter, the hum of conversations die down at once.
"Good morning" the man in gray suit greets in his deep voice as he walked to the middle of the room, his presence gave the evidence that he must be the number one person of Lysander and CO's: our CEO. He seems to be younger than I thought probably in his mid thirties, the way he carries himself screams arrogancy, He is not extremely tall but he is definitely taller than average height.
Unfortunately I can't study his face since he's now standing in the middle of the room with his back facing me. The man with gigantic balls in Hugo boss underwear, okay I shouldn't have that weird image in my mind, Kiara words are stuck in my head already.
Mr Lysander rubs his palms together in excitement "I can feel everyone's enthusiasm about our first trimester achievement but before we go down to our sales figure" he glances at the man standing behind him "Our CFO Mr Tan is going to share some vital information" Mr Lysander heads to the closet table and sits down.
Now that he's facing my direction, I can have a better look at him, he has a pale skin probably the life of CEO takes away the luxury having fun. Something inside me stirs he looks familiar but I can't pull the exact memory out of it, probably I have seen him like someone in an online business journal, he's one of the most important person after all. As if sensing that someone is studying him, Mr Lysander shifts his gaze and his mesmerizing green eyes lock with with mine, my heart skips a beat.