I Trust You

There's A Hermit In The Basement

"Wait you want me to meet Mr. Maxwell." Stresses Grace as she follows Linda through the cockpit.

"Yes." Curtly answers Linda.

"The CEO of the company."

"Yes."

"But shouldn't that be a privilege or something. Don't I have to earn the right to meet the CEO, I mean it's only my first day. I can't." Grace stutters her heart hammering against her chest.

I can't meet Mr. Maxwell.

"Well, you're going to have to because he expects you to be at his office at 4pm, sharp."

No!

Honestly, Grace didn't care about the privilege stuff she just needed any reason to not meet the CEO, at all costs.

"But Mrs. Boards." Whines Grace as they enter the elevator.

"Linda." She corrects.

"Linda, what if-"

"What if what, Grace?" Linda says pinching the bridge of her nose. "What are you afraid of?"

"Well, I'm about to meet the biggest and most powerful CEO, despite nobody knowing who he is it's still nerve wracking. What if I stutter and mess up, huh? What if he thinks what I'm saying is complete rubbish?"

"He won't." Linda says clicking the button labeled '-1'.

"Why are we going to the basement?" Asks Grace staring at Linda's brown eyes in worry.

"Because that's where his office is." Linda says staring at the elevator doors.

Basement!? What is he, a hermit?

"Don't most CEOs choose the highest floor, you know, with the greatest view and Christian Grey vibes." Grace asks watching as the elevator number drops to 1.

"Christian Grey, really?" Linda asks a small smile on her lips. "And yes usually they do opt for the top floor but our CEO is unique. Let's just say he has trust issues."

Trust issues? Oh no, I can't deal.

Grace presses her palms together as a layer of sweat forms.

"I hope he doesn't want to shake my hand." Whispers Grace to herself.

"What?" Linda asks leaning towards Grace a strand of her blonde hair falling out of its tight ponytail.

"Nothing." Grace quickly squeaks.

The moment the elevator hits the basement the elevator doors slide open.

Let's do this, okay? I believe in you.

Exiting the elevator Grace is met with a small waiting room with a young girl at the desk, the words Maxwell & Partners scrawled in elegant writing on the wall behind the girl.

"Hello Mrs.Boards." The girl chirps before dragging her gaze to Grace. "Hello, I'm Maddie, Mr. Maxwell's secretary."

Grace wearily shakes her hand before muttering her own name.

"Perfect." Linda says clapping her hands together. "Grace take a seat there, I'll be back in an hours time." Linda points towards a row of chairs on the right hand side of the small waiting room.

An hour?! She wants me to wait here for an hour.

"Linda," Grace says but the words die in her throat as she throws Grace a harsh glare.

Okay, sitting down now.

Grace drops her butt on the plush grey chairs and watches as Linda enters the elevators.

Looking around Grace frowns at the sad colour scheme. Despite the waiting area looking quite modern the colours chosen look depressing. The grey walls, jet black mat near the secretary's desk, the grey waiting chair and black small table make it seem like Grace has either entered a prison or the home of a depressed man.

The fact that there aren't even any windows make it worse.

Grace glances at the grey walls and remembers her encounter with Vincent , at the park, not to long ago.

"Despite his sour attitude he wasn't that bad looking." Murmurs Grace biting her lip as she remembers his smouldering grey eyes and plump lips.

If we met in different circumstances and his was kinder and I wasn't slowly dying from a broken heart and I didn't have a crazy ex-boyfriend stalking me, I might have made a move on him, maybe.

Grace shakes the crazy thoughts out her head as she reaches for one of the magazines sitting on the table.

"Business Forum." Grace grimaces. Throwing it back on the table Grace leans back and closes her eyes wishing she had at least brought her phone with her.

"Grace!" A voice shouts.

"No, mama." Grace groans turning over.

Just another minute.

"Grace Fontanel." A harsh voice says roughly grabbing onto Grace's shoulder and shaking it violently.

"What?" Grace jumps coming face to face with an angry Linda.

"We're almost 5 minutes late." Linda growls grabbing onto Grace's hand and pulling her towards a small door behind the secretaries table.

"Look at you." Linda groans digging around in her brown leather handbag. "You have drool. Take."

Grace quickly grabs the wet wipe and wipes at her mouth harshly.

"Sorry." Grace mumbles giving back the wipe.

"Ug, come on." Linda whips open the wooden door and walks through the dim hallway with another small door wooden door at the end of it.

"What is this place?" Asks Grace staring around the small hallway walking quickly as she tries to catch up to Linda's quick strides.

"Is this guy in the mafia or something?"

Linda abruptly stops and glares at Grace.

"You better not let him hear you say that." Turning back around Linda knocks twice. "Be good, okay? I practically vouched for you."

"Okay." Grace answers her heart faltering.

You can do this, you're the greatest, strongest girl, no greatest woman. You can do this.

"Come in." A gruff voice answers from the other side of the door.

Grace ears perk up at the sound of the familiar voice.

Linda opens the door and they both step into a large open room with light grey walls, white tiled floors. On the one side sits a large boardroom table with 8 leather chairs surrounding the table. On the other side of the room a large bookshelf takes up most of the space with 2 small chairs and a lamp on each side of the big bookshelf. Finally, in the middle of the room a large black desk sits with a MacBook open and switched on and a brown file close to it.

"Its good to see you Vincent." Greets Linda as a familiar form pops up from behind the table a large brown file in his hands.

Grace's eyes widen as they look over the tousled brown hair, built form and unforgettable grey eyes.

"You're late." Vincent says.