Sereia's POV
My shoulders sagged with disappointment when I reached the elevator and found he wasn't there.
I immediately checked the time.
Was I too early? Was I too late?
An index finger pressed the elevator button, and when I looked up, I saw him standing beside me.
"Good morning sir," I smiled and he did his usual nod while he looked at the descending floor numbers.
"Did you have a good weekend?"
"Yeah," he said. "You?"
I can't recall the last time I ever had a good weekend.
I've always dreaded them.
My thoughts would violently insult me more than they would in the week.
"Of course I did," I told him. "I was sad that you didn't show up to the shelter yesterday. That ruined my weekend a little."
He immediately looked down on me and I softened my smile.
I tried my best to maintain eye contact as his gaze got lost in my eyes.
I almost began to feel sorry that I was going to ruin his marriage.
However, I remembered Olivia didn't feel sorry when she ruined Violet's life.
He's the one who married Olivia. It was his mistake to marry someone like her.
Now he is going to suffer the consequences.
I blinked and he finally snapped out of his trance. "I had things to do."
The elevator doors opened and he walked in.
I watched him for a second before taking a step inside.
When the doors began to close, a hand slid between which caused them to open again.
Olivia's face appeared along with Mr. Reed's.
"Well, isn't this a coincidence," Olivia's voice muttered with sarcasm as they stepped in.
Elliot and I stepped back to allow room for them.
When the doors closed again, Mr. Reed looked back at me with a smile.
"Ms. Sinclair, I'm so happy we got to see each other again," he said. "How was your first week?"
I faked a smile. "Great."
Olivia smiled too. "You did such a good job by hiring her. Our company is so lucky to have her."
She was trying so hard to impress Elliot that I cringed.
I glanced at Elliot who had now turned his attention to his phone, blocking all of us out.
I do feel bad for him.
Everyone in this elevator was a two-faced liar.
His wife was cheating on him with the man standing beside her and I was only here to get revenge for my older sister.
The elevator doors opened and Olivia and Mr. Reed walked out, leaving us alone again.
"After you sir," I told him and he shook his head.
"No you first," he replied as he pointed his hand out the door.
"If you insist," I smiled before walking out.
"Are you having a meeting with your staff right now?" he asked and I nodded.
"Okay," he said hesitantly before he started to walk away.
He halted and slowly turned around to face me again.
I watched him in amusement as he tried to find the right words.
"You're going to make me late for my meeting sir," I happily said so that he could speed things up.
"Meet me in my office when you're done. There is something I need to discuss with you."
When the area was cleared, I closed the gap between us.
"What do you want to discuss, sir?" I asked as my chest slightly brushed against his. "Do you perhaps want to discuss it with me now?"
His Adam's apple moved noticeably and I knew that I was affecting him.
No one could resist a body like mine.
He looked around before taking a step back. "Ms. Sinclair, I am asking you to remain professional."
I took a step forward.
"Maybe I don't want to," I finally revealed my intent with him. "You told me to enjoy my early 20s. This is how I want to enjoy them. Will you help me?"
I genuinely smiled when I saw his body stiffen.
Finally, things were going somewhere.
The thought of finally getting revenge for Violet's death brought me so much joy as I watched the key to it all crumble from my looks.
"There you two are," we heard and immediately pulled away from one another.
I turned around to see Blake heading to us.
He immediately hugged me. "I was waiting for you to text me this weekend."
I smiled. "Blake...I wasn't expecting to see you."
Elliot turned around and began to walk away from us.
Dammit! I almost had him!
"What's his problem?" he asked as he watched his moody best friend walk away.
"Who knows?" I replied and he laughed.
"Do you mind if I sit in on your meeting?" he asked as we began to walk. "I would like to observe how you handle business."
I looked at him. "Is this a test?"
"Of course not," he said. "If it was a test the big man himself would be watching, not me. I simply just want to get to know you better."
"Sure, why not?" I shrugged as we walked to the area where the staff were gathered.
...
"Any more questions?" I asked.
When no one responded, I took it as a no. "Great, get back to work guys."
As I packed up, Blake walked up to me while clapping.
"Please stop," I begged.
"Why?" he asked. "You deserve it. You did great."
"It was just a meeting," I told him. "It's not like I moved a mountain."
"You totally did cutie," he said as we started walking.
"You really shouldn't be calling me cutie at work," I told him.
I had hoped that he would stop calling me that altogether.
"Who's going to stop me?" he asked. "Definitely not Elliot."
I remembered that I needed to go to his office at the mention of his name.
"You know he's rooting for our love story right?" he asked. "He really is a hopeless romantic."
I bit my lip to hold in my laugh.
Elliot doesn't have a romantic bone in his body. How can he root for Blake and I? Much less, be a hopeless romantic.
We soon found ourselves in front of his office.
"You going in?" he asked.
"You go first," I told him. "I'll wait."
"Suit yourself," he said before going in a closing the door behind him.
I took a seat in the waiting area.
My eyes widened when I saw a woman sitting at the assistant's desk.
So she does exist.
A few minutes passed before Blake opened the door.
"He's all yours cutie," he smiled as he walked out. "I'll be waiting for that text."
"I'm sure you will," I mumbled as I entered Elliot's office.
He was typing away on his desktop like he always does.
I cleared my throat so that he could acknowledge my presence and he did.
"You're here," he said as he stood up.
I smiled as I walked up to him. "Let's see, where did we leave off."
I pretended to think. "Oh yes, you were about to help me enjoy my early 20s."
"Ms. Sinclair," he said.
I walked until I was standing beside him.
I intertwined my hand with his before bringing our hands towards me.
"Stop it," he snapped as he pulled away his hand.
His face flushed red, and his eyes locked onto mine with a fierce, unyielding glare.
His brows were drawn together in a scowl, and his mouth was set in a grim line, visibly tense with irritation.
The anger in his expression was unmistakable, radiating from every rigid muscle in his face.
I feared that I had pushed him too much.
"Listen, new girl," he started. "I don't know what unprofessional things your previous boss allowed you to do with him, but I am not him. This behaviour will end now."
For the first time ever, he spoke to me in pure rage.
I went too far.
"Of course, sir," I agreed with him. "I'll stop this right away."
I needed to tone it down.
He's the only chance I have left.
I can't lose him.
He relaxed a little. "You will be coming on a five-day conference with me. There is a workshop there I need you to attend."
I smiled. "We're going on a trip?"
"A business trip," he corrected. "In New York. You're dismissed. My assistant will tell you the details."
How cold of him.
"Okay," I stayed positive before walking out of the room.
I've always wanted to go to New York.
...
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