I was having a beautiful Monday at the office free of annoying pests like CEO Blackwood, but then the damn phone rang. It was the office telephone, I knew at that moment that it was going to be problematic.
Almost tempted to ignore the call, I finally took it.
“Hello Ma’am,” the feminine voice sounded from the other end.
“Oh,” I muttered as I realized that it wasn’t Maxwell on the other end, it was the receptionist, I recognized her voice.
“Hi… Celine,” I replied in relief. It couldn’t be much of a big deal as long as it wasn’t Mr. Blackwood on the other side of the line. “Is there a problem?” I asked.
“Not exactly, um… There is a lady here, she says she is Maria Forbes and she is here to see Mr. Blackwood.” The receptionist informed me.
“Oh… a lady? Okay, just hold on, I will put a call through and get you a response.” I informed her.
“Sure Ma’am,” she replied and I immediately hung up.
“Maria Forbes?” I muttered to myself. Well, if that doesn’t sound like old money, who could this Maria Forbes be? Another one of the CEO’s sex mates I guessed.
I immediately dialed Maxwell’s office and he didn’t pick the first time, so I just tried again. If he doesn’t answer this time, then I would have no other choice than to go there myself, I have a feeling that I wouldn’t leave there without some action.
Maxwell had been in a good mood since morning, it was one of those moods where I could end up with a dick down my throat if I happened to be anywhere around him.
Luckily for me, the phone was answered at the second trial.
“Choose your words carefully, Miss Owl. If you had called with the intent of spoiling my mood, you will pay on your back.” He warned.
“Eww…” I growled inwards, hoping he didn’t hear. “Sorry to bother you Sir but there is someone outside who would like to see you,” I informed him, trying to sound formal.
“And do I have an appointment with this person, Miss Owl?” he asked calmly, it was like he was busy with some other stuff while taking the call.
“No Sir, but…”
“But what Ann? So anyone can walk in and demand to see the Boss, then you phone me twice without hesitation? What do you think we run here, Miss Owl? A get-to-meet foundation?” he asked bluntly.
“Can you not be nice for once?” I retorted, not realizing when the words escaped my lips. I guess I couldn’t hold them in anymore.
“Excuse me?” he replied from the other end with an inquisitive tone.
“I said, she sounds important.” I lied immediately.
He growled softly on the other end and a haunting silence followed. After a while, his deep voice vibrated through the telephone. “Did you say she?” he asked, not hiding his curiosity.
“Yes Boss, she is a lady.” I replied and rolled my eyes.
“Well, you should have started with that, pretty ladies are always welcome.” He chuckled and I swear, I could see that annoying smirk of his in my head.
“So she should be let in?” I asked, just to be sure. Maxwell was without doubt twisted in the head, I need to make sure that his instructions are clear, to avoid the hotel motel situation.
“Yeah, did she give a name?” he asked.
“Yeah, it was…. It was um…” I stuttered and scratched my head, trying to remember what name Celine had called for me.
“Did you forget the name of our guest already? So not only do you not see with your large eyes but you also happen to have a memory problem. How did I even hire you in the first place?” he taunted.
“Arrghhh!!” I yelled in my head with a clenched fist. I want to pull his hair off his scalp and gauge his eyes out, he is so annoying.
“I remember now, it was Maria… Maria Forbes!” I announced.
A sudden silence followed after I called that name and I immediately suspected that something was wrong. “Sir, are you still there?”
“Did you say Maria Forbes?” he asked calmly, almost in a whisper, his tone of voice had changed and that made my heart skip.
“Yes Sir.”
Once again, he was silent and during that time, my heart raced, why did he make it sound like this Maria woman was bad news?
“Tell the receptionist to send her away, Maria Forbes or anyone with that last name is not welcome here. If I should ever receive a call regarding that woman, people will lose their jobs.” He warned strictly.
“Am I clear, Miss Annabel?”
The moment he called me by my full name, I knew he meant every word he said and he was damn serious about it.
“Yes Sir, I will do that now.” I replied.
“Good.” Those were his last words before ending the call.
I did his bidding without hesitation as I knew he wasn’t joking around. I think I prefer goofy Maxwell to this angry bear, his angry voice makes me anxious and scared.
Right after passing the instruction, I turned on the security camera in the reception room, curious to see this Maria lady that came as a turn off to Mr. Blackwood. He made it sound like he despised the lady and I was eager to see her for myself.
I was lucky enough to catch a back glimpse of the woman as she left the reception room. From her shape and dressing, I guessed she was not the young lady I had imagined her to be, she was a woman in her middle ages, probably around fifty or more.
From her body movement, I could tell that she was walking away in disappointment. She turned back just as she was about to walk out the exit and looked towards the camera, almost like she knew it was there. Her face looked a bit familiar and I wondered if I had seen her before. Who is this lady and why does Mr. Blackwood hate her so much?
Maria Forbes! I decided to look up the name on the internet. Who knows if I could pull up some useful information about her on the internet? I just hated to be in the dark and I knew it would be a death wish to bring up the topic before Maxwell again.
I had just dialed Maria on the screen when my personal phone began to ring. I closed the window and picked up my phone, it was Jimmy calling, a foolish smile spread across my cheeks immediately.
“Hey Princess,” his soothing voice sounded from the other end, calm and peaceful as usual.
“Hey…” I replied back, almost in a whisper.
“How is work going? Hope your boss isn’t trouble?” he asked caringly.
I blushed. “You called, so I guess it just got better. And my Boss? Nah, it is nothing I can't deal with.”
“Glad to hear that my voice still makes a difference.” He said and laughed softly, his laughter was like music to my soul.
I giggled and looked down shyly; I know, I am alone, so why was I shy? Am just being silly.
“Anyways babe, you know we have been away from each other for so long and I miss you so much, so I thought that maybe we can hang out at your place tonight. We can watch movies and cuddle, like old times.” I imagined him smiling as he said that.
I laughed softly. “Okay, sure. I think that would help me relieve work stress. Come over by eight pm, bring snacks.”
“Sure, I will.” He replied, not hiding his enthusiasm. I loved the fact that he was excited to be back with me. My baby! He must have missed me so much! I can't wait for tonight, I wasn’t a kid, I knew very well how tonight would end, and I craved it.
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