Chapter Text
It was a normal day to say the least. My boss, aka the CEO, was absent again, and only God knows where he is. I'm supposed to actually go with him wherever he wanders off to, but he forbade me from doing so because I nag him a lot, even though I AM HIS SECRETARY.
It's fine. It's not like it's definitely not making things 100% harder for me.
I was being sarcastic. Everything was more than a hundred times worse.
Every day, this man does not even do anything remotely related to his position as CEO. He just enjoys the benefit of owning a company and being extremely rich, and yet does nothing to deserve it all. But why am I complaining? This is like every corrupt person in power ever, so who am I kidding, really? But like, his family is out here tearing each other apart, all desperate to steal his position. And yet somehow, he is still favored by the chairman, aka his granpops. HE DOESN'T EVEN DO ANYTHING!
I keep working triple time just to meet the demands. He keeps rescheduling and rejecting paperwork like it's nothing, and I am forced to work around deadlines to the point I ended up pretending to be him about 80% of the time just to get work done. I even mastered forging his signature, made gloves with his full handprints and fingerprints, and even had contact lenses that replicated his eye, just so I won't have to go through hell and back when I need them during security checks and signings. Technology has been improving like crazy, and I won't be surprised if they start making tongue print scanners next. I am going to suffer if that happens because only God knows how to get that man's tongue print.
Honestly, this is all so unfair. When the CEO's older brother used to run the company, I actually had a job and what not. I scheduled his time, made sure to comply with all the communications, set up any travels, and basically supported the guy on the administrative tasks like a true secretary of a CEO. Sure, the guy was some power-hungry jerk that wanted nothing but control over the company, but at least he was actually competent and did his end of the job. THE CURRENT CEO, ON THE OTHER HAND, IS BARELY HERE 24/7.
I might as well be running this show because every time he is actually here, he doesn't even pay attention when I tell him about the current updates going on in his own company. It's like his mind is elsewhere. I don't get it. If he didn't want to work this much, he shouldn't have dethroned his brother from the position. At least the other guy actually did something.
Sigh. Complaining this much won't get my job done, but it is so frustrating that sometimes I just can't help but rant. I missed out on so much in life because of this job. I don't even date or travel, but I can't even think about those things even if I wanted to. This job has me in a chokehold, and that's already a lot coming from me, who is a dedicated workaholic. But what can I do? I can't just suddenly quit; I need the money, and in this economy, I'd rather suffer in this job than go back to the job-hunting market. If only there were a miracle.
° ° °
Today was the day I finished the remaining paperwork that the boss had ignored for a month. These were crucial documents that needed to be reviewed as soon as possible, yet it had been four weeks since they came in. The CEO had not even batted an eye at these documents. And yet some of these were investment contracts, budget plans, and even his own salary increase. I don't get how this guy is getting salary increases when he barely does his own job. If anything, I should be the one getting the salary increase, or better yet, the actual position itself. Because at this point, I am practically the acting CEO.
I sat down on my creaky old chair as I reviewed the documents one by one. It's crazy to think this guy has so much power to delay important paperwork such as this.
I took a sip from the coffee I ordered for the boss. It was really good. It was the kind of stuff not even my full salary could afford.
At least one of the very few benefits of him not showing up to work is the free snacks and meals I get to eat. Every single day, someone sends him food and gifts. And with him not around, I am pretty much the only person who gets to enjoy the food, save for the occasional bodyguard who monitors the office. We both share the goods. It's not like we stole them either. He basically told me to have them.
"I don't care what you do with those, just get rid of them."
Was what he said to me every time I let him know when there is food being sent. He did say he didn't care, and the food would just be wasted if nobody eats them.
We don't touch the gifts, though, unless he specifically tells me to dispose of them. Luckily for me, his many ex-girlfriends do relentlessly send these gifts, and the boss basically tells me to have them.
"I don't care what you do with those. I want nothing to do with that thing or the one who sent it."
Was what he said to me every time I informed him of the packages.
I hate the guy, but he is still my boss. So to save his dignity, I do send some of the more valuable gifts back on his behalf, just so it would not give those women any crazy ideas. I do keep what I like to call 'rich people trash'. Like this nice-looking glass pen that I have been using for over three years now. I got it from one of the gifts that was sent to the CEO from a stationery company that was owned by one of his ex-girlfriends.
Anywho, I was reviewing the paperwork meticulously to avoid mistakes that could cause immense amounts of trouble. It was going fine at first until the door of the lobby suddenly burst open, and lo and behold, the CEO appeared, and he was somewhat... growling? The guy was crazy tall, and he was looking extra scary today.
"Cancel all my plans for the day."
He spoke with his extremely deep voice. When he suddenly spoke to me, it nearly scared the soul out of my body as I nodded to him before he went inside his office. I then looked down to see that my hands were shaking. I hate the guy, but when he is like this, I can't help but freak out. What if he found out I secretly ate the exclusive pig wellington that was sent to him by the Gordianna Goatsay herself? But then again, it could be unlikely because when I informed him of the meal, he just told me again to get rid of it.
Yes, this guy is THAT crazy to reject the Gordianna Goatsay's signature Pig Wellington. If I were as rich as he, I would still be super grateful.
° ° °
I took out the scheduling binder and checked on today's supposed schedule. It was packed as usual with the important board meetings, reviews, and planning, etc. I was about to cancel the whole list when I noticed there was a dinner meeting scheduled at 7 PM. I checked the large clock that was hanging across me and it was still 1:44 PM. Maybe I should just double-check with the boss in case he might still show up to this meeting since it was during after office hours.
I placed down the binder and reached out to press the intercom button when the door suddenly opened, and this gray mannequin-looking humanoid approached me.
"Uhm, excuse me." The creature spoke to me in such a high-pitched voice that my ears were ringing. "I need to see the CEO."
I just sat there stunned. This alien was looking for the boss. He must have been travelling to outer space. That explains his absences quite a lot now.
"Well, uhm, do you have an appointment... er uhm... miss?" Not to be sexist or anything, but I could not tell what gender the thing was, but judging from the conventionally attractive feminine face it got, and the huge, bouncy assets that were barely covered by her skimpy clothing, I could somehow make out that this was some kind of woman.
"Oh, I am just here for personal matters. Can't I just see him now?"
For some reason, this thing was starting to irritate me. But alas, I must be cordial no matter what.
"I understand, however, I am sorry, miss. You need to have an appointment to enter the CEO's offi-"
"Y/N..."
Y/N? Was that the name of this bald, gray humanoid alien? Plus, I had no idea the boss's voice could get much deeper than it already was because his sudden interruption sent a strong, uncomfortable chill down my spine.
"CEO..."
I could have sworn the thing's eyes suddenly grew larger and sparkled like those anime irises.
"Grrr..."
Did the guy just-
"Come here."
I wish I had not seen what I just saw, but I did, and the CEO basically grabbed Y/N and pushed her against the wall kabedon style.
"Ahh~ CEO-senpai-kun, there are people here..."
What on earth am I hearing???!????
"Why are you thinking of others when you should be focusing on me, grrr."
For some reason, I felt like I needed to get out of here, but I could not peel my eyes off from what was happening before me.
"Grrr... Did you walk around in public looking like that?"
"Is there something wrong with my outfit, CEO-senpai-sama-kun?"
I should leave. This feels violating to watch.
"Only I should be the one who gets to see you looking like this. Grrr. You are only mine."
"I-I am sorry, it's just... You were so mad when I started working, and it made me upset, so I- Ahh!"
Goodness gracious, he placed a hand on her neck.
"You what, baby girl? Grrrr."
"I-I... I wanted to tease you so badly and get back at you..."
Can't they have done that somewhere else? I wanted to leave so bad, but for some reason, the cringe, the second hand embarassment, and the slight concern I had for whatever was about to happen were keeping me frozen in place.
"Grrr, if you wanted a job, you should have come to me. Grrr."
"I-I'm sorry. I came to see you, didn't I, CEO-daddy-oppah?
"But you didn't get inside. You only made me wait. Grrrrrrr."
"B-because I needed an appointment."
Uh oh.
"Who said you needed an appointment?"
Uh oh.
Y/N pointed at me, and the CEO immediately shot me a horrifying glare.
"You."
The guy was now looking at me menacingly, and I didn't realize I was already shaking.
"Why didn't you let Y/N in?"
I am so dead.
"S-sir, I apologize. I d-didn't-"
The man was slowly approaching me like a lion ready to devour his prey and I saw my life flash before my eyes.
SLAM!
The man slammed his fist on my desk, and the impact was so strong that it shattered the glass pen and sent all the paperwork flying in the air.
"You're fired. Get. Out."
My hands were shaking more than ever. Facing this ridiculously tall man was horrifying, but just like an obedient dog, I immediately rushed towards the door and practically ran out from the top floor, broke a heel, stumbled down the stairs, and limped all the way to the ground main entrance. I immediately hailed a cab, and just right before I was about to get inside, I realized I had left my belongings.
AND I DID NOT WANT TO GO BACK.
But I had no choice. I needed my wallet and phone. Plus, it was my mom's birthday today. I already bought her a gift, and I had conveniently left it on my desk. It was an expensive Bior necklace that she always wanted, and I did not have the money to buy it again.
And so I went back. My legs were burning, and I basically walked barefoot while looking disheveled all the way back to the top floor to retrieve my things. And just when I was about to reach for the door, I heard faint noises.
"CEO-senpai-kun-sama-daddy-oppah~ please be gentle, kyaaaaa~!"
"GRRRRR."
WHAT WAS GOING ON IN THERE?! I COULD HAVE SWORN I HEARD STRANGE NOISES AND CLAP-
"You came back, Katrina, dear. And my! You look like a mess."
I looked over to the side and saw the top-floor senior janitress, Mrs. Lena. She had her usual sweet expression, which somehow brought peace into my mind for a split second before Y/N's high-pitched voice brought me back to reality.
"KYAAAA~"
Just WHAT ON EARTH are they doing in there?!
"Oh, dear. They seem to be quite busy inside. Did you leave something behind?" Mrs. Lena asked with the most sweetest smile I had ever seen from an old lady.
"Yes..." I replied, trying my best to reciprocate her smile.
"Dear, you shouldn't smile when you look like that, people might think you just escaped from an asylum."
I was speechless. But then she held up a metal tray and showed me my reflection. And there before me was the Jester's long-lost sister, smiling like a maniac. Mrs. Lena had a point there.
"Sorry." I immediately dropped my smile. "I left my bag and phone there. I also had this Bior paper bag on the desk."
"I can retrieve those for you."
"Are you sure, I don't wish to be a bother-"
"Grrrrrr."
"On second thought, alright, go ahead." I moved aside as Mrs. Lena went in.
May God protect the woman from whatever horror was going on in there.
I sat down by the huge snake plant as I waited for Mrs. Lena to return. I could not estimate how long she was in there, but it likely took her more than ten minutes before the door finally opened and she emerged.
"Here you go." Mrs. Lena held out my bag. "Pray tell, was the item inside the Bior bag a necklace, perhaps?"
"Y-yes... why do you ask?" I skeptically asked as I accepted the bag.
"I see." Mrs. Lena glanced at the door for a moment before looking back at me. "You should just forget about it. I think the boss mistook it for one of those gifts that get sent here frequently."
I felt like my world just dimmed. That necklace costed me a fortune... No... this was karma for all the times I took advantage of the CEO's abandoned gifts...
"I saw it hanging from Y/N'S neck as the CEO relentlessly p-"
"O-OKAY! I get it."
I did not want to know the rest of what she was about to say. I am just glad to have my bag at the very least. I have no idea how this lady survived getting inside there, and frankly, I don't want to know either.
"Thank you, Mrs. Lena. I appreciate your help a lot." I bowed deeply to express my thanks despite my head just screaming nonstop in anguish over the necklace.
"It was nothing, dear. It was better I went inside, considering Y/N and the CEO were-"
"I must be going now! Thank you so much, Mrs. Lena!" I quickly left after one last quick bow.
As I exited, I left the building devastated at the loss of both my only source of income and my mother's supposed birthday gift that was disgustingly defiled.
What did I do to deserve this?