chapter 7


    As soon as Ariana was about to enter the Secretary room, she heard the voices of three of her co-


    workers. “Did you see Ariana in the canteen at lunch?”


    “No, I didn’t and she hasn''te back to the office as yet.”


    “How dare her, lunch will be up in the next three minutes and she hasn''te back as yet. Ariana


    don’t me me for reporting you to the President, you might go faster than you came.” That voice was


    Janice Lee and then there was loudughter from Laurie Michaels and Phoebe Watson.


    “Janice, you don’t have to be so hard on her. It is her first day and you already made her your


    enemy.” Michelle Sinir said with a pleading voice.


    “Shut up!”


    N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    “Are you taking the new girl side?”


    “How much is she paying you to defend her?”


    They all attacked her at once. Michelle was thest one that came to the department before


    Ariana, she suffered a lot under their hands but at least they never made her clean the office. They


    usually send her on errands or make herplete their workloads and it seems they want to take


    advantage of Ariana as well.


    Before Michelle could respond, Ariana walked in with a smile on her face a couple seconds before


    duty. Janice suddenly got angry, “Why are youing back at this time?”


    “I am on time. Is it not 2pm?” Janice looked at the clock on the wall and could not refute it. ‘You got


    away this time but next time let us see how lucky you are’.


    “I don’t think you are finished with your cleaning, please continue.” Ariana did not respond but she


    went ahead to resume her cleaning duties. She knew Janice was doing it on purpose but she doesn’t


    know why. Ariana is not easily bullied but she is better at ignoring people and striking them down when


    necessary.


    When she was in the storage room, Michelle came in. “Ariana, don’t pay too much attention to


    what they are saying. Just do your job well and you will be okay.” Ariana could see the sincerity in her


    eyes.


    “It is okay, I don’t mind.” She really didn’t have any intentions of making friends because it has


    been that way ever since she was a child. Emily is the only person that made an exception.


    “Really?” Ariana did not say anything. Michelle then said, “In fact, they did not treat me well either.”


    Ariana looked at her while still dusting the file shelves. “How did they treat you?”


    “I had to do their work and get them coffee in the mornings.” Ariana did not like to talk a lot so she


    did not say much. “Don’t worry! Janice will assign work for you soon.” Michelle touched Ariana on her


    shoulder and said in a low voice as if she is taking away her burdens.


    Ariana didn''t feelfortable with people touching her so she lightly said with no expression,


    “Please go back before they notice you are gone. They might not like you hanging around me and


    might make things more difficult for you.”


    “That is not a problem, they only noticed my presence when they need something to be done and


    right now we don’t have much work in the office.” Michelle smiled and said. Michelle seemed to like


    Ariana even though she seems indifferent and aloof.


    Ariana was there wondering why they moved her to the Secretary Office if they don’t have much


    work there to do. She thought about it but did note up with anything. She did not think too far into


    it.


    “I will go now. Be careful.” Michelle said and left.


    ….


    Ariana finished working at 6pm and it was time to pack up and go home. When she took her phone


    from her bag, she saw several missed calls from her father, sister and Emily. She deleted the call


    history of her Dad and sister and called Emily back.


    On the other end of the phone, “hey, are you through with work?”


    “Yes, I just finished and I am about to head out.”


    “Good, I am outside of your building.”


    “Wait for me. I am hanging up.” She hung up the phone. Soon after another call in and she


    answered the phone without looking at it. She heard a deep masculine voice, “Come to my office?”


    Ariana was taken aback, she had to remove the phone from her ear to look at it again. It was an


    unknown number. “How did you get my number?”


    “What stupid question is this?” Michael responded with sarcasm. Of course, he has every


    employees’ file.


    “It is past my working hours and so I am going home.” Ariana shouted in the phone with anger.


    She knew he was provoking her.


    “Please don’t forget who the boss here is. Nowe to my office right now.” Michael was so


    “I am afraid I can’t, my friend is waiting for me.” Ariana really did not want to stay and talk to him


    and she did not see the need to either.


    “…” Michael was quiet for a while. He did not know which friend.


    “If you don’t have anything else to say, then I will be hanging up.” She said in annoyance.


    Before she could hang up, he finally spoke, “if you don’te now then I wille to you and I


    am sure you don’t want that.” Then he hung up right after.


    Michael was sitting in his office and he did not know if Ariana woulde or not. He felt a sting in


    his chest when she said a friend is waiting for her. What kind of friend could be picking her up? He


    really doesn''t know much about her. He went back to her apartment after he recovered from the stab


    wound two years ago but when he got there, she had already moved. The neighbors did not know


    where she went and none of them knew her name. He did not send anyone earlier because he wanted


    to go there himself. He wanted to make her his wife then.  He did not grow up with much love, just


    money and people will respect anyone once they have money. With Ariana, the few hours he spent


    with her, he felt her kindness towards him and she didn’t even know who he was. It felt at home.


    Soon after Alex knocked on the door and came in after being notified, “President, Miss Fearon is


    here to see you.”


    “Send her in.” Michael felt a sense of pride knowing that she came.


    As soon as she walked in, “Mr. Matthews, what can I do for you after work hours?”


    Michael smiled, “A lot of things but I prefer to show you.”


    Ariana was on her guard but her face was flushed from embarrassment just the same, “If you don’t


    need me, I will be going.” She then turned to walk away.


    “Who said I don’t need you?” Michael smirk.


    Ariana ignored his question. “I have to meet a friend so I have to go.”


    Michael got upset instantly, “I can take you home.”


    “No thanks, my friend is already waiting.” Ariana was really annoyed now.


    Michael assumed she was referring to Mr. Johnson, “Are you really going to marry him Ariana?”


    Ariana bit her lips and stared at him, “I don’t have time for this, I am leaving.” She knew what he


    was thinking but she didn’t feel like clearing up his assumptions so she walked out of the office.


    Michael did not stop her this time.