|5| What Happened To Mr Lawson?

I bought a box of pizza when going back home. I was so elated, I kept doing some little dance moves as I sat in the bus. Maybe losing my previous job wasn't really a bad occurrence after all, my new salary was three times my previous salary. My mom was just as happy as I was when I told her about the new job. Zoe ate the largest portion of the pizza, I wondered how she was able to eat that much. I slept very early that night, I was so happy that the moment my head touched the pillow, I fell asleep. It has been so long since I had such a nice sleep.

I groaned as an irritating noise rang into my ears from my desk. Gosh, I don't want to wake up so soon. I pulled the blanket and covered my face, but the noise was still too loud. I sat up a little, my eyes closed. I picked an object from my desk with little strength and threw it away. Finally, the noise stopped. Thank God, serenity at last!

I slumped on the bed and was already drifting into sleep when I realized I had just ruined my alarm clock!

Then, I realized I was starting my new job today. Immediately, I jerked up and flung the blanket from my body. Oh no, today was my first day. I groaned and got down from my bed. Jeez, how could I have forgotten that?!

I picked up the alarm clock. Luckily, it wasn't totally ruined. My eyes nearly rolled out of the socket when I saw the time was exactly 6:00am. I pulled my hair and dashed to the bathroom. Oh gosh, I was supposed to resume work at exactly 6: 00 am. I quickly had my bath. I wore the first clothes my hand touched in the wardrobe. The only thing on my mind was getting to work on time, which was actually impossible at the moment. My pulse was beating fast and sweat broke out of my pore. Shit, I might be fired from my new job. I bit my lip. I couldn't believe I would make a bad impression on my first day at work.

I brushed my hair with my hands as I ran down the stairs. Zoe wasn't awake, but my mom was preparing her meal in the kitchen. I picked my shoes from the rack and wore them while walking to the door which I forgot to close.

My Mom called out from the kitchen. "Annie, you forgot your handbag."

Ugh, I forgot to take my bag. I dashed inside and took my bag. She stretched her head out the kitchen entrance. "Annie, don't worry. You aren't going to lose this job, okay?"

I nodded and rushed to the bus stop. Luckily I quickly saw a bus that carried me to Mr Lawson's estate. I got to his mansion at exactly 6: 20am.

I didn't knock this time, I silently opened the door and entered. I didn't want to draw any attention. But my bag dropped the moment I saw him by the stairs, sitting on his wheelchair. He looked at me through narrowed eyes.

At first, he didn't say anything. He kept on staring at me. Hard intense stare.

Then, he spoke.

"Can you tell me what the time says?"

I bit my lips. I had messed up really bad. " I'm so sorry I came late, it wasn't intended. I forgot to-"

"Miss West, the last thing I tolerate is stupidity and idleness. Unfortunately, you've shown all of those."

My hands trembled as I picked up my hand bag. I can't afford to lose this job. I need to think of a way to convince him I was good enough for the job. "Sir, please give me a chance to show you I can do this job. Please this won't happen again, I promise."

He nodded. "Yes, it won't happen again because you will have been fired."

I frowned, my whole body turned to stone. "What? I mean… You can't just fire." I took a deep breath. "Please, give me a second chance."

He lowered his eyes and frowned. Immediately, I knew he was going to say something cruel. "Just look at how you dress for your first day at work. Is your brain so dense that you can't match the colors properly?" He focused his gray eyes on my face. " Miss west, I'm starting to think you don't know the importance of your job."

I followed his gaze and stared at my foot in terror. I was wearing two different socks. I rubbed my hands together.

"I didn't know I wore the wrong sock, I was in a hurry." I pointed out.

He snorted. "Yet, you came very late."

He rubbed his forehead. "I should have known this would happen, you are not smart for this job."

"Sir—"

"Miss Peter, I expect you to be punctual and efficient."

I nodded, avoiding his stare. "Okay, I will try my best. I'm sorry, sir."

He looked at me and shook his head. My heart sank, he was disappointed in me. Oh no, will he fire me on my first day? I raised my head. "Sir I can—"

"I don't want to hear anything, the next time you do this, you will be fired."

I brightened up hearing his words, he was giving me a chance to prove myself. I smiled broadly. "Thank you sir, I won't do this again."

"Mmm, get a cup of Cappuccino," he said and left.

I nodded and went into the kitchen. There was a lady cleaning the kitchen counter. I recognized her, she had introduced herself as Sheila when I came for the interview. She smiled at me. Sheila looked very friendly so I smiled at her back. I rubbed my hands. I shouldn't be hurt by his words, I wasn't stupid or lazy.

"Don't allow yourself to get hurt by his words." Sheila said.

I turned to look at her. "Is he always this cruel?"

Sheila stopped cleaning the counter and shrugged. "Well, most of the time he is."

"He acts so arrogant."

"That doesn't matter. Just be glad you weren't fired, I haven't seen the boss give a worker a second chance before you. We should stop talking, he hates it when workers talk while working." She said and continued cleaning the kitchen.

I prepared his coffee and took it upstairs. Suddenly, I realized I didn't even know his room. I paused and looked around. I sighed and went back to the kitchen to ask Sheila . She told the direction, I took a lift to the third floor and uttered a sigh of relief when I saw the master suite.

I braced myself and knocked on the door. There wasn't a reply. I brought my ear closer to the door and listened to detect any sound. There wasn't at first, but later I heard the sound of a knob turning. The door automatically opened. I saw him looking at me, I was still leaning close to the doorway. I smiled awkwardly and straightened up.

Mr Lawson shook his head and continued knotting his tie. He was sitting before a tall rectangular mirror.

"There's a bell by the door, you don't have to knock," he said.

I nodded and glanced at the door. Oh, I saw the bell. "Mr Lawson, your coffee."

"Come in and close my door." He deadpanned.

I quickly entered and closed his door.

"Drop it and leave."

I nodded and dropped the coffee on the nightstand beside him. His rich cologne wafted through my nostril, it's strong and exotic.

The room was very luxurious, there were a lot of expensive items placed on different angles of the room. As always, the walls were painted Grey and black. I stared up at the chandelier, it was so attractive, it sparkled around the room.

He turned to look at me. "Did you lose something?"

I shook my head, confused. "No."

"Then, why are you looking around?"

I turned to him and smiled. "I'm just checking out your room, it's very nice."

"Bring my wrist watch, it is over there. Check the first drawer." He pointed at the nightstand.

I opened the first drawer, it was filled with wristwatches of different precious stones. I picked a golden wristwatch and passed it to him. He brought out his hand, indicating I was meant to clasp it around his hand.

I unclasped the wristwatch and bent a little to reach his level. My pulse jerked the moment our hands touched. His hands were soft and tender unlike him. It felt like petals against my palm. He turned to look at me. His face was so close to mine that I could feel his breath fanning my cheek. I ignored the butterflies in my stomach and tried to concentrate on fastening the wrist watch around his wrist. My eyes swept up his face and met his eyes. A strange emotion flashed up in his eyes, but he averted his eyes before I could realize what it was. I exhaled deeply and studied him. He looked so familiar up close.

My eyes wandered to his full lips. I wondered how it would feel to be welcomed by those li— oh my fish, I averted my eyes and concentrated on the task at hand. Where did that thought come from? I clasped the wristwatch around his hands. After I was done, he brought his hand to his line of view and examined it. He looked pleased with what I did.

He nodded. "Okay, you can leave."

I nodded. I picked the tray and walked out of his room. Suddenly, I heard a sickening thud. Then, a sharp groan.

Immediately, I stopped walking. I ran back into his room, but I was a minute too late. The tray fell from my hands and I stood still, shocked.