Chapter 17 - Conversation With The CEO

"I need to attend to Ms. Beth. You better talk to Eve. I will go ahead." Sir Nathan bid goodbye.
"Sir!" I unawares restrained his arm.
"Do not be afraid of the CEO. He is not even a monster." Sir Nathan murmured smiling.
I put my hand over my face. Only now did I feel this apprehension again.
"Sit down! Probably, I will go viral again for the reason that I have not been a gentleman to you!" And he stood up.
I did not act right away. Alright, I will let you speak. But if you talk too much insulting to my character, you will taste my resentment. As I talked in my mind. I glanced at him.
"CEO, I did not spread that video." I boldly said.
"I know! They idolize you that was why they acted that way." He returned to his seat.
"I will apologize for what I have done in the past. I know, I screwed up your life." I started by saying sorry.
"You did! You screwed up my life!" His formerly clear face now seemed full of grief.
"You presumably will not fire me just because of that viral video?" I begged courageously.
"Have you read their taglines to me.
Some called me cocky reckless driver, vainglorious mad man, pompous sports car driver, and so on.
Can you blame me if I would fire you?" He said sarcastically.
"CEO, please, even if you just return me to being a personal assistant. Just do not fire me.
I need my job. I love my job. I will follow all your orders.
Even if you ask me to stay away from Kisses, I will do it." I slowly walked closer to his table.
"Are you sure? Will you do everything for me?" He implored.
Yes, I could sacrifice my body to you. I thought of that and I abruptly slam my head.
Why am I thinking this way?
You are a lunatic, Eve! As I berated myself.
"Yes, even if you ask me to make coffee every morning. I am promising at brewing coffee." I forced a smile.
"What have I done to you before? You said last time, I helped you a lot." He changed the subject.
He does not remember me anymore. Why would he remember someone like me?
I was just a typical girl that needs help and he gave it to me.
"I used to work at Snow White, a beauty product stall. You saved me from an abusive customer.
Then you caught me when I almost fell. Also, you just told me to wear a long skirt and not test on customers, my Manager unexpectedly told me that I had a new uniform and I should not perform the test anymore.
You saved my life." I smiled at the anecdote.
"Are you that talkative?" He unawares asked.
I eliminated my smile. I could see no happiness on his face.
I have not seen him even smile at me. He is handsome even with a scowl.
Extremely, maybe when he smiles. The meanness of his smiles.
"Sorry! Please, CEO, do not fire me away." Again I pleaded.
"Do not call me CEO! In the first place, I do not like that title being combined in my name." He scolded me.
"What should I call you? Mr. N?" My poor question.
"That is better!" He announced.
He heard my whisper.
"May I go ahead, Mr. N? I have a scheduled taping today." I let him know.
He did not answer.
I left his office.
Will Ella and I lose our jobs at the same time?
I am not in the proper mood right now.
But I still have to work professionally even if it means the last day.
"Eve, what happened? You are a Very Important Person! You were introduced to the CEO." Lara accompanied me as I walked.
"He is angry at me. And I might even be fired." I pouted.
"Oh no! That is vague to come about! You are the one who keeps the Love Hotline alive.
The audience is waiting for you to appear on the screen.
The callers love your advice." she gestured his hand at mine.
"Lara, let us just keep it! But he was the man who went viral and allegedly molested me in the video." I mumbled softly.
"That man is the CEO? Of all people!" she asked for confirmation.
I nodded.
"What are we going to do?" she begged sadly.
"I will take care of it! I have to find a way to make it up with him.
You know I cannot lose my job." I sighed.
Lara knew about Nicks. I did not conceal the truth from her. I trust Lara.
"I heard that the CEO just arrived from Budapest. Something extremely miserable happened in his life.
They say that it must be about a woman. That could be the reason for his being short-tempered.
He gets indignant easily. Always frowning. He has to deal with TvN8 Station and has no other choice to come back home." Lara's litany.
With his abundance and looks, for sure it is the woman who approaches him.
I do not believe the rumored reason for his agonies.
Unless he loved truly and wholeheartedly that woman.
I have not been eliminated from the Love Hotline yet. We just kept taping.
I was stunned when Mr. N suddenly took off on set.
"Hi, Nikolai!" Kisses abruptly moved toward him.
"Hi!" Mr. N also greeted her.
"I missed you! I am pleased to see you again." she is like a leech sticking to Mr. N.
"How is the taping going on?" He asked and he glanced at me.
I immediately looked in a different direction.
I hope he will not fire me at this duration. It would be offending.
"It is doing excellent! You know, my show is number one." Kisses bragged.
Your show? I repeated what she said in my mind.
"That is good to know!" with his serious look again.
"Want some coffee? Because Eve is good at making coffee." And Kisses turned to me.
What is her hoax this time?
Ms. Beth would have spoken but I held her hand.
"Would you like some coffee, Mr. CEO?" I turned to him and asked.
"Yes, coffee for two!" Kisses answered.
I felt that I am still the former Everlee Legazpi. I will never be able to match them.
So I should no longer have the illusion of Mr. N.
He will vaguely like me!
It might transpire when the hell freezes over.
Kisses is the perfect match for Mr. N. They are both prosperous. They are both classy. They are both attractive.
Unlike me, no matter what I do, I wear, I will remain underprivileged and servant in the sight of rich people like them.
I took a deep breath and stood up to get some coffee.
"I am the assistant here. Ms. Eve, I will do it." Sittie told suddenly.
"No! I want her to do it for us." Kisses said calmly.
"Sittie, it is okay! I will do it." I stopped her.
"Come on, let us do it together." We were all surprised by what Mr. N announced.
"Nikolai, just stay here and let her do her job." Kisses grabbed Mr. N's arm.
"That is not her job, Kisses. She is a host. And I learned, she lifted the ratings of the show." Mr. N shrugged.
I walked to the pantry. I just let them argue.
Perhaps, termination is in exchange for his defense of me.
The tightness of my chest. I want to moan.
"Why did you follow her order?" I grabbed by my chest in shock.
"Mr. N, why did you follow me? Here it is, I am preparing the coffee." I turned my attention back to what I was doing.
"You always obey whatever other people say. Always fight for your right." He also seemed like this when he first preached to me three years ago.
"I do not want to lose my job. Then I promise you that I will do everything you order as long as I stay here.
Furthermore, I used to be a personal assistant here. It was part of my job." I answered back.
"It was part of your job when you were a personal assistant. But you are a host now.
Can I ask you a favor, face me when you are talking to me." He instructed me to do so instantly.
I am just frightened of him. He stared at me for a few seconds.
"You vowed to follow my command, not Kisses' orders.
Unless I told you, do not do it. Kisses and you have an equal position in this company.
You are both celebrities. That is my command to you!
Be strong to fight for your stance. Do it bravely enough the way you told me not to fire you here.
Prove me that you deserve to stay. Not by obeying orders, commands, but by being rigorously battling for what you merit." He said too long but it all entered my mind.
A heartfelt nuzzle from him.
I thought he had changed. But I was mistaken.
He is nevertheless Mr. N that I met before.
He is still the first man to make my heart whack to the highest level.
I felt comfort from his words.
I understood that I can get even to anyone else for as long as I comprehend how to compete equally and fairly.