“Come on in,” I heard Lauren’s calm voice call out to me through the door.
I entered the room, closing the door carefully behind me. Lauren immediately gestured for me to take the seat opposite her. I nodded and did as I was beckoned while offering her a professional smile.
“Hi Karina. I hope I haven’t been keeping you too busy these days,” Lauren greeted me with a smile.
“It’s always a pleasure working on all the projects that you’ve assigned to me,” I replied honestly. Lauren was a good supervisor and she cared deeply about the development of the people in her team.
“I see. Well, this might seem a little sudden but…as of today, we have decided to transfer you to the CEO’s office,” Lauren stated in with a bright smile.
“Sorry? I mean, excuse me?” I replied in shock, unable to hide my confusion.
The CEO’s office was a team that comprises of selected individuals from various departments that would work directly with the CEO. Naturally, only the top talent from each department is selected to join the team and they work on strategically important projects for high-profile clients. The team only consists of a handful of people but are able to deliver top performance for the company, and naturally, the leader of such a team is none other than the Devil CEO himself.
Now, she’s saying that I will be joining that team?!
“You didn’t mishear, Karina. I received the official transfer papers this morning and it clearly states that as of today, you are to transfer to the CEO’s office where you will be working directly for the CEO. Isn’t this great? This is almost like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Lauren repeated herself more clearly this time while handing me a sheet of paper that contained the official transfer letter.
I felt myself feeling dizzy as my eyes started to lose focus from the shock.
“What role will I have in the new team?” I asked the most reasonable question I could come up with.
“That is up to the CEO. I’ve heard that the same person can take on different roles when working on different projects. The joy of learning cross-functional work, you know…” Lauren stated proudly.
I felt my mouth hang open. Me? I’m moving to the CEO’s personal team?
“Wait. I work in design, and I’ve done some production here and there but…I’m not sure that I qualify for such an opportunity…” I protested although my voice sounded weak even to my own ears.
It was going to be challenging enough for me to join the superstar team, I doubt I even had the skill for it. However, working directly with the Devil CEO brought a long throng of other issues. I never thought I would meet the CEO again let alone work as his secretary. He just kissed me on the roof top too!
Why can’t I get that kiss out of my head? Arghhh!
“The CEO has specifically requested for you. Apparently, this is a new role he deemed necessary to make future projects more successful. I honestly don’t know why you’re so hesitant about this. Other people would be jumping up and down with joy right around now. It’s going to be a challenge but you were always up for challenges, right? You’ll learn a lot and I assure that this position will take you much closer to your dreams,” Lauren said as her eyes looked at me earnestly.
I could feel that she truly believed that this opportunity was the right one to assist my professional development. A part of me believed that to be true too, but there were other issues that I couldn’t exactly tell her about.
“Can I think this over…?” I tried my best to negotiate. The atmosphere in the room and the tough look on Lauren’s face told me that it was not an option to decline.
“You can do the thinking after you’ve had a talk with the CEO. He wants you in his office in precisely five minutes,” Lauren said with a grin as she looked at her wristwatch.
Huh?! I have to meet Ace in f-five minutes?
“Ok…” was all I managed to say in a whisper.
Internally, I wasn’t feeling ‘ok’ with any of this at all.
…
How did I end up here?!
I stood in front of a large dark brown wooden door with the silver metallic letters spelling out ‘CEO Office’. Behind this door is Ace’s work room and the man himself. I gulped as I closed my eyes to control my nerves and to stop my legs from shaking.
Recalling our first and last encounter on the rooftop, I could help having a sense of dread. He didn’t call me here regarding that event, did he?
Well, unfortunately, there’s only one way to find out.
**Knock Knock**
“Hello, Sir. This is Karina here,” I called out in a soft voice after knocking softly on his door. I was surprised at how normal and professional my voice managed to sound even when I was trembling and so nervous inside.
“Come in,” Ace replied curtly.
This is it. My future at this company is hanging by a thread right now…
“Good morning, Sir,” I greeted him politely when I entered his office, closing the door softly behind me. His two bodyguards moved to station themselves right outside his door.
The tension in the atmosphere is driving me crazy and for some reason Ace has not said a word. What do I do? Do I sit?
I stood there in the middle of his room hesitantly as I shuffled from one foot to the other. The fact that he had not said a word since I arrived here made me feel more nervous than ever before. I wondered for the hundredth time why he had called me here. There was no logical reason why the CEO of such a large company would have anything to talk to me about. His hazel brown eyes settled on me and I felt even more uncomfortable. His eyes travelled up from my chest to the top of my head before returning to my chest and then descending down until it reached my feet before making its way up again to my face. The atmosphere felt very tense and suddenly I felt very cold.
--To be continued…
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