"Promoted?" Cindy asked confused. They were standing in the middle of the dimly lit hall. Much of the people had left the office and the top floor was empty as always, having only two offices, the CEO and the PA's, covering the entire floor. "I'm sorry Mr. Thorn, I'm not getting you."
"Cindy." Xavier breathed out, walking into her office and taking a seat. Cindy followed Xavier inside, sitting down in front of him with confusion overflowing her mind. "Look, I need someone that is capable of handling everything we need done in Toronto. And after interviewing all of the people today, and after seeing you work alongside me for the past months, I think you've got it in you."
"But......" Cindy trailed off, her mind jumbled in a hurricane of different thoughts.
"There is no one more qualified in our company to handle the Managing Director position, better than you. You are so natural with the way you work, you're organized, and you're efficient. You handle most of the matters yourself and you don't come up to me every two minutes to ask me questions."
"You're offering me this job? I don't know what to say...."
A sign escaped Xavier's lips and he leaned back in his chair, crossing one of his legs on the other. "I know it's a lot to take in right now. But I also know that you're a hard worker and you'd be able to handle this." Xavier reassured. Like always his voice was full of confidence, enough to make anyone believe anything that left his mouth.
"Managing Director of Thorn Inc, Toronto. I can't even imagine it." Cindy said, testing out the position on her tongue. "But that would require me to move to Canada right?" She said, thinking out loud.
Xavier nodded, taking a deep breath. "Yes. A part of this job would definitely involve you moving out of the States and into Toronto. I know it's a big move and you've got plenty of time to think about it. But I'd love for you to consider the position. It's a great boost in your personal career as well."
As Xavier took time in explaining the clauses of the position, Cindy absorbed the information in her brain. It would be a crazy change in her lifestyle for sure.
"I'd have to start afresh in Toronto won't I? I'm not sure I have the financial abilibies to do that." Cindy let out. Of course this would be huge for her career, but she wasn't so sure she'd be able to start from square one all over again. She's faced many struggles to even maintain her current job, especially due to the incident with John Axel.
"As you know, Thorn Inc does provide living arrangements for all of our employees. You wouldn't have to worry about a thing. The company will provide you with an apartment as well as a car. The position will easily add a $1000 boost to your preexisting salary and you will also be entitled to a one month paid vacation as per request."
Once more, Cindy paused, allowing the thoughts to be processed into her mind. "The promotion is undeniably amazing and I'd love to take it. But....I-I would have to think over it. I have family here and that really affects my decision."
A reassuring smile appeared on Xavier's face. "As I said before, you may think about it for as long as you need to. You do have first priority over the other applicants. As soon as you've made your decision, notify me so the company can begin the preparation and accommodations that will be required for the promotion."
"Thank you so much Mr. Thorn." Cindy said in gratitude. "This....this is quiet the surprise. I can't believe you even consider me qualified to take up such a significant position."
"Your work speaks for itself Cindy, and I must say you've impressed me over the time I've had you as a PA. Disregarding the couple double-bookings you've done, of course." Xavier said, letting out a chuckle.
Suddenly, a thought clicked. "But Sir, if I end up taking this job then who will be your PA?"
An emotion flickered in Xavier's eyes at the question. "You do not have to worry a bit about that, I have everything under control. For now, just focus on what you want to do. There is no pressure nor rush in your descsion, but do think twice before you make a choice."
"I will Mr. Thorn." Cindy said nodding.
"Great. I should head out now." Xavier stood up, dusting off his pants and approaching the door.
"Thanks again for the offer." Cindy replied, still stuck in a daze from the conversation.
"Thank you." Xavier mumbled, a smirk plastered on his face as he walked out the door, signaling Jordon to get the car ready.
* * *
"Gosh! Last night was wild!" Mike said, tossing his jacket on the floor and throw his shoes off. They had just finished their shift at the cafe at arrived home together.
"I'm sure it was. A couple for boys out on a road trip? That screams wild to me!" Raine said laughing as she picking up Mike's mess and arranged his shoes properly on the side before hanging his jacket on the coat hanger.
"Sorry." Mike said, rubbing the back of his neck with a guilty expression on his face as he watched Raine clean up after him.
Raine laughing before shaking her head. "That's alright."
They both hopped onto the couch, Mike grabbing the TV remote while Raine grabbed a blanket.
"So what were you up to yesterday?" Mike asked, flipping through the channels.
"Nothing much. I actually ended up inviting Xavier over for dinner." Raine said. "Sorry, I didn't ask. I probably should've."
"Raine, you can invite whoever you want." Mike said, adding a sincere smile. "This is your home now."
"I have to move out someday." Raine said, looking down at her fingers and playing with the ring that always graced her thumb.
"But as long as you're here, it's your's just as much as it is mine." Mike scooted closer to her, giving her a warm hug.
A smile crept up onto Raine's face. "You're the best."
"Of course I am! But our stupid boss can't seem to see that." Mike said, rolling his eyes and earning a hearty laugh from Raine.
"You mean Daisy?" She asked in a cheeky voice.
Mike rubbed his hands over his face before breathing out loud. "God, I've never tried so hard in my life to get a girl! I don't know what her problem is!" He said, throwing his hands up in the air with frustration.
"Maybe it's not you." Raine gently said, landing her hand on his shoulder.
"Oh come one. Don't be the one to give me that cliché lecture, please Raine." He groaned, covering his face with one of the pillows.
"I'm serious Mike. And please, she already told me she wants to focus on her mom. You know how much she loves Cathy."
"Yeah but I could help her too." And that was the truth. All Mike wanted to do was help. He wanted to win her heart but how was that even possible with the thick walls Daisy had built around her heart. "It's so weird. Some days, we're so close. She talks to me, she laughs, she smiles and all of that makes me fall for her even more. And then other days......she closes me out."
"Just give her some time. She has a lot to deal with right now and sometimes it's better to deal with these things on your own. I'm not saying you shouldn't stay by her side or try to help. But you should give her the space she needs. You know Cathy's health hasn't been the best, and......and I feel that maybe letting her deal with this on her own is the best. Once she ready to take on something more, she'll come to you. She knows where to find you anyways."
Mike nodded in agreement. After all, waiting was all he could do since leaving Daisy wasn't a option. He liked her far too much to give up on her. Especially when he knew they'd see each other every day at work.
"You tell me, how was dinner with your beloved Xavier Thorn?" Mike asked with amusement. "Was my apartment up to his status?"
The sweet sound of Raine's laughter resounded through the room. "You're impossible! And for your information, he loved it." She said, a subtle blush growing of her face.
"Really? I'm surprised he loved it." He said, sounding shocked. "I'm sure he lives in a palace of his own."
"I don't know about palace, but a mansion for sure."
"Oh yeah, you've been." Mike said smirking.
Raine nodded proudly. "I have and it's gorgeous."
"He's putting the billions he makes, into good use, I suppose."
"Well he works hard so he deserves it." The smile on her face and a mysterious glow in her eyes was enough to speak for itself. She found herself in a daze of Xavier's thoughts. He has a power that came with him. A power to control her feelings, to make her heart beat faster, to make her feel warmer inside, and to make her cheeks rosy without ever applying blush.
"You like him." Mike stated, his eyes trained on Raine and his voice concrete and precise.
"What?!" Raine said shocked. Her eyes widened and her body grew stiff as if she was caught stealing a cookie out of the cookie jar.
"You like him, Raine." He stated once more.
"N-no!" She stuttered. Although the thought hadn't ever crossed her mind, her answer seemed natural yet hesitant.
"So you hate him?" Mike questioned with amusement.
"NO!" She said almost immediately.
"Then?"
The sudden question had Raine overwhelmed with new found emotions. Her thoughts jumbled in her mind as she tried to put her feeling to words. "I mean...I.....well I just met him.....I don't even know much about him...."
"So?" Mike asked, his voice gentle.
"I....don't know. And plus, like I said before, I've got bigger problems to worry about." Raine said sighing.
"You, Daisy, and your problems. I mean, you girls are so freaking complicated." Mike said groaning.
Raine narrowed her eyes, glaring at Mike. "Excuse me! You men are a million times more complicated! And if that's not enough, you're also stupid!"
"Oh yeah? How so? If we like a girl, we simply walk up to her and ask her out." Mike refuted. "At least we don't stalk them for a months on Facebook before getting the guts to go up to them." He added, rolling his eyes.
"Oh please. I never stalk anyone." Raine waved off.
"Lies!"
"Hey!" Raine whining. "I'm not even lying."
"Really? Then prove it." Mike said smirking.
"How?"
Putting his hands together, Mike rubbed them together with a mischievous grin on his face. "In a game I'd like to call Truth or Truther."
"Fine. Game on!" She responded, trying to muster up her best game face.
Mike folded his legs together, crisscross-applesauce, ready for Raine. "Question number uno: Have you searched for Xavier on Facebook or even better, sent him a friend request?"
"Nope." Raine said shrugging, and innocent smile playing on her pink lips.
"You're lying."
"You wish!" Raine said with a smug look. "Mikey, Xavier's not even on Facebook."
"Dang it." Mike muttered."On Instagram? Have you stalked him on Insta yet?"
"Not on there either!" She giggled, obviously enjoying the game more than she'd expected to.
Mike remained silent for a couple of seconds, thinking for the perfect comeback. It didn't take long before Raine saw a huge grin grow on his face. "How do you know?" He asked in a sassy tone. "This means you've searched him up!"
"Maybe" Raine said, her cheeks painted the perfect hue of pinkish red.
"Ah ha!" Mike said, a victorious smile plastered on his face. "Now for lucky question number two! On google?"
"What?" She asked confused.
"You've googled him." He stated, not even bothering to ask.
Mike didn't even need to hear a response from Raine to get the answer he was looking for. Her answer was reflecting in the blush of her roses red cheeks.
"I knew!" Mike jumped, as if he'd won the lottery.
"W-what?! I didn't even say anything!" Raine let out, miserably trying to cover her unfaithful cheeks.
"Hun, you're cheeks speak faster than that mouth of your's." Mike winked.
"Shut up!" Raine said, failing miserably to cover her heated cheeks.
"I'm right. Admit it!"
Rain groaned before throwing a pillow into Mike's face. "Ugh! Fine, I might have googled him!"
"Knew it!" Mike sang, smirking as he jump off the couch, heading to the kitchen. "Question three!" Mike shouted from the kitchen.
"Hey! That's not fair! I want answers too!"
"Fair enough. What would you like to know Rainy Day." Mike said, entering the living room while tossing a popsicle into Raine's hands.
"I don't remember the last day I've had one of these." Raine said, tearing the clear plastic wrapper off the bright red popsicle. Her eyes closed and a shiver ran down her spine as she took the first lick of the icy desert.
"Most likely in the summer like normal people." Mike laughed, taking a big bite into his own. "Ok, what do you want to know."
"Humm......lets see." Her eyes squinted together as she thought hard for the perfect question. "Why don't you like Xavier."
Mike froze for a second before continuing to devour his popsicle. "How many times do I have to tell you, I have nothing against that lad."
"And how many times do I have to tell you that I'm not blind." Raine argued. "I can sense the hate oozing off of you when he's around. Why's that?" Raine asked, licking her popsicle.
"I don't know." Mike said sighing. "I just......I know you said he's different but...Raine, I've heard a lot about him and they're not good things. I don't want to see you hurt."
Raine reached out for Mike's hand, giving it a tight squeeze. "I won't get hurt." Her voice laced with new found confidence. "I don't know how and I don't know why, but if there's one thing I do know, it's that I trust him." Raine said.
"As long as you know what you're doing I'm fine." Mike replied before a frown itched his face. "I just....every since you told me about....you know...about him."
Raine's posture stiffened. "He's in the past now." Raine said looking away. Her fingers immediately went to the ring on her figure as images of her past flashed before her eyes.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have brought it up." Mike said, pulling Raine into a hug and rubbing her back. Before he could do or say anything, Mike felt warm tears soaking the back of his shirt.
* * *
It was a tough day at the cafe. The amount of people coming in and out of the cafe was larger than Raine had ever seen. And the large crowd probably had something to do with the new company that was opening two streets down from their's. New employees were already hunting down the best shops, cafes, and restaurants that would soon be their "go to" places as they ventured out on a new adventure of work.
Raine, Mike, and Daisy were all tired out with the surplus amount of work they had to do and to Mike's good luck, Daisy was in a great mood. Currently, the two of them were cooped up in the back kitchen.
Raine was sweeping up the last mess when her phone began to ring. Setting the broom aside, she reached over for her bag, pulling out her phone, a smile appearing when Xavier's name shined brightly on the screen.
"Hey Xav?" Raine said in a cheerful tone. "Why'd you call?"
"Raine, I'm sending Jordon over. He'll be there in approximately five minutes, I need you to come here as soon as possible." Xavier said in a hurried tone.
"To Thorn Inc?" Raine asked confused. "I don't understand. Why do you need me too----"
"Raine, I'll explain everything to you later. Just please get over here as soon as possible. Jordon should be there any minute by now." Xavier interrupted.
"Xavier, I can't just leave the cafe like that. My shift doesn't get over till five."
There was a brief silence of the line before Raine her Xavier's voice once more. "Is Daisy there?"
"She's in the kitchen with Mike. Why?"
"I need to talk to her. Give her the phone."
"Xavier, I don't get why you can't just wait till five. What's so important that you must absolutely need to see me at this very moment?" Raine asked, clearly irritated.
"Raine, just give the phone to Daisy and allow me to do the thinking."
"Whatever. But if I lose my job, I won't hesitate twice before punching you in the face." Raine warned, making her way to the back.
"Fiesty, are we?" The amusement in his voice was back.
Raine blushes before turning to Daisy. "Shut up. And I'm giving it to Daisy."
A look of confusion passed through Daisy's eyes as Raine handed her the phone. Raine shook her head and gestured for her to talk. "Hello? Hello Mr. Thorn.....Yeah Xavier....Not a problem at all. I'll let her know....hummm.....Sounds great to me! Thank you!"
Daisy ended the call, a large grin on her face as she passed it back to Raine.
"What did he say?" Raine asked curiously.
"Boy is that man fine!" Daisy said fanning herself with a spatula. "Forget about his looks, his voice is so damn sexy!"
"You know I'm right here Dayz." Mike interjected.
"And you know we're not dating Mikz." She said, rolling her eyes.
"Guys, stop arguing like a married couple and tell me what he said to you!!"
Daisy turned back to Raine, grinning. "Oh, about that, well Raine, you're shift is going to be cut short today. You're done for the day."
"Um, is this some kind of joke. Daisy, I don't care what Xavier said, you know how much I need this job. Every hour is important to me so please don't cut my hours because of one guy." Raine pleaded, disturbed and confused with everything that was going on.
"Well that "one guy" happens to also be the richest, not to mention, hottest guy in town! How the hell do I say no to that?" Daisy giggled.
Raine rolled her eyes. "What an amazing friend you are Daisy!"
"I know right?! I'm just too good!" Daisy said smirking.
"Too good at goodbyes." Mike muttered rolling his eyes.
* * *
Xavier wasn't kidding when he said Jordan would be there in a minute. The famous sleek, black sedan stood in front of the glass doors of the cafe, awaiting Raine.
It wasn't long before the tall doors of Thorn Inc were in front of her, opening as she stepped inside to be greeted by Cole, the security guard.
After passing him a smile, Raine walked over to the lift, ready to face Xavier.
The door of Xavier's office burst open as Raine entered. Immediately, Xavier shot out of his seat.
"Raine."
"What was so important that you had to yank me away from work like that?!" Raine said, her voice holding annoyance. "Look Xavier, you may be the boss and all, but I'm not. I can't wonder off during my shift and I can't make my own schedules or cancel work whenever I feel like it!"
"Are you done?" Xavier asked, folding his arms across his chest.
"Yeah." Raine mumbled, not before throwing a glare in his direction.
"Great." Xavier said before approaching Raine. "I have chairs in here for a reason Raine. Please sit down."
Rolling her eyes, she walked past Xavier, sitting down in one of the seats. He simply smirked to himself, before walking back to the desk, pushing Raine's chair out so he could sit on the edge of his desk, his arms propping him up. "I called you here to talk to you about a job offering."
"What?" Raine questioned in astonishment.
"You heard me." Xavier said, eyeing Raine's shocked expressions. "I found the perfect job for you."
"Wow...." Raine whispered, slightly embarrassed by her outburst. "I'm soâ"
"I don't want an apology Raine." Xavier interjected before she could continue. "I would have been annoyed too if someone pulled me out from work without informing me why."
Raine looked down at the palms of her hand, a blush creeping up on her face. "You found me a job?"
"I believe so. And I'm positive you will love it."
"What position is it?" She asked curiously.
"Personal assistant."
"Another PA position. But Xavier, what if he want me to live with him again?" She asked worried.
"That won't be nessecary at all. Unless you'd like to live with him. Then you are more than welcome." Xavier said, his voice not able to hide his excitement.
"I don't ever see that happening." Raine said, recalling Axel's harsh conditions. "Who's PA?" Raine asked.
"Mine."
"I'm sorry what?" Raine asked, thinking that she had heard wrong.
"Mine, Raine. I want you to be my PA." Xavier stated, his face completely calm.
"You're joking right?" Raine asked. "I mean you already have a PA. Jordon and Cindy! You don't need another one."
"Jordon isn't my PA, he's the head of security and managements."
"And Cindy?" Raine asked. "I'm pretty damn sure she's your PA, considering the fact that she told me that night she brought me a pair of clothes to wear."
"Well not anymore. In fact I justâ"
"Ohhh..." Raine interrupted. "I see what you're doing. Xavier, if you're even thinking about firing Cindy just to get me a position then please stop. I couldn't ever replace Cindy. Not now, not ever. And I don't want your pity. I asked you for help, and just because I'm desperate, doesn't mean you have to go through all of this to get me a job and make me feel happy."
"Are you done?"
"No. I'm not." Raine said. "Look Xavier, I appreciate everything you do for me. It's more then I could ever ask for. But I can't accept this job." She shook her head, tears welling up in her eyes. "I don't want to be a charity case Xavier. I want to be your friend."
Xavier remained silent for a while, observing her carefully. "Now that you are done presenting your case, it's time to present mine."
"Xavier what are youâ"
"I'm sure you know very well about the Toronto project." Xavier said, cutting her off. He waiting until he saw Raine nod before continuing. "Every branch that we have here at Thorn Inc, is managed directly from out headquarters. However, for our international properties, we've set up a representative system, in which managers trained in our headquarters are deployed to the international branches." Raine listened, absorbing all of the information as Xavier spoke. "They become completely in charge these hotels, making decisions and managing the premises as well as any issues regarding the property. When the matters are significant, they report back to me, letting me know that the property is in good hands. Does that make sense Raine?" Xavier asked, his voice gentle.
"Yeah, but why are you telling me all of this?"
"Because the same thing happened with Toronto." Xavier said, reaching out for Raine's hand. "I needed someone who was qualified to take up the position. I spent all of yesterday trying to search for the best candidate to fill the Managing Director position only to find that to person I needed was in front of me all along."
"Cindy....." Raine whispered.
"I'm not firing her Raine. In fact, I'm promoting her. She'll be the head of the Toronto branch and managing the hotel personally."
Xavier waited, trying to get a reaction out of Raine, yet she remained silent.
"That leaves that PA position open." He continues. "And I know just the girl, who had both the qualities I'm looking for in my PA. She's trustworthy and reliable."
"Xavier, this all means so much to me. But I don't think I'm fit for this job. I have no experience and you're such an influential CEO. I don't want to be a hassle for you. You'd be better off hiring someone experienced in this field."
"Raine, maybe you lack expericence. But you have something that no other person has. Raine, you're trustworthy and that is far more important than experience."
He held her hand in his own, gentle and soft. Their eyes connected, his Caribbean blue ones trained on her chocolate brown ones.
"I don't know what to say...."
"Say yes."
______________________
Question of the day: Any fun plans for the holidays??
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