I awoke to the familiar sound of my ringtone. Rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I stumbled over to the lamp stand to grab my phone. Squinting to lessen the brightness, I saw it was my mom calling!
I wondered why she was reaching out so early, so I quickly dialed her back. After two rings, she answered. "Mom, are you alright? Why the early call?" I was concerned something might be wrong.
She exhaled deeply. "I'm fine. I just couldn't sleep, worrying about how you were doing, so I had to call." Her tone conveyed genuine concern.
I had completely forgotten to check in with her amidst my busy week. She had every reason to be both worried and upset if she chose to be. "I'm sorry, Mom! I've been swamped this week, which is why I didn't get a chance to call. I didn't mean to stress you out—guess what, I finally landed a job!"
"That's wonderful, Blossom! I completely understand the stress of searching for a job, so you don't need to apologize. I just wanted to check in on how you're doing. By the way, what kind of position is it?" Mom's enthusiasm for my job was evident.
"I'm a receptionist at a large home décor company," I replied with excitement.
"Wow, that sounds great, dear."She sounded really happy.
"How's London treating you, Mom? I hope he's not causing you any trouble?" I felt concerned for her; she should have just come with me to Canada, but she insisted on staying close to her family, and I couldn't argue with her stubbornness.
"Things are fine here, and he's not bothering me anymore. I've got a restraining order," she said, sounding a bit drowsy—poor thing must be exhausted.
"That's good to hear! Anyway, I'll talk to you later. You really should rest, bye!" I ended the call, fully aware that she would want to continue chatting. She needed to focus on her well-being instead of worrying about me.
I glanced at the clock—it was 6 AM. Time to prepare for work!
The house felt incredibly dull; there was no music blaring or voices echoing down the halls. The girls headed home yesterday, and I made sure to tuck their gifts into their suitcases. I can't wait to see their reactions when they find them. Hehe.
*******
I grabbed my purse and dashed off to the office, where I was warmly welcomed by Mrs Mia. She seemed genuinely thrilled to see me, even more so than when she congratulated me earlier.
"Welcome, Ms. Blossom!" she exclaimed, bowing slightly.
I quickly lifted her shoulders, as she was older and held a higher position than I did. She shouldn't be treating me like this at all.
"Good morning, Mrs. Mia. Honestly, you really don't need to greet me like that." She flashed a smile and motioned for me to follow her.
We stepped into the elevator heading toward the CEO's office. Glancing at my watch, I realized I was five minutes early.
I chose an outfit that felt a bit upscale for my role as a receptionist, wanting to strike a balance. I donned a simple black skirt and jacket, paired with a silky pearl white blouse and a chic neck scarf to tie it all together. My curly black hair was elegantly braided down the back, with two loose strands framing my face, complemented by a touch of makeup and my favorite earrings.
***
Mrs. Mia slid her card through the reader next to the grand door, which emitted a loud beep before swinging open. 'I'll be back in just a moment,' she said as she stepped inside.
Just three minutes later, I found myself in the CEO's office, where he stood by the tea station, blending something in a cup.
At least this time he didn't swivel his chair!
"Have a seat," his voice resonated.
I approached the chair positioned in front of his desk and settled in.
Glancing around anxiously, I noticed something was different—there was a newly created section in his office. It hadn't been there before; all I remembered was a simple table and chair. Perhaps it was set up for Mrs. Mia or someone else.
He wrapped up whatever he was working on and took his seat, lifting a familiar file while sipping tea from a cup in his right hand. Ugh, can we get to the point already?
He looked much more polished compared to the last time we met.
"'I was reviewing your file and discovered that you graduated with a law degree," he said, flipping through the pages of my file.
"Yes, sir, I did," I replied with a nod.
He then set the file down and turned his attention to me. "So why did you apply for the receptionist position?"
'"It was my only option since finding a job was quite challenging." I nervously toyed with my fingers. Gosh! What's his angle here?
"Well, our company is in urgent need of a lawyer, and according to your application, you come with significant experience. So, Ms. Blossom, would you be willing to take on the role of our company lawyer and my personal assistant?!"
Oh my gosh! Company lawyer?! Absolutely! Hold on, he mentioned personal assistant too? That's a lot to take on, especially since he hardly knows me.
Still, I can't let this opportunity pass; how hard could it be to assist him personally, right?
"Um, I'm on board, but I do have a question." I said, looking up at him. Wow, his eyes are mesmerizing. Focus, Bloom! Men can be ruthless!
"Sure, go ahead." He maintained his gaze on me.
"Why would you trust me with personal tasks when we've only just met?" I inquired.
He let out a chuckle and sank deeper into his seat. "It's not about you; it's my instincts that I trust." A subtle smile crossed his face.
I simply nodded in response, hoping he wouldn't be let down if his instincts turned out to be misguided.
"Okay, let's roll up our sleeves; this is your workspace." He gestured toward the designated area.
So, that's the reason it was set up that way! I wondered what would have happened if I had refused—his instincts probably hinted that I wouldn't.
I truly can't stand his instincts!