Chapter 33: Chapter 33

AT THE COMPANY

8:00 AM

Lexis steps out of the car while Kemi comes out through the other side before running over to his side. She is clutching on to the file he had given her yesterday like her life depends on it. He starts moving towards the entrance of the building with her following his every step from behind, but then, as he reaches the reception area, he pauses and turns to her.

“What are my schedules this morning, Kemi?" He asks her with an impassive facial expression.

Taken by surprise with the sudden question, she quickly starts going over the papers and some of them falls from her hands. She takes out a blue hard cover book and opens it. She has read through this book yesterday and it contains his schedule for the week. Ron had prepared it ahead of time before the accident. She might new to this but she knows very well that the first thing he would ask her would be this so she had gone through it.She even studied through the internet on the duties of a PA.

Lexis stares at her with his hands in his pockets.

Just as he opens his mouth to talk, Kemi starts saying. “You have a meeting by 1 pm, you have to finalize some papers in next 30 minutes. Um...I...I will see to your convenience and make new schedules if this can't be used." She says as she bends down to pick the papers off the floor.

Lexis stares at her blinking his eyes as if confused and surprised at the same time.

“Who scheduled the ones with you?”

“Um...It should be your PA, Ron.”

“He made my schedule ahead of time?"

She blinks in confusion.

"Isn't... Isn't that the right way to do it? I think it's better to plan ahead. If it contradicts with your current convenience, it can be altered.”

Lexis stares at her without saying a word. He is aware that Ron prepares his schedule ahead of time but he didn't know it would be weeks ahead. Does Ron thinks he knows him well or what?

He sighs, “Ron is not my PA for now, so you should make a new schedule for me, understood?”

Kemi nods, “Yes underbo..." She covers her mouth quickly and Lexis stares at her in puzzle.

She quickly corrects herself."Yes Sir."

Lexis now realizes that she was about calling him 'underboss' and he shakes his head at her before walking away.She quickens her steps to keep up with him bending down every second to pick up the papers that keeps falling off.

He gets to where the elevator is and presses on the button. It slides open and he steps in while Kemi enters with him as well. She stares at people passing by and they would only bow or greet Lexis but didn't enter the elevator.So she concluded that the elevator is made for high members of the company or probably Lexis alone.

The elevator stops at the last floor and they step out with Lexis walking towards his office.The workers at the workstation stands up to their feet in sight of him greeting him. He didn't answer nor even glance at them.

He simply walks pass straight office with Kemi running along like she's in a marathon race. As soon as they left,the workers all murmurs among themselves wondering who Kemi is.

“That girl is beautiful, she is definitely the new PA or secretary." A plumpy lady on dark blue suit murmurs as she types on the keyboard in front of her.

“The boss has never had any secretary silly, he makes his PA do both the job of a secretary and the job of a PA. " The fair skinned slim lady beside her whispers to her.

"Did you see that gown she was putting on? It's the same with the one the actress, Richie Donalds, used in her recent movie as a secretary." The plumpy lady whispers to the other.

The slim lady looks at her in disbelief. “It might look alike but it can't be the original one. Do you know how much the real one costs?”

"It's the same! I saw the..." She couldn't finish what she is about to say before two fair huge hands slams her table.She flinches in short and turns to look at the person. Her eyes widen at the sight of their team leader.

“Mr...Mr Ronald." She stutters.

The team leader, Ronald, dips his hands into his pockets as he frowns at them. He is an average looking fair skinned man and with average height. His well pressed suit fits him perfectly and his low cut black hair completes his look.

“I believe since you both have time to discuss, you must have finished with what I asked of you?”

The both of them quickly apologizes before burying themselves back in their work in total silence.

Ronald kisses his teeth at them before walking away to check how the other workers are doing.

***************

At Lexis' office, Kemi sits at her own space which is separated from Lexis's with just a transparent glass.She continues going through numerous files and books to see what she has to do. When she couldn't find anything, she knows she would have to ask Lexis for guidance but she's also scared to meet him. What if he sends her away? Then she would return back to working as a maid at the house under the government of madam Teju.

Lexis focused on signing the numerous papers in front of him before he pauses and takes up the telephone on the table.

The phone on Kemi's desk rings and she stares at it confused. Who is calling and what is she going to say? She turns to look at him through the transparent glass and sees him holding the phone to the ear staring at her. She quickly understands that he's the one calling her.

She quickly takes up the phone and place it on her ear. “He...Hello Sir." She stutters. This is all new to her.

“Arrange the meeting scheduled for 1 pm to 30 minutes from now."

Kemi's eyes widen in shock, “Eh? I...I should arrange... How do l do that Sir?”

Lexis frowns, "You're asking your boss that?”

Kemi opens her mouth to talk but closes it back when Lexis starts speaking. "If you can't do it, you could just go back to your previous job.That's the one you're better at anyways.”

She gulps and quickly nods, "I will...I will arrange for that now.”

Lexis hangs up putting the phone back, before going back to what he was doing. Kemi stares at the table wondering how she's going to arrange for a meeting in the next 30 minutes. She quickly starts going through the internet to see what help she can get. She read through the papers and sees the previous ones Ron has done. She sighs before standing up with a book and pen and walking over to Lexis.

Lexis lifts his head up to look at her in puzzle. “Yes?”

“Who are the most critical persons that need to attend so l will know whose schedule I should accommodate?”

Lexis stares at without saying anything. He had expect her to get frustrated since she is clueless about the job of PA. First, she is an undergraduate and even graduates find it hard sometimes but here she is, asking questions like she had worked as a PA in her past life.

“Shouldn't you know that?" He asks even though he knows clearly that she wouldn't know that.

She shakes her head, “No Sir."

Lexis pulls a file containing some papers and stretches it out to her. “These are the people that are usually present at meetings. So you should find out which of them should be present yourself."

Kemi takes the file from his hand.

"If I reschedule the meeting, would it not be inconvenient to others?”

Lexis drops the pen in his hand on the table and relaxes his back against the seat.

“You should also find that out yourself Kemi.”

Kemi nods even if she still doesn't know what and how she's going to do anything.

“I think we would be going back to being a maid Kemi." She says to herself. She knows very well that Lexis is giving her the tasks on purposes to frustrate her.She was the one who asked the position in the first place but she will not quit. She is going to do it.

She starts going through the profiles of the people.

Yesterday, she learnt about some of the members of the company.Starting from the boss, down to the lowest employee even if she might not recall everyone.She quickly goes through the purpose of the meeting before she starts typing, sending emails.

30 minutes later.

She is still battling with making calls and trying to set things but she only gets confuse the more.

Lexis on other hand is on a phone call.

"Is everything set?” He says to the receiver.

“Yes Sir, it's been arranged." A feminine voice says from the other end of the call.

Lexis nods, "Good." He hangs up and starts walking away and pauses when he get to Kemi's table. There are so many papers scattered on her table and she has her hands in her hair staring at them in frustration.

"You're done organizing it?" Lexis asks her with his hands in his pockets. She quickly stands up to her feet as she hears his voice. Her eyes are already red and her hair is messed up like she just had just woken up from sleep.

“Sir I um...I..."

Lexis laughs sarcastically, "So..." He walks closer to her and places his hands on the desk. “You think anyone can just work as a PA? You have really underestimate the job girl." He shakes his head.

“I...I can do it. It's just that, I just started today and everything is just so strange and new to me. If I can get some time,I can...”

Lexis scoffs, “Are you a graduate?”

She swallows and shakes her head starting to feel ashamed.

"So how do you intend to do a better job than a graduate ?”

“Give...Give me a chance, I will study on it...I can...”

Lexis cuts her off, “You sure dream big, huh?”

She breathes out shakingly blinking her eyes as she lowers her head. Lexis shakes his head and starts walking away.

“Should I come along?” She asks loudly after him but when he didn't answer her, she takes the files, goes over to Lexis's table to carry his iPad. At least she has learnt that as one of her duties on the internet.

She keeps following him until he reaches a wide door. He stands in front of the door and turns around to Kemi. She stares back at him wondering why he is looking at her. When his face turns to a frown, she looks at the door and quickly moves over to open the door for him.

He walks into the room while she steps in behind him. She stares at employees sitting at the boardroom table in surprise. Who arranged the meeting? She wonders because it's definitely not her.They all stand up to their feet as Lexis reaches the table. Her eyes widen when she sees William sitting at the right side of the table but he hasn't seen her because he's on his laptop.

She stands beside Lexis as he takes his seat in the power chair relaxing his back against the chair.He stretches out his hand to her and she quickly places the iPad on his palms. He looks at her for a moment before turning away and focusing on the phone.

William finally raises up his head from his laptop and his eyes meet Kemi who is standing beside Lexis. His blinks numerously trying to check if he's seeing correctly.

When her eyes meet his, he mouths to her. “What the f**k are you doing here?”

She couldn't understand what he said so she just turns away and looks down. William sighs and relaxes his back against the seat before turning to Lexis.

“What is she doing here?” He asks.

Lexis looks up from his iPad and turns to William.

“Who?..." He looks at Kemi before looking back at him. "She works with me. Why? Do you know her?" Lexis asks even though he knows why William is asking about her.

William sighs, “Why on earth is she working as your PA?"He asks ignoring his question.

“Well she's my employee, do I have to tell you about my personal workers? Or do I need to tell you about whoever works for me?”

William frowns deeply as he looks at Kemi. Kemi knows very well that she's in deep trouble. She has forgotten to tell William about her plan of getting close to Lexis so she could be able to get what he asked her and also to gain his trust, like he asked her to.

Lexis turns over to the employees at his left side.

"So let's hear what team A have to say."He says to the team leader of team A, Ronald, who quickly stands up. He types on his laptop and connects it to the projector before walking pass Kemi.

Lexis watches him give his presentation with a blank expression. It's as if he isn't listening to anything Ronald is using his whole energy to say. After Ronald finishes, he turns to Lexis for all approval.

Lexis sighs, “Nice presentation but..." He purses his lips and Ronald face falls. He already knows he's not getting anything positive. “The type of brand is too common, it won't be unique.Next."'

“It might seem common but he has a good idea.He could just add a few things and it would come out great." William says.

Lexis turns to him. “Oh really?" He tilts his head at William.

William nods and entwines his fingers together. “Yes."He nods confidently.

Lexis sighs, “The last time our products were advertised by a model which was of course, organized by you, it didn't get far. And why?.." He leans towards William. “Simply because the label is too plain and common. I can't believe you gave them a go ahead to use such lame label.”

Kemi watches the two brothers exchange words on the table. She wonders if this is how they argue in every meeting? She sees the other employees looking at the two of them with a tired expression as the one on her own face.

She might not be as educated as these people but she is intelligent and well talented in terms of business so she could understand both Lexis' perspective and William's. If the label is too common, it would be bad for the sales so Lexis doesn't want that but on the other hand, William's idea is great, all Ronald has to do is come up with a better label.

“You may return to your seat, Ronald.” Lexis says to him and he walks to his seat with his head facing the ground. Two other persons gave their presentation but none of them seems to satisfy Lexis who only keeps grumbling in annoyance.

"I would suggest we come up with something not too bright and not too dull. Just a little changes would do justice." William says putting his pen between his lips.

Lexis turns to him before sighing. "You have 3 hours to fix this." He says to Ronald who quickly nods thanking him.

Lexis glares at William one last time before standing up to his feet.

“That would be all.”

He starts walking away and Kemi quickly follows him from behind. Lexis enters into his office and walks over to his table to sit down still frowning deeply.

Kemi stands in front of him.

He raises his head to her, “What is it?"

She places his iPad on the table and clutches on to the files in her hands.

"I...I want to use the restroom.”

"So do l look like the restroom entrance to you?”

She gulps and quickly walks away. She doesn't need anyone to tell her. She walks over to the work station and sees that everyone is busy with one work or the other, moving up and down. She wanted to ask to ask for direction but seeing how everyone is frowning deeply as they work, she turns around to find it herself.As she walks through the passage, she sees William walking towards her alongside his PA.

She bows her head shutting her eyes tightly hoping he would not say anything to her as he passes. When William reaches where she is, he only looks at her from the corner of his eyes before walking pass her.Kemi breathes out and is about continuing on her way when she hears someone's voice.

“Are you good?” The feminine voice asks and she turns around to see that it is one of the employees at the workstation. The lady had seen her enter the workstation and came out so she figured Kemi might need something.

She nods in reply but then, she walks over to the lady. "I'm new here so l was wondering where the restroom is.

“Oh, just go straight. It's by the left."

Kemi nods, "Thank you." She turns around and starts walking away.

The lady stands there staring at Kemi leave.

Xoxo