I took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves as I returned back to my booth. I could hear my heart beating loudly in my ears, as I tried to walk in a steady pace.
Once I was seated, I raised my eyes up only to find him staring at me, more like glaring with an aloof look on his face. I had tried my best to avoid him since the moment he walked into the office. After what happened yesterday, I was still feeling embarrassed.
Not gonna lie, I was surprised to find my booth still packed with my stuff when I walked in this morning. I had expected that Mr Torrance would have cleared out all my stuff and hire a new secretary.
From what I heard from the staffs in the lobby, the man was as strict as a maths teacher. They say it's the reason why he changes his secretary almost every month.
When I walked in to find my stuff still in place this morning, I made a promise right there that I would try my very best not to let what happened last night repeat itself. I couldn't lose this job…no…the thought of having to start afresh, not to talk of my mums medical bills and….
'No, stop it Ava'
I scolded myself when I realized I was thinking of the worst possibilities again, but isn't that what most people say..'Always expect the worst'
For me, the worst thing that could happen to me right now would be loosing this job and I sure as hell can't afford to do that.
The incident with Mr Harper today was totally out of my control, asides the fact that Mr Harper had seen the schedule while I was making some adjustments, if he had asked me personally for it, I may have given him.
Reason being that Mr Harper was the one who helped me get this job in the first place, if not for him, I would still be working at that underpaid job.
I had approached him at the diner I knew he frequently visited, I could remember vividly what happened that day.
It seemed like he had just finished a business meeting, I sat at the furthest booth and waited till his visitor left before I approached his table.
At first he wanted to call security and have me thrown out but then I brought out my CV and quickly began explaining myself. I told him about my mums failing health condition and the bills I need to clear. I told him how badly I need this job and that I was ready to work twenty four hours without no complaints.
He seemed amused by my bravery but little did he know that the entire time I was talking to him, my palms were all sweaty, a habit i have when I'm nervous.
He didn't agree at first and said that we would need to have a proper interview, he gave me his card and asked me to call his office to set up a date for the interview.
And the next week after that, I started working as a secretary to one of the worlds most dangerous Tycoon. The first two months were very stressful because the former secretary left a lot of workload and messed up Mr Torrance's schedule. It took sometime for me to fix that.
But now, the workload is less and I have time for lunch with the other staffs, which is where I hear most of the gossip about Mr Torrance. Recently there's been rumors about a girl he's dating. Miss Lana Rey, she comes to the office once a week to have lunch with Mr Torrance and I personally don't like her, not like my opinion matters anyway.
She waltz's in here without paying heed to me or Micheal, she acts like everyone else is beneath her. Everyone but Mr Torrance of course, she looks at him with that dreamy eyes like he's her Prince Charming in a fairytale movie. But Mr Torrance doesn't share the same sentiment as her, most times he doesn't even look at her and other times he tells me to cancel the lunch date.
Today happens to be one of those times and I can't help the relief I feel when I get a message from him saying that I should cancel his lunch with Miss Lana. Well relief is among the things I feel, I'm surprised he has my phone number. Normally he would send Micheal to relay the message to me, he mostly acts like I'm invinsible and honestly I'm okay with that.
I reply the message with an Okay sir and then asked him what he would like me to order for lunch.
I keep staring at my phone waiting for his reply, I didn't think to raise my head up and look him in the eyes. I find the man scary as hell and his presence extremely suffocating.
He replied after a few minutes, two words and a full stop.
'The Usual'
I'm not even surprised, the three months I've worked here, I noticed that he only buys food from a specific restaurant and it's always a specific meal. It's odd when there are varieties of meals to choose from but who am I to question the boss.
I picked up the office phone and called the restaurant to place an order for his lunch, in exactly thirty minutes, the food arrived and I contemplated asking Micheal to take it to him but that would mean that I'm avoiding him.
After much thinking, I called his office phone and immediately the call connected, I spoke calmly, mustering all the control that I don't seem to have.
"Sir, your lunch is here" I spoke and waited as he took his precious time…which was about forty fucking seconds, I know because I counted each second while biting my lips hard.
"Do you expect me to come out and get it?" He asked in curt tone before disconnecting the call almost immediately.
I didn't bother looking up to see his face, I could already feel him glaring at me thriugh the glass walls. I understand that he's all rich and powerful but would it kill him to be a little nice.
I couldn't complain though, I stood up and walked towards the door with a neutral expression on my face, I knocked and I waited till I heard his grumpy voice before I pushed the door open.
But the moment I stepped inside, I wished I hadn't.