C6 First Day Of Work

First day working for Richard Maranzano; how bad can this day possibly go?

I walk into his office and my jaw drops in disbelief. "Holy crab!" I exclaim, unable to contain my shock. The pile of papers on his desk is beyond messy—it's a disaster zone. Files are scattered everywhere, papers are strewn all over the desk, and to top it off, there's an empty coffee mug just sitting there. I mean, seriously, who in the hell leaves their office desk like this? Oh, right, Richie, freaking Maranzano. It's just another reason for me to hate him even more.

I mentally sigh, urging myself not to clean up Richie's mess since it's not part of my job. But thanks to that maintenance string in me, I just had to. I hate to see a disorganized environment, whether it's mine or not.

I place my bag on the chair and start organizing his desk. While I was sorting through everything, I couldn't help but check all the papers. I was half-expecting to stumble upon something highly illegal or scandalous, but to my surprise, everything was clean. Richie Maranzano sure knows how to keep his work under wraps but that’s okay because I am very good and taking wrappers off, whether it’s a candy bar or the most illegal project.

After I finished arranging the files neatly in one place, I grabbed the bouquet of flowers and began carefully placing them into the vase. Just as I was about to finish, a deep voice from behind me suddenly halted my movements. Startled, I turned around and there he was, standing tall and serious; Richie.

"Good morning, Sir- I mean, Mr- I mean Richie," I stammer, my words stumbling out in a mix of nervousness and anxiety.

He raised an eyebrow, looking at his desk with a puzzled expression. "Why is my desk looking like that?" he ask, his tone filled with curiosity.

Feeling a bit flustered, I quickly reply, "It was looking messy, so I decided to arrange it."

A stern look crossed his face as he interrupted me, "Did anyone ask you to do that?"

I hesitated for a moment before responding, "No, but I thought it would help create a more organized workspace."

With a firm tone, he says, "Don't touch my things unless you are asked to, Rachel." His words carried a sense of authority and expectation.

Not sure what I did wrong for him to say that, I simply nod and say, "Got it. It won't happen again."

Shifting the conversation, he inquires "The files for the meeting, are they ready?"

"Yes, they are all prepared."

"Great," he said, his demeanor softening slightly. "Meet me at the boardroom in five minutes."

As he turned to leave the room, I quickly gathered all the necessary items for the meeting and made my way out of the office. Walking into the boardroom, I couldn't help but shoot a quick glare at Richie. I couldn't believe his reaction! I was just trying to be helpful by tidying up his desk, but it seemed like he didn't appreciate it at all.

Putting on a fake smile, I take a seat next to him. The man in the black suit who I presume is the assistant to the client, began the meeting, and I found myself completely engrossed in his words. I made sure to jot down every important detail mentioned.

While I was diligently taking notes during the meeting, I couldn't help but notice Richie stealing glances in my direction. It was like he couldn't resist trying to catch my attention. And honestly, I knew exactly why he was staring. He's got a reputation for being a bit of a ladies' man, and I have a strong feeling he's trying to make a move on me. But here's the thing, I'm not the type to fall for those games. No way. His little stares and glances won't change the fact that I can't stand him.

"This partnership is an incredible opportunity for both parties to fuel the growth of our company, taking it to new heights. Together, we can achieve remarkable success and make a lasting impact in the business world." the man says

Just when I was jotting down the point, I felt Richie's eyes on me again. This time, I decided to confront him by turning to look back at him but of course, he quickly shifted his gaze away completely acting like he wasn’t staring. I roll my eyes in annoyance, I hate this kind of behavior. I ignored him and focused on jotting down the details.

Soon, the meeting concludes, and Mr. Lionel, who is now a business partner with Richie, addresses him by saying, "I would like to propose a dinner party this Saturday to celebrate our partnership, Mr. Maranzano. May I have your thoughts on this?"

Richie takes a moment to consider, glancing at Mr. Lionel and then at me, before responding, "That sounds like an excellent idea."

Expressing his gratitude, I reply, "Very well, in that case, I will see you on Saturday night."

"Surely, you will see the both of us."

"Beg your pardon!"

"I’m not coming alone, I am coming with a date," Richie says

I look at him with a hint of shock, since when does he go to parties with a date? He always goes to events and parties alone, never with a date.

"Oh, that’s interesting. May I know who your date is?" Mr. Lionel ask

"My new assistant, Rachel Green, she will be my date to the party," Richie announces.

I'm taken aback, my eyes widening in surprise. Is Richie being serious right now? It's highly unusual for him to invite people to parties let alone an office member.

Richie then turns to me and casually asks, "What color will you be wearing?"

I'm momentarily speechless, trying to process if he's joking or not. However, it becomes clear that he's being genuine.

"I believe you should go for green. It suits you," he suggests.

"Alright then, I'll see you both on Saturday. It's such an honor to have partnered with you, Mr. Maranzano," Mr. Lionel says, extending his hand for a firm handshake.

Richie shakes his hand and responds with a hint of doubt, "I hope I don't end up making you regret this."

Mr. Lionel's smile fades, and he looks at Richie with a questioning expression. But Richie brushes it off and turns to me, saying, "Rachel, we've got a lot on our plate. Let's get going."

I nod in agreement and quickly rise from my chair. We make our way out of the boardroom and into Richie's office. He takes a seat behind his desk and starts working on his laptop, seemingly lost in his own thoughts. He is so quiet as if he isn’t the same person that just dropped the bomb by asking me - no wait, by announcing that I will be his date.

I groan in frustration, trying my best to think of a way to get out of this. I can barely stand him at work, I won’t be able to do that at the party. "I don’t think I can make it to Saturday night's dinner party," I say.

Without lifting his gaze from the laptop, he responds, "Why is that?"

"Because, umm… I have some important things to take care of," I reply.

"What kind of things?" he asks, his curiosity piqued.

"Important personal stuff, you know, like some errands and tasks that need my attention," I explain.

"Alright," he says, seemingly understanding, but then he adds, "You still have to come with me. I need a date for the party."

"I can’t... I mean, you can go with anyone else," I suggest.

"I know, but I chose you," Richie says, finally looking up from his laptop. "I really want you to come with me, Rachel."

"But…" I begin to protest, but my thoughts are jumbled. After a sigh, I take a moment to think, and then I say, "Fine, I will come."

Going to the party with him might not be such a bad idea. It could give me a chance to meet his other partners and hopefully dig up some information about him. Maybe I'll even find out what his next move is as well as find the right proof to expose who he really is.

This party might turn out to be a really good one… well, for me it will be.