C2 Philip McArthur

Zoe

I stared at the complimentary card as I sat in the dining room.

"Just accept the job Zo if you won't stop staring at that card," Aunty Emilia advised.

I dropped the card and began to eat. So many thoughts raced through my mind. I had no experience at all, I mean, how do I go from a waitress to the secretary of a celebrity business mogul? Most importantly, why did he offer me a job knowing absolutely nothing about me?

I heaved a sigh and Aunty Emilia looked at me with concern written all over her face.

"Your cappuccino did the magic. Just accept the job ZoZo, it has very good pay. What are you afraid of?"

"What if I have to leave you?"

"Oh," she waved, "I'll be fine on my own. Take that job, Zoe. That's somebody's dream job you're being slow about." She stood up and took her plates to tpitchhchen.

I took my phone and dialed his number. He picked on the fourth ring. "Hello," his voice sounded deep and a bit sleepy and that was probably the sexiest sound I've ever heard.

"Hello. This is Zoe." I said with a squeaky voice.

"Who?" He asked.

He didn't even know my name and he offered me a job?

"The waitress from the coffee shop." Saying that out loud made me realize I deserved a better job.

"Oh. You should have called earlier. It's pretty late."

I looked at the big clock in the living room and it was almost ten o'clock.

"Oh shit," I cussed and realized I shouldn't have done that, "Umm, I'm sorry. I just got off work." Technically.

"Have you accepted the job? We'll discuss the pay tomorrow."

"When do I resume?" I asked excitedly.

"Tomorrow."

He ended the call before I could say anything else.

Eesh, impatient much?

*************

The cab dropped me in front of the very tall building of MacArthur Industries.

I adjusted my skirt and walked into the building. I hadn't worn heels in a while but I still managed to have a steady gait with them on.

Inside the building was a wonder, the ceiling was so high and the floors were cleaner than my life, I could see my reflection on them.

"Hello," I greeted the receptionist. "I'm here to see Philip MacArthur."

"Good morning, do you have an appointment with him?" She asked with a genuine smile. I thought billionaires' receptionists were always bitchy but this one wasn't...or maybe she was just doing her job.

"Yeah, kinda."

"Okay, what's your name?"

"Zoe Ortega."

"Okay, give me a minute, please," She took the telephone, "Hello, Zoe Ortega is here to see you, sir. Okay, sir." She dropped the telephone, "He said you should use the private elevator to his office, 17th floor."

Woah! "Where's that?"

"Straight ahead." She pointed.

"Okay, thank you." I smiled at her.

"You're welcome." She smiled back and turned to the other person.

I went straight ahead into the private elevator and pressed 17. Damn, the elevator was so nice!

Finally, I got out of the elevator and took a deep breath. I was able to locate his office and I knocked on the door and heard a "come in."

I opened the door and walked into the nicest office I've ever seen. Everything in here screamed wealth! There was a ceiling-to-floor bookshelf with different kinds of books on it, including novels. Bookworm noted.

Philip MacArthur was sitting in his black leather swivel chair behind the big mahogany desk.

"Are you going to keep standing there?" He asked.

"Oh," I muttered.

He never took his eyes off me as I walked to his desk and sat down. "Good morning, sir." I greeted.

"Quite the early bird, huh?" He asked as he collected my resume. He looked through it and stared at me, "you graduated from college last year, studied an amazing course and you were working in a coffee shop?" He was astonished.

I know, right? I wanted to say so I just shook my head with a tight smile.

He dropped it and stared at me, "you do know what this job entails, right?"

I nodded again.

"I need you to use your mouth," he said.

"Oh, I'm sorry." I adjusted in my seat. I didn't want to get too comfortable so the chair won't break, not that it would but I was just so uneasy.

**********

Philip

I could see how uneasy she was. Not to brag, but I had such an effect on women. The moment she walked through the door with that interestingly fitted skirt, I knew this woman was going to cause me a lot of trouble. What was I getting myself into? I pushed all my thoughts out of my head and got a grip on myself.

I had one rule; never mix work with pleasure and I was going to keep sticking to that. So, I let all my unclean thoughts out the window and tried not to get distracted by the red lipstick on her full lips.

We discussed the pay and she was surprised that I was going to pay her that much. Well, she had a lot of work to do working as my secretary.

"You're to make my coffee every morning or whenever I need it. You'll be with me on every business trip I go on except I say not to. Please, refrain from wearing provocative dresses," she looked at her blouse, "I didn't mean you're dressed that way now, I meant you shouldn't dress that way at all. Finally, whatever you do, don't end up falling for me, you can ask other secretaries before you, it didn't end well." I stood and buttoned my Tux, "let me show you to your table."

My cousin Clinton came out of the elevator while I showed Zoe her table.

Zoe looked at him with her mouth wide open. "Clinton Gregory?"

"Yeah, and you are?" He stretched out his hand for a handshake.

"Oh my God! I'm Zoe." She took his hand with so much excitement. Well, it's not every day you see one of Hollywood's top actors.

"Nice to meet you, Zoe. My cousin can be a douchebag sometimes, just try to live with it." He put his hands on my shoulder and I glared at him. "By the way, red lipstick looks great on you."

She was all shades of pink. "Thank you," she cooed. Well, it's not every day you get a compliment from one of Hollywood's top actors.

"Your new secretary is hot." He said with a knowing smile as he sat on my swivel chair when walked into my office.

"So?" I asked with raised brows. "And you're not allowed to sit there."

"Is that why you hired her?" He asked again.

"I don't find her attractive." I wanted to believe that I was saying the truth.

"Oh, that means I can shoot my shots then?"

"Clinton, leave my secretary out of your league of women and get your butt out of my chair." He raised his hands in surrender and got up. He walked to the window and stared far ahead.

The intercom buzzed. "Yes?"

"Oops, I'm sorry. I'm just excited that I'm pressing all the buttons."

"Zoe?" I called.

"Sir?"

"Stop playing around and get to work," I warned.

"Yes, sir." She ended the call and I shook my head. I turned to Clinton, "your parents are still filing for a divorce?"

He sighed and walked to the couch and sat down with his leg crossed. "Yeah. I don't understand why they want a divorce after so many years of being together."

Clinton and I practically grew up together. When I was younger, my parents would drop me off at his house on holidays or when they wanted to go for a vacation. Clinton was an elder brother to me and the only person I could call a sibling. His mum, who was my father's elder sister, had practically raised me as well and when mum died, she became a mother to me. Seeing a couple I considered my second parents getting a divorce after so many years of being together was disheartening.

"I'm sure they would sort things out," I told him.

He sighed and his face lit up immediately, "Rumors have it that you're dating a hot model, I can't remember her name. But she's hot though."

"They are just rumors. I just went out with her once and the pictures are everywhere."

"Well, you're Philip MacArthur, expect Paparazzi anywhere you go."

"I don't even like that much and she keeps bugging my phone."

I pressed the intercom button. "Zoe?"

"Yes, sir?"

"Have some flowers sent to Kenzie Winston and a touching note that I can't make it today."

"Okay, sir. But, sir, I have a question."

"Yes?"

"Who's Kenzie Winston?"

I sighed. Why did I hire this girl? "Zoe?" I called.

"Sir."

"Figure that out yourself." I ended the call.

Clinton shook his head and threw his head back in laughter.

************

Zoe

As soon as he ended the call, I looked up Kenzie Winston and found out she's a supermodel.

"If he wants me to clean up his mess for him, he should at least be nice about it," I muttered as I went through a flowerscatalog and placed an order.

My phone buzzed and it was a text from Amy.

Did you get the job? If yes, how's working for Philip MacArthur? Leave a text, can't talk now tho.

I replied to the text immediately and told her we should hang out on the weekend. I stared at my new office. I couldn't believe I finally got a job, more so, a job as a secretary for Philip MacArthur.

Mum must be proud of me in heaven, I thought.

Lunch break came in the blink of an eye. I knocked on Mr. Philip's door and heard a "come in."

"I'm going for my lunch break, sir," I informed him. He nodded and went back to his phone call. "She's hot though," I heard him say before I closed the door. I rolled my eyes. One thing I knew about Philip MacArthur from what I read about him on gossip blogs and tabloids was that he was a big-time heartbreaker and philanderer.

"Hey, are you the new secretary?"

"Yeah. I'm Zoe," I stretched out my hands for a handshake.

He took it with a smile. "Will and this is Dani," he pointed to the lady beside him.

She waved, "Hey, welcome," I outstretched my hand again but she reached for a hug. "Of all the secretaries he has ever had, you are the prettiest," she beamed.

"Thank you," I said genuinely. "I love your fro, by the way."

She patted her curls, "Thank you. I like you already."

"Come on, we were about to go for the lunch break, you can join us," Will offered.

"Sure, let me get my purse and my phone." I took my purse and phone from my table and turned to them, "let's go."

"I saw you go into Mr. MacArthur's private elevator this morning. " Will said when we were in the elevator and I nodded. "I thought you either had to be his sister or a very special lover because he never lets anyone use that," he said.

"Whatever you got on him, girl, it's working," Dani said and we all laughed. We got out of the elevator and they took me to a restaurant just two blocks away from the building.

We took a seat close to the window. "So, how's working for Philip MacArthur like these past few hours?" Will asked as he sipped his Cola.

"Well, nothing much has happened. Any survival tips?"

"I have one piece of advice for you girl, just get things done in time," Dani advised. "He hates lateness to work and everything. Also, get used to seeing women troop in and out of his office almost every day. If that man decides to open a church, it will be filled with women."

We burst into laughter. Dani was right though, everybody knew Philip MacArthur sure had a way with women. He was always seen with supermodels or actresses and then there are dating rumors and break-up rumors flying everywhere.

At that moment, I hoped I didn't join his league of women. I was going to keep it strictly work with him and ignore how breathtakingly handsome he was.