Standing in front of the company yet again in another bright morning with an exhausted look on her face, Carla rearranged her short hair and thought of the various possibilities of avoiding the new president.
Last night was hell. Anna had woken up several times to tell about her dream of a red eyed man who just sits in the corner and stares at her and she had spent the time she couldn't get any sleep putting Anna back to sleep and thinking about Rhys.
"Hey girl? You had better get moving, the new president doesn't tolerate lateness." A lady had spoken from behind before walking past her into the building.
Building up her morale, Carla walked into the building and waved to the three receptionists who beckoned at her immediately.
"How do you feel?" The first one asked and Carla blinked.
"Are you blind? Can't you see the black bags under her eyes and hidden behind the concealer?" Another receptionist pointed out and for the first time in a while, Carla wanted to be far from her.
"Did you do anything to the president?" The quiet one whispered to Carla and they all nodded in unison.
"What do you mean?" Carla's lips stretched into something similar to a smile but she could really break down into tears if she got pushed any further.
"He rushed in here yesterday asking for your whereabouts." The first receptionist reported with a twinkle in her eyes as she clapped on to her words, observing Carla closely.
Carla's feet felt stuck to the titled floor of the reception. She wondered why her life was suddenly taking a great turn out of nowhere.
"Did something happen between the two of you after the conference?" The receptionist continued to ask, blinking her eyes in anticipation as if in expectation that it was impossible for something not to happen.
"No." Carla responded absentmindedly and this piqued their attention.
"Then why did he start asking personal questions about you? I heard he met with the human resource manager to get your portfolio."
"What!?" Carla's eyes widened as she looked from one interested face to the other.
"You knew him before now, didn't you?" One of the receptionists asked with a squinted eye as she accessed the flustered Carla.
"I have to leave, I am late." Carla made a polite bow and left for the elevator.
On entering her department, the noise died down and everyone had their eyes on her. Carla struggled not to miss her steps as she walked towards her cubicle, trying her best to ignore the hard stare drilling holes on her body.
"The president requests your presence." Someone among her colleagues informed her before she could place her butt on her seat and Carla almost let out a curse.
Without sitting, she stood straight and walked out of her department, half running towards the elevator to get rid of the eyes that threatened to cease her breath and leave her dead from anxiety.
On getting to the top floor, the male receptionist was quick to lead her to the President office which was five times larger than her departmental space. It was painted grey with black exquisite furniture and artifacts.
When the receptionist left, Carla felt her sweaty palm while she stared at the back of Damien's head. He had his seat turned away from her, facing the wide floor-to-ceiling window.
Carla would have sworn that the office contained fallen angels who cohabitated with the messenger of doom from the brooding aura she felt emanating from the dull colour combination in the extremely spacious office.
"I am – I am here, Sir?" She was unsure of what to say."
With that, Damien rotated the swivel chair to face her. He dropped the black pen in his hand on the table with a force that made her give a little jump.
"Where were you yesterday?" He was straightforward and had no tinge of smile on his face.
She placed her hands behind her back and had her head facing the floor.
"Look at me Carla! Dammit!" He banged his fist on the table and she jerked again, forcing her eyes to stay on his and not look away.
"Where the fuck were you yesterday!?" He questioned again, his face was straight and he looked stern.
"Home." Carla responded simply, blinking at him.
"Home?" He asked her and let out a beast-like laughter that made his shoulder shake from the impact.
Carla watched in horror as he stood up from his chair and walked slowly towards her, one step at a time and she felt her heart would break from the sudden fear that gripped her.
Grabbing her chin and pulling her head upwards in a quick movement, he leaned in, his intense blue eyes glaring at the green of hers, ignoring her whimper.
"Where the fuck is home!?" He questioned with his teeth clenched together and the words forcing themselves out.
"Where the fuck in home because I went to your home and you weren't there." He used his other hand to pick strands of her short hair, his eyes flashed with something dangerous before looking back at her.
"Answer me Carla!" His voice was back to being calm. Too calm that it made her shiver in fear.
"I am sorry Sir. I lied." She admitted and closed her eyes in fear of what he would do.
"You lied?" He asked her and let go of her before bending over to laugh like what she said was the funniest thing he had ever heard in his life.
When he straightened, the eyes that looked into hers were devoid of emotions and Carla gripped the sides of her gown tightly to assure herself that nothing bad would happen.
He walked towards his seat and sat down before beckoning her to come.
"Sir…" She protested.
"Shhh." He silenced her and beckoned her to walk towards him, his eyes were blank and his facial muscles tensed.
When she did, he took hold of her hand and dragged her down towards him, she yelped and almost lost her footing but he was quick to make her sit astride him and force her head down, covering her lips with his.
'Nooooo!!!" Carla wanted to yell out loud but only found herself yelling in her head with her eyes wide open, looking into his blue orbs which were equally wide open too.