Oh My CEO, chapter two

Sophia’s sweat dripped down her hairline as twenty pairs of eyes stared at her, all with an intensity that made her nervous. Her team stood around her desk, watching her without batting an eyelid. Sophia had caught their attention, but she hadn’t thought about how they’d react to seeing her go, so she hesitated, but they kept staring at her until she couldn’t stand it any longer.

Sophia decided not to beat around the bush. “I’ve been transferred from this team.”

Their shocked breath carried across the silent room as they fidgeted in their seats, unable to decide whether to hug her for comfort or stay where they were. Lyka was the first to break the awkward silence, swaying slightly toward Sophia. “But why… Which team?”

The others nodded, waiting impatiently for an answer. “It’s not another team… I’ll be the big boss’s assistant,” she replied.

The members of her team couldn’t help but cry out in horror. Their worried eyes met with anger and anxiety. Sophia knew they would feel vindictive towards her.

“A demotion?” came out Leroy, horrified.

Ivan stood in the corner like a frightened mouse, not daring to open his mouth. “Mr. Sanchez can’t do that to you. Are you going to quit? You should have pulled his hair for letting him. Right, guys?”

They all nodded, muttering their displeasure at the same time. She held out her hand to silence them, drawing their attention. “It’s just for six months. I’ll miss you terribly, but it’s better than getting fired. I’ll be able to work at the top of the flour.”

She tried to show enthusiasm, but their expressions remained the same. “But still, you’re the best team leader we’ve got. Mr. Sanchez can’t do it like this,”

Ivan’s small voice said from the back, drawing everyone’s attention. Mary nods quickly. “You’re right, Ivan. People at the top are assholes. They make decisions without considering our feelings. They push us around like pawns in a chess game… How can they take…”

Sophia stops her stream of words by glowering at him. Mary nods quickly. “You’re right, Ivan. People at the top are assholes. They make decisions without considering our feelings. They push us around like pawns in a chess game… How can they take…”

Sophia stops her stream of words by glowering at him. “What did I say about insulting the boss…. Leave it, Mary.”

She rebukes her lightly. “I agree with this arrangement. The pay is good.” she assured.

Lyka rushed into her arms and hugged her tightly. “We’ll miss you, Sophia. You’ve been the best supervisor I’ve ever worked with,” she cried in the embrace.

Sophia patted her back, surprised by their gesture. The others joined in, almost tripping her. They finally let go, once the prolonged embrace had made everyone uncomfortable.

She hastened to reassure them. “Hey, no boring atmosphere on my team. You must all be enthusiastic, okay? Treat my replacement like you treated me, and…”

She paused, remembering the barbecue party her friends had organized for her, another of their attempts to get her to hook up or find a potential partner. “You’re all invited to a barbecue party at my friend’s house tonight. I’ll text you the address”.

They got excited, shaking hands. “You’re the best Sophia,” says Leroy, giving her a thumbs-up.

Sophia smiles and picks up her bag. “Wish me luck with my new job,” she says, and they all rush to hug her again.

Sophia manages to calm them down enough to sneak out of the department. Her new workspace was on the top floor. The offices looked extravagant, the equipment top-notch, but the employees she met seemed a little uptight.

Everything seemed too far apart. Everyone was minding their own business, in stark contrast to her old department, where people gossiped, listened to music and shared ideas for inspiration. She already missed her team.

She approached the elevator leading to Mr. Lennox Ray’s space. He only worked with five people, of whom she was the assistant, making six. He was an old dictator, she thought, throwing her advice not to insult bosses out the window.

Most of the employees had never met Lennox Ray in person, probably because of his advanced age. But Sophia pictured him as a salt-and-pepper-haired man with shaky, wobbly fingers who probably sweated like Mr. Sanchez. Sophia chuckled at the thought and climbed into the elevator.

“We’re going to meet our old new boss and kick him where the sun don’t shine if he gets too hard. If that doesn’t work, I’ll have to improvise… Maybe spit in his coffee, and watch him drink until I calm down.” she murmured to herself, smiling at the image she was getting.

The elevator opened and she stepped out, bumping into the hard shoulder of a man at the entrance, the glass of drink he was holding spilling onto her dress. Sophia gasped, jumping back before looking up at the culprit. Oh, my fu…damn Zeus!

Definitely the kind of guy to bring home to Mom. What happened next seemed to happen in slow motion. He blinked in surprise, his long dark lashes unfurling over a darker eyeball, eyes so intense she gasped when they landed on hers….

Sophia was sure to drool a little at the perfection of his appearance; he could probably star in most women’s fantasies if he decided to go into the film industry. He was like those models who looked so perfect that it was hard not to look at them because everything they did was enchanting. His whole face was impeccable, but his dark eyes and long black hair made him more intense and intimidating.

He grunted under the impact, withdrawing the glass cup. His eyes scanned his shirt for splashes, irritation staining his features. Sophia cleared her throat, waiting patiently for an apology.

She assumed he was one of the heads of the company’s most important department. He looked up at her, his dark eyes probing. Sophia looked back at him until he passed in front of her.

Sophia scoffed at his audacity, and her hand darted out to grab his shirt, stopping him. He turned to face her incredulously, his gaze on the piece of his shirt Sophia was clinging to. Sophia knew her type, just because they were endowed with the face of an angel – a very arrogant one – didn’t mean they thought they could get away with anything.

“You spilled your drink on me, aren’t you forgetting to say something?” she asked, raising her eyebrows.

His hands went to hers to remove it, but she clung to them with vice. His voice was hoarse as he tried to pull her hands away. “Maybe next time, you should be more careful getting out of the elevator. Take this as a little lesson.”

Sophia glared at him, the condescending way he spoke made her angry. He spoke as if everyone was inferior to him. Was everyone at the highest level rude?

Was this guy being disrespectful because he’d heard about her new mission? Sophia didn’t want to know why. She wanted him to apologize.

He’d given up trying to get her to let go, “What did you just say? I should learn a lesson from this. You spilled your drink on me, and you dare say that to me. I’m so shocked right now, wow, that’s just the worst thing I’ve heard in all my years of existence” she said, earning him an incredulous look from her.

He stared at the hand clutching his shirt. “Let me go or I’ll call security. And believe me, you won’t just be kicked out,” he threatened, a serious look on his face.

Sophia winced and let go, not wanting to get fired on her first day on the job. Sophia was about to let it go until he muttered an expletive under his breath, he also looked elated, so she decided to wipe the smug look off his face. I’m not bringing him home, Mom, I’m sorry.

Her hands left his side to slap the guy’s face. The slap echoed through the silent office, eliciting shocked gasps from its occupants. Some employees rose from their seats, pale, their mouths open in astonishment.

“That will teach you to apologize when you’re wrong, and also to speak to your colleagues with respect. I’m going to report you to the manager because you’re not fit to work here.”

She fumbled for her ID badge, shoving her hand roughly into her pocket as he stared at her in surprise. She took out her wallet and her card… “You didn’t even bother to put a label on it. You think you’re a big shot, Mr…”

She turned the card over, her face darkening as she read the name, her voice barely audible. Her hands trembled as she squinted at the writing. Lennox Jr Ray.

She slowly looked up into the dark eyes that dominated her. They were furious. It was as if they were going to swallow her up if she uttered so much as a word.

How to save such a situation? Her mouth went dry, prompting her to lick them nervously. Her brain was empty as she recalled the last few minutes.

It seemed everyone was holding their breath with her, waiting for the director’s verdict. She turned back to him, clutching her card, trying to apologize. Sophia didn’t get the chance.

“In my office. Now,” he mumbled, striding away from her, rubbing his cheek.

Sophia stared at the other employees, who merely shook their heads piteously; she knew she’d screwed up. She knew she’d screwed up big time.