I Need to Forget The CEO!!

Chapter 8 - Whispers and Stares

Once again I found myself sitting across from Mr.Maddox at his desk. After a moment of silence, and myself twirling my thumbs, he filed away what he had been working on and lifted his head to face me.

"Lyric," He leaned his elbows onto the table and rested his chin on his joined fists. "What are you doing this evening?"

What? This evening... He couldn't be asking....

"Um," I was stunned for a second, so I paused in my reply. "I was just going home."

"Great, well, are you available for dinner? I should take the time to get to know you. Since we are going to work closely together." He stated.

I'm assuming he means this as only a get-to-know each other dinner. It couldn't possibly be a date. I'm sure he knows I'm his employee and it's nothing more than that. Of course it's not a date. It was silly to let my heart race.

"Yes, I am available Mr.Maddox." I stated, swallowing the idea that it could be something more.

He smiled at me and immediately went to typing on his computer. "Great, how does The Ale House sound?"

I nodded, "After work is just fine!"

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Mr.Maddox asked me to join him in his office, but was quickly taken away by Victor regarding a deal between Gucci and this company. From what I heard, Enzo plans on releasing a limited time clothing line to boost promotion of his vehicles and their luxury qualities. He apologized for the quick leave and I made my way to my desk. 

After a short moment to decompress, I grabbed the new ink pad and made way over to the redhead from earlier, saying, "Here ya go, your ink pad!"

"Oh!" her face lit up and she grabbed it out of my hand, turning her head away from her work. "Thank you, Lyric. Very much appreciated! I don't think I told you but I'm Carol! I hope we can be friends!"

I smiled, "Of course! Is there anything I can do for you right now? I don't have anything planned yet."

"Actually... there was something I had to do earlier... Oh, oh, yes, well it's a lot to send you out the office a lot, but, yes. I have to bring some files over to the sales department. Can you hand them to Victor for me? I just, I just have to file something else and Victor... well please? It's not your job... and the ink pad. " She double-clicked her mouse and printed out a few pages. I'm assuming these are the documents she meant.

"Sure," I grabbed the pages from the printer for her, grinning ear to ear. "not a problem! Floor 5, right?"

She clapped her hands together in excitement, "Yes! Thank you, doll!" 

How amusing!

I flashed a smile to her, reassuring that she's not a bother. It's nice to meet someone with such a positive attitude. She's very... scrambled, but in the best way possible. Lately, it feels like all of the new people I've met are grumpy or entitled. Which is fine, since it's expected, but I didn't realize that mostly everyone was like that. 

I pressed the number 5 on the elevator and pulled my phone out, prepared to text Margaret.

(on phone)

Lyric: Hiii Margaret! I'm headed down to sales! Might meet your Petey boy!

Margaret: OMG! He's not mine... Yet!!

Margaret: What're you going there for?

Lyric: Dropping off some papers to Victor. Lol

Margaret: Ugh good luck girly! GTG :)

(off phone)

Ding! Perfect timing!

I stepped out of the elevator, releasing a breath, unprepared to see the sales department again. It's only been a week since being here, so not much should've changed. I'm sure Victor is still an asshole and Nathan is still a creep. 

I looked around the room and didn't spot Victor anywhere. I'm guessing he's still with Mr. Maddox. But, around the room I did hear a lot of gossip. Best I listen in before they notice me.

"Did you get any updates on the new assistant yet?" said a woman to her desk-mate.

"Oh," her desk-mate leaned in, causing a few other people around them to as well. "Apparently, he was spotted exiting the supply closet with her earlier... they were in there for ten minutes doing who knows what!"

They laughed, and the man sipping a coffee began to speak, "Wow! Already!  I thought he already picked the last assistant as his favorite!"

"Swipe right for a promotion!" the original woman began to laugh to herself. "Maybe I should start wearing more makeup... and a red dress to work. Maybe he'll notice. I mean, like he did with the last few hires..."

I felt a wave of disappointment rush through my body. Of course, he doesn't like me. I wouldn't be surprised if he treated all women like that. It's only a work dinner. But still, I can't help but feel like there could be something more.

The man sipping his coffee spoke once again, "I thought she would be a good girl. I mean, she was the first girl who didn't drool over him the first day..." He placed his coffee mug down, smirking and sitting into the chair parallel to them. "I heard-"

They all shuffled back into their work as they saw Enzo and Victor exit the sales managers office. I made myself known and stopped the two in their tracks, shaking off anything I just heard.

"Hello! Carol requested that I bring these to you urgently." I flashed a smile, and a quick look at Enzo. He looked irritated, which means Victor definitely was.

"You know where my desk is already." He nabbed the papers out of my hands, tearing the smile right off my face, too. 

"Rude..." I meant to say that in my head, but it came out my mouth.

Victor furrowed his brows and took a step forwards, "Excuse me?"

I gulped, "I'm sorry..." 

"Anything else you need, assistant?" The way he hissed my title sent a chill down my spine. I shook my head no, lowering my gaze. "I have things to do. Out of my way."

I stepped aside and Victor walked back to his desk. Enzo didn't say or do anything, only reassuring my insecurities from earlier. He only motioned me to follow him. He ended up taking me into the elevator. 

"Lyric," He began to speak just as the door closed. "I forbid you from running errands for others from now on. That's not what you're here for."

Yep, he's definitely agitated. 

"I don't mind it! It just lightens everyone's load." I began. "Plus, most of the time I'm not doing a-"

"Lyric," He turned to face me with his deep voice ringing through my ears. "I don't care if it helps, your time here is valuable. You are my assistant." 

I felt my cheeks flush once and my heart skip a beat. He claimed me as his. I know it means nothing more, but why do I feel like he's... jealous?

"It's important to focus on what I told you to do. Find out information on Bryan. How are you supposed to do that when you're sent out of the room several times a day for menial tasks that people can do for themselves?" I sensed his agitation growing as he spoke to me. 

The elevator doors opened and we both walked out, him continuing his speech.

"Since day one, you've been putting everyone else's needs ahead of your own," He spoke softer now, almost endearing. "It's okay to say no. Use me as an excuse. Because I've seen them use thousands of interns before as their errand boys. It's not right."

With that, Enzo and I parted our ways.