I Need to Forget The CEO!!

Chapter 6 - Ink and Intrigue

A new week started. Mr.Maddox gave me my first official task to think about over the weekend. I'm supposed to find out why Bryan wanted me to separate those 35 files from the rest. I'm not sure how I'm going to possibly get that information out of him. Mr.Maddox believes I have the ability to, but I'm honestly not sure. I've never been one for gossip. But, it's work. Work means it has to get done.

The day started off normally, a nice breakfast with Margaret in the cafe followed by bickering with Victor and Nathan over in sales on the fifth floor. I checked out the employees quarters (floor 6 & 7) because I heard there are beds, showers, a kitchen, and even entertainment for bored employees. I'm pleased to see that it wasn't just a rumor and I'm sure I'll be visiting in the future. Finally, came my arrival to the top floor of Maddox, where Administration lay.

"Oh, goodmorning rookie!" The chubby redhead called out and pushed her glasses up, running over to me.

"Um... hello!" Although it was awkward, I matched her enthusiasm. "Can I help you?"

"Oh, oh, " she scrambled around with some documents she had in her hands. "I feel so bad to ask you this, but we ran out of ink. I have to finalize these documents... Oh, um, I mean for stamps! We have plenty of printer ink. Tons actually. Just restocked them all because I was thinking about ink when I thought about stamp ink, ooo and I realized there are documents I have to finalize. Oh wow, They're in my hands! Can you fetch it? Storage is down the hall to the left, the door is labeled. "

It took me a moment to grasp what she had said because of how quick and roundabout her wording was. Eventually, I nodded my head and she gave a happy smile and a supportive hand squeeze that would send me on my way.

I didn't even get to see Mr. Maddox yet... Lyric! Mind out of the gutter!

I blushed, placed my stuff at my desk and walked down the hall and to the left. I really can't help but think about Mr. Maddox. I understand he's my boss, but oh, he is very handsome. It's unbelievable. I was fully convinced all CEO's are old farts with too big of an ego for that much neck beard and belly, so when I met Mr.Maddox for the first time I was shocked. Plus, I can't help but think about when he grabbed my face in the dark the other day. That was a normal interaction, right?

Anyways, I opened the brown door with a little bit of force and entered a dark room with many shelves. I flipped the light switch but it unfortunately wasn't working. Awesome. Double awesome for the lack of windows. Quickly, I grabbed my phone and turned on its light, shutting the door behind me.

"How in the world am I supposed to find stamp ink in here? That's so, ancient." I mumbled to myself, looking around the room and shining my flash.

"Hello?" My heart stopped once I heard a man's voice call out in the dark room.

"H-Hello?" my voice trembled slightly.

Chill out, Lyric. It's 8 in the morning I'm pretty sure murderers work at night.

Suddenly, I felt something grab my arm which caused me to let out a small shriek. I shone the phone light directly into the culprits eyes, causing them to shield their face with a short hiss.

Then I realized it was Mr.Maddox.

"Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry! D-don't sneak up on me like that! I'm sorry-"

A soft laugh interrupted me and healed my anxiety, "It's okay, Lyric. I already know how much you hate the dark. But you didn't close the door, did you?"

I stared at him blankly.

"So we're both in here now." He leaned his head against the wall, loosening his tie and unbuttoning his collar.

"M-Mr.Maddox?!" I was totally flustered by his sudden undressing. Especially since the only light was my phone on him and the storage room wasn't very big at all.

"It's okay Lyric, I won't eat you. It's just hot in here. Been in here for a while." He smirked and unbuttoned his sleeves to roll them up. "Any updates on Mr.Thatcher?"

After a brief moment of wishing he would eat me, I shook my head to clear the thought and answered him, "Nothing. I just got here. The redhead lady asked me to get some ink for her stamp so I came in here. Have you been stuck in here? Should I call someone?"

I lifted my phone up to ring Margaret but as I was about to press dial, my phone decided to die on me, leaving me and Mr.Maddox in the dark with the only light being the hallway lights peeking under the door. Darn cat must've ripped the cord out the wall last night.

"Well I guess you can't call now." I was surprised by Mr.Maddox's informality. He treats me like a friend rather than his assistant and I've only known him briefly. "Are you scared, Miss Lyric?"

He leaned in closer to me, now almost pressing into me. I leaned against the wall behind me. I didn't have much of a choice given how small the room was. My heart began to race as I told myself over and over to get my mind out of the gutter.

"What's wrong, Lyric?" His voice became a deep whisper, sending butterflies throughout my body.

"Oh..." I avoided eye contact in the dim light and looked down towards his body. I ended up just staring at his loosened tie and collar, then my eyes traced his arms. He had a really nice body.

"Lyric? I asked you a question." He put his arm on the wall behind me, now much closer than before. This seemed so inappropriate for my boss to do. "I expect you to answer, Miss." He smirked.

"You're close... Mr.Maddox." I whispered, cheeks turning red.

"Oh, then." He stood up straight and pulled his sleeves back down. "Call me Enzo, Please. I can't deal with the formality. I call you Lyric and you will call me Enzo. I hear Maddox far too much."

He readjusted his clothes, put his suit jacket back on, grabbed an item and opened  the door.

"It wasn't locked?!" I exclaimed.

"Did I say it was? Here's the ink you needed. I needed one, too." He handed me an ink pad and smirked, walking out the room, leaving me in awe.