Chapter 2
At 7:30 AM, I stood outside Kevin Group building with dark circles under my eyes. I was holding that 65-degree coffee.
I let out a long sigh, braced myself, and walked in.
As I watched the elevator numbers tick upward, my heart was pounding right along with them.
Finally, the 28th floor arrived. The moment the doors opened, I couldn't help but run through all the ways I might meet my end in the next few minutes.
The receptionist, a fresh graduate, shot me a sympathetic look as soon as she saw me.
She said, "Athena, Mr. Carter came in super early today, like 7 AM. But... he didn't look too happy. Just be careful."
Great, he was obviously got it out for me. That bastard.
I gritted my teeth and knocked on the office door with "Chairman" written across it.
"Come in," came a voice from inside, totally flat and emotionless.
I took a deep breath, steeling myself, and pushed the door open.
Kevin's office was huge, with floor-to-ceiling windows showing off the busiest part of Hillcrest City.
He was sitting behind his desk. He wore a dark gray shirt, the sleeves rolled up to his forearms, showing off arms that were all muscle and power.
Ugh, for a bastard, he was annoyingly fit.
I walked up to his desk, set the coffee down, and said carefully, "Mr. Carter, here's your coffee. It's 65 degrees, like you wanted."
After about ten seconds, Kevin finally looked up. "Athena, aren't you going to say something to me?"
He turned his phone around so the screen was facing me.
There were all the messages I'd sent him after I finished. Not a single word was missing.
The most savage part was he'd actually singled out the word "bastard"—quoted it right there in the chat, with a tiny question mark next to it.
I was so embarrassed, I wished I could scrape a whole apartment out of the floor with my toes.
"Mr. Carter, this is... uh... a misunderstanding," I stammered, trying to steady my shaking body. "Those messages were meant for my bestie. I had no idea they'd go to you. I'm so, so sorry."
"So..." Kevin quietly took his phone back. "You really meant all that?"
"No, no... those were just me venting to my bestie. You know how girls talk, it's not serious. Mr. Carter, you're way too big-hearted to care about something like this, right?" I replied.
Honestly, even I didn't buy my own excuse.
Kevin didn't say a word. He slowly stood up and walked around his desk until he was standing right in front of me.
He was so tall that I had to crane my neck just to look up at his face.
Damn, that face was ridiculously handsome. I quickly shook my head. Don't even go there, Athena.
This was Mr. Carter. Everyone in the city knew he was always got that "keep your distance" vibe around women.
"You had to revise the proposal seven times. Did you feel put out?" Kevin asked.
"Of course not, really," I replied in a hurry.
"I made you book a flight in the middle of the night. Were you upset about that?" he pressed.
"Oh, Mr. Carter, how could I possibly be upset with you?" I replied.
"And when I asked for a specific temperature for my coffee, you called me a bastard?" he pressed.
I didn't dare say a word.
Kevin took a step forward, and without thinking, I stepped back.
Just like that, I kept backing up until my back bumped into the cabinet. Nowhere left to go.
He lowered his head slightly, staring right at me. "Scared?"
He was so close, I could practically smell the signature woody scent of his Hermès cologne.
"Athena, are you aware that you're my secretary?" he asked, his voice low.
"I know," I mumbled.
"So, what exactly does a secretary do?" Kevin asked, not letting up.
I replied, "Help with your daily stuff, set up your appointments, organize files, pass on your orders..."
"Anything else?" He wasn't letting me off the hook.
I blanked out for a moment.
He answered for me. "And to show up whenever I need you."
That sounded kinda off. But I didn't have time to dwell on it. What he said next totally crushed me.
"You're moving your desk into my office starting today," Kevin said.
"Wait, what?" I blurted out.
"Move your desk into my office," he repeated. "That desk outside is way too far. It's too much trouble to call you in every time I need something."
"Wait, Mr. Carter, hear me out, that place..." I stammered.
"Didn't you say... I treat you like a beast of burden?" He tilted his head a little.
Damn, he looked good from this angle.
"Let me show you what being a real workhorse is all about," Kevin said firmly.
I opened my mouth, but couldn't get a single word out.
"And..." He walked back to his desk, leaned casually against the edge. "Take that proposal to round eight."
"Why? Didn't you say it was fine yesterday?" I blurted out.
"It was good..." He crossed his arms, a sly smile playing at his lips. "But someone called me a control freak. So I guess I have to live up to that, don't you think, Athena?"
I hated that. I hated that I couldn't keep my mouth shut.
Why did I have to mess up and send the wrong message? And now, that bastard was totally taking it out on me, because he can.
"Any more questions?" Kevin asked, turning back to me when I stayed silent for a while.
"N-nom" I replied.
"Alright, then. Go grab your stuff and pick a spot in my office. Get comfy, you're officially my workhorse now," he said.
Seriously, screw you!
Now I was supposed to settle in and be his workhorse? Great, he could order me around even more easily.
I couldn't even complain about him out loud anymore.
So I'd have to roast him in my head from now on. Seriously, this jerk was the absolute worst.
With a little huff in my head, I turned and got ready to pack up my things.
As I reached the door, Kevin called out, "You were right about the coffee."
"What?" I blurted out.
"I really can taste the temperature," Kevin said flatly.
What was this bastard trying to say now? Was he nitpicking the coffee temperature again?
No way. I even brought a thermometer today and double-checked it was exactly 65 degrees.
He was trying to mess with me. I was not buying it.
It took me half an hour to move my desk into Kevin's office.
Everyone in the office was staring at me, with all kinds of expressions on their faces.
Some were shaking their heads and sighing, some were clearly getting a kick out of my misfortune, and a few looked like they still held a grudge against me.
But honestly, I had to suck it up. If that bastard wanted me here, what could I do? I was his designated workhorse now.
Sitting at my new desk, I glared at the half-dead succulent in front of me, practically grinding my teeth in annoyance.
This wasn't even a real desk. It was basically glued to his left side. Kevin didn't even have to look up to keep tabs on everything I did.
And what was with this crappy computer? Why was the screen turned so he could see every single thing I was doing?
At least when my desk was outside, with a hallway and a glass door between us, I could sneak in a text or complain about him without getting caught.
Now? All he had to do was glance over and he'd know exactly who I was chatting with and what I was typing.
"Americano, no sugar, 65 degrees. And bring me a glass of orange juice, make it warm, 43 degrees," Kevin ordered.
I stood up, ready to go, but suddenly froze. Wait, what?
Orange juice? Since when did he want that? Wait, wasn't that my favorite?
"What, are you thinking of going somewhere other than those three shops?" Kevin asked.
"No, no, I'm on it," I replied quickly.
As I stepped out, I kept turning it over in my mind. Why did he suddenly want orange juice? Could he actually have ordered it for me? No way... right?
I shook my head, trying to clear the thought. No way. This devil wouldn't know what I like if it hit him in the face.
He must be tired of coffee and wants to try something different. Yeah, that was definitely it.
With that thought in mind, I squared my shoulders and walked out of the office.