Janet's POV
I was sleeping peacefully when my phone buzzed and disturbed me. I slowly opened my eyes and groaned, the ring of it annoying me. I turned the lamp on and grabbed it from my lamp table, blinking multiple times to adjust to the light. The call was from an unknown number. I looked at the time on my wall-clock and it flashed at quarter to 3 in the morning. I wonder who would call me at this hour? I cleared my throat and finally picked it up, bringing it to my ear, "Hello?"
"Ms. Reyes?" My heart shuddered and I sat up. It was Paxton's voice. Heavy but sexy. But why has he called me though? "It's Paxton here!" I stayed mute, a slight frown between my brows. I couldn't get it. I mean, why has he called me at this hour, and why the fuck does he sounds polite? "You there, Ms. Reyes?"
I squinted my eyes suspiciously and clenched my jaw, "What do you want?" My voice was rude, and why not? He fired me!
"Sleep!"
I frowned, "I'm sorry?" What the hell?
"Yes. I can't sleep!" Hearing him, I let out a mock chuckle, "So, does it mean that you won't let me sleep also?"
"No! I-I mean, um, my apologies for disturbing you but I... I can't sleep!"
"So?" I yelled, he was annoying me. God! What's wrong with him?
"So, wouldn't you want to know why?"
"Absolutely not!" I said as a matter of fact. "And are you okay?" I chuckled, "I mean, why do you sound like you've forgotten that you and I have nothing to do with each other anymore?"
"Janet-
"Listen to me, Mr. Paxton Grey! I don't know why have you called me and, honestly, neither do I want to know. So, it's my humble request to you. Do not call me again. Good night!" I was about to hang up but couldn't when he said, "I'm guilty, Janet!" I blinked and put the phone back on my ear, "Guilty for what I did to you!" My eyes softened and heart melted right there. He regret it? "I-I shouldn't have fired you. I'm... I'm sorry!" I shot my brows up, surprised as hell at his words. He was apologizing to me. And it's a great thing, but in the corner of my heart, I feel as if he's up to something else. These are just words. He surely has got some other plan for me. "You there?"
"Are you serious?" I squinted my eyes again, the suspicious side of me taking over me, refusing to believe him. I let out a mock chuckle, "I mean, this isn't your other way of taking revenge on me, is it?"
He chuckled, and my heart was flattered again, "No, absolutely not! I just realized that I fired you because of my personal issues with you. And they say that we should never involve our personal issues in our profession! So, I really am sorry for what I did to you," I bit under my cheek, a smile making it's way to my lips without my permission, "And, please come and take your job back," My smile vanished and eyes widened, "Rejoin!"
"Rejoin?" The surprise was noticeable in my tone. He hummed, "I don't get it. I mean, okay, you realized you were wrong and want to fix your mistake by asking me to rejoin, but I'm curious, Paxton. I want to know why it took you a whole day to realize it. And when you finally did, why couldn't you wait until tomorrow?"
"I was grabbing guts!" He said, "You know, after how I fired you, anyone would take his time!" I bit the corner of my cheek. He got a point. "Also, I'm not asking you to rejoin just because I want to fix my mistake but also because I want to feel forgiven with your return!" And my heart was over the hills. Paxton Grey was seriously sorry and regrets it. I couldn't help but feel amazing! I grinned, feeling like I'm on the seventh cloud.
"Okay, I'll rej-My words automatically got stuck in my throat and smile again faded away when it hit me. Wait! He is not sorry because he realized his mistake. He is sorry because he fired the girl because of whom his father is alive!! I clenched my jaw, shaking my head in disbelief. What a dick! He's grateful that I saved his father's life, but the bastard doesn't want to show it! And why would he? The girl he fired saved his father. Wouldn't the fact crush his pride, his ego? But who cares? I mean, you're getting your job back, at least! Just take it and forget everything!
"I'll think about it!" I said, keeping my tone flat to show that his offer hadn't given me any happiness.
"Sure. Take your time!"
"Good night, Mr. Grey!"
"Good night, Ms. Reyes!" And with this, I hung up on him. I put the phone back on my table and lay back, looking at the ceiling above me, "If he'd said thanks, would he have lost anything?" I clenched my jaw, "Bloody egoistic bastard!"
Paxton's POV
I was doing my stuff in my cabin when somebody knocked on my door. "Come in!" I said, my eyes fixed on my laptop. When she walked in, I looked at her once then back at my laptop, "Yes, Ms. Tessa?" She was my receptionist.
"Ms. Reyes is here, Sir!" That brought my head straight at her. I took the pen from my mouth that I was holding between my teeth and nodded at her, "Send her in!"
"Okay, sir!" When she was gone, I leaned back in my chair, "Ah, you don't know what you have just done by coming back!" I smirked, my mind gathering all evil ideas to torture her.
A moment later, there was a knock on my door. I cleared my throat and allowed her to come in and when she did, she literally took my breath away. I moved my eyes all the way down then back to up. She was wearing a white shirt tugged inside her blue jeans that accentuated her long legs. Her dark brown hair were straightened and divided from the middle and her gorgeous hazel eyes had a slight touch of makeup on them but what made her look sexier was her brown lipstick. She looked terrific!
Wait! You're not supposed to be admiring her hotness, Paxton Grey!
I cleared my throat and adjusted myself on my seat, scolding myself for gawking at her.
"Good morning, Sir!" She said, bringing my eyes at her. Her bright eyes and wide smile didn't made me feel any better. She slapped me and caused my friend to be a heartbroken. She shouldn't be smiling this way.
"Morning!" I replied and she stood by my desk, her eyes telling me that she's waiting for me to ask her to sit but hell if I did.
"How was your ride here?" I asked, leaning forward. She lightly gulped. Of course, my question must have jumped up her stupid head.
"It-It was good!" She replied, her expressions uncertain.
"You mean you didn't get in any traffic or faced any malfunction in your car, right?"
"Yup! Thankfully, none of this happened," She smiled, considering my question caring, I guess.
"Then how are you late?" I asked, keeping a smile on my face. Her smile vanished and she blinked at me before checking her wristwatch.
"No, I'm not. I'm here exactly on time!"
"Ms. Reyes, if I ask you to be here at 8, you're supposed to be here at 7. If I ask you to be here at 7, then be here at 6, understood?"
"But-She stopped when I raised my brows at her. She pressed her lips together and gave me a nod. I smiled, "Good. Now," I grabbed a file from my table and carried it forward to her, "That is Dad's last secretary's planner and my schedule. I want you to have a look at it!" She nodded and took the file before heading out. "Janet?" I called her ever so sweetly.
She turned around, "Yes, Sir?"
"Did I say you could leave?" I asked, intertwining my fingers together as I looked at her with a sarcastic smile.
"Uh, s-sorry!" She quickly apologized.
"Nevermind. Now, listen to me very carefully because I don't have much time. After doing what I've just told you, you are supposed to call, Mr. Carter. Ask him about the plan that we shared with him last week! Then call Mr. McEnroe and take his feedback on our new project and after that you will prepare the meeting room for my guests who will be here at 4 pm. When it's over, you're supposed to make a monthly expense report. And you better do not forget about my meeting with Mr. Cassidy that is at 1 pm, okay?" She didn't respond, just stood there still. "Are you listening to me, Ms. Reyes?" I raised my brows at her.
"Isn't that too much?"
I let out a dry chuckle, "Too much? You think that you will be paid thousands of dollars for just taking calls and arranging meetings?"
"No, I know what the work of a secretary is. I've done an internship, after all. But it's my first day at work. I just thought-
"I know that this is your first day at work, Ms. Reyes. This is why I'm taking it easy on you today. Otherwise, this was not even the A of your works!"
Her eyes slightly grew wide hearing me and I maoned inside. Yes, this is perfect. Charlie was absolutely right! This is going to be a better revenge.
"Now, go and get to your work," She nodded and was about to leave but couldn't when I called her, "Ms. Reyes?"
"Yes, sir?"
"Thanks for coming back!" She smiled and left my cabin, "Because now I can take my revenge better!"
Janet's POV
By lunchtime, I was done with all the work Paxton asked me to do. Only the meeting room was left to be prepared. It was still before 4, so, I decided to have my lunch as I hadn't eaten anything since morning, but screw my life because just before I could stand up from my seat, my telephone started ringing. I picked it up with a scowl, "Grey's Enterprises! How may I help you?"
"Come to my cabin!" Said Paxton, and hung up. I put the phone back and headed to his cabin.
"You called me, Sir?" I asked, standing across his desk.
"Yes, Ms. Reyes. I called you," he said, and picked up a file from his desk. I walked towards him and took the file as he continued, "Here, this file has all the projects of the past months. I want you to look at it and present me an analysis on the outcomes! But before that, go to Ms. Winslet's office and hand her these!" He handed me another file and I took it.
"Anything else?" I asked but regretted later.
"Yes. After you're done with Ms. Winslet. You will personally visit the heads of the departments and take their feedback on our new yearly finance policy!"
A part of me wished to yell at him for not giving me a break but the other part of me smiled and gave him a nod, "Okay, Sir!" I turned on my heel and made a crying face.
I was hungry!
—
I closed my car's door and huffed, resting my head on my seat with closed eyes. My entire body was paining badly and head was spinning. I haven't taken a single break, but still, a lot of work is yet to be done. There are many files, many meetings to arrange and so many things from the planner and schedule are left to be done. And it's just my first day! I groaned but then suddenly I shot my eyes open and looked at my wrist watch. It flashed quarter past 3. My eyes literally popped out and an unexpected scream left my mouth. "Fuck!" I immediately started my car and pulled it out from the parking lot. Then as soon as my car was out, it was literally in the air. I took over takes, leaving cars behind with my skills and mad speed. I could get hurt but hell if I cared. I'd rather die than let Paxton scold me for anything.
I checked the time and I had just 30 minutes before I make it there. I smiled because if I keep going this way, I could reach my office within 10 minutes, but if I was that lucky.
"No!" I cried when I saw a huge line of cars stuck in traffic. I tapped my fingers on the steering wheel in anxiety, imaging Paxton being angry on me. I glanced at my watch again and then behind. Luckily, it was clear. I reversed my car and took my car on a different road. It was a long cut though, but hell if I was getting to the office on time on that road.
I parked the car in an empty spot and frantically got out and rushed, but halted abruptly when I remembered the files. I went back, grabbed the files and ran like hell, tripping many times because of my bloody heels.
The sight of the elevator closing caused me to run faster. The opening was getting narrower and narrower, it was about to close but I re-opened it with my hand and got in. I put my one hand on my heart and other on the nearby wall, taking its support as I breath heavily by lowering my body a little. My thighs hurt and so does my head. It was in fact spining bad.
"You okay?" Someone asked me with her hand on my shoulder. I looked at her and nodded with a smile, assuring myself fine. She retreated her hand and looked at me head to toe, "Are you new here?" I nodded again and looked at the screen where the floors were displaying on.
"What profile?" She questioned, taking my head at her. I pressed my lips together, holding the file tight because her unnecessary talking was annoying me but because Vero and Olivia once told me that talking with rendom people helps you socialize yourself. I replied, "I'm Paxton's- Uh, I mean, Grey! Mr. Grey's new personal assistant, Janet Reyes!"
"Oh, nice to meet you! I'm Laura Howard, anyway. The accountant of this building! I've been working here since- Her words left incomplete when the door of the elevator opened and I ran away. Did not give a damn to the fact that she must have found my behaviour bad.
When I reached the meeting room, I jolted the door open and breathed out in relief to see it empty. No-one has arrived yet. I walked in and began to prepare it. When done, I looked around the meeting room, scrutinizing it and then at my watch. Only 5 minutes were left and all was done. I inhaled deeply but couldn't sigh when I noticed that the water bottles were not there. "Goddamnit!" I cursed under my breath and headed to the cafeteria to grab the water bottles but then, suddenly, my ankle twisted and I tripped, falling forward, but someone was quick to catch me. He held my waist and yanked me to him, causing our chests to bump into each other.
I exhaled in relief and looked up at the guy who had saved but as soon as my eyes saw him, my heart thumped.
"You okay, Ms. Reyes?" Asked Paxton in his delicate tone. A slight frown between his brows. I opened my mouth but to only inhale sharply.
Damn, he's ridiculously hot!
