Lizzie And The Deadly Sins

8- six out of seven

Lizzie POV

I feel sick, lying to three board members on my first day.

They were all so intimidating, and so beautiful. I'm sure that Mr Gore caught me staring I can't believe he carried me. It's so humiliating! I never imagined that my first day could go like this.

Thankfully I'll probably never see them up close again, maybe just enough to admire them from afar.

My mind keeps drifting back to Mr Gore's deep chocolate eyes, the small flecks of gold scattered around his irises.

I think he could probably do with new shoes though. I got such a static shock every time he touched me. It didn't happen when I shook hands with anyone else so it has to be him.

"And we just need some bank account details for payroll" the kind man handling my paperwork confirms. I pass across my bank card for him to copy the information and return to fiddling with the loose thread on my jacket.

"Umm, there seems to be a problem. Miss Andrews." He frowns. "Have you picked up the wrong bag or something? This account says it's Elizabeth Carter"

Fuck. Why hadn't I thought of this before?! I force a smile. My mind, creating a swift lie.

"It's my mother's account, it's a little embarrassing but I'm terrible with money. So she's handling my finances for me. Helping save for a mortgage, you know?" I lie.

He frowns at the card for a moment considering my lie. Before continuing to type.

"You're lucky to have someone to help you out. I remember when I was your age. Probably kept the pub open by myself for the amount I spent there." He jokes.

I force a little chuckle glad he believed me so easily. A few minutes later he's asking me to look into the camera, snapping a picture for my work ID which he prints and slides into a holder on a lanyard.

"Welcome to the team" he smiles, implying that I can go.

I collect my trolley that has been piled with outgoing mail in my absence. I hope this is allowed, I don't want to be in trouble with Chianti later.

I make my way to the elevator, my ID bouncing off my chest and press the button to call a carriage. I move closer to the elevator showing its way down from the next floor.

Now that I'm registered I feel a little more at ease. Like a weight that I hadn't noticed has lifted a little.

The elevator doors open revealing a small group already inside including Miss Luze from before.

"Miss Luze," I greet with a nod, stepping into the space they have created for me.

"How are you feeling?" She asks, looking me over with curiosity. "This is Jane, who Bel mentioned in the meeting" she tells her companions pointedly.

The group all look at me with interest, making me suddenly nervous. Part of me feels excited that one of them was talking about me. Which one was Bel?

"I hope it was nothing bad?" I prompt.

"Oh no! Nothing like that, he just mentioned that you were unwell." Miss Luze jumps in.

"Yes we hope you feel better" a lady smiles kindly, bowing her head slightly in respect, her sleek black hair falling forward like a curtain.

"Much better, thank you"

"Oh, right you don't know anyone. This is Lei Tan, head of marketing, she gestures to the dark haired woman. On her left is Sandy Atan, head of IT" Miss Atan gives a little wave smiling as we arrive at her floor,  I adjust my trolley allowing her space to pass in her wheelchair. "And there lurking at the back, is Mo…"

"That's enough, she's a mail girl. She doesn't need our life stories" Mo grunts, interrupting Miss Luze. 

"Play nice Mo, you don't want Bel or Ash to hear you were mean to their new pet" Lei giggles placing a hand on his elbow, seemingly the highest part she can reach. His eyes soften as they fall on her. But her eyes remain on mine, pulling me in like a deep dark vortex.

I vaguely think that she had just called me someone's pet. But I'm too nervous to call her out on it, it's already taking a lot of effort not to stare at her. She's so glamorous and elegant, I'm sure I've seen her on a bill board somewhere.

Even without her intimidating beauty I'm now up to six department heads today if we don't count Chianti. I didn't expect in my position that I would be introduced to any of them on a first name basis. Yet I'm only just registered and based on what Gavin and Steve said, I've met almost all of the board members on my first day!

The others alight at various stops and I try to remember each of their departments for future. Eventually there is only Miss Luze and myself left.

She awkwardly pushes her long ginger hair behind her ear, sighing softly.

"You should ignore those two," she suggests looking at the door where Miss Tan just left. "They're just jealous when others get attention. They're greedy like that sometimes."

I remain silent, aware that as a new employee I'm in no position to comment on the behaviour of department heads. Although I can't see what they could be jealous of a mail girl for? That could easily be solved if they saw my apartment.

"I don't understand, they have nothing to be jealous of?" I say more to myself than to her.

"It's complicated. The shareholders' relationships are… difficult." That word again? What is difficult? "Anyway! Don't worry about it, we should probably both head back to work" she smiles, gesturing for me to go ahead as the elevator doors open to the lobby.

I turn to say my farewells but the elevator door is already beginning to close with Miss Luze still inside. Why had she stayed to my floor?

I shake my head in resignation, and push the trolley towards the mail room. The shareholders are definitely strange.

"Oh there you are!" Chianti calls across the room, "feeling better?"

"How did you?" I start to ask.

"Miss Luze's office called down asking us to send you home early. Do you need to go?" She asks, looking me over.

"No, no I'm ok. I just overheated in that elevator" I promise.

"Ok, let me know if you change your mind, don't push yourself ok. We're not monsters." She warns me, starting to unload my trolley "Right pull up a pew, as you can see we have plenty of mail to sort."

"Where's the trolley for level six?" I check.

"Heather has it, she'll be back in a minute. She's probably flirting again. She's definitely got a thing for the nerdy girls" she chuckles.