I was bombarded with questions from my female co-workers, the moment I sat back down on my cubicle. At first, they were very discreet and hushed with their interrogation, but as soon as Mr. Mitchel and the woman in red left the office, they began crowding at my desk like moths to a flame.
"Who is she?" Belle asked pushing her chair from her desk to mine, acting like we were close.
"I don't know." I quickly answered her without taking my eyes off the sketches I was working on.
"Is she Mr. Mitchel's girlfriend?" asked another one who just popped out of nowhere in front of my cubicle.
"I don't know!" I answered again as I saved the files and started taking out my wallet from my bag.
"Can you guys quit bothering Cath? Clearly, like us, she also doesn't have a clue on who she is." Andrea said then she started pulling me away from the crowd to have our lunch out of the office.
"Thanks, Dre. I needed the help." I said to her as I was munching on the salad that I ordered.
"Those vixens just want to have the latest gossip inside the office. That Belle, the nerve to act all buddy with you. It’s disgusting!" She said as she angrily munches on her greens.
"Whatever. It’s not like it has anything to do with me. I don't even know her name." I shrugged at her and we both finished our lunch on a good note.
My intercom started ringing as I was doing finishing touches to the comic book edition that is due to be sent to production today. I answered it immediately without taking my eyes off the monitor or looking at the caller id.
"Hello, Catherine Aragon, Creative Department." I greeted the caller.
"Hello Miss Aragon, can you come by my office?" my eyes widened as soon as I heard the raspy voice from my receiver. I looked at the called id and my hunch was confirmed.
"Sir Mitchel! Sure thing sir. I'll be right there." I answered then waited for Sir Mitchel to hang up. I immediately went to his office as soon as I put down the phone. Kyla just gestured for me to go in so, I knocked on the door before quietly peaking inside.
"You wanted to see me, sir?" I asked as I saw him through the small gap.
"Ah, come in Miss Aragon. Sit down." He said to me as he gestured to the meeting table inside his office. I sat down on one of the chairs and waited for further instructions. I looked around the office and noticed that other than the work board and lack of pictures and awards the place looks the same, but somehow, it feels more comfortable.
"I've looked through the templates that you gave me earlier. And I'm honestly very impressed with the new comic series that you guys prepared, but if you don't mind, there are a few things that I would like to do a bit differently from the proposed template." He said as he sat down on the chair opposite of mine with the templates at hand.
"Of course sir. I'm all ears." I answered and he started suggesting things, from the plotline to the sketches and dialogues. And I can't help but be amazed at how passionate he is with his work. He's very hands-on, unlike our previous boss, and honestly, all his ideas match perfectly to the concept of the whole story of the comic. He didn't want that much of a change, just minor details that my team overlooked and I still can't believe that he was able to piece all of these together within just a couple of hours.
"I'm on board with everything that you suggested, sir. Still, I think it's best to also see what the team thinks about the changes that you're proposing." I said, hesitantly to him as soon as he finished walking me through his suggestions. I braced myself for a backlash because of what I just said, but instead, he smiled at me.
"Okay. I do have a meeting in ten minutes. So, can you schedule a meeting with the team, maybe five in the afternoon?" he suddenly asked me and I nodded in response.
"Sure sir. I'll inform them right away." I said to him and went out of his office.
I went back to my cubicle and immediately issued an announcement to my team through our company emails.
"Guys, Mr. Mitchel wants to have a meeting this afternoon at five in his office. It's regarding the final templates for our new comic. He has some suggestions that he wants the whole team's opinion about the matter." I said and my team immediately replied in agreement to this.
Honestly, this team is the best that I've worked with in my three years in the company. Axel is the character artist for the new comic and is one of the best if not the best in the company. He's a very efficient worker and his work is awesome, but he can be quite cold and indifferent sometimes. Andrea always says that his cold attitude is somehow his charm. Let's just say that Andrea has a thing for him and you can't blame her, Axel is not a bad-looking guy.
Charles and Janice, on the other hand, are a couple. Charles handles the background of the comic while Janice works on the plot and dialogues. They both are very professional and so cute as a couple that you can't help but ship their relationship altogether. The only thing that's missing in their relationship is marriage, and I'm crossing everything I can cross in my body, to wish that they would be end game.
I looked at the time on the computer and noticed that it was already five minutes before five in the afternoon. I quickly saved the files on my computer and started preparing for the meeting.
"Cath, let's go?" Axel asked as he leaned over my cubicle.
"Where's Janice and Charles?" I asked him as I stood up from my chair.
"Present Cathy!" Janice said as both she and Charles approached my desk.
"Let's go then!" I said and started leading the team to the boss's office.
"Where are you guys going?" Andrea asked as we passed by her cubicle as she was gathering her things.
"Oh, right. Forgot to tell you, Dre. We have a meeting with Sir Mitchel. I still don't know what time we'll finish. So, you should head home first." I said to her and her shoulders just drooped.
"Fine. What else can I do? See you guys tomorrow." She said hugging me.
"See you later." she flirtingly said to Axel, giving him a nudge with her shoulder and topping it off with a wink before walking out of the office.
The three of us looked at Axel's reaction but were disappointed with the lack of it. I don't even know what we were expecting from him. I just shook my head in amusement before heading to Sir Mitchel's office.
"Sir?" I called as I opened the door. I heard him speak up but I don't think he was talking to me. I peeked inside his office and saw him near the window while talking to someone over the phone. I knocked on the glass door to get his attention and I did. He turned around and gestured for me to come in and so we all quietly entered.
"Yes, Gracie. I'll be at dinner. I just have to finish something. Okay, I'll pick up ice cream on the way home. Bye, bye!" He said as he ended the call. I guess it was his girlfriend. I can't help but smile at how sweet he sounded as he talked to his girl.
"Sorry about that. Sit down, guys. I haven't had the chance to know everyone in the office, I hope I'm not taking too much of your time." He said as he sat with us at his meeting table.
"No sir. It's refreshing to get great feedback from our superior." Charles answered as he flashed a big smile on his face.
The meeting began and the team looked more enthusiastic than before. All of our ideas flooded out as we brainstormed throughout the meeting.
"Can you guys revise everything before Friday?" Sir Mitchel asked after we finalized all the changes that we will go through for the project. The three of them answered a variety of yes to SirMitchel's delight.
"Just pass your works to Miss Aragon so we can finalize the templates together before sending it to production on Monday. If there are no more questions, I think all of us should go home." All of us stood up from our chairs and began heading out to get our stuff from our cubicles. As I reached my cubicle I realized that I haven't had a chance to sort out my things.
"We'll get going Cath. See you tomorrow." Janice said as she walked hand in hand with Charles, Axel following right behind them.
"You sure you'd be fine alone?" Axel asked, stopping in front of my cubicle as I rummaged through my things, looking for my phone.
"I'm going to be fine Axel. I'll be right down after I get my things together." I said smiling at him. He nodded his head before rushing to the elevator before it closes on the couple.
I continued rummaging through my bag, but I still couldn't find my phone anywhere. I started taking all my things out of my bag to get a thorough look through them, still nothing.
"Still not going home, Miss Aragon?" I heard Sir Mitchel's voice echo through the office.
"I'm just sorting through my things before heading home, sir." I answered him with a polite smile on my face. He looked down on his watch before turning his attention back at me.
"I'll head out first, Miss Aragon. Someone is waiting for me to get home." He replied with an apologetic smile.
"No problem sir. I won't be staying for too long."
"Okay. Good night then. Have a safe trip home." He said to me before walking out of the office.
I continued looking for my phone, but it was still nowhere to be found, I guess I left it at home. I sighed in defeat as I started putting my things back in my bag. My stomach began rumbling as I looked up at the wall clock in the office. It's almost seven in the evening and the last food I ate was the salad I had with Andrea at lunch. I should just grab a take-out on my way home.
I grabbed my bag and all the things I'll be bringing home when I suddenly heard the elevator doors open. Looks like someone forgot something. I looked at the entrance of the office to see who came back at this time and was so shocked at the sight of the person that suddenly appeared in front of me.
I turned my attention to the entrance of the office and saw a dark looming figure enter the doorway. I squinted and tried my best to get a clearer view of the man but he already spotted me before I even realized who he was. A creepy and unsettling smile appeared on his face when his eyes landed on me and that's when it hit me. The two of us are alone, not only on my floor but probably the whole building. "You're still here, Cathy." his deep raspy yet chilling voice said, making all the hairs at the back of my neck stood up. A sudden nervousness washed over me, my heart started ringing in my ears, my legs began to wobble and my palms became all sweaty. I swallowed a bit, trying to muster up enough courage to reply to him, but my throat and my mouth has become as dry as a desert. "Ah. Lu-Luigi. What are you doing here? I'm about to head down myself." I said stuttering a bit, trying my best to hide the fact that I am creeped out. Instead of answering me, he slowly walked towards me and
I hesitantly followed Sir Mitchel to his car after I got discharged. I kept telling him that I can go home by myself but he still insisted on taking me home himself so I let him. "Where to Catherine?" he asked as he got inside the driver's seat. "Just to the nearest terminal, Sir. I can find my way home from there." I said to him and he turned to look at me with a vague expression on his face. "I insist Ms. Aragon. I'll drive you home. It's already the early hours of the morning, we don't want a repeat of what happened earlier, right?" He reasoned out, so I reluctantly told him my address. We drove through the city quietly, but something keeps bugging me and I just can't control my curiosity anymore. "Sir? Thank you for lending me your shirt and for... Uhm... saving me earlier." I shyly said with my head down, not knowing how to start the conversation with him. I couldn't remember anything after I passed out but I woke up wearing his polo shirt.
I really couldn't get used to having all this free time to myself. I couldn't do anything strenuous because of my hand so I just spend the rest of the weekend cuddled up in bed under my favorite blanket, watching one of my favorite series. Monday rolled in faster than I expected or wanted to. What Andrea said the other night really messed up my head. I can't help but feel nervous at the thought of seeing Sir Mitchel, I didn't want to feel awkward around him, and because of my overthinking brain, I hardly had enough sleep. I got in the office quite early, and as my co-workers started to arrive I feel relieved that none of them gave me unwanted attention. "So it was really serious." Axel said to me as soon as he saw my hand. He was followed by the rest of the team, and I immediately saw the worry in their faces. "This is nothing. I'm just sorry that I wasn't able to do the final revisions." I said to them apologetically. "No wo
I was so shocked by Axel's sudden character change that all I could do was stare at him. His small eyes screamed desperation, his thin lips pouted as he pleaded for me to grant a favor that he want so badly. I took a deep breath to regulate my breathing and finally asked him a question that I might regret asking."Help with what exactly?" I finally asked, still a bit suspicious. His whole face lit up as soon as he heard what I just said.He then leaned in and told me his request. My eyes widened as he finished everything he has to say. It took some time for my brain to process what I just heard, and when it finally dawned on me, I can't help but smile at him. We then left the fire exit together and as soon as we went through that door, I realize that I'm in so much trouble. Andrea just peeked out of the door leading to our office, in time to spot me and Axel, exit the fire exit.I watched as her face turned sour at the sight of me and Axel together. She's been m
"Catherine. Are you okay?" I heard Sir Mitchel's voice ask me suddenly. I looked around and saw the rest of the team, including Belle, looking at me curiously and with displeasure."Ah. Yes, sir. I'm completely fine." I answered Sir Mitchel, not wanting to cause any more delay in the meeting."Are you sure? You look so out of it, today." he asked again, and this time, I heard an annoyed snort from the person in front of me, none other than Belle. I turned to look at her and she just shrugged at me with that despicable smile of hers. I brushed it off and focused my attention back on Sir Mitchel."Don't worry about me, Sir. Just a slight headache, other than that I'm fine. Let's just proceed." I answered and the meeting started again."Can she be more unprofessional?" I overheard Belle say as soon as Sir Mitchel's door closed behind us."I know right. She just had to space out in the middle of a brainstorming meeting. You know Belle, I've been notici
"Zab!" Andrea screamed as soon as the door of my apartment opened. She grabbed my sister into a tight hug which my sister gladly returned."Dre! I missed you!" She screamed while the two of them twirled around the living room. I can't help but laugh at the sight of my best friend and my sister acting like they're the ones who are related. It's been so long since I had the two by my side at the same time.The three of us ended up having dinner together just like old times. I miss being surrounded by these two, specially Zabrina. I miss sharing a room with her, waking up, and going to sleep together. I love being with her again, but I still can't shake off the feeling that she's still hiding the truth of her unexpected visit. I want to say something about it, but she looks so happy that I can't bring myself to ask her again and ruin the mood."I'll be staying here for the night." Andrea suddenly declared and by the looks of it, I don't think I have any say in this
My face heated up every time I remember what just happened inside Gavin's office. And it doesn't help that I actually left my phone inside. I feel so embarrassed that I don't even know how to face him next time. I've been avoiding him for the rest of the day, but I can't avoid him forever. He's my boss for Pete's sake, but every time I see even just a glimpse of him, my face would turn tomato red and I just want to hit myself in the head with a rock to make me forget what just happened.I felt his breath closer to my face, the air between us seems to go thinner by the second. I closed my eyes unconsciously, and I still can't move of my own accord. I can't help but swallow my saliva due to nervousness and honestly, excitement."Sir, your next meeting..." Kyla's voice rang through Sir Mitchel's office, but she was stopped mid-sentence by something. Then I was reminded of what our position might look like from someone else's point of view. My eyes sprang open
Working with Sir Mitchel after my phone debacle is just simply awkward, and that is putting it lightly. I don't even want to be left in the same room with him. Most of the time, in our meetings, I just try and distract myself and refrain from looking at him."Miss Aragon? Are you okay?" I was snapped back to reality after hearing his deep voice beside me.I looked around the conference room and saw over a dozen pairs of eyes looking at me like I had completely lost my mind. My gaze fall on my best friend and she looked at me twitching her lips, signaling for me to get my head out of the clouds."Ah, yes. Sorry, Sir Mitchel. My head just started throbbing for some reason, but I'm fine. Please go on." I answered, looking right at him, trying not to stumble through my words. He looked back at me raising his eyebrow with a cocky expression on his face, clearly trying his best not to laugh. He then cleared his throat and brought his focus back on the others.