The call

 07

"Look who we have here!" Claire squeaked, her eyes dilating with shock. "You work here too? My goodness..." 

"Claire." 

It was Ricky's stern voice, with a note of warning detected in it. 

Claire slowly sealed her lips, rolled her eyes at Audrey and walked towards Ricky. Together, they walked into the office. 

Audrey balled her hands into tight fists as she glared at the door. Slowly, she let out a deep breath, placed her hands on her belly.

"Let's calm down, dear. This isn't good for us." She mumbled under her breath. She lifted her head, and just then, the main door opened again, and a young man stepped into that office. 

He wore a black suit with white tie hanging perfectly from his collar, his wavy black hair fell smoothly over his back. 

His well chiseled jawline sat perfectly on hie face, and from where he stood, Audrey could tell he had deep brown set of eyes. 

He seemed the perfect gentle man at first sight, and Audrey couldn't keep the admiration off her eyes. 

"Good morning, people." He greeted in his soft, but yet deep voice, and Audrey could quickly tell he was one of the staff. 

He walked towards an empty cubicle, dropped his suitcase on the desk before turning around to look at Audrey. Then, he waved. 

"You new?" 

Audrey nodded. "I am. You can call me Miss Christine." 

"Billy Caldwell here." 

"Billy!" Someone squeaked excitedly, jumped in front of Billy, and gave him a suffocating hug. 

It was Elena, the floor receptionist. 

Billy groaned, and snatched himself away from Elena's grasp. "Come on!" 

Elena gasped as she lurched forward, arms sprawled in the air. "What? Aren't you going to say hi to your girlfriend?" 

Audrey watched their drama, and shook her head. Perhaps, working at Anderson Group wouldn't be so boring after all. She chuckled under her breath, and just then, her telephone buzzed. 

All the excitement she felt disappeared as soon as she picked up the call, and heard her boss's voice. 

"Where's my coffee?" He growled. 

      ****************

The annoying giggles filled Audrey's ears as soon as she got closer to the door with a tray of two coffee cups and a pack of biscuit. Willing herself to calm down, she knocked softly on the door. 

"Come in." Ricky ordered from inside the office, and Audrey walked in, her eyes on the floor. 

"What took you so long?" Claire asked. 

Unable to keep herself from glaring, Audrey lifted her gaze and shot a icy look at Claire. She was sitting on the desk, her almost naked legs crossed in front of Ricky. 

"Some of us has to work." Audrey clenched her teeth as she replied. She stole a glance at Ricky as she walked towards the large desk, and rashly, she dropped the tray, splashing some of the coffee on the table. 

"Hey!" Claire cried, jumping off the desk. "Are you stupid or what?" 

Audrey stood straight, breathed, trying so hard to calm down. "I'm sorry." She mumbled an apology. 

"Clean up the mess that you made. You don't just apologize." Ricky chipped in as he picked up one of the coffee. 

Audrey nodded. She turned, and started towards the door. 

"Miss Christine," Ricky called after her, halting Audrey in front of the door. 

"Yes, Mr. Anderson." Audrey replied, turning.

"Do you want to keep this job?" 

Audrey's lips parted as she searched for what to say, and when she couldn't find the suitable words, she breathed with a nod.

"Yes. Boss." Came her reply. 

"You have one last chance. I won't condone any mistakes or disrespect. Even from you." Ricky warned. 

Audrey slid a look at Claire, found an amusing look on her face and looked away. "I'm sorry, boss." She yanked the door open, and walked out hastily. 

Claire laughed, amazed. She slowly turned to look at Ricky. "What the fuck is going on here? Isn't that supposed to be your wife?" 

"Wife on paper, and be careful how you say that. It's a secret." Ricky chided. 

Claire raised her palms in submission and laughed again. "I love this, baby. It makes me feel like I'm really the only one." She leaned closer to him, wrapping her arms around him. 

Just then, the door swung open, divulging Audrey at the door, holding a bucket. 

Claire rolled her eyes as she moved away. "Knock at least, you dummy."

Audrey looked at Ricky with so much contempt in her eyes. Is this torture? Is he trying to get her to quit the job she barely started? 

If that was his plan, no. She would never give in to it.  She walked towards the table, took out a towel from the bucket, and dabbed at the coffee stain on the desk. 

Just when she was done, her phone began to vibrate in the side pocket of her gown. She glanced at Ricky, saw the questioning look he was giving her. 

She took out the phone, and saw Xavier's name on the caller ID. Gladly, she picked it up as she walked towards the door. 

"Xavier." Audrey called to Ricky's hearing before leaving the office. 

"Xavier?" Ricky scoffed. "Who the hell is that?" 

Claire looked at him, her brows raised. "Wait. Are you jealous?" 

Ricky turned to give her a ridiculous stare. "Jealous? Are you kidding me? I think it's time you left. I have to work." 

Claire kept her gaze on his face, and shook her head. She got up on her feet, and carried her bag. "What about the dinner date? Are you still up for it?"

Ricky nodded. "I don't go back on my words unless it's impossible." 

Claire smiled. She bent, and kissed him softly on the lips. "See you." 

 Ricky banged his fist against his desk, rattling the contents on the surface. "Xavier. Who the hell is that?" His phone started to ring on his desk, and he got anxious when he saw it was his parents' home line. Quickly, he picked it up. 

"Young master!" A woman's quivering voice filled the room from the other line. 

Ricky's eyes widened. "Margaretta. What is happening?" 

"It's Mrs. Anderson. She has started again, and this time, the sedative couldn't hold her down. You should come over and calm her down." The woman over the phone sobbed.

Ricky sprang up to his feet, grabbed his jacket off the chair. "I'm coming right away. Where's doctor Blair?" 

"She's here! She has been trying to calm her down as well, but Mrs. Anderson keeps asking for the usual."

Ricky gritted his teeth, he ended the call with no further response and banged the phone down on the table. He grabbed his suitcase, and rushed out of the office.