Chapter 3
Raiden looked up at the mention of her name. "You know her?" He ensured he appeared unattached, yet he wasn't sure why it required effort.
"As a matter of fact. Why is she on the list?" He questioned passionately. Raiden immediately realized the level of attachment on the part of his associate. This realization....he didn't know what to do with it, it astonished him. He had known Braylen for years yet he had never heard him mention affection for any woman seriously. While his words didn't overtly disclose his affection for Ivory, his tone and body language said it all.
"A number of reasons. For one her lack of punctuality this morning, for another the fact that she is yet to prove any real asset to the company." Raiden recited.
"Her punctuality is impeccable; I can vouch that today was out of her control." Braylen defended, he wasn't sure of the details but he knew that she had been at the hospital the night before with an elderly relative of someone she knew, she didn't dare tell him who.
"Yet she failed to inform her superior. I don't dispute that there are circumstances that may be out of one's control, yet it’s the way its handled that's important. In addition when she questioned I found her version contradicted with that of her superior." Raiden explained. Braylen had much to say on this topic yet he was side-tracked with another thought.
"Wait, what do you mean she isn't an asset?"
"She has been an employee for five years yet her superior didn't find her competent enough to add to her responsibilities or attempt to promote her. It speaks to competence."
"I can attest that Ivory Remington is a credit to her profession, she just needs to be given a chance. The efforts of an employee will only be recognized if there is an employer willing to recognize such." Braylen defended. He knew Ivory, she was committed and brilliant. She was easily overlooked due to her quiet nature yet she was brimming with potential.
Raiden raked his fingers through his dark hair. This conversation making it no clearer on what he should do with regards to Ivory Remington. Braylen felt anxious by Raiden's silence.
"Please her give her a chance, you won't regret it."
Raiden finally closed the file. "We are associates and your opinions hold weight, as such, I will honour your view and provide her with one chance. However, if she fails to impress me I can't promise to secure her employment." he paused, "It's late, how about you leave first? I have forced these late nights on you for too long, I will finish up."
"I am grateful." Braylen exhaled the breath he was unconsciously holding in. His shoulders feeling lighter instantly.
Raiden stared mindlessly at another file as Braylen exited his office, once the door was closed he gazed straight ahead. He knew that if he wanted to exclude this woman from being his employee no one could change his mind, then why did he allow himself to be swayed?
Ivory opened one eye at a time, she blinked to clear the sleep from her eyes. She gazed around in confusion, she didn't remember coming to bed the night before. She shook it off, her memory wasn't what it used to be and she was exhausted last night.
She pushed back the sheets and made her way to the kitchen, today she needed coffee.
"Morning." She gazed into the smiling eyes of Braylen. She wanted to be mad at him for making her wait up for him but the sight of him was enough to lighten her mood.
"I didn't hear you come in," she said, closing the distance between them.
"How could you? You were asleep on your desk when I came in." He pulled open a chair for her and she sat.
"Oh." she smiled in embarrassment as he placed a cup of coffee and breakfast in front of her.
"You have been busy." She grabbed hold of the coffee and took a sip praying her body would finally feel awake.
Braylen didn't respond, instead, he took a seat next to her and brought the coffee out of her hands and brought it to his lips for a taste.
Ivory gazed at the clock, her eyes widened instantly. She took a couple of rapid bites of breakfast, pushing back on her chair.
"I gotta get ready," she said in response to Braylen's questioning glance.
"I'll take you to work today." He said calmly.
"Nope. You'll be late for your own job." She said placing her dishes in the sink. He was behind her in a second, pulling her hands away. "Not if we work in the same building."
"I am sorry...what?" she instantly forgot that she was going to be late.
"My associate acquired Blaxx, so I will be stationed there until the company's full potential is realized." he smiled at her astonishment. He had hoped to break the news yesterday when he visited the company with Raiden yet he hadn't seen a glimpse of her.
"Your associate is--" her voice drowned out.
"Raiden De Ville." he finished.
Ivory had known Braylen's associate to be stern yet reasonable at least that was the description Braylen stuck to. However, the man she met seemed to have re-invented the meaning of stern. His demeanor was enough to make her grab a Bible. She failed to understand how Braylen was able to work closely with him and remain so level headed, calm, and caring.
Why are you complaining?
"Bad first impression?" Ivory stood unbearably straight, her eyes glazed over, Braylen noted that she began retiring into her mind.
"Mine or his?" Ivory questioned jokingly until she remembered Raiden's reaction to her. "Wait. did he say anything about me?" she questioned in haste. She swore she would die from embarrassment if he had said anything about her to Braylen.
Braylen smiled. "Anything about you?"
"Yeah---anything bad?" her voice lowered.
"Not at all," he said. "We'll be late." he continued, blocking off any further attempt by Ivory to respond.
Raiden blocked out the complaints of Emery. He informed her of the changes as regards her assistant yet he hadn't expected the backlash of comments.
"I understand that Ivory isn't up to par with the standards expected from our employees yet over these years we have become friends and I can't bear to part with her." she gushed on and on. Somehow she saw Raiden's silence as permission to continue yet Raiden eventually ceased listening.
"Ms. Emery." his voice powerful enough to drown out her droning. He stood and so did she as if she had been caught up in a hypnotic wave. She instantly quieted.
"Personal connections are not in any of the objectives I have formulated for any business. I trust you can understand that my decisions are final." He moved towards the door, finding it unnecessary to wait or listen to a response.
His timing, though coincidental was perfect. As the door to Emery's office closed behind him, Ivory Remington appeared in his sight.
Her eyes widened as their eyes meshed, yet he remained perfectly still.
"Come with me." he slid his hands into his pockets and walked in front of her. She picked up her bag and followed without a second thought. If humans could be put into autopilot this is what it would feel like. Not a single thought entered her mind and she barely remembered anything other than standing in front of his desk will he walked behind it, taking a seat.
Breathe Ivory, just keep breathing.
"It's no surprise that I am not satisfied with your employment record." He began and Ivory felt her heart sink.
"Yet, in consideration of the years you have spent in our employment I have decided to give you a one-year probationary period, if after this period I find that there has been no improvement then I will have no choice but to let you go."
Ivory felt partially slighted. There was nothing wrong with her skills, of that she was certain, Emery often used her work without so much as proofreading and there had been no mishaps. She breathed, calming herself, it wasn't anyone's fault for believing she was incompetent after all the work she did was credited as Emery's how was anyone to be the wiser?
"Probation." she breathed the word, the aftermath leaving her throat dry and course. In that instance, it was better if she had just been fired there and then, there was no way he would see any improvement from her, especially where Emery was her superior.
"It's more generous than I have been with any other worker in all my years of experience." He said dismissively.
Ivory laughed incredulously. "I supposed then I am required to thank you?" it was the first time since she stood in his office that she stared directly at him. She felt neither grateful nor careful of her actions.
Raiden was taken aback by the sudden transformation. The shy girl had snuck out of her shell.
"No. Such formalities are lost on me. I am not doing you a favor." Raiden checked his watch as he responded to her.
Ivory remained silent. " Clear out your belongings from Emery's space, her new assistant will be assigned today and you..." he paused, noting the slightest tinge of perplexity.
"Me?" the word was almost a whisper.
"You will be my new assistant." he pronounced gravely.