Chapter 16: Chapter 16

The next morning Jessica woke up early to prepare for the new job. She quickly ate the sumptuous breakfast made by her mother.

As they sat down at the dining table, her eyes were on her siblings who hadn't resumed classes yet because of the tuition fee.

"Jessica, take this lunch box with you and make sure you eat your food," her mother said.

" Okay, mom. Take care of yourself and daddy. And these two little rascals, don't go out of the house" Jessica said, kissing her parents and siblings.

" We won't, Jessy. I will prepare your favorite juice!"

" And I will prepare your favorite cookies"

Jessica smiled at the twins' enthusiasm. She knew they were acting brave so she wouldn't blame herself too much. But she can't help it. It hurts to see her younger ones at home when others are going to school.

Jessica gave them a big smile before turning around to leave in a hurry out of the house.

She didn't have money for a taxi so she followed the bus which took her close to the company. From the bus stop to the company was about a twenty-minute walk. Having no extra money in hand, Jessica gladly walked the journey.

In fact, that had been one of the reasons she woke up much earlier. She knew she had to make a walk from the bus stop so she woke up early to meet up.

On getting to the company she introduced herself. She was directed to the HR department. On her way there, she met her friend Misha who was excited to see her.

"You are here early. Hope it wasn't stressful like the other time?" Misha asked, referring to the incident during her interview.

"Not at all. I think your trick worked because he didn't even ask me anything and just let me in" Jessica responded, laughing.

"Of course, he won't. He loves his job" Misha said, laughing too.

Then Misha asked curiously," Jessy, are you truly working for the CEO?"

Jessica nodded. She was a little excited because her pay was good thanks to the position." Yes, Misha. I am working alongside the CEO and I might even go on a business trip with him"

Misha looked around before drawing Jessica closer to her." Jessy, you have to be careful around the CEO. There are rumors that he likes frolicking with women. I don't want you to fall victim, okay?"

" Are you serious?" Jessica asked, her eyes popping out. If there was one thing she hated, that would be womanizers. She hates them as much as she hates perverted men!

" Well, it's just a rumor though. My floor is quite far from the CEO'S office and only the people working directly with him are allowed to go there" Misha said.

" So how did the rumor come about?" Jessica asked.

" It is said that all the women that work in the CEO'S office stay for hours and when they come back, they are mostly smudged or they have new makeup on" Jessica explained.

" That's a lame and absurd explanation. Anyone's face can get smudged after lots of work" Jessica said.

" Right? That's what I also argued but just be careful of him though" Misha said, patting her shoulder.

"I am grateful, Misha! I will surely be careful around him" Jessica said, looking at her friend gratefully.

"I have told you to stop sounding like that. And remember lunch is on me today" Misha said.

Jessica bit her lips as she remembered her mother packaged lunch for her." I am sorry, Misha. But my mom packaged lunch for me. If… if you don't mind, we can eat that today"

" Oh! Homemade lunch? I won't miss it for anything!" Misha said, smiling." By the way, where are you going?"

"I am supposed to go to the HR department but I think I am lost," Jessica said, looking around.

"Oh! You are not. Just go straight up by your left. See you later, Jessica. I need to sign in" Misha said, waving at her.

Jessica smiled back before heading in the direction shown to her. When she got to the PR department, she was shown where to drop the necessary details about her including her bank details.

She was assigned the various duties she was expected to carry out too. She was even happier because it all revolved around working with computers.

Although she would likely be working closely with the CEO, there were still some tasks she was required to carry out.

"Miss Graves, since you know what is expected of you, I will introduce you to the CEO right away. Please follow me" the personnel manager said, leading her towards the end of the building.

Jessica followed him closely and silently. She didn't want to make any mistakes on the first day of work. They got to the office and the manager knocked lightly on the door.

A rather familiar masculine voice answered from within." Come in"

Jessica frowned at the voice. Why did it sound so familiar? It was like she had heard the voice somewhere.

Who was her boss?

Before they entered the office, Jessica was already looking very anxious and somehow she had this weird feeling as soon as she heard the voice.

The manager seemed to have noticed her nervousness. After all, she was going to meet the main boss of the company.

"You have to be confident, Miss Jessica Graves. If you don't want to be sacked on your first day, you have to look confident. Are you okay?" The manager said, staring at her.

"I am okay, Sir" she managed to say, squeezing out a smile while her head remained bowed.

The manager nodded before walking in with Jessica walking behind him. Fortunately for Jessica at first, the boss was fully concentrating on the documents sprawled on the desk.

"What do you want, Smith? You know I am busy this morning" his deep voice resounded again without looking up.

Mr. Smith, the personnel manager, bowed before facing their boss." Sir, this is the candidate that would be working for you. This is Jessica Graves"

At the mention of her name, the man paused in his signing. He slowly raised his face to look at the people who were before him.

Facing that handsome face with the most beautiful hazel eyes ever, Jessica became speechless. She wasn't expecting him to be her boss!

"Jessica, you are doomed!" She muttered to herself.

The first thing that came into her mind she saw that face was the slap she gave him. If only she knew! She wouldn't have slapped him!

How could the person she slapped and called a pervert be her boss? She was doomed!

"Jessica, you are truly doomed! He will surely fire you for the insult you lavished on him. Not just that, you even slapped the daylight out of him!"

" Not good, Jessica! You are surely going back to the coffee shop! Who told you to be so short-tempered!"

Jessica kept scolding herself in her head and also prayed silently for a miracle to happen. She can't afford to lose this job! This was her only hope of surviving with her family.

And to top it all, the man's gaze refused to leave her alone! His hazel eyes were staring straight at hers as if they were trying to dig out her soul.

" Jessica Graves? Are you okay?" The personnel manager said. This time he was whispering in her ears.

Jessica couldn't answer the question because she was not okay! She was damn afraid of losing her job on the first day because she gladly called her boss a pervert and also slapped the living daylights out of him!

Surely, she was not okay!

But she can't say it out loud, can she?

*******

"So she is the new assistant?" The boss asked.

"Yes, Mr. Turner," the personnel manager said, nodding.

Edwin looked at the perplexed girl and how fear was evident on her face. She must be desperate for the job that's why she has fear written all over her.

Not so sharp tongue again, are you? He wanted to mock her but he resisted the urge. He decided to pretend as if the encounter was no big deal.

After looking at her for some time, he just faced the manager again." You can leave now, Smith. I will take it from here"

The personnel manager breathed a sigh of relief and left the office, closing the door.

"Take these documents and work on them before lunchtime. Your office is the next one beside mine. I will send you the emails you also need to work on. All of them should be analyzed and sent to me before lunch break. That's your first assignment" Edwin said before Jessica could say anything.

"Sir… I… I am sorry…"

"Miss Graves, this is office hours and I don't entertain personal issues here. If you want to keep your job, you had better start working on the documents I just assigned to you"

Edwin showed her a cold expression and obvious confusion was on Jessica's face. Nevertheless, she took the documents that he gave to her.

" I will work on them right away, sir," Jessica told him.

Edwin just grunted before showing her the way out of his office. He was going to make sure she feels guilty for slapping him