I swallowed hard, trying to maintain a mask of professional composure. "Ah, y-yes, I am. I've been working here for a little less than a month."
Did he recognise me?
"What's your name?" he asked, taking a step closer to inspect my ID badge.
The question sent a jolt of relief through me, clearing my doubts instantly. He doesn't know who I am? Great! That's perfect!
It was a little depressing that he didn't recognise me at first, considering how much we'd talked in the past. But then again, I looked nothing like the guy he used to see. I was wearing my glasses, my hair was neatly styled with extensions, and I was dressed in feminine office wear. I was looking like the girl I am. Even my voice was different; I'd spent weeks practicing a deeper, more sophisticated tone for my nights out at the bars. The voice he knew.
"The name's Layna Burry. May I ask your name, Sir? If it's not impolite, that is."
"Layna, you say? You're in the Advertising team—Marketing Department," he said, completely ignoring my question as he scanned my credentials with an intensity that made my skin crawl.
"Yes, Sir."
"Tell your superior to train you properly. You should know exactly who the owners of the company you work for are. If you see me again, my name should be the first thing coming out of your mouth to greet me."
"I will pass the message to my manager, Sir." I kept my head bowed, hiding the urge to give him a sour retort.
An awkward, heavy silence filled the corridor. Just as I was about to turn and flee, he finally spoke his name. I expected the first name, but his surname and title hit me like a physical blow.
"Xavier Oslic. OslicMedia's CEO."
The CEO?!
"I understand. I apologise for not recognising you and for my slow learning, Sir Oslic… Even so, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance."
I tried to maintain a straight face, but I likely failed. My eyes were probably wide enough to fall out of my head. However, given his position, a look of shocked awe was exactly what he'd expect from a lowly employee being reprimanded by the big boss.
"When did you join the team?"
"It has only been a few weeks, Sir."
"Any prior experience in the field? Are you currently an intern or a temporary employee?"
"I completed my internship at a startup with fewer resources than OslicMedia, though it was in the field of Marketing and Advertising. This is my first formal role after graduating, and I am currently in my probationary period."
He stepped out from the elevator, his presence commanding the hallway, and truthfully, I don't think he did it for a nice reason. He felt different—cold, distant, like a stranger I'd never shared a drink with. It was jarring. After all, I only knew the version of him that existed within the neon-lit walls of the bar. Xavier felt—well, not like the Xavier I knew at all.
He glanced at the woman beside him, which must have been a signal, because as soon as she noticed his look, her hand shot out to catch the elevator door so it wouldn't close.
"Probationary period?" He arched a brow, his voice smooth yet sharp. "Have you recently graduated?"
"A year ago, Sir." I straightened my posture, trying to match his professional intensity. "I had the wish to enter this company for a long time, yet it took time as the marketing team is—"
"It's a hand-picked team. Of course." He cut me off, his eyes scanning me with a clinical sort of detachment.
That's right… I nodded, acknowledging how much preparation and dedication I had to put into my job application just to get a foot in the door. It felt good to see that he was aware I was now part of that elite group, but the atmosphere was suffocating. He stood there, seemingly trying to find something else to use in this unnecessary conversation while he stared at me arrogantly. I didn't see any hint of him recognising me whatsoever. But even if he was about to, his secretary spoke up right on time to end his little idle stop.
"Sir, the meeting," she reminded him, tapping her tablet.
"Right," he answered without taking his eyes off me. "I hope you get to learn and have a great experience at our company, Miss Burry. The marketing department is not an easy place to get into, much less your team. Your capacities must have convinced them. Congratulations."
"Thank you, Sir. I will work so it is worthy of their expectations. Have a nice—"
*Bing.*
The doors slid shut. He was already gone.
That surprised me… I thought, his words echoing in my head while the silver door of the elevator shone right in my face, reflecting my own stunned expression. Is this how he truly is? Why even bother stopping me if it was just to show off his power, though? What did I even do to him—
I stopped my thought, sensing that something might be up. Maybe there was something I did, or didn't do, that made him act like this. Something besides the fact that I'd pretended not to know who he was. I decided I should ask Ben about it later.
Maybe if more people had been around, I could have been saved from the trouble…
There weren't many people in the lobby, but I noticed some of those nearby had glanced our way with caution, their whispers dying down as the CEO passed. I let out a long, heavy sigh. Things had gone too smoothly for too long, and I suppose the universe decided I needed a reality check. But I never thought a surprise like this would come to test my guts.
Scratching my head after completely taking in what had just happened, I suddenly felt drained. To think the guy I met every Thursday at a gay bar is my boss. The company's CEO, at that.
"What are the odds for this to happen, really?"
Following the line we made every day to set apart the table we would eat at, I rolled my eyes, genuinely impressed by how small and unexpected this world is. I secured us the table near the window, since we liked to watch the people outside while we ate. I sat down to wait for the others, lost in thought and not feeling particularly hungry as the shock continued to sink in.
"A CEO. Heh, the b*stard had his secrets as well."
Looking outside the window while leaning my chin on my hand, I felt a strange sense of amusement at how things had gone down. Not long after, I spotted Xavier stepping into an expensive car that waited for him at the kerb, looking all high and mighty—like the rich guy he truly was.
"So I guess he really meant it when he said it wasn't a problem buying me all those drinks. Maybe he was even being stingy by buying so little, heh."
The car pulled away quickly after the woman got in, and I blankly stared at the street. I wasn't entirely sure how to handle these circumstances. Probably, it's best if I continue to act as I did just now. I should feign innocence and stay shut about what I know, I pondered, like the Layna he just met.
His sexuality was his business; he could be hiding it like many still do. It was his choice, and I had no interest in saying anything. My respects to the guy, since it must be difficult if he's a CEO and…
"Xavier Oslic."
An Oslic to top it all off. Let's hope he wasn't acting and he truly didn't recognise me. I do look different with a bit of makeup, glasses and professional clothes, I thought, weighing the situation. I already feel bad that things came out like this, but all I'm relieved about is that Xavier seems to be doing all right after not seeing him for almost a month. I did consider him a friend, in a way.
"Sigh. Best part of all this is that he's the CEO. I probably won't see him often. It was just my luck that I met him today."
"Who did you meet?"
Standing behind me, Ben asked the question while sucking annoyingly loud from his orange juice box.