Chapter 4: Mr. Silver

Olivia

And back to my current situation at Silver Enterprises, and my terrible discovery that my potential CEO boss is none other than the man who haunts my nightmares.

"Olivia?" he gasps.

"Do you know her? We haven't sent the CV over yet," Mrs Peggy asks as he keeps his intense gray eyes on me.

And oh God, the first thing I thought us my mind hadn't done him justice. Christopher Onyx, or Silver, or whatever looked even more striking in person. His hair was a little longer and slicked back, and he seemed even more muscular. His lips were sensual, he was tanned, and his masculine features made his eyes so bright, standing out even more.

What have I done to deserve such misfortune? Weren't the terrible years at school enough? Or the struggle to get into college? Saying goodbye to my family and living so far away from home? All for this? To end up humiliated, asking for a job from the one person I never wanted to see again in my life?

"Aaron mentioned her," he says without breaking eye contact. It was obvious he recognized me.

"Excellent, Ms Williams is quite a good match for what we need," Mrs Peggy says, and I just want the ground to swallow me up. I see him grab the edge of the desk as he stands up. What's wrong with him? It's as if my presence is deeply disturbing him. I don't know what to do. I certainly don't want to work with him.

"You're the one who worked with cameras and motion detectors on campus," he mentions with... pride?

"Yes, the crime rate went down! She did it with one of her professors; he was the one who recommended her," Peggy adds, while I don't say a word.

"That's why your name wasn't in the article," he says. Probably referring to the article that appeared in the local paper. "Peggy, if you don't mind, I'd like to speak to Mrs Williams alone." I panicked. Call me a coward, but I'd rather live under a bridge than work with him. So I blurt out immediately:

"Sorry, I just remembered I have another interview... I have to go," I stammer.

"But, Mrs Williams, if you could just stay for a few minutes..." Peggy pleaded anxiously. God, she wants to help me, and I'm coming off badly.

"It would only take a few minutes," he adds angrily," but I'm determined to put this madness behind me. I hurried away.

"Mrs Williams!"

I hear shouts behind me, but I take the elevator and dash out into the street, adjusting my glasses as I process what I've just done. I could almost sprout wings right now, the way I'm running away so desperately. This was my best option. What am I going to do now?

When I finally get to the train, I break down and cry. This can't be happening! I look at the lucky coins in my handbag and wonder if their luck has run out. When I get home, I count what little money I have left. Not much. I'm so screwed.

I can't get his expression out of my head, the way he looked at me like he'd seen a ghost like he didn't want me there. I didn't want to be there with him either! I spent the rest of the day looking for new jobs. If things keep going like this, I'll have to move somewhere else, to another town. Maybe even another state, somewhere cheaper and away from the big city. I could get a simpler job until I find another opportunity.

“I'm screwed, Dad, I've ruined everything. I don't have a chance,” I said through the phone.

When I woke up the next day, I saw several missed calls from none other than Cassandra. She must have got my number from my CV. I also have missed calls from a number that, to be honest, I don't even want to find out who it belongs to. The next day, I notice someone waiting outside the building: a young man with dark skin and a friendly expression.

"Oh! Olivia? Nice to meet you, my name's Aaron," he says, holding out his hand. Damn, is he the one Christopher mentioned? "I see we got off on the wrong foot," he adds with a smile. "I work for Silver Enterprises, and we wanted to emphasize how much we'd like to have you on our team."

Unfortunately, I can't take the job, but I can recommend some colleagues."

"We want you. And if you're willing to come back to our offices, you'll see that we can offer you a very good contract. Excellent, I'd say."

"I'm not interested. Thank you very much."

"If you'd just take a moment to talk, we can…."

I stood firm and replied, "Tell your boss I have no interest in talking to him, no matter what he does or says." But he wasn't done.

"I understand you have some debts. The company is willing to pay them in advance, along with your salary, of course," he adds, and I freeze.

"You've been investigating me? How dare you?" My anger is obvious and Aaron looked nervous.

"I'm sorry, but it's part of my job. Security is very important to us, it's the reason we need you. Come, please, I'm sure you'll like it. It's a great place to work and..."

"I know enough already," I replied and walked away.

That night and the next, I see a car parked nearby, watching me. Until one morning, when I found a formal offer from Silver Enterprises among the now impossible-to-ignore bills. They're offering a ridiculous amount of money as a salary.

As if that weren't enough, they not only promised to pay off my debts but also to pay the rent for an apartment near their offices. The job would include some travel, all expenses paid. All this just to work with them. I begin to weigh my options. Maybe I could work with them for a few months, earn enough, and then leave? I have to admit, it would also look good on my resume.

"Please, come to the meeting. We could work together. Wouldn't that be wonderful? Listen to our proposal; set your terms," Cassandra writes in a message.

The next day, I'm back in their offices. As soon as I announced myself at reception, I heard a cry, and I was enveloped in an enchanting scent and swept with astonishing speed into the arms of a tall, slender woman with dark hair: Cassandra.

"I can't believe you're here! I can't believe it, Liv! Liv!" she cries, hugging me, and I stand like a doll, unable to respond. She wipes away her tears; I can't believe how excited she is to see me. We hadn't spoken in years. I have been avoiding her like the plague.

"I'm sorry, it's just... I'm so happy," she says, while I remain in shock. "I know what happened was... hard. You stopped answering my messages and I..." she confesses and I reply coldly.

"You have no idea how difficult it was." Her face turns so sad that I regret what I have just said. She looks even more beautiful than before when I hear someone calling me, and I know what's coming next.

"Mr Silver is waiting for you."