EVERYTHING FALLING INTO PLACE
"Good day, baby. See you around!" He whispers behind my ear amidst my uproar of emotions, and with that, he takes long strides toward his office. I wait until his gorgeous figure disappears through the corridor and gather myself to walk to my office.
"Good morning, Miss Ellie!" The kind receptionist greets.
The receptionist's warm greeting catches me off guard, and I can't help but be impressed by her impeccable manners and respectful demeanor. It is not every day you encounter someone who goes out of their way to acknowledge your presence, let alone stand to do so. I have a feeling we will get along just fine.
"Morning. How are you?" I return the greeting, appreciating the friendly atmosphere she exudes.
"I am good," she responds with a genuine smile, her demeanor radiating positivity.
"Great. Umh... Please tell Mirabel that I need last week's report in my office ASAP," I request, keeping my tone gentle and polite.
"Right away, miss. Good day!" She replies promptly, her efficiency mirroring her courteousness.
As she goes about her task, I can't help but feel grateful for encountering such a pleasant presence on this bustling morning. With people like her around, it is no wonder this workplace feels like a more welcoming environment than it has ever been.
Well, these are the rare professionals that Damian ought to have hired from the start instead of that gross bitch!
As I settle into my office, the sleek surface of my new iPhone glints in the soft light, a symbol of modern convenience in the palm of my hand. I dialed Grace's number, eager to catch up and ensure that everything ran smoothly in my absence.
"Well, how was the honeymoon, boss?" Grace's voice crackles through the phone, her tone playful and mischievous as always.
I can't help but roll my eyes at her comment. Honeymoon? Which honeymoon? But knowing Grace, she never misses an opportunity to tease me.
"Romantically fun. We smeared the whole place with our cums," I reply with a hint of sarcasm, unable to resist the urge to give her a taste of her own medicine.
There is a moment of stunned silence on the other end of the line before Grace bursts into laughter. "That is savage. You didn't have to be so detailed, you know?" She chides, her amusement evident in her voice.
I can't help but chuckle at her reaction. It seems I have caught her off guard for once. But then again, she did start it with her cheeky question. A simple "hello" wouldn't have elicited such a response from me. Ah, the joys of bantering with Grace. It is moments like these that make me grateful for her presence in life, even if she does have a knack for pushing my buttons.
"And you shouldn't have implied that it was a honeymoon to start with. You asked for this." I fire back, unable to resist the urge to defend myself.
I hear a heavy sigh from her head before her voice comes through. "Well, it seems like someone is still mad at me. Is that why you didn't call the whole week?" Grace's voice holds a hint of concern, cutting through the playful banter with a touch of sincerity.
"Ooh! You expected me to call you after hanging up on me?" I challenge myself, feeling a pang of guilt for not reaching out sooner.
"I am sorry." Her voice is low, apologetic. 'But you know you had no reason to say those things to me. I didn't even know that Damian was coming here until I saw his face. You offended me by insinuating that I was meeting up with your man, Ellie!" Grace's words strike a chord, a reminder of the impact our words can have, even in jest.
I take the blame. I was so bitchy on her that day without any justifiable reason at all. That was so wrong of me, especially knowing how innocent she was. "I am so sorry, Grace. I had a rough day back then. But still, that wasn't enough reason to hang up on your boss," I concede, recognizing my fault in the situation.
"I am sorry," Grace repeats, her apology genuine and heartfelt.
I nod, even though she can't see it. "It is alright, Grace. That aside, tell me how the shop is doing. Did you encounter any problems? Did anything happen? Everything okay?" I steer the conversation towards more pressing matters, eager to ensure that everything is running smoothly in my absence.
"All is well here. Your shop is doing fantastic. Have you checked the account? That should tell you how excellent it's doing," Grace informs me, her voice brimming with excitement.
"I haven't checked, but I will right away. How is everyone?" I inquired, eager for updates on the team.
"We are all good," Grace replies, her bubbly tone painting a picture of harmony and productivity.
"Okay. I will see you tonight. I will drop by after I'm done here in the office. And also, I will be disbursing your payments later on in the day," I inform her, grateful for her hard work and dedication.
"Uuh. That is super good news, boss. Thank you," Grace responds, her gratitude palpable.
"No, Grace. Thank you for taking care of the shop for me. I'm grateful. Thank you," I express sincerely, wanting her to know how much her efforts mean to me.
"Don't mention it, besty. I am just doing my job," she humbly replies.
"Still, thank you," I insist, wanting to convey my appreciation once more.
"Okay," Grace acknowledges, understanding the sentiment behind my words.
A gentle knock on the door interrupts our conversation, and Mirabel enters the room. "Umh. I really have to go, Grace. Let's talk later," I say, preparing to end the call.
"Okay. Bye," Grace bids farewell before I disconnect the call and turn my attention to my assistant.
She is all smily. So, can I take that as sign that all went well in my absense?