C7 First day at work

Ariana’s POV

I could feel the morning light streaming through the curtains. I groggily opened my eyes with a tired yawn, stretching my hands out to the bedside table while my fingers fumbled with my phone to check the time. Soon the phone came on as I glanced at the screen, my heart skipped a beat.

I squinted as I stared at the screen. It was 10:00 AM. Panic surged through me. I knew I didn’t know enough details about this job, but I knew I was very late.

With a jolt, I shot out of bed, the covers tangling around my legs as I stumbled toward the bathroom. I didn’t waste time in the shower as I took a quick shower. How I had overslept is beyond me, and what would Damien think? He might take this as an excuse to not give me the job.

The shower did a good job of wiping the remnants of sleep from my eyes. Soon, as I was dried enough, I put on my office wear, which was a black skirt and a purple top paired with some heels.

Without glancing at the mirror, I rushed out of my room and nearly collided with Mrs. Belle.

“Oh dear!” she exclaimed.

“I am so sorry. I hope you're okay,” I said as I held her from falling down.

“Oh, it's okay, dear. I am sure it was a mistake,” she replied and smiled at me. I snapped back to reality and took this chance to ask her.

“Is Mr. Damien in?" I blurted out.

"Oh dear, he left more than two hours ago," she replied. I could feel myself go still.

My eyes widened in shock. Two hours ago? That was a long time, and the bastard didn’t care to wake me up. I knew I was screwed, but I would give it a shot.

I pleaded with Belle to help me get to the driver, which she did. Soon, I was off to The Blacks Corporation, hoping that the bastard would not make a scene or react badly.

The driver dropped me at an imposing skyscraper with a large letter that read “The Blacks Corporation.” I could feel my pulse quicken as I strolled into the building.

As I arrived at the receptionist’s desk, the receptionist barely spared me a glance. She was typing away on her computer and ignored me as if I was invisible.

Clearing my throat, I tried again. "Excuse me, I'm here to see Mr. Damien," I said, the words coming out sharper than intended.

To my dismay, the receptionist let out a dismissive laugh.

"I'm sorry, ma'am, but Mr. Damien doesn't see visitors without an appointment," she said, her tone dripping with condescension.

She said this without looking up at me. She was a pretty blonde who could pass as an Instagram model.

I gritted my teeth, struggling to keep my temper in check. Who did she think she was, treating me like this?

Taking a deep breath, I forced myself to remain calm.

"Tell him it's his step-sister," I said through clenched teeth, the words tasting bitter on my tongue. "He's been expecting me." It was my first time calling Damien my stepbrother, and it didn’t feel right inside me.

The receptionist's eyes widened in surprise, her expression shifting from annoyance to uncertainty. With a sigh, she picked up the phone and made a call, her gaze flickering back to me as she listened to the voice on the other end.

After a tense moment, she turned back to me, her demeanor noticeably softer. "You can use the elevator," she said, gesturing towards the bank of lifts behind me.

Relief flooded through me as I turned and headed for the elevator. As soon as I got into the elevator, I breathed in. I didn’t know what he would do to me, but I hoped that he would give me a shot at this job.

As the elevator door opened, I stepped out and was greeted by an empty space, except for a man standing there in grim glasses, which reminded me of Harry Potter.

“Hi,” I greeted him as he gave me a small smile.

“Oh, you must be Ariana,” he responded.

“Yes, you got that right,” I responded with a small laugh.

“Come with me, the boss is waiting for you,” he said, and I nodded as I followed him. The place looked empty, unlike the ground floor, which was filled with so many people. The guy I was walking with must have caught me looking around, and he said,

“You must be wondering why there are empty offices. Well, the boss loves a quiet and peaceful environment and is more of a private person. Only his close staff sits up here with him,” he responded.

For the first time, I saw him smile since the conversation. I could tell he was obsessed with Damien just by the way he spoke about him.

“Forgive my manners, I am Leo,” he added, and I chuckled. Not because of his name, but I could tell he is clumsy, like who the hell forgets to introduce himself at the first meeting.

I nodded at his words, telling him how nice it was to meet him. Soon, we stopped by a large door, and I could tell this was Damien's office. Leo turned to look at me as he said,

“I know you are related, but Mr. Damien doesn’t joke with anything concerning work. Make sure you take this seriously. This is the most sought-after position in the city.” As soon as he said that, I knew I was lucky.

First, I lived in a million-dollar mansion, then I had a relationship with one of the most eligible bachelors on the planet, and now I would be getting a high-paying job. It seems like God just began favoring me all of a sudden.

As soon as Leo opened the door and stepped into the office, my head pounded like a drum in my chest. I was scared of what Damien would decide, but there was only one way to find out.

Before I could process another word, I stepped into the office after Leo. My eyes fell on Damien, who sat behind the desk, engrossed in a conversation on the phone.

I stopped at the front of his desk right next to Leo as we waited for him to be done with his call. Meanwhile, I took a moment to look around the office. My gaze fell upon a large window offering me a breathtaking view of the city below.

The office was well set and simple. I noticed a small bookshelf to the right and a couch on the left side of the office, which I presumed was for meetings. Damien lowered the phone from his ear, his eyes narrowed as they landed on me.

“Look who decides to show up for work,” he remarked, his tone dripping with disdain. I swallowed nervously, avoiding meeting his gaze as he tapped away on his desk. This jerk, I wish I could respond to him, but I don’t want to risk losing my one shot at this job,I needed it.

As I looked at him, I couldn’t tell if he wanted me to answer that. I observed that he was back to his usual outfit, a navy blue suit that hugged his frame and made him look handsome.

"Tell me, why should I hire you, Ariana ?" Damien's voice cut through the tense silence. My mind raced, scrambling for a convincing answer. Despite studying business management at university, I knew I lacked the experience and qualifications for the position. I was just here because my daddy wanted it.

Before I could respond, Damien turned to Leo. "Show her to her desk and educate her on what needs to be done in this office," he commanded, returning his attention to his laptop. Leo nodded, gesturing for me to follow him.

We crossed the office to another room opposite Damien's. The space was inviting, with a desk, chair, and couch arranged neatly. It was equipped with everything I could possibly need to do this.

"So, this will be your office," Leo explained, a hint of pride in his voice. "As you know, the boss's office is opposite yours, and mine is just beside yours."

“Thank you, I really appreciate this. What would I be doing?” I asked.

“Oh, it’s simple. You are to answer business calls and tend personally to the boss's needs. All other information will be handed down to you later,” he said, and I nodded.

As he turned to leave, he turned back and said to me,

“Oh, Ariana ?”

“Yes,” I answered.

“Remember, don’t bring anyone to this floor and stick to the rules to avoid being fired,” he said, and I nodded as he walked out.

Feeling bored, I brought out my phone and began chatting with my friends from home as they asked me how I was coping.

Soon enough, I heard the telephone ring. I dropped my phone as I picked up the call.

“Yes, this is the office of Blacks Corporation,” I answered, unsure if I said it right.

“Bring me a coffee,” the voice said, which I came to know was Damien's voice, and before I could respond, he cut the call.

I sighed as I rose from the office. Where the hell was I going to get a coffee from? I guess I would just ask Leo on my way out.

Soon as I stepped out of the office, I tried looking for Leo, but I couldn’t find him. Taking the lift, I arrived at the second floor.

I stepped out of the elevator. I didn’t know where around here I could get a coffee, so my only option would be to ask anyone around. My eyes fell on the first person I saw, a girl with a friendly smile, and I knew I had to ask her.

“Excuse me, do you know where I can buy a cold coffee around here?” I asked her as she turned to face me.

“Sure, just go right across the road to the café,” she replied, pointing me in the right direction.

Thanking her, I hurried out of the building to get to the café. Soon, I found myself in the café and quickly approached the counter, where the waitress greeted me with a warm smile.

“What can I get for you?” She asked.

“I’ll have a coffee, please,” I replied.

“Okay, dear. Would you like sugar?” She asked. I didn’t know if Damien likes his coffee with sugar, but what harm would it do anyway?

“Sugar, please,” I replied as the waitress prepared the coffee and I snatched it up before rushing back to the office building.

Just as I reached the lift, a young brunette intercepted me. "Sorry, that lift is reserved for the boss. You'll have to use the other one," she said, pointing to the adjacent lift.

I sighed inwardly but complied, stepping into the crowded lift. I waited patiently as it stopped at each floor, the other workers stepping off until it was finally just me, destined for the top floor where Damien's office was located.

Stepping off the lift, I hurried down the corridor. Knocking on Damien's office door, I waited for his permission before stepping inside.

Damien was seated behind his desk, his fingers flying across the keyboard of his laptop. I approached him and placed the coffee on his desk, a sense of relief washing over me.

"What took you so long? Hope you didn't masturbate on the way," Damien said, his voice laced with amusement. I froze at his words. I knew he was really going to taunt me with that for as long as he could.

I forced a smile, suppressing the urge to roll my eyes. I didn’t want to answer him because it wouldn’t be pleasant.

He reached for the coffee and took a sip, his expression shifting slightly. "What's this? Did you add sugar?" he asked, his tone suddenly harsh.

Confusion swirled inside me as I tried to process his reaction. "Yes, I thought you might like it sweet," I stammered, feeling a knot of anxiety forming in my stomach.

Damien's glare intensified, sending a shiver down my spine. "Take this out and dump it in the nearest bin. And get me a proper coffee, without sugar," he commanded, his voice cutting through the air like a knife.

Without a word of argument, I snatched up the coffee and hurried out of the office. That jerk, and now I have to walk all over across the street for coffee again.

Soon as I got there, I got a coffee without sugar, as I rushed back again to give it to him. Soon as I walked into the office, I could see that he was standing by the window with his phone to his ear.

I placed the coffee on the table and hurriedly walked out of the office. Soon as I got into my office, I breathed a sigh of relief as I sank into my chair.

Just as I was about to pick up my phone.

“Ariana !!!!” I heard as Damien screamed out my name. At that moment, it felt like my heart was leaping out of my chest.

Rushing out of my office, I ran to Damien's office without caring to knock.

Soon as I opened the door, I could see Damien breathing hard. He stared at me with so much anger.

“You insolent girl,” he snapped at me. All I could think of was what I had done wrong.