Stepping into the CEO’s office was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. Here I am stuck in what everyone here compares to a dungeon and he has his own luxury penthouse apartment hiding out in the exact same building. It was like immediate fresh air and sunshine with a lingering cologne scent in the air. The large desk surrounding one side of the room was entirely glass somehow with no smudge marks. Fresh flowers sat on a glass end table near a modern looking couch. It didn’t look comfy but looked nice and very expensive.
Tripp smiled as I took in the surroundings. "Nice isn't it? These are all fresh flowers." He gestured toward the end table by the couch. I bet that couch cost him more than my yearly salary. It must be nice to be so rich you could easily spend that much on a couch you barely use. I bet its more for looks than anything. He picked up a rose out of the crystal vase. "Here." He brought the rose over and broke off the sharp parts of the stem, brushed strands of hair out of my face that I didn't take much effort to brush this morning, and gently placed the rose in my hair, tucking it behind my ear securely. He leaned close to my face and whispered. "A beautiful rose for a beautiful woman." I could feel his warm breath on my cheek, making my face flush a deep red. The warmth of his body and the smell of his cologne were so close I couldn't help but want to reach out and wrap my arms around him and pull him closer.
But I stopped myself. After all, his assistant was standing uncomfortably by the window on the other side of the room, trying to pretend his whore of a boss wasn’t trying to seduce another woman.
"Erm." I stuttered, I wanted to melt into him, but scooted away.
His assistant coughed, making Tripp lean back and glared at him across the room, communicating silently. The assistant must have known he messed up, but I was glad he distracted Tripp. I took the chance to excuse myself and go grab the laptop.
“Your name is Sera right?” The poor man asked, trying to avoid the death stare. “Please do what you can to fix my laptop, I have a lot of work to get done today.”
“Yes sir, you can either call me Sera or Seraphine.” I answered politely.
“My name’s Clark.” He chimed in all cheerful again, he seemed to have a polar opposite personality than Tripp. He must be used to how Tripp acts because he didn’t seem to miss a beat. “So it just doesn’t seem to turn on. I know it’s charged.”
“Hmmm.” I began taking a look at the laptop. I pressed the power button. It lit up like it was turning on but nothing on the screen did. “Ah here’s the problem.” I gestured to the screen and power button. “See how the power button turns on but the screen doesn’t?”
“Oh yes I do see that now. Does this mean it’s fried. How quickly can I get a new one?” He responded.
“No actually in most cases I’ll just need to reseat the screen, it’s most likely the computer got tossed around a bit and the cable came loose. For example if you put it in your laptop case to take it home and threw it in your car seat or couch when you get home. No worries it’ll only take a few minutes.” I took a screwdriver out of my bag and worked my magic. He unfortunately had one of the newer models that had a very thin bezel so I had to be really careful to not crack the screen as I worked it off. But my high computer skills worked off and I was able to get the screen off and reseated the LCD cable within. The screen beamed to life, causing Clark to squeal with Joy. I carefully placed the screen back on securely and handed it back to him.
“Wow you’re really good at this! It was a good call getting someone from engineering. We understand there’s a protocol, but this was an emergency.”
“You’re welcome. I’ll take my leave then unless there’s anything else I can help you with today?” I was almost dreading going back to the dungeon after getting a whiff of this fresh air and brilliant sunshine, but I also didn’t want to stick around in Tripp’s office. As bright and cheerful as it is, it still has Tripp in it.
Tripp took the chance to chime in. “Actually yes I believe you could be of service.”
Ugh what does he want now?
He whispered something to Clark. “Ah that’s a great idea Mr. Cederick!” He turned to me. “ Ms…. Well I guess I don’t know your last name?
Uh oh, what’s a great idea?! “It’s Klein.” I answered plainly, trying to inch toward the door. I don’t know what those two are cooking up together but I don’t want in. “Well, I better get going. I’ve got a server to patch.”
“Ah Ms. Klein. You sound like you have a very German name.” He commented, completely ignoring the fact that I was trying to leave. He seemed to get off topic very easily.
“Yes sir, my Great Grandfather came over to America in the late thirties, possibly early forties. Out of tradition our family has kept the German naming tradition alive. Seraphine, is spelled with an e at the end but it’s pronounced like an a. It’s a bit embarrassing but I don’t really speak German that well, I just kind of understand it. I guess more like a five year old.” I answered, probably rambling a bit.
“I would love to hear more about your history sometime.” Clark replied, interested. “It seems like there’s probably a story behind that, but the fact that you know any foreign language at all is pretty great since American’s, especially the middle class aren't really encouraged to learn anything besides English. Tripp here speaks multiple languages, but sadly I do not. I’ve always wanted to learn French though.”
“Clark, you’re getting off topic.” Tripp butted in sternly. “Sera, we’re about to head to a really important meeting between some investors, it's a three hour car drive so a hotel room will be provided. I think it’d be great to have you tag along so we have an engineer’s perspective on a new product pitch. You seem to be very intuitive." He said this in a way that he already expects me to say yes. He closed the gap between me and the door. Damn, I almost escaped.
“Thank you for the offer, but I’ll have to decline. I’ve got a lot of work to do today. Why don’t you take the Technology director?” Or really anyone else? It’s not like I’m very high in the food chain.
“He got fired last week, I guess you didn’t hear?” Tripp replied and turned toward Clark. “See I told you he wasn’t doing anything all day, his own employees didn’t even know he got fired.” He was telling the truth, we didn’t really know anything about our director because he never came around; when he did it was just to yell at us about a mistake or tell us to work harder, or get free overtime out of us because he didn’t want to do something. I’m definitely not sad to see him go.
“ Ok then, what about my manager? Isn’t he the next in line, or wasn’t there an assistant director somewhere around here?” I retorted, trying to figure out the best way around Tripp who was now blocking the door, smirking like he knew I wanted to escape. He probably just wanted to torture me on this little work outing and make my life hell. You know, play with probably what he thought of as his new toy.
“Got transferred to another location. If I remember correctly his surgeon wife got a job at a hospital a few cities away. Nice couple.” Clark remarked.
“Ok then, I’ll go ask Geoff if he wants to go.” I tried to dodge around Tripp but he wasn’t budging.
“Since he’s the next highest up management in the technology department, we would like to keep him here to look after things. You know how crazy computer people get.” Tripp smirked.
“No, I don’t.” I replied, staring daggers. “Tell me.”
“Er. What he means is they just need someone to make sure things are getting done and they have the guidance and knowledge available in case they need it.” Clark interjected, probably saving a small yelling match from breaking out.
They really have me backed into a corner, while I’m low on the totem pole in the office, we don’t really have a lead Systems Engineer anymore so I don’t really have anyone else to throw under the bus. I feel like I kind of have to accept at this point. I guess it’ll get me out of the old grind at least. I’ve been needing a bit of change, not sure if this is really the change I was expecting though. I sighed loudly to make it clear I wasn’t really wanting to do this, but felt pressured. “I suppose I don’t really have a choice now do I?” Probably not something you would normally say to a CEO, but this isn’t exactly a normal situation. If we didn’t get drunk and sleep together, this would never be happening, he wouldn’t even know who I am.
He barely waited for me to answer. "Great, I'll pull my car around front and meet you out there in ten minutes. Clark has family around the area so he wants to drive separately." He pulled the keys to his luxury sports car out of his pocket and swung them around on his finger.
Of course Clark isn’t going to be riding with us, we’ll be alone yet again. This was probably his plan all along. He must think he has a new play toy, he better think again. Just because I slept with him once when I was drunk and didn’t have the best decision making skills, doesn’t mean I’ll do it again. While I do find him attractive, this isn’t what I want in life. I want a steady relationship with a reliable man. Sure he’s rich and handsome, but playboys aren’t husband material. I want a relationship with someone I can trust, and not have to worry about them cheating on me. The more money and power they have, the more likely they think they can do whatever they want, and I should just appreciate basking in his glory and getting nice things with his money. That’s not for me.
"What all should I bring?"
He placed a hand on my shoulder, getting just a bit too friendly for my taste. "I'll personally make sure you have everything you need so don't worry about a thing."
Ugh why do I have a feeling he made up the need for a tech person on this trip, and Clark was just too gullible to see through his trap. “I guess I’ll grab my bag and meet you out front then.”
"Why don't I come with you? I haven't made a trip down to IT in awhile."
I glanced over to Clark who was typing away furiously on his keyboard. "Er sure." I wanted nothing more than to tell him off. Maybe call him a jackass. But while at work I needed to be polite, I couldn't risk losing my job. We took off toward the elevator. "Um, you've got a really nice floor up here." I tried to make small talk to avoid what I knew he wanted to talk about.
We were pretty much out of earshot of anyone else. "Much nicer than the dungeon huh Babe. Maybe you could become my personal IT up here on the top floor."
I glanced around to be sure no one could hear me as Tripp clicked the down button on the elevator. "I don't know what game you're trying to play with me but you can just go to hell. I'm not someone you can screw with."
The elevator opened, Tripp pushed me inside against the wall, pinning my arms against the side. "Really? Because when I look at you that's all I want to do."
"Can you not control yourself in an elevator?" I gasped as he started kissing my neck.
"But why should I?"
He kissed me, and for a second I melted, until I heard the elevator ding, causing me to throw him off me. "I'm gonna go grab my bag." I smoothed my shirt out, but he gently placed his hand on the small of my back.
"I'll just go swing the car around then." He smirked.
"Wait, didnt you want to see the IT room?"
"Nah, why would I want to see that nasty ass dungeon, it'll make my suit smell."
I suddenly realized he just wanted to trap me in the elevator. I'm so stupid. "Ugh you asshole!"
Ding! The elevator door shut but he had that bastard smile on his face. He got exactly what he wanted.
"Shit." I kicked the door that led to the IT department, luckily no one was in there, must have been called out to another floor. I quickly grabbed my stuff and headed back to the elevator.