The Girl With The Mouse Ears **Sample Only**

Chapter 5

The peach coloured skirt and the fun, lacey blouse no longer seemed like a good idea when I stood outside of daunting, glossy building. The dark glass shone my reflection back at me and all I saw in comparison was a girl who looked too immature and too playful to belong in a place like BlackHawk Inc. but it was too late, I had signed the contract with my start date and I knew the sharp eyed woman who had interviewed me wouldn't bat an eye before she fired me if I called in sick or late today. I had fought like hell for this competitive job, managing to land it even though I was barely qualified. I couldn't turn back now.

So with one deep breath I straightened my skirt and smoothed and invisible wrinkle off of my blouse. Then I climbed up the rest of the steps in my cheap nude heels, hoping that I could at least pretend to be confident through the first part of my day. But my bravado fell away as soon as the air conditioning hit me.

The reception area was just as I remembered it. There were hard, straight lines everywhere. It spoke to the rigidity and structure of the business. The floor and walls were dark, almost black while the main desk and seating area were starkly white, a contrast so bright it almost hurt to look at. And everything was immaculately clean. Even the receptionist behind the desk was the same. Cold eyes and speaking bluntly into her head set. I tittered with nerves as she finished her conversation.

"Can I help you?" she almost snapped.

"Uh yes, Nike Martin. It's my first day." I squeaked. My confidence had bailed on me and I knew one hard more hard look would send me running for the door.

There was rapid typing on her keyboard then her eyes flashed up to me once more.

"Floor seventeen, talk to the receptionist there. She'll know what to do with you."

I didn't say thank you. I just darted off, scared that if I gave her another chance to bark at me she might bite instead. My heels clicked in the silent space until I reached the elevator. There I mashed the call button and toyed with my hands as I waited for it, wanting the world to swallow me whole and never spit me out again.

A moment later I was carried up to floor seventeen which was much the same as the ground floor. A severe receptionist that didn't seem to have time for me and angular lines everywhere. Oh yes, the playfulness of my outfit and curly hair was certainly out of place here. I should've worn all black from head to toe. If only I had been interviewed here instead of offsite like I had opted for. Then I would know what I was really walking into.

After repeating my information to the receptionist on this floor she tossed me a clipboard with forms to fill out. I read over the legal wording carefully, making sure that I wasn't signing away too much or too little. And just as my blue pen went to scratch down my last set of initials Rachelle, the woman who had interviewed me, appeared.

"Nike, come. We have a lot to cover and very little time to do it. Let's start with the basics. BlackHawk Inc. covers several sub-companies. We have Ambush Surveillance, BlackHawk Rentals, and GuardStone Services to name a few. " she announced, already walking away from me. Her words came out like I was a dog, instead of an anxious human in a new environment.

I leapt to my feet, almost tossing the clipboard back to the receptionist before running to catch up. When I had first met Rachelle I immediately knew that she was not one to be messed with. She wore dark, simple clothes that fit her well. She was all business and she wore it well. Both times that I had seen her I had never caught the glimpse of a smile. But what she lacked in friendliness she made up for with efficiency and precision.

We walked through hordes of cubicles and she pointed out every individual person and their position without any pause or true acknowledgement. It was almost like she was a computer more than a human. I tried to keep up and when someone stood up to shake my hand- which wasn't often- I would always smile and introduce myself. I would watch for colourful or fun clothing, knowing that they would be my allies here. Then I would be racing after Rachelle who either hadn't noticed my interlude or didn't care.

But as we crossed another set of elevators the doors opened up and three men in suits dripped out. At first I paid them no mind, just trying to memorize everything that Rachelle was saying and what it meant for me. I knew that she wouldn't waste her time telling me twice. But as my eyes flickered over the group who was laughing and having a light-hearted conversation my gaze saw a flash of blonde and blue that would be perfect on a beach. And I knew that those features belonged to someone I intended to never cross paths with again.

"Miles." I blurted before I could stop myself.

Rachelle's hand was around my wrist with such speed and firmness that I winced. A gasp left my mouth. I wasn't sure what I had done to cause this kind of reaction from her. She yanked hard and I stumbled after her but it was too late. Those blue eyes had already landed on me and Miles was drawing nearer.

"I'm sorry sir, she's new." Rachelle apologized, "I had no idea that she was coming for-"

"It's alright Rachelle, I can take it from here."

"Yes sir." Rachelle's constrictor like grip fell away. After another second of hesitation her head dropped and she skittered away. My mouth fell open at her humbled posture. I didn't think that woman was capable of being shamed.

"I'm sorry if I-" I began, not sure what I was apologizing for but feeling like my job was in jeopardy already.

"Let's continue this conversation in my office." Miles interjected again.

The men that he had exited the elevator with had dispersed, pretending not to be eavesdropping on the conversation.

"Of course." I agreed.

Unlike when I had seen him at that awful hick bar, there was a seriousness that surrounded him. his blue eyes were vivid, but unyielding and I knew that he would not take no for an answer. Whatever he had to say to me would not be spoken here. So I followed him without a word as he strode away from me, beyond the cubicles, down a hallway lined with offices. There, he held open a door for me and I slipped inside a massive office space.

This was not at all how I thought my first day would go.

My eyes were first drawn to the enormous painting of a world map that covered the entire side wall. It was simple with no borders or labels, just landmasses marked out with dark blue paint. Then my eyes were drawn to the impressive looking leather chairs and the casual bottle of scotch that was settled on the massive desk.

Yes, it had been one hell of a promotion.

"Sit." Miles ordered as he leaned against the desk.

I complied and seated myself in one of the leather chairs, sinking into it. my hands nervously fiddled with the purse that I had thought paired nicely with my outfit. But I still couldn't stop my eyes from searching over his well fitted dress pants and the blazer that hung off his shoulders.

"I've had more than one woman come in here and try to strong arm money out of me once they find out who I am. Rachelle might've had a lapse in judgement or you might better than the rest, but you won't get anywhere trying to strong arm me." He grumbled, crossing his arms over his chest.

"What? I'm not here because of that." I sputtered, still reeling. I had never expected to set this man again and now he thought I was chasing funding.

"Oh," there was a look of relief, then absolute dread, "you aren't pregnant, are you?"

"No, we used protection." I gasped.

"If you aren't here for the money and you aren't having a baby then what are you doing here?"

"Today was my first day of work here." I confessed, "But I think I may have to resign because I don't think co-workers sleeping together is something that is approved of."

"No, it's not, but the policy for BlackHawk doesn't say anything about sleeping with the boss."

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