Coffee after Work

Time went by quickly. Without realizing it, it had been a week since Lillianne first set foot in this company as the CEO's new secretary candidate.
Everything was not difficult for her at all. With her extraordinary abilities, she can easily complete her tasks excellently. She even got along with other employees around her even though she was still reluctant about them. She noticed how they often gossiped about her behind her back, but it was not a big deal. She also got all the help and support from the competent Theodoros.
Meanwhile, Blaze Davies was still cold to her. Even after the good performance she showed him, for some reason, the man never seemed satisfied with it. He was still so harsh towards her. He didn't even hide his intention to make her fail to survive his test and get fired.
No problem. Despite that, Lillianne was confident that Blaze did that because he was getting more attracted to her. He was just still in denial because of whatever stupid promise he made to his daughter and late wife.
Speaking of them, that was the thing that bothered Lillianne the most so far. She was still curious why Evelyn Davies had no Leander blood in her body. He had discussed this with Theodoros, but the vagabond werewolf was even more shocked than she was. It seemed like everyone, including Blaze, really believed that Evelyn was his daughter. Thus, the late Rhea may have lied to him all this time.
It made Lillianne even more annoyed. The thought of Leander being with another woman and having a kid is already painful enough, but she can't imagine it if she turns out to be a traitor. Lillianne might have killed her if she were still alive in this world.
'We will see. I will tell this to Leander someday. That way, the little girl won't interfere with my mission to get him back.'
However, let's ignore that for now. She had to get past the first obstacle in her plan before dealing with it. She must stay at Pageant Corp longer by becoming a permanent employee first.
That's it!
She was facing the boss again as the man occupied his desk. His expression looked as calm as ever, which often frustrated Lillianne who had trouble reading his thoughts. She was clueless as to his conclusion.
"So, how do you feel after being my secretary for a week? Do you like it?" Blaze Davies started it with a question.
"Of course, sir. Apart from liking the work here, I am also comfortable with the environment. Everyone here is also friendly. They help me a lot. You too, sir. You are such a good boss."
Actually, she wanted to add to the compliment with a flirty attitude, maybe with a smirk or a wink. However, she had to endure that for now. It was Theodore who suggested this to increase her chances of being accepted. He said she had to avoid making Blaze uncomfortable during that time.
"Well, I will keep it short. Based on my observations, I have decided on your position in this company. I accept you. We can immediately sign a contract with the HR team."
Lillianne's eyes immediately widened when she heard that. She looked so satisfied. "Really, sir? Argh, I--"
"Don't be too relieved yet." Blaze Davies interrupted her small celebration. "Even though you have been officially accepted, that doesn't mean you can do as you please. I will keep watching you. I can easily change my mind and kick you out of here if you do something unforgivable, understand?"
'Yes, darling. I know it. You will keep watching me, never be able to stop thinking about me, so you will soon realize that you always love me. I know it would happen someday.'
How much she wanted to say that out loud to him, but she still had to restrain herself -- at least for now.
"Roger that, sir. I promise I won't disappoint you. And here... I brought your favorite Americano." Liliianne stepped forward, handing over the cup of coffee that had been hidden behind her back.
However, the man still had an unpleasant expression on his face. "Have you prepared this? What if I reject you? Are you going to give it anyway or spill it in my face instead?"
Lillianne let out a laugh at his natural funny trait. "How could you say that, sir? Well, to be honest, I feel confident that I will be accepted. I feel like I am doing well so there is no reason for you to say no."
She had to control herself from boasting, but the man kept baiting her.
"So, please accept this, sir," she pushed the cup closer to him.
"I don't need this. Besides, it looks like I am accepting bribes from my employee, you know?"
"What about a bribe? It's just a cup of coffee. I also handed it over after you issued your decision, so it shouldn't be said that way."
“But--“
"Please accept that, sir. I really sincerely buy it for you. I also hope that our relationship will be better in the future, regardless of whatever happened to us before. Let's work together well until the end." Lillianne had never brightened when she said it.
Blaze Davies just remained silent and stared at the secretary. He no longer rejected or criticized her like before.
If you think about it from the start he was just too harsh towards her. From the first moment they met, she was very flirtatious towards him and he realized that he was immediately attracted to her. He even had a forbidden dream with her a few hours later. It made him dislike Lillianne Guinn because she had shaken the commitment he thought he had built quite firmly. The problem wasn't her, it was him. It was time for him to admit it.
"Fine. I will take this because I happen to be thirsty." Blaze gave up. "But, once again, I emphasize that this doesn't mean anything. Don't think about twisting it to other people to make it weird. I will also kick you out if I find out."
'Damn, this guy is really complicated. However, that's also what makes me like him. Even eight hundred years ago that made me accept him was because of this adorable side of him.'
Apart from that, Lillianne again uttered a roundabout and blunt remark at the boss. Instead, he pulled out his fake gummy smile again.
"I got it, sir. I won't disappoint you."
***
"Congratulations on your appointment as a permanent employee at Pageant Corp, Lillianne. You deserve it."
After work, Lillianne was invited by four secretaries from other chiefs in the company. They stopped at a bar near the office for a small celebration.
Liliianne was still uncomfortable mingling with them. It seemed to her that humans were too noisy, especially young women who liked gossipping like them. However, she has to get used to this more and more, especially because she felt she needed them to gather information about the CEO. It was also the main reason why she agreed to join them here.
"I heard Mr. Bolton hit on you. Tch, that old man never changes. Even though he is a man with children and a wife, he can't be a little wiser for their sake."
After rambling about random topics, Donna George, the secretary of Chief Technology Officer of Pageant Corp, brought up one topic that Lillianne could understand.
"I know right, it hasn't even been a year since his scandal with a novice employee was exposed. It was very crazy how his wife came to the girl to curse at her in front of many people. She even uploaded it to social media so the whole city knew about it. As a result, the girl was fired and never hired again anywhere, while the old fart still lived peacefully with his so-called little family."
"I heard that too. It's very crazy. Although I blame the girl for being too cheap just because he is rich, it's still unfair. Mr. Bolton should get more criticism than her, but he has been doing fine up until now," Anna Caleb added.
"Well, what did you expect? He is someone powerful. That's always the case. That's why we all have to be careful not to fall into the same trap. It's better to live on a mediocre salary than to end up ruined just because of a momentary temptation like that," said Melanie Hudgens.
"Then what about you, Lillianne?" Donna George talked to her. "Did he make any moves towards you after that meeting?"
"No. I never saw him again after that," said Lillianne right away.
"Really? You are not lying because you don't want us to make fun of you, right?" Melanie Hudgens teased her a little.
"Why would I do that? Besides, I am not interested in him or his money. That would never happen."
She didn't lie. Since meeting that day, she never communicated with Jake Bolton again. She did exchange information once with his secretary, though.
"Well, I hope you are honest. Believe me, there are many men in higher positions who will try to seduce you. Some will even openly non-verbally harass you. You have to be smart to survive that. That's the right decision," said Anna Caleb.
"You seem to know that very well, Ms. Caleb. Do you have any special experience with that? Tell us, please. Which man did that to you before?"
"Yes. I am curious too."
Here we go again with their crap. After just an hour of sitting with them, Lillianne was so sick of it. However, she had to maintain her fake smile in front of them.
"Then what about Mr Blaze Davies?" She then baited them with what she wanted to know the most. "Is he that kind of man too?"
Everyone glanced at her at the same time. They had this same dramatic expression on their faces.
***