ESTHER

Chapter six

     "I hope we end up as good colleagues," Duke said, looking at me with a hopeful look as we made our way into the company. I nodded at him agreeably, not trusting myself to be able to make any comprehensible sound. I didn't know why I was acting like like this. Perhaps the uncle was right. I have been lonely for far too long. No wonder I started to choke on the first good looking guy who ever talked to me.

     We walked towards the receptionist and before I could even introduce myself, she stood up to greet me.

     "Good morning Miss Esther. Welcome to GOULDERS. Let me send someone to lead you to Mr Rhodes office." She said, picking up the telephone on her desk to call someone.

     "Let me," Duke said out of nowhere. I had thought that he had left for his own office. He looked at me.

     "Might as well get to know each other very well as we make our way there." I gave him a bright smile, while the receptionist thanked him as we started our way towards the elevator by the side of the reception table.

     Once we entered, Duke looked at me. It was discomforting for me to be stared at like that, so I faced him fully.

     "What?" I finally gave up and asked him fully.

     "Is this your first time working in a big company?" He asked.

     "Yeah. The last job I had was a bit rough for me. My former boss was an ass hole." I said, remembering all those times I felt like sticking a pen up my former boss' nose.

     "So since then, you have been unemployed since?" He asked, suddenly curious.

     "Hmm unemployed, that's a nice way to put it. My uncle called it joblessness for five years."

     "Five years!?" He said as his eyes widened, shocked.

     "Yeah. But no worries, I'm good at my job." I said nodding my head I'm agreement with my words.

     "So uh, how have you survived since?"

     "My uncle makes enough for both of us. He grew tired of spending money on me and actually, he was the one who made me come for that interview. By the way, who came up with that idea?" I said, suddenly curious. I looked at him.

     "Who else? Jack was the one who came up with it. At times I wonder what goes on in that head of his."

     "Jack?" I said, noticing the informal way of how he called his boss.

     "Yeah, we are cousins." He said blatantly as if telling me what the time is. I choked, again.

     "Hey, are you alright?" He asked after I had gotten my bearing.

     "C-cousins? How the hell are you his cousin?" Duked looked at me funny.

     "Okay, that was a weird question. Should I not be addressing you as Mr Rhodes then?"

     "Naah. Scratch all those formalities. Duke is just fine." We reached the hallway that leads to Jack Rhodes office. As we stepped out of the elevator, I notice immediately how huge the hall is, even though it's only an office present in the whole hall.

     "Only the office is here?" I said, bring my voice down to a whisper.  Duke just laughed.

     "Jack has always been, extravagant." He said with a smile.

     "Yeah, I noticed," I said, taking a proper look around the hallway as he leads me to the only door in there. Once we made our way over there, he stopped and looked at me.

     "Well good luck Esther." He said, putting both his hands in his pockets. "The rest is up to you." He left with a wave as he made his way back towards the elevator. Once he had gone, I looked apprehensively at the door in front of me. For some reason, entering into it had made me very nervous.

     I took a deep breath, reminded myself of my reason, and knocked on the door. It was quiet for a while before a deep baritone voice replied.

     "Enter." Nervously, I opened the door. I immediately took notice of the decor of the office. Stylish an a colourful manly way, not the monographic look that most men preferred. I looked towards the office desk as I quietly closed the room to the office and made my way inside. Jack Rhodes was huddled on his desk seat, going through some folders.

     "Good day sir," I said, hoping to catch his attention. I didn't.

     "I am Esther. Your new personal assistant." That seemed to make him stop whatever he was doing and finally look up at me. Once I saw his face, I stopped breathing.

     Yes, I had seen him before and he was outstanding, but seeing him up close, now that is just a whole new level. He was beautiful. Ethereal looking even. I didn't know if it was true, or the fact that I had not seen a hot guy for so long that caused me to think of him like that. But that was the only word I could use to describe him.

     He had taken off his suit jacket, which was hanging by a rack next to the door. He had folded the sleeves of his shirt to his elbows, and I could see the outlines of strong, long lean arms. His face, oh his face, was brownish. Like light brown, the colour of honey. But he had blue eyes the colour of the ocean, with a hint of green in them. Brown curly hair with a straight nose and strong chin.  Oh, he was beautiful. Which started to make me think of what the hell Vashti would have done to make a guy like this give up on her.

     Jack Rhodes started to scrutinize me, studying my image up and down as if looking for any flaws. They were correct when they said that he loved his assistant good looking. I tried to push his vain behaviour at the back of my head. Seemingly satisfied with what he had seen, he looked up at me and gave me what had seemed to be a hint of a smile. That made my heart to stop beating again.

     "Good morning Miss Esther. I look forward to working with you ."