Evan’s POV
I watched her standing at my desk in my office. I was antagonized by her behavior. She had already arrived late and when she eventually arrived, I called her desk and she wasn’t answering the line. I had to put an applicant in her place because Miss. Blackman was nowhere to be found.
She of all people should know better. I hated slackers and she was becoming one which was very disappointing. She was one of the best employees I ever hired and I really didn’t want to regret hiring her.
“Miss. Blackman, what’s the meaning of this?” I asked her, referring to her absence a while ago at her desk.
She hesitated to answer. More like she was scared of saying the wrong thing. I looked at her carefully and noticed her makeup had be smudged.
She was crying.
Maybe because of her mom.
What’s really wrong with her mom anyways?
“I’m... very sorry Mr. Hollen,” she stuttered and lowered her head in trepidation. She was trembling, sending all the signs of fear because of being in such a position, a position where she could be fired.
“Clean out your desk,” I said to her and she flinched at the words.
She turned slowly on her heels and without another word, she walked out the door.
My cell phone rang on the desk. I looked at the caller’s ID and flashed a smile immediately but I let it ring out. I then threw back my head and laughed when she called again.
It was Jessica Hills, my ex girlfriend from high school. Apparently, Jessica wanted to reconnect with me and become friendly. The last I heard from her, she was travelling to Canada to go live with her cousins.
“She must be back in Brooklyn now,” I said to myself.
‘Why else would she be calling my cell phone?’
‘And how the hell did she got my number?’
‘She must of called my family’s mansion first. Dad would give my number to anyone.’
Ughhh!!
I switched off my phone and walked out my office.
Miss Blackman was gathering the last of her things, tossing them into a box. The applicant I had hired was at the desk, taking calls and occasionally glancing at Miss Blackman from the corners of her eyes. I had sent the other applicants to the other levels where they would be interviewed. I was no longer in the mood for it.
Once Miss Blackman had finished packing, she walked out from behind the desk and stood at a respectable distance.
“Thank you for the opportunity Mr. Hollen. I really did appreciate it and it was a pleasure working for you,” she said, tears in her throat and she slowly turned on her heels and began walking towards the elevator.
Where the hell is she going?
"Miss. Blackman,” I called after her.
Her pace slowed down, she turned to me.
“It’s okay sir, I’ll be fine.” She turned to leave again, prompting me to go after her and stop her right before she could step into the elevator.
“Where are you going?” I asked her, arching my eyebrows in question.
“Well... umm, home. Didn't you fire me?”
“No, Miss. Blackman, I never used those words. You've been promoted to Personal Assistant, but before you start, I can see you're distracted by something. Care to share what's going on with you?"
Her eyes lit up and she smiled surprisingly at me.
“I’m terribly sorry for my slack Sir, I’ll start work right away,” she answered me and went towards my office.
My office was designed to accommodate both the CEO and his Personal Assistant with privacy. There was a smaller office right outside mine, where she would be working and performing her duties. The secretary's area was located outside of both offices and served as the waiting room.
I followed her in as she set up her desk, placing her notepads and pens within easy reach. She cleaned the desk phone with hand sanitizer, arranged it to her liking, dusted off the chair, and adjusted its height for her comfort. She sat down, and a small smile flashed across her face, which made me smile too. I shook my head and dispelled the wild imaginations that were creeping into my mind.
“Comfortable?” I asked her.
“Yes. Thank you, Mr. Hollen.”
“Good because there’s work to do. We have to get to a meeting in the next twenty minutes and I’ll need you to take notes.”
She pulled her notepads and pens closer to her. Her line rang.
“Sir, it’s Mr. Hoggers again,” she said to me, “Should I transfer it to your extension or you’ll take it here?”
“Sir?” her voice came again.
“Mmhh,” I answered.
“You have a phone call.”
I was still standing there, admiring my assistant with appreciation and lust .
What the hell was happening to me?
I completely zoned out.
"I’ll take it in my office,” I answered and quickly departed as if I was running away from an invasion of killer bees.
After the lengthy phone call with Mr. Hoggers, during which I had to explain to him over five times why I would not invest in his business and had to listen to his attempts at persuasion, I hung up the phone, stood up, and once again, thoughts about my assistant crossed my mind.
I glanced at my Rolex, a piece that had originally belonged to my father. I could easily afford my own Rolexes, but I cherished having something of his. It was a father-son connection that not everyone would comprehend.
The time read 10:56 am. I left my office and found Miss Blackman at her desk.
"Ready?" she asked when she saw me.
"Yeah," I replied, smoothing out my five-thousand-dollar suit before entering the boardroom for the meeting.
"I think we should invest in the company. It's a highly profitable one, and the potential income is substantial. I don't see any reasons why not to invest," Miss Rhino protested to the partners.
She was still pushing for that same proposal I had already disapproved of, and the fact that she hadn't heeded my final words was frustrating.
“Where’s the proof of this?” one of the partners asked her.
“Well, here are the financial statements and the incomes, profits and loss,” she answered and handed over a folder to one of my father’s old investor and buddy.
"Mr. Arkisa," I began, clearing my throat and adjusting my tie, "Miss Rhino and I have already had a discussion about this exact proposal, and I disapproved of it because it's not going to benefit my father's company in any way, shape, or form.
"We won't invest three million dollars in a firm that has consistently shown more losses than profits over a five-year time span, and that's just a matter of simple common sense."
"But Mr. Hollen, the losses were relatively minor five years ago when the company faced financial difficulties. I'm sure every company has its challenges, even your father's," Miss Rhino retorted, maintaining a respectful tone but a hint of rudeness in her words.
“Listen! I’m not a demi god. I’m not going to grant wishes to please anyone. I disapproved with reasons, I didn’t disapprove because I wanted to or I could of. I’m not investing. It’s not going to happen and that’s that,” I said, blood coming to a boil slowly but surely.
“Partners, are you hearing this?” Miss. Rhino asked them as if they could go above me.
Ha, this woman is crazy.
We disregarded her and proceeded to discuss matters that were of much greater interest to us. After the meeting and the partners had left, Miss Rhino stayed behind to confront me directly.
"You're a terrible boss and an awful person," she accused. "I was seeking support for my brother's company, and you know damn well you could turn their financial situation around."
"If they wouldn't let me buy them out, I'm not going to invest anything in it," I replied bluntly.
“You can’t always buy out someone, Evan. Would you let someone buy out Hollen Tower?”
“There’s not enough money in the world to buy Hollen Tower. We’re built on a gold mine, not dirt. And your tone isn’t sitting right with me, I strongly suggest you change it,” I warned her.
“I don’t care anymore! I showed you the proposal and you said you were thinking about it. I promised my brother results and now you’re not going to give it. It would benefit us in the future, if not right now.”
“The answer is NO! Keep pushing this and you’ll be out of a job.”
“You’re unbelievable, you’re such an asshole! What kind of boss are you, anyway?!”
“The one that just fired your ass! Now. Get .Out. Of. My. Tower.”
She stood there, open mouthed like she was unable to breathe. After processing that she had been fired, she turned around slowly and left the room, slamming the door on her way out.
Miss. Blackman looked at me with even more fear.
“Did you just fire her?” she asked with great disbelief.
I nodded yes.
Yeah I did, and if you slack off one more time, you’ll be next.